French Restaurant Koh Samui: Chez François Set Menus From 1,395 THB

Overview

Chez François is a small French restaurant on Koh Samui, at the entrance of Fisherman’s Village in Bophut, named after chef-owner François Porte. It seats only about 14 diners (Tripadvisor listing), is open Tuesday to Saturday evenings, and runs a 4-5 course set menu from about 1,395 THB (~40 USD) with a few à la carte dishes on its own price list. Tripadvisor shows 4.8 of 5 from about 590 reviews (checked October 2026).

The format is deliberately intimate rather than a beach-view spectacle: a compact dining room a short walk from Fisherman’s Village’s teak shophouses, classical French technique, and a chef who works the kitchen himself. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as one of the few places on the island that delivers genuine French fine dining rather than a resort’s interpretation of it, and several call the food Michelin-calibre despite the restaurant carrying no such rating.

Key takeaways

• Small French restaurant at the entrance of Fisherman’s Village, Bophut: about 14 seats, book ahead.
• Chef François Porte cooks a 4-5 course tasting menu plus à la carte mains; dishes include Hokkaido scallop, sea bass and duck breast.
• Set 3-course menu from 1,395 THB (~40 USD) on the restaurant’s own price list; Tripadvisor lists the fixed 4-course at about 1,495 THB (~43 USD), and older guides quote 1,700-1,950 THB, so ask when you call.
• Open Tuesday-Saturday, 6:30 PM-10:30 PM; closed Sunday and Monday.
• Reservations are phone-only: the restaurant’s own site has no online booking form, email or WhatsApp option.

Key Facts

Chez François sits at the entrance of Fisherman’s Village on Bophut’s main road, a short walk from the village’s night market strip, and takes reservations by phone only.

French Restaurants in Koh Samui: Where Chez François Fits

Koh Samui has French cooking at several price levels, mostly on the north coast and in Lamai. Chez François is the formal set-menu option; the others below are looser bistros and steakhouses. Check each one’s hours before you go, because small restaurants change them often.

If you want a formal tasting-menu evening, Chez François is the match. For a casual French meal on the sand, Baobab fits better; for steak, La Côte de Bœuf. For the wider list of top tables, see our fine dining guide and best restaurants in Koh Samui.

The Menu

Chez François runs on a French fine-dining format built around a chef’s tasting menu, with à la carte options added in recent years for diners who want to build their own meal. The set menu runs 4 or 5 courses and changes with the seasons. Tripadvisor lists foie gras, beef cheek, scallops, French onion soup and steaks as signature dishes, and the restaurant’s own price list also shows à la carte courses (older guides describe set menus only, so confirm when you book). Recurring dishes reported by reviewers include pan-fried Hokkaido scallop with lobster sauce, seared foie gras, sea bass, duck breast, and cuts of lamb, all finished with classical French sauces and paired with local vegetables rather than imported garnish.

The kitchen is small: chef François Porte cooks personally, which reviewers cite as the reason dishes taste consistent from visit to visit rather than varying with whoever is on the pass that night. Several diners mention complimentary touches such as a glass of champagne or a personalised dessert for anniversaries, and multiple reviews single out attentive, knowledgeable service as a reason the experience feels closer to a Paris bistro than a resort restaurant.

A wine list of mostly French and a few New World labels rounds out the menu, priced in line with the food rather than discounted resort-style. Because the kitchen cooks to order for a small room, courses arrive with some spacing between them: reviewers describe a two-to-three-hour dinner as normal for the full tasting menu, so it suits an evening set aside for the meal rather than a quick stop before moving on somewhere else.

Prices

Prices below are drawn from the restaurant’s own website and recent reviews; à la carte figures are per dish, and the set menu is per person.

Getting There

Chez François sits at the entrance of Fisherman’s Village on Bophut’s main road, roughly 15-20 minutes by taxi from Samui Airport or Chaweng, and about 5 minutes from central Maenam. Parking is limited on the village’s narrow main road, so most visitors arrive by taxi, scooter, or on foot if already staying in Bophut. Because the dining room seats only a small number of tables, arriving a few minutes early for a confirmed reservation is worth it: walk-ins risk being turned away on a full night.

Songthaews (shared taxis) run along Bophut’s stretch of the ring road and can drop passengers at the village entrance for around 50-100 THB (~1.50-3 USD), though a metered taxi or Grab is more reliable for a specific dinner time. Anyone staying elsewhere on the north coast (Maenam, Bang Rak or Choeng Mon) can reach the restaurant within 10-25 minutes depending on traffic on Route 4169.

Nearby

Bophut Beach runs along the coast directly behind Fisherman’s Village and makes an easy pre- or post-dinner walk. Coco Tam’s, the village’s well-known beanbag beach bar with fire shows, sits a few minutes’ walk toward the water. Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort anchors the eastern end of the village for anyone building an overnight stay around dinner. The Bophut & Fisherman’s Village guide covers the wider neighbourhood’s shophouses, Friday night market and other restaurants.

Dress code, children and dietary needs

We found no published dress code on the restaurant’s site or its Tripadvisor listing, so dress as for a small dinner-party room rather than for the beach. Tripadvisor lists vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free options; confirm any allergy when you phone to book. With about 14 seats it is better suited to adults than to a lively family table.

Pros and Cons

Reviewers consistently praise the food quality: several describe it as the best or most technically accomplished meal they had on the island, built on real classical French technique rather than a simplified resort version. The small dining room and personal attention from chef François Porte give the evening an intimate, unhurried feel, and complimentary touches for special occasions come up repeatedly in reviews. Set against that: prices are high for Koh Samui, a set menu with wine easily runs 2,000-2,500 THB (~57-71 USD) per person; the room is genuinely small, so tables book out days in advance and there is little flexibility for walk-ins; and because reservations run by phone only, booking from abroad or outside Thai office hours takes an extra step compared with restaurants that take online bookings.

FAQ

Is Chez François still open in Koh Samui?

Yes. Chez François is trading as of September 2026, confirmed via the restaurant’s own website and recent Tripadvisor reviews. It operates Tuesday-Saturday, 6:30 PM-10:30 PM, and is closed Sunday and Monday.

How do I book a table at Chez François?

By phone only. The restaurant’s website lists a single “Book a Table” link that dials +66 96 071 1800, with +66 80 657 9217 as an information line. There is no online reservation form, email address or WhatsApp option, and tables book out days ahead, so calling early is worth it.

How much does dinner at Chez François cost?

À la carte mains run from 785 THB (~22 USD), and the 3-course set menu is 1,395 THB (~40 USD) net including water. With wine, expect roughly 2,000-2,500 THB (~57-71 USD) per person, high for Koh Samui, but in line with its French fine-dining format.

What kind of food does Chez François serve?

Chez François serves classical French fine dining: a 4-5 course tasting menu alongside à la carte options, with recurring dishes including Hokkaido scallop with lobster sauce, foie gras, sea bass, duck breast and lamb, prepared by chef-owner François Porte.

What is the signature dish at Chez François?

Tripadvisor lists foie gras, beef cheek, scallops, French onion soup and steaks as the signature dishes, cooked by chef-owner François Porte. The 4-5 course set menu changes with the season, so ask what is on the night you book.

Does Chez François have a dress code?

None is published on its site or Tripadvisor listing that we found. Smart-casual is the sensible choice for a small, formal dining room; skip beachwear. Call +66 96 071 1800 to confirm.

Where exactly is Chez François located?

Chez François sits at the entrance of Fisherman’s Village in Bophut, on Koh Samui’s north coast, at 33/2 Moo 1, Fisherman’s Village, Bophut, Surat Thani 84320, about 15-20 minutes by taxi from Samui Airport or Chaweng.