The southern end of Surin Beach has long been the home of a cluster of no-frills seafood restaurants that cater primarily to Thai visitors. Tables are set up under the casuarina trees or on raised wooden platforms with sea views, and the menu is the kind of unfussy seafood cooking that locals travel for: whole grilled fish, crab fried with yellow curry powder, tom yum soup made with the morning's catch, and fresh prawns cooked half a dozen ways.
Prices are far lower than equivalent seafood at beach restaurants further south toward Patong — partly because there is less tourist markup, partly because the turnover of Thai customers keeps quality honest. Weekends and public holidays draw the biggest crowds, with local families setting up for long lunches that run well into the afternoon. Come on a weekday if you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere. Most restaurants will let you inspect the fish and shellfish on ice before ordering.