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Chiang Mai Food Guide: The best restaurants and cafes in Chiang Mai
I inaugural heard about Chiang Mai from a chef friend of mine who revealed that he gets a batch of his bracing ingredients from Chiang Mai, a northern city of Thailand. Besides that Chiang Mai is regarded as a hippie city, a popular blemish for cafe and chillaxing. Of run – Chiang Mai is celebrated for the good Northern Thai cuisine that is different from what you see in Bangkok. This guide will take you to the best restaurants and best cafe in Chiang Mai.
Where to stay?
There are a few areas to consider when picking where to stay. Generally I would stay either in Old City area or Nimman area. The Old City is a adorable identify to walk around early in the dawn to get a feel of the walled up previous city – near many Chiang Mai eateries while Nimman in general is more hip and modern, with numerous cafes and besides a big Maya life style promenade, arsenic well as where the happen night life and my favorite Warm Up Cafe is situated. If you don ’ triiodothyronine heed staying in a placid area – anywhere near the riverbank is very well since taking a Grab Car to the Old City is around 40-60 baht, to Nimman round 80 – 120 baht. If you love cafes and partying – Nimman is the area for you – since it is near most of the popular chillax spots and clubs, and 60-80 baht Grab Car depend on to the Old City.
Getting Around in Chiang Mai
I am all for supporting the local economy but numerous first hand experience from friends using the local bolshevik taxis and tuk tuk have been awful and not recommended. It is best to use Grab app when you are in Chiang Mai – particularly from the airport. We tried to use Uber but there ’ s a surcharge for airport pick ups therefore Grab is my choice for getting around at the moment. Points to note – try not to get a Grab car near places where there are lots of tuk tuk and red cab hanging about as they are identical anti-uber or anti-grab. I ’ ve seen local tuk tuk drivers getting angry when they see tourists being picked up by Grab or Uber drivers. For the food locations – Google Maps will be your best supporter in helping you plot your food hunt in Chiang Mai. All the restaurants and cafe here can be found by merely typing the name on Google Maps.
Renting a minibike or bicycle is besides a good means to get around if you are adventurous ~~~
Best Restaurants in Chiang Mai
Khao Soi Khun Yai
One of the must try items in Chiang Mai is the celebrated Khao Soi – which some can say is Thailand ’ s answer to Laksa in Malaysia. What I like about Khao Soi Khun Yai is the combination of two types of noodles : crisp fried and bouncing flat noodles soaking in a lovely boom. Khao Soi Khun Yai is the most celebrated Khao Soi in Chiang Mai.
Khao Soi Khun Yai ( besides known as Grandma ’ s Khao Soi ) is easy to spot – right in between two temples and just walk in through a hoary gate. Notice that the opening hours are pretty short and they sell out pretty fast ! For me – I was there right at 10am sharp to be one of the first to eat here ! Worth it !
Khao Soi Khun Yai Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 10am – 2pm Closes on Sundays.
Khao Soi Mae Sai
Khao Soi Mae Sai is my darling Khao Soi in Chiang Mai, since it has the richest tasting broth packed with flavor ! It might not have angstrom much crisp crunch as Khun Yai but wins it overall for the strong boldface spirit of the broth. They are very tourist friendly and have English menu to help you with ordering ! The good separate is that you can have a few different types of Chiang Mai specialties in this restaurant alone !
One taste of this and you will be hooked ! My favored Khao Soi in Chiang Mai ~~
Khanom Jeen is another dish that ’ s worth trying here – basically it ’ sulfur rice vermicelli noodles served with curry broth and boiled chicken blood cubes. seriously delectable !
You besides must try the Kao Ngiao here – rice mixed with mince pork barrel, spices and pigs blood, wrapped with banana leaves and steamed. I actually enjoyed this simpleton dish and wished I could bring this back home. sol good !
Khao Soi Mae Sai 29/1 Ratchaphuek Alley, ตำบล ช้างเผือก Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand Opens 8am – 4pm Closes on Sunday
Khao Soi Islam – Halal Khao Soi
right field in the Islamic ( Halal ) street in town near a mosque built by chinese Muslim Settlers ~ you will find Khao Soi Islam specializing in halal Khao Soi. In my opinion, it ’ s not bad but it is not vitamin a good as Khun Yai or Mae Sai ’ s – I ’ thousand recommending it particularly for my Muslim readers. This will be a good target to have other Thai halal dishes ! There will besides be 4-6 other halal restaurants in this sphere.
Khao Soi Islam Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand Opens : 8am to 5pm.
SP Chicken: Chiang Mai’s most famous grilled chicken
I was surprised to hear that Chiang Mai is celebrated for its grill chicken and the most celebrated one is called SP Chicken. You will see rows of rotisserie chicken grilled using charcoal fire right outside the restaurant.
Mmmm the celebrated SP Chicken ~~ it ’ s pretty good but I have to say there ’ randomness another place in Chiang Mai that I prefer – I will introduce that arsenic well ~~
You can besides try other popular Isaan dishes such as this chicken liver salad which was pretty good !
Grab your tom yum gong cook here besides ~~~
SP Chicken Samlan Rd Soi 1, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 10am – 5pm
Cherng Doi Roast Chicken
I ’ ll have to say when it comes to grilled wimp – cipher does it better than Cherng Doi, even the celebrated SP Chicken will have to kow tow to them. The broiled chicken hera has crispier bark, has stronger smoky flavours and is damp in comparison to SP Chicken.
One bite and you will seriously be hook ! seriously one of the best chicken I ’ ve tasted !
Be certain to enjoy the other side dishes hera ! identical good as well. Notice that the dishes are small portions so you can order a few to try !
Their frost thai tea is plainly district attorney bomb ! !
If you are in Chiang Mai – make Cherng Doi your must eat finish ! Do note their afford hours !
Cherng Doi Roast Chicken Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 11am – 10 prime minister, Close on Monday and Friday.
Tong Tem Toh – Northern Thai cuisine
If you want to enjoy Northern Thai Cuisine – look no further than Tong Tem Toh, which happens to be my darling Northern Thai restaurant in Chiang Mai.
Be sure to enjoy the celebrated fermented pork and pork curry ~~ good authentic Northern Thai Cuisine !
Oh my pork belly good ! !
Mmmm pork barrel crackling ~~~
Northern Chiang Mai Sausage ~ Sai Ua ~~ nom nom ~~~
The queue will be pretty retentive during lunch time but I managed to beat the crowd by coming at 7:30am ~~ I know having blue food indeed early in the morning can be crazy but the food is worth waking up early for ! Though those who aren ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate used to heavy breakfast should come in the off vertex hours as Tong Tem Toh is identical popular !
Tong Tem Toh Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 7am – 9pm
Huen Phen – Northern Thai Cuisine
Huen Phen comes recommended by locals for good authentic Northern Thai Cuisine excessively. They have quite a set of Nothern Thai Curries to choose from and you might get overwhelmed by the choice when looking at the menu !
Quite an exotic array of soup as well ~~ For me – I felt the food here is more to the greasy side and some might love it but I would prefer Tong Tem Toh overall, hush Huen Phen offers more variety show in the menu so it ’ randomness worth a hear excessively !
You got ta love long beans and pork barrel crackling salad ~~~
They do have quite refreshing pomelo salad to balance with the greasy food ~~
What impressed me was this kernel stuffed bamboo ~~ trench fried and looks like fried chicken drumsticks ! actually delectable !
Huen Phen 112 Ratchamanka Rd, Tambon Phra Sing, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 8:30am – 4pm, 5pm – 10pm
Yok Fa Noodles
Yok Fa Noodles comes highly recommended from a dear epicure friend Zech, and I am beaming I listened to his advice as this home serves some of the best ratna and noodles I ’ ve tasted !
Stir fried impertinent crisp noodles with pork barrel and omelet ~~ sooo goood !
Oh my Ratna ~~ this is like raise fried kway teow Thai dash but badly beneficial !
This is like washington tangent hor ~~ but the noodles have a cover girl texture. Highly recommended to eat here ! We love this put so much – we had double of every dish ! !
Yok Fa Noodles 196/5/1 Ratchapakhinai Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Lert Ros Grilled Fish and Claypot Soups
If you love barbecued fish ~ Lert Ros is celebrated for their charcoal grilled fish and seafood – american samoa well as claypot tom yam and soup !
Mmm ~~ charcoal grilled seafood ~~~
Enjoy the fish with their gorgeous hot dunk ! Rawr ! ! !
Claypot tom yum soup ~~ ooooh yeshh ~~~
Ribs soup or Tom Yum Soup ~ mmmmm ~~ we ordered both ! LOL
They have grilled fermented pork barrel excessively ~~ ohio yeshhh ! !
Lert Ros Rachadumneon road. Soi 1 Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand Opens : 12pm – 9pm
Khao Kha Moo Chang Phueak – Cowboy Hat Lady’s Pork Leg Stew ~~
The celebrated Cowboy Hat Lady ’ sulfur pork leg fret is one of the must try in Chiang Mai ~~ located at one of the democratic night commercialize with other stalls but this is the most democratic one.
The eggs are actually perfectly cooked to have custardy yolks – which goes wonderfully well with the easy affectionate pork barrel peg stew rice ! I besides ordered pork barrel intestines as a side serve !
Selfie with the living caption of street food in Chiang Mai ~~ Fong Fei Fei according to the signboard ! HAHA !
Khao Kha Moo Chang Phueak – Cowboy Hat Lady ’ s Pork Leg Stew ~~ Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200 Opens : 5pm – 12pm
Rod Yiam Beef Noodles
Rod Yiam gripe noodles has been around for around 60 years in Chiang Mai and they now sell a host of other dishes with English menu to cater to their popularity as they are featured in many guides. The main dish hera is of run their gorgeous gripe noodles in a gorgeous beef bone broth !
Wooooo ~~ a batch of slowly simmering beef waiting to be scooped onto bowl of noodles !
I ordered a potentiometer of beef tendon and gripe brisket as they are the best bits of delectability in your typical gripe soup noodles !
Slurpalicious noodles can be enjoyed with rose milk tea ~~ mmmm ~~
my bro Ronnie loves turkey cock yum so he would order anything with tom yum in it ~~~ hera ’ s their seafood tomyum attic if you fancy ~~ they besides have hot pot here if you come in a big group ~~ its something nice to have !
Rod Yiam Beef Noodles 26 Soi 11, Nimmanhaemin Road Opens 9am – 8pm
David’s Kitchen – Best Restaurant in Asia (Tripadvisor)
I normally don ’ thymine read much into Tripadvisor reviews but for a restaurant to be ranked as number 1 in Asia for Tripadvisor awards is a sure sign that it ’ s a good restaurant. I have to say everything from making a reservation, atmosphere, service and food, value for money was top notch at David ’ s Kitchen. I would put it as the must visit restaurant in Chiang Mai. We had a in truth good meter here and even took picture with the chefs in the kitchen ! One of my biggest regret was not bringing my fully camera gear to shoot the pictures of the food !
The wine they recommended in truth matched the food well for the night
One of the best pumpkin soup I ’ ve tasted. Both Ronnie and Jason were amazed at how a soup can be this full ! veloute of japanese Sweet Pumpkin soup with white truffle foam and crisp pumpkin ~~ the breads were amazing dipped with the soup – wished we ordered bivalent dowry of this !
lightly seared Tuna with lemongrass and greens mango salad ~
Escargots ~~ nyums !
Foie gras with thai mango and figure was quite an unusual combination but worked well !
Prawn Ravioli in lobster cream sauce ~~ *drools*
Braised Wagyu Beef Cheeks in loss wine sauce and identical good squash ! Thumbs up !
Roast pork barrel tenderloin with adorable cherry sauce ~~~
The Cinnamon Panna cotta, strawberry gelatin with chocolate crumble and passion fruit lava was beautifully presented, while achieving a well libra of tart and bouquet.
Their awkward Toffee Pudding was amazing american samoa well ~~ we were truly impressed with how simple it looked in comparison to early desserts but this was our favored !
My dear acquaintance Sherina and her gals besides enjoyed David ’ s Kitchen identical much !
David ’ s Kitchen 113 Bumrungrad Road, Wat Kate, , Mueang Chiang Mai District, 50000, Thailand Opens 5pm – 10pm. Closes on Sunday hypertext transfer protocol : //davidskitchen.co.th/ Be sure to make an early reservation on-line !
Best Cafes in Chiang Mai
Larder Cafe and Bar
The Larder Cafe and Bar is very popular for having good coffee bean and beautiful open confront sandwiches for breakfast. It is a very good set to start your day as it ’ sulfur one of those that open equally early as 8:30am.
Oh you delectable melted cheese and ham open faced sandwich !
beautiful scones to help you start your day ~
Ooo my boo muffin good !
Larder Cafe and Bar 3/9, Sukkasame Rd, Suthep, Chiangmai, 50200, Thailand Opens 8:30am to 3pm
Ristr8to LAB
When it comes to coffee, it ’ s hard to beat Ristr8to LAB for their come of choices and exciting ways to serve coffee bean.
Ahhhh good dawn world ! I love the unique names and descriptions with coffee potency and flavor profiles to help you make your choices !
This gave me a good laugh american samoa well !
Love their skull chocolate glasses ~~~
Ristr8to LAB 14 Nimmanhaemin rd. soi3, Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 8:30am – 7:00 prime minister. Closes on Tuesdays
Fahtara Coffee
Fahtara coffee is a beautiful cafe where you can take lots of great OOTD shots ! It ’ s located precisely correct adjacent to the celebrated Fah Lanna Spa, so you can have chocolate here before or after your amazing pamper resort hotel session ~~
My supporter Ronnie had a dear time posing at the cafe ! LOL !
A great position for chocolate and you indirectly contribute to the community deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as they help support local farmers and their children.
Fahtara Coffee Wiang Kaew Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 8am – 9pm
Kalapela Tea Room
Kalapela Tea Room comes highly recommended by my bestie Sim Yuan for their Mango Sticky Rice Croissant and great place for tea !
They stock good quality teas hera so be indisputable to ask the boss who has worked In Japan before for many years before opening this cover girl tea house !
gorgeous crescent roll with awkward rice, fresh Thai mangoes, mango ice skim and whipped cream ~~ oooh myyyyy gawddd ! !
We ordered the chocolate tea which has a good hint of cocoa naturally ~~ Ronnie here enjoying their epic crescent roll ~~
Be sure to check out their binding garden for OOTD opportunities ! !
Kalapela Tea Room 50200, 141/6 Rachadamnoen Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 10am – 11pm ( they serve sushi at night ! )
Rustic and Blue
countrified and Blue showcases a farm to table concept – where most of the food and drinks comes from their farm to your table. Some of the freshest ingredients you can find ! A very liberal hippie epicure ’ sulfur eden !
gorgeous indoor and outdoor ambiance to chillax !
The food here is food pornography at its best ! You decidedly felt that your must IG this before you eat !
Did person say Chicken and Waffles ? Say hello to Thai inspired fried chicken and waffles with Thai Basil, spices and sauce ! oooohhhhhh yasss !
agrestic and Blue Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 7, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens 8:30 am – 9:30 phase modulation
Nine One Coffee
Another adorable place to have coffee is Nine One Coffee ~~ adorable ambiance to read a book while enjoying chocolate ~~
Digital Nomads topographic point ~~
Focus focus ~~~
Try out their unique Nine One Coffee which uses coconut milk ~~ very very tropical !
Sorry ~~ my coffee is cooler than yours ~~~
Nine One chocolate Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 11, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 8:30 am – 9:30pm
Gallery Seescape and SS1254372 Cafe
Gallery Seescape and SS1254372 Cafe combines the sexual love of art with sexual love of food. I was pretty doubting about the coffee and the food initially as I thought the main concenter of the cafe would be artistic theme but boy I was incorrectly ~~ the food here is pretty good but the chocolate is barely satisfactory in comparison.
art buffs will love to take their OOTDs hera ~~ but I ’ thousand more of a food person so here ’ south pics of the food ~~
Beautiful fruit and muesli smoothie bowl ~~ your colon will be smiling ~ hahaha ~~ progressive hippie smoothie stadium ~~
french toast with fresh fruits ~~ you got ta say the food is an art shape besides !
Gallery Seescape and SS1254372 Cafe 22/1 Nimmanhemin 22/1 ถนน นิมมาน เห มิ น ซอย 17, อำเภอ เมือง จังหวัด เชียงใหม่ Road, Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 8am – 8pm. Closes on Monday
Nakara Jardin Bistro & Salon
Nakara Jardin Bistro & Salon is a classy garden riverbank place for desserts and high tea ~~ you will love the atmosphere equally well as the high tea set here !
beautiful food and great ambiance is bound to put a smile on your font !
A quixotic or girly time together ~~ but who says alone girls can have fun at high gear tea ? !
A adorable combination of classy natural mount that makes this a capital place to come during tea clock time ~~~ *swoons*
Nakara Jardin Bistro & Salon 11 Soi 9, Charoenprathet Rd., , T.Changklan, A.Mueng, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand Opens 11am – 7pm Close on Wednesdays
Woo Cafe-Art Gallery-Lifestyle Shop
A 3 in 1 Cafe that combines coffee food, art gallery and life style workshop but I ’ ll say its besides kinda like a flower garden cafe excessively. very good atmosphere and packed when we got here !
OOTD potential is high here ~~ and there ’ s an art drift upstairs !
Food fresh is a mix of Thai and Western fusion dishes to go with your chocolate. I didn ’ t very try the food here but from reviews and the big herd here I ’ ll say you should give it a try !
woo Cafe-Art Gallery-Lifestyle Shop 80 Charoenrat Road, Watgate, MuangChiangmai, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand Opens 10am – 10pm
Asama Cafe
Asama Cafe is a fiddling bit out of the room but perfect if you want to have breakfast before going to the celebrated Grand Canyon in Chiang Mai. It has adorable riverside views and serves great coffee and cakes !
chocolate and cakes are a good as the river view here ~~~
Hello mother nature ~~~ *sips coffee*
Asama Cafe Mu Ban Chiang Mai Lake Land Alley, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 8am – 4pm
Starbucks Kad Farang
I normally don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate frequent Starbucks franchises during my travels but the Starbucks Coffee at Kad Farang village is one of a kind ! It ’ s besides on the way to the Grand Canyon so it ’ sulfur quite a beneficial pit stop on the way second !
Wished I brought my wide slant lenses with me to show you the look and feel of the topographic point ~~ OOTD desirable at one of the most beautiful Starbucks Coffee arm in Thailand !
Starbucks Kad Farang Ban Waen, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand Opens : 7am – 9pm
Overstand Coffee
Overstand chocolate is a good brunch position for good coffee bean, sandwiches and breakfast pizza ~~~
cover girl breakfast pizza ~~ *drools*
Pulled gripe brisket sandwiches, pizza and coffee bean for brunch ? Yes please !
Overstand Coffee 19/3, Ratchamanka Road Soi 2, Muang, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand Opens : 8am – 3:30pm
Clay Studio Coffee in the Garden
Clay Studio Coffee in the Garden is a cover girl place for the singular ambiance but be wary of mosquitos early in the dawn. We were amazed by the view outside but decided to shift inwardly after being a impermanent buffet spread for the mozzies ~~
A very reasonably position to enjoy clay sculptures ~
food is very bare and down to earth hera in comparison to others ~~
Clay Studio Coffee in the Garden 36 Prapokkloa Rd, Tambon Phra Sing, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Opens : 8am – 6pm
Akha Ama Coffee
If you want to get a taste of local anesthetic Chiang Mai coffee bean, look no further than Akha Ama coffee. They have quite a few branches in Chiang Mai and for me – has some of the most low-cost chocolate beans to take home. For some, they might regard Chiang Mai as a good place for fourth roll coffee, where roasters and farmers have good relationships to bring the chocolate culture to chocolate lovers !
The Cold Brew is adorable here ~~
My bros had indeed much playfulness enjoying the big chocolate culture at Akha Ama ~~
Grab some bags of beans base for your own chocolate ~~ bring a bit of Chiang Mai home plate ~~
Akha Ama 9/1 Mata Apartment, Hassadhisawee Rd, Soi 3, ถ.หัสดิเสวี ซอย 3, Changphuak, Muang ช้างเผือก, เมือง, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand Opens : 8am to 6pm Closes on Wednesdays. bill they have early branches in Chiang Mai – google map your nearest branch !
Ponganes Coffee Roaster
Ponganes is one of the most serious coffee roaster in Chiang Mai and you are sure to get an authentic fourthly wave coffee experience here where they bring you the best of Loas and Chiang Mai farmed coffee beans !
I was very lucky to try out a very good Chiang Mai coffee bean beans sourced from a local farmer where they don ’ t habit much machinery to process the coffee bean berries. The sample was seriously epic in comparison to some of the coffees I ’ ve tasted but unfortunately it ’ s not available in big quantities so I can ’ thymine buy the beans home ~~ the good news is – you can have it within the cafe IF there is hush stock left ( they tell me that these don ’ t final very farseeing as throngs of coffee lovers will come over for them )
They don ’ triiodothyronine have food on the menu as this is strictly a coffee enthusiast ’ south cafe but it is worth the travel !
Ponganes Coffee Roasters 133/, 204/5 Ratchapakhinai Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai District, 50200, Thailand Opens : 10am – 4:30pm Closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
I hope my guide to eating and cafe hop in Chiang Mai has helped you in your inquiry for the most delectable travel in Chiang Mai ! Be surely to follow me on Instagram and check out my other food travel guides in major cities in Asia !
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