Best Of
Top 10 Khao Soi in Chiang Mai: Where to Eat the Best Bowls
Ten Chiang Mai shops known for khao soi, from Bib Gourmand Mae Sai in Chang Phueak to the old riverside shops of Fa Ham and the halal favourite in Ban Haw.
9 min read
City guide
Where to eat in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the capital of northern Thai food, and the cooking tastes different from Bangkok's: less sweet and more herbal, built on sticky rice, chilli dips such as nam prik noom and nam prik ong, grilled sausage and slow curries made without coconut milk, like gaeng hang lay. The city is also the home of khao soi, the curried egg noodle soup with a crisp noodle topping that most visitors come looking for.
Here you will find the Top 10 lists for Chiang Mai, the restaurants and markets on the site, and our guide to northern Thai food. Many of the best khao soi shops open only for breakfast and lunch, and markets such as Warorot are busiest in the morning, so plan to eat early.
Top 10 lists for Chiang Mai
Best Of
Top 10 Sai Oua in Chiang Mai: Where to Eat Northern Thai Sausage
Where to find the best sai oua in Chiang Mai, from a sausage seller at Warorot Market to northern Thai restaurants that serve the herb sausage with sticky rice.
9 min read
Places to eat in Chiang Mai
Restaurants
Huen Muan Jai
A Michelin Bib Gourmand northern Thai restaurant in a wooden Lanna house and garden, covering the full range of Lanna dips, soups and curries.
฿฿ · Michelin Bib Gourmand · Lanna wooden house
Markets
Warorot Market (Kad Luang)
Chiang Mai's big central market by the Ping River, packed with northern sausages, chilli dips, pork crackling and fresh produce.
฿ · Market since 1910 · Northern Thai snacks
Street Food
Nam Ngiao Yong
A Michelin-listed stall in Siri Wattana Market serving khanom jeen nam ngiao, the tangy pork and tomato noodle soup of the north.
฿ · Michelin Guide selected · Cash only
Restaurants
Kiat Ocha
A long-established old city shop behind the Three Kings Monument, known for Hainanese chicken rice and generous pork satay.
฿ · Hainanese chicken rice · Breakfast and lunch
Street Food
Khao Kha Moo Chang Phueak (Cowboy Hat Lady)
The famous evening stall at Chang Phueak Gate where a cook in a cowboy hat ladles out braised pork leg over rice.
฿ · Evening only · Night market stall
Restaurants
Tong Tem Toh
A busy Nimman restaurant serving northern Thai dips, curries and grilled meats, popular with locals and visitors from breakfast to late.
฿฿ · Northern Thai · Nimman
Restaurants
Huen Phen
A long-running old city restaurant south of Wat Chedi Luang, serving northern Thai curries, dips and sausages in a house full of antiques.
฿฿ · Northern Thai · Old city
Restaurants
SP Chicken
A small Isaan shop near Wat Phra Singh whose whole gai yang, roasted on a vertical charcoal rotisserie, earned it a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
฿ · Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 · Isaan food
Restaurants
Cherng Doi Roast Chicken
A casual grilled chicken restaurant off Nimmanhaemin, known for crisp-skinned gai yang, fried papaya salad and sticky rice.
฿฿ · Grilled chicken · Near Nimman
Restaurants
Khao Soi Lamduan Fah Ham
One of the old Fah Ham khao soi shops on the east bank of the Ping River, serving the curry noodle soup for more than 70 years.
฿ · Over 70 years old · Riverside Fah Ham
Restaurants
Khao Soi Islam
A halal Thai-Muslim canteen in the Ban Haw quarter near the Night Bazaar, serving khao soi alongside biryani, oxtail soup and satay.
฿ · Halal · Muslim quarter
Street Food
Khao Soi Khun Yai
A no-frills lunchtime khao soi stall inside the old city's north-east corner, open only four hours a day and often sold out before closing.
฿ · Lunch only · Sells out early
Street Food
Khao Soi Mae Sai
A small, plain khao soi shop near Chang Phueak that holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its rich, gently spiced curry noodle soup.
฿ · Michelin Bib Gourmand · Cash only
