Restaurants in Chiang Rai Province
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Sabay Dee
Stick around long enough, and it seems like just about everybody in Chiang Khong stops by this family-run cart for a bag of curry or chili dip to take home. For those who don’t live here, the owners are more than happy to provide dishes and seating. Prepared by natives of Chiang Khong, you’re at the mercy of whatever local dishes they’ve made that day, but if you’re lucky you’ll get to try the delicious gaang hŏoa Ъlee, banana flower soup, or a spicy northern-style lâhp made from pork, buffalo or fish (raw or cooked – your call). Regardless, make it an early dinner, as choices become slimmer the darker it gets. Sabay Dee has no English sign, but is located di…
reviewed
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Sue Hai
This very simple family-run teashop-cum-Yunnanese place has an English-language menu of local specialities including local mushroom fried with soy sauce, or the delicious air-dried pork fried with fresh chilli. They also do filling and tasty bowls of homemade noodles. It's roughly in the middle of town.
reviewed
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A
Phu-Lae
This air-conditioned restaurant is exceedingly popular with Thai tourists for its tasty, but slightly gentrified northern Thai fare. Recommended local dishes include the gaang hang·lair, pork belly in a rich Burmese-style curry, here served with pickled garlic, and sâi òo·a, herb-packed sausages.
reviewed
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Khao Soi Islam
This friendly Muslim restaurant serves the usual beef and chicken versions of the eponymous noodle dish; for something a bit different try Ъah·Ъah soy,kôw soy served with thick noodles made from brown rice. They do several other Muslim dishes as well, and dining entertainment involves listening to the staff converse in a mixture of Chinese, northern Thai, central Thai and Burmese.
reviewed
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B
Loong It
To eat like a local, look no further than this rustic but delicious northern-style food shack. There’s an English-language menu on the wall, but don’t miss the sublime lâhp gài, minced chicken fried with herbs and topped with crispy deep-fried shallots and garlic. The restaurant is on Th Phranorn near the intersection with the Superhighway; look for a sign that says ‘Local Food’.
reviewed
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Paa Suk
This immensely popular third-generation restaurant specialises in the local dish kà·nŏm jeen nám ngée·o, a thin broth of pork or beef and tomatoes served over fresh rice noodles. The restaurant is between Soi 4 and Soi 5 of Th Sankhongnoi (the street is called Th Sathanpayabarn where it intersects with Th Phahonyothin); look for the yellow sign.
reviewed
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Jinda's Kitchen
This cosy roadside restaurant has been serving up local dishes for more than 50 years. Try the famous northern noodle dishes kôw soy or kà·nŏm jeen nám ngèe·o, or choose a curry or homemade sausage from the English-language menu. Jinda's Kitchen is roughly halfway between Chiang Saen and Sop Ruak.
reviewed
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Nangnuan
The menu here boasts that the restaurant is 'At the first great catfish's reproduction place', but it isn't all about sexy locality; they also do some tasty food. Freshwater fish from the Mekong is the emphasis here, and it's prepared in a variety of ways, as the extensive English-language menu describes.
reviewed
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Bamboo Mexican House
Run by the manager of a now-defunct guest house, the chef of this tiny restaurant/bakery learned to make Mexican dishes from her American and Mexican guests. To be honest, though, we never got past the delicious homemade breads and cakes. Opens early, and boxed lunches can be assembled for the boat ride to Luang Prabang.
reviewed
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C
Cham Cha
This casual little hole-in-the-wall is good for breakfast or lunch. It has all the usual Thai and Chinese standards, along with a few Isan dishes that are not on the English menu, such as lâhp (spicy minced-meat salad) and sôm·đam (spicy green papaya salad), plus ice cream.
reviewed
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Sukhothai Noodles
This open-air restaurant serves the namesake noodles from Sukhothai, as well as satay and a few other basic dishes. A picture menu shows the varieties of noodles available, and the pictures on the wall are of the owner’s daughter. Look for the busy pink restaurant opposite S-House Hotel.
reviewed
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Lomtawan
If you don't require river views, this cosy, candlelit home is a great dinner option. The English-language menu is extensive and includes daring options such as green curry with salmon. Stay late, and the soundtrack becomes live and the place gradually transforms into an intimate bar.
reviewed
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Song Fang Khong
In Sop Ruak, Song Fang Khong and Rim Khong are two sŏo·an ah·hăhn (food garden-style) riverside restaurants, off the river road from Chiang Saen. Both offer extensive menus of Thai, Chinese and Isan food. Bring your Thai-language skills.
reviewed
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D
Kiaw Siang Hai
Serving the workers of Chinese boats that dock at Chiang Saen, this authentic Chinese restaurant prepares a huge menu of dishes in addition to the namesake noodle and wonton dishes. Try the spicy Szechuan-style fried tofu, or one of the Chinese herbal soups. The restaurant can be located by the giant ceramic jars out front.
reviewed
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E
Ah Ying
This tiny family-run restaurant specialises in delicious hand-pulled noodles. Topped with a spicy minced pork mixture, they’re a great breakfast. There’s no English sign; simply look for the Chinese cooks busy stretching and flinging lengths of dough.
reviewed
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Sweet Maesalong
If you require a considerably higher degree of caffeine than the local tea leaves can offer, stop by this cosy modern cafe with an extensive menu of coffee drinks using local beans. Surprisingly sophisticated baked goods and dishes are also available. Sweet Maesalong is roughly in the middle of town.
reviewed
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F
Old Dutch
This cosy, foreigner-friendly restaurant is a good choice if you're tired of rice. There's a variety of well-done Dutch and other Western-style dishes, as well as a good attached bakery.
reviewed
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Ying Ping Yunnan Restaurant
For a special night out, head to this banquet-style Chinese restaurant. The menu here features a variety of exotic-sounding dishes you're unlikely to find elsewhere, as well as humble Yunnan-style noodle soup.
reviewed
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Khrua Bismillah
Run by Burmese Muslims, this tiny restaurant does an excellent biryani, not to mention virtually everything else Muslim, from roti to samosa. There’s no English sign, simply look for the green halal sign.
reviewed
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G
Nakhon Pathom
Named after a central-Thailand city, Nakhon Pathom is very popular for inexpensive kôw man gài (chicken rice) and gŏo·ay đěe·o Ъèt yâhng (roast duck with rice noodles).
reviewed
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H
Rosprasoet
This Thai-Muslim restaurant next to the mosque on Th Itsaraphap dishes up delicious Thai-Muslim favourites, including kôw mòk gài, the Thai version of chicken biryani.
reviewed
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Mae Salong Villa
With dishes such as duck smoked over tea leaves, the restaurant at this hotel, located east of the town centre, is said to do the most authentic Yunnanese food in town.
reviewed
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Kik Kok Restaurant
This restaurant prepares a huge selection of Thai dishes, including several vegetarian options, and has an English menu.
reviewed
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Mae Sai Riverside Resort
Recommended for its Thai dishes, like the tasty lemon-grass fried fish, this restaurant has a great location looking out over a river to Myanmar.
reviewed
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I
Somkhuan Khao Soi
Friendly Mr Somkhuan serves a tasty bowl of kôw soy, a northern Thai curry noodle dish, from a basic street stall under two giant trees.
reviewed
