Restaurants in Mae Hong Son Province
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Baan Benjarong
This converted house serving central Thai dishes is where the locals come for a ‘nice’ Thai meal. Dishes like stewed, salted crabs in coconut milk, and spicy banana flower salad are delectable. Out the back are tables with views of the rice paddies.
reviewed
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All About Coffee
This tiny wooden place was probably the first business to do the cutesy ‘bohemian’ style that now dominates much of Pai. Come here for eye-opening coffee drinks and the best French toast in town. Yummy open sandwiches are made with homemade bread.
reviewed
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Big's Little Cafe
Big does largely English-influenced Western dishes, from bacon butties to burgers, not to mention breakfasts and a tasty homemade sausage.
reviewed
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Yunnanese Restaurant
This open-air place in the Chinese village of Ban Santichon serves the traditional dishes of the town's Yunnanese residents. Standouts include màntŏ (steamed buns), here served with pork leg stewed with Chinese herbs. There are several dishes using unique local crops and other dishes involving exotic ingredients such as black chicken. Or you could always go for the excellent noodles, made by hand and topped with a delicious mixture of minced pork, garlic and sesame. The restaurant is in an open-air adobe building behind the giant rock in Ban Santichon, about 4km west of Pai.
reviewed
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Baan Phleng
A branch of the excellent Mae Hong Son restaurant of the same name, this popular place does a mix of northern Thai and Mae Hong Son–specific dishes. To go truly local, try the ‘fern salad Maehongson style’, tender ferns par-boiled and mixed with a dressing combining sesame oil, dried chili and garlic, or ‘pork and tomato chili paste’, the Shan dish known locally as nám prík òrng. There’s an English-language menu with photos if you feel you’re treading in unfamiliar waters.
reviewed
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Laap Khom Huay Pu
Escape the dreadlocks and tofu crowd and get your meat on at this unabashedly carnivorous local eatery. The house special, and the dish you must order, is lâhp kôo·a, minced meat (beef or pork) fried with local herbs and spices. Accompanied by a basket of sticky rice, a plate of bitter herbs and a cold Singha, it's the best meal in Pai. The restaurant is on the road to Mae Hong Son, about 1km north of town, just past the turn-off to Sipsongpanna.
reviewed
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A
Ban Phleng
This popular open-air restaurant does a handful of very tasty local dishes – you're safe going with anything that says 'Maehongson style' on the English-language menu. Ban Phleng is just south of town – look for the white banners at the side of the road.
reviewed
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Nong Beer
The atmosphere at this extremely popular place is akin to a food court (you have to exchange cash for tickets, and everything is self-serve), but it's a good place for cheap and authentic Thai eats ranging from kôw soy to curries ladled over rice. Open until they run out of food – usually about 8pm.
reviewed
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Burger House
If you are hankering after a big juicy burger this is the place to come. Try the super-high Barbarian Burger with its two quarter pounders, two cheeses and special sauce. Or if you need a fortifying breakfast, go for the Truck Driver Special, which will probably take most of the morning to get through.
reviewed
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The Sanctuary
The local/organic dishes at this new-agey quasi-veggie restaurant are rather expensive by local standards, but the cakes and coffee are tasty, and the free wi-fi and, yes, free yoga lessons (10.30am Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) are a good deal. There’s also a variety of live music on most nights.
reviewed
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Salween River Restaurant
The menu here spans just about everything, ranging from excellent organic hill-tribe coffee to baked goods, local-style Shan specialities and imaginative Western dishes. The menu is also very strong on vegetarian options. The owners are very friendly and are a good source of information.
reviewed
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Gee Lee Restaurant
This was one of the first places in Mae Aw to serve the town's Yunnanese-style Chinese dishes to visitors. Stewed pork leg and stir-fried local veggies are the specialities. It's at the corner of the lake, just before the intersection that leads to the centre of the village.
reviewed
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C
Coriander in Redwood
The city's poshest restaurant, this attractive wooden structure makes a big deal of its steaks, but we'd suggest sticking with Thai dishes such as the various nám prík (chilli-based dips). There's also ice cream and iced coffee drinks for an afternoon cooler.
reviewed
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Mae Si Bua
Like the Shan grandma you never had, Auntie Bua prepares a huge variety of different Shan curries, soups and dips on a daily basis. Try her delicious gaang hang·lair, an incredibly rich curry of pork belly with a flavour not unlike American-style barbecue sauce.
reviewed
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Amido's Pizza Garden
Considering how far Pai is from Naples, we reckon they do a pretty damn good pizza here.
reviewed
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E
Fern Restaurant
The Fern is almost certainly Mae Hong Son's most upscale restaurant, but remember, this is Mae Hong Son. Nonetheless, service is professional and the food is decent. The expansive menu covers Thai, local and even European dishes. There is live lounge music some nights.
reviewed
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Inthira Restaurant
Probably the town's best restaurant, this place features a strong menu of dishes using unusual ingredients such as locally grown shiitake mushrooms and fish from the Mae Nam Moei. Everything's tasty, the prices are low and the setting cosy and informal.
reviewed
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Je-In Pai
Opposite the District Office, this simple open-air place serves tasty and cheap vegan and vegetarian Thai food. During lunch, choose from the metal trays out front. There's good fruit and soy milk shakes too.
reviewed
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G
Ban Rao
For an authentic Thai dinner minus the spice, head to this homey riverside restaurant. The English-language menu touches on just about everything, from familiar curries to the more exotic yam sôm oh, a Thai-style salad of pomelo.
reviewed
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Cake Go “O”
This Muslim-run bakery serves decent baked treats (try the oatmeal scones), coffee and light meals. There are a couple of other Muslim bakeries in town, although the others don’t have quite as many entertaining signposted house rules.
reviewed
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Border
Next to Lemon Hill and run by an English and Thai couple, this formerly bare-bones beer shack has expanded to serving coffee and food. There’s free wi-fi and it’s also the place to find out about what’s going on around Soppong.
reviewed
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Fair Book
Although atmosphere is non-existent, this place has real coffee and the best selection of English-language newspapers, making it a favourite place to catch up with the outside world. They also do good Thai-style breakfasts.
reviewed
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Mama Falafel
This friendly native of Pai has been cooking up tasty felafel, hummus, schnitzel and other Jewish/Israeli faves since 2002. Set meals win in both quality and quantity. Come on Friday and Saturday when she does hamin, the Jewish stew, accompanied by challah bread.
reviewed
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Kai Mook
This open-air restaurant just off the main street combines a lengthy menu with a fun atmosphere. Try dishes such as đôm yam made with fish from the Mae Nam Pai, or wild boar fried with curry paste.
reviewed
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Sawadee Restaurant & Bar
Like a beachside bar, this is a great place to recline with a beer and watch the water (in this case the Mae Nam Yuam). There's a lengthy menu with lots of options for vegetarians.
reviewed
