Chiang Khan
One of our favourite restaurants in Loei Province. There's a full Isan menu but its speciality is đôrng dêng noodles (a super-thick version of kà·nŏm jeen…
Must-see restaurants in Northeastern Thailand
Northeastern Thailand
Also known as Som Tom Mae Pet, this simple Isan restaurant by Wat Salaloi is Surin's most famous purveyor of sôm·đam (spicy green-papaya salad) and gài…
Northeastern Thailand
It’s a bit of a trek south of the centre, but this is a real Isan restaurant with dishes such as gôry kài mót daang (raw meat 'salad' with red-ant eggs)…
Khon Kaen
This superb place combines one of the best kitchens in town with a covered garden to create the perfect place for a night out, rain or shine. The þá·sá…
Northeastern Thailand
Contender for the best cafe in Isan, this coffee shop and restaurant has a wonderful lakeside perch and is serious about its beans (all Thai-grown). It's…
Khon Kaen
This popular, no-frills local joint is always busy for good reason – there's no better sôm·đam in Khon Kaen. It also does grilled chicken, sticky rice and…
Khon Kaen
Many Thais believe Khon Kaen Province makes Thailand's best gài yâhng (marinated grilled chicken), and this simple joint, serving an all-Isan menu, gets…
Udon Thani
This small chef-driven, open-kitchen place is Isan's version of a trendy Soho bistro. It does some Thai and Isan standards like panang curry and om curry…
Loei Province
As busy as the street it sits on, this large open-fronted place serves not only the rice soup (kôw đôm) it's named after, but dozens of other dishes too…
Northeastern Thailand
This Thai-trendy cafe in the old bus station (by the clock tower) surprises with retro American furniture, delicious Thai dishes, fresh salads and good…
Ubon Ratchathani
An Ubon institution serving excellent food, using family recipes and only fresh ingredients. Many people swear by the ox-tongue stew. From the outside it…
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)
One of a number of funky little cafes on this stretch of Th Yommarat, Daya's is a friendly place that serves good strong coffee, but it's the delicious…
Loei Province
This funky streetside cafe does great coffee and spectacularly good fresh-fruit smoothies, as well as homemade cookies and cakes and a couple of types of…
Udon Thani
The largest of Udon Thani's many night markets is also the one offering the most varied cuisine. There's a stage for live music as well. A few shops serve…
Chiang Khan
This place has been popular with locals since long before the tourism boom. The prices have risen a bit since those good old days and the building has…
Northeastern Thailand
Mukdahan's night market is the most buzzing place in town for evening food. It has all the Thai and Isan classics, but it's the Vietnamese vendors that…
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
This friendly newcomer has a cafe vibe but with restaurant-quality food and is the best place in town for a meal. The speciality is the delicious pad mee…
Nong Khai
This little place, serving just four items, including fried spring rolls, khâo gee·ab þahk mŏr (fresh noodles with pork), and a Vietnamese take on a…
Khon Kaen
This popular Isan restaurant right beside Wat Nong Wang and overlooking the lake from its upstairs terrace has a menu spanning gài yâhng and duck lâhp as…
Ubon Ratchathani
It looks like a tornado has whipped through this no-frills spot, but the chefs cook up a storm of their own. This is considered by many to be Ubon's…
Loei Province
This pleasant, friendly cafe serves excellent locally grown coffee and delicious baked goods, and has a full Thai menu (in English).
Northeastern Thailand
Foodies in town on a weekend should make this popular market their breakfast destination. Although there's a variety of food available, Isan dishes are…
Udon Thani
There are many restaurants serving fa·ràng food in the Central Plaza/Soi Farang area, but we far prefer this small mother-and-daughter operation 2km south…
Udon Thani
A garden restaurant where groups of friends come to eat, drink and eat some more. The menu covers the usual Thai and Isan options plus some less common…
Nakhon Phanom Province
That Phanom's largest restaurant is set up for tour groups, but the food is excellent (mostly Vietnamese; some Isan) and the menu is in English. Leo, one…
Northeastern Thailand
This no-frills local favourite has been dishing up chicken and rice, and other simple but tasty Thai staples, for more than 50 years. Specialities include…
Nong Khai
Docked down below Mut Mee Garden Guesthouse, this floating restaurant specialises in Thai and Isan fish dishes, and though the prices are a bit high, the…
Khon Kaen
This buzzing little lakeside evening market features a whole stretch of street-food stalls selling everything from barbecued skewers and grilled fish to…
Nakhon Phanom
This popular restaurant has gone through many incarnations during its 25 years – the current is colourful and classy and it feels more Bangkok than Nakhon…
Udon Thani
On the lake's east shore, this sprawling restaurant offers all the usual Thai dishes, but also many you've probably never tried, such as fish-stomach…
Nakhon Phanom
This no-frills place is a great choice for down-home Isan food with what must be a contender for best gài yâhng (grilled chicken) in Nakhon Phanom. And as…
Nakhon Phanom
Classic, chaotic place with a full selection of Vietnamese dishes including the titular năam neu·ang (assemble-it-yourself pork spring rolls). Come in the…
Ubon Ratchathani
Mu kratha (หมูกระทะ) or 'pork pan' is very popular in Thailand. It's a combination of Korean barbeque and Chinese hotpot where you cook your own food on a…
Ubon Ratchathani
Not really a cafe, this bustling breakfast stop serves kôw đôm (rice soup), gŏo·ay đĕe·o (noodle soup), kài gà·tá (pan egg with sausage) and traditional…
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)
Not your ordinary fa·ràng hangout in Isan, this Swiss-owned spot is a proper restaurant, not just a bar that also serves food. Run by a chef, it aims high…
Udon Thani
This delightful place defies categories. The interior decor looks like a mixture of Moroccan and art nouveau, with its whimsical tiling and frosted…
Khao Yai National Park
This open-air hut is hugely popular with visiting Bangkokians because of both the quality of the food and the emphasis on healthy eating, with choices…
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)
With both variety (Thai, Isan and more) and quality, many locals consider this Khorat's best night market. Most customers are here for takeaway, but there…
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)
This hipster burger joint is young and friendly and does a range of juicy burgers, including crispy fried chicken and pulled pork, each cooked on a grill…
Northeastern Thailand
The menu is mostly Thai with lots of Mekong River fish on offer – the chuchi curry with catfish is one of the house specialities. There are several Isan…
