Pai restaurants

Escape the wheatgrass-and-tofu crowd at this unabashedly carnivorous local eatery. The house special is 'larp moo kua', northern-style lâhp (minced pork fried with herbs and spices). Accompanied by sticky rice, bitt…

Meat-free takes on international dishes, fresh-pressed juices, a pleasant shaded garden, a noticeboard advertising yoga classes, the odd hippy: basically everything you’d expect at a place called Om Garden, except t…

Burgers are a big deal in Pai and our arduous research has concluded that Maya does the best job. Everything is homemade, from the soft, slightly sweet buns to the rich garlic mayo that accompanies the thick-cut fri…

Cafecito serves tasty Tex-Mex staples – fish tacos, burritos and quesadillas – as well as Mexican breakfasts, all overseen by an American. This is Pai, so there are veggie options too, and it also doubles as a pleas…

Kefir, kombucha, beet juice and wheatgrass are indicators of the vibe of this eclectic and popular cafe. But coffee, herbal teas, soft drinks and alcohol are also available, as is a thick menu of Thai and internatio…

Chew Xin Jai stands out from Pai's ever-increasing number of vegan/veggie eating spots by virtue of its Chinese take on vegetarian cuisine, with Taiwanese fried rice, dumplings, spring rolls and a faux duck soup. Th…

Emulate local families and come to this classy home-based restaurant at the southern end of town on the edge of the fields. Dishes such as stewed salted crabs in coconut milk and a salad of banana flower, shrimp and…

A long-standing restaurant that's well used to foreigners, Nong's is a reliable go-to option for cheap and authentic Thai eats, ranging from kôw soy (curried noodles) to curries ladled over rice. There's a reasonab…

There's a big wine list at this upmarket, brick-walled, cement-floored, European-style bistro. The menu is what you'd expect: well-presented Mediterranean dishes, tapas and steaks. Service is good and the sophistica…

The slightly eccentric Na – who doesn't always open her restaurant daily – cooks her Thai and Northern Thai dishes with love and serves them up in a no-frills, semi-open-air restaurant that's laid-back yet busy with…