Khantoke Dinner at Khum Khantoke

A trip to Chiang Mai would not be complete without enjoying delicious Northern Thai food while watching splendid performances featuring various traditional dances and hill tribe culture shows at a Khantoke Dinner."Khan" means bowl and "toke" means a low round table, and is a traditional way of having a meal in the North of Thailand. Several dishes are placed on the table for the diners to share.

At Khum Khantoke, these dishes include a delicious Chiang Mai style pork curry, deep fried chicken, crispy pork skin, crispy rice noodle, sticky rice and several other dishes. There is also a recess under the low table so you'll be able to sit normally.

The modern Khantoke dinner was started in 1953 by a Chiang Mai business man and Lanna Thai scholar Kraisri Nimmanhaeminda who at thetime held a party to entertain some VIPs. A few years later, folk dancing was included in the entertainment program, in a similar style
to Khantoke dinners today.

Dances performed include Candle Dance; War Dance; Tee (Umbrella) Dance; an episode from one of the greatest Thai literary work, the Ramakian; Hill tribe Dance; Sword Dance, Sueng Ka Pho (using half coconut shells as instruments), and Rumwong.

I had the opportunity to attend a Khantoke Dinner at Khum Khantoke the other night, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The dinner and show took place in a beautiful hall decorated in the traditional Lanna (Northern Thai) style. The food was quite nice, and you have unlimited refills. It was also fascinating to watch the dance performances with the dancers decked out in beautiful costumes. 

Afterwards, we also have the opportunity to release Khom Loys. These are paper balloons that are released into the night sky as a way of paying respect to the Goddess of the River, and to float away your troubles.

139 Moo 4, Nong Pakrang Subdistrict, Muang District

Phone: 053 304 121