Mitmai Yunnanese Restaurant

Mitmai Yunnanese Restaurant is quite an institution in the centre of town. Opened 30 years ago, the restaurant has been featured in quite a few publications, including the Lonely Planet. The food is certainly quite good there, and is worth going if you feel like some Chinese food, or have a break from Thai food!

Don't expect that your dishes will be rushed out quickly though, because we had to wait a little. When we were there was only one waitress serving 3 tables.

The waitress recommended Ka Moo with mantou (Pork stew in five spice and chinese steamed buns) - The pork leg was good, and not too much fat, but what made it special was dipping the mantou in the sauce. We had both the steamed mantou and the deep-fried version, and decided that both were good. The steamed mantou was smooth in texture - not the best I had, but certainly right up there. The deep-fried mantou was great, and very nice when dipped in the sauce.

We also had Deep-fried Chinese Mushrooms (very nice and tasty), Stir-fried Chayote shoot (also very nicely done) and a dish called Tom Som Yod Ma Praw (Coconut shoot with prawns in spicy and sour soup). The soup was quite different, and perhaps needs a bit of getting used to. I noticed later that the soup is also listed a "to try" item in the Lonely Planet. I, however, would recommend it only if you feel a bit adventurous and want to try something a bit different. Don't get me wrong, the soup wasn't bad, and I can probably get to like it - it just had an interesting flavour!

The total bill came to a reasonable 550 baht for 5 people (no alcohol).

If you've been to Mitmai, please let us know what you think via the comment section below. What dishes would you recommend?


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42/2 Ratchanmakha Rd, Muang, Chiang Mai

Tel: 053 206253

Khao Soy - yummy Chiang Mai Curry Noodles

Khao Soy is one of those famous Chiang Mai dishes that you must try when visiting Chiang Mai. It's as an egg-noodle dish served with chicken, pork or beef, in rich curry broth and topped with crispy noodles. Very delicious!

This blog gives a mouthwatering description and detailed information about Khao Soy & some great photos!

Kao Soy restaurants are everywhere in Chiang Mai, and the dish is served in many restaurants.

Here are some specialty places you might want to check out:

Khao Soy Lamduon

This is undoubtedly my personal favourite Khao soy restaurant. The curry broth is rich and full of flavour - so delicious! 30 baht/dish.

Faharm Road, Chiang Mai.

You'll also be able to enjoy their Khao Soy at Central Airport Plaza's food court.

Khao Soy Samoer Jai

Another local favourite, just down the road from Khao Soy Lamduon. Also very good and delicious Khao Soy. 30 baht/dish.

Faharm Road, Chiang Mai

Just Khao Soy

This is a very nice restaurant. The food is of a very high quality, and makes Khao Soy more accessible to the Western palate who may not be able to handle the richness and spiciness of the typical local Khao Soy. There are two types of broths to choose from, and you are given condiments that you can add to suit your taste. Each dish is around 100 baht, but still great value considering the serving is more than twice of what you'd get with "local" Khao Soy dishes. You'll also be getting air-conditioning and nice service! See our review.

108 Charoen phratet Road, Chang Klan, Chiang Mai, Thailand

8 Recommended Thai Restaurants to try in Chiang Mai

There are so many wonderful restaurants in Chiang Mai. Here are my personal suggestions of places try during your vacation in Chiang Mai. It's not in any particular order - just what comes first to mind. By the way, I don't get paid by the restaurants, just writing about places I enjoy going to. Hope you will enjoy them too!

If you have suggestions or recommendations yourself, or any comments on the restaurants on the list, please make a comment!

Please contact us for a cultural/gourmet tour of Chiang Mai!

Saenkham Terrace

Fantastic Thai & Northern Thai food. The restaurant is nicely decorated in Lanna style and overlooks Doi Suthep Mountain. Fine dining experience in warm and friendly atmosphere. Some dishes to try: Deep-fried shiitake mushroom (really, really nice!), Pad Thai, Mee Grob (Thai crispy noodles), Green Curry - order some roti with it.

Price range: 100-200 baht per dish

Location: Nai Fan Village Club House (Canal Road - towards the south). Tel: 053 838 990

There's another branch at Hillside 2, 183 Nimmanhaemin Rd, Chiang Mai

Ruan Pae II

This Thai restaurant is next to a lake on the 2nd Ring Road. Decor quite simple and you'll be sitting in plastic chairs. Lovely lake views and relaxing atmosphere though, and very nice food. Try: my favourite - Gaeng Som Pla Chon (deep fried serpent head fish in spicy & sour soup), Nam Tod (deep fried pickled pork), Tod man pla (Thai fish cakes).

Price: 50-100 baht per dish

Location: 2nd Ring Road between Ruam Chok Plaza and Mae Rim intersection. Tel: 053 115 194

There's another branch (Ruan Pae I) near San Kamphaeng Rd, so this would be an ideal stop for lunch if you're over that way shopping.

Satesinlp Restaurant (lunch)

This is one of my favourite lunch time restaurant. Satesinlp (pronouned Satesin) is an open air garden restaurant. Air-conditioned rooms also available. The menu offers standard Thai lunch time dishes - various noodle and rice dishes - pad thai, various fried rices, etc, as well as yummy appetisers. Meals are simple but high quality and delicious! They've recently extended their menu - more of a reason to keep going back! If you're worried about hygiene, don't. It's super clean.

Price: most dishes are about 45 baht, but can be up to 100 baht.

Location: San Kamphaeng Rd - another ideal place to go when you're out that way shopping.

Pongyang Ang Doi

This is the place to go if you're in the Mae Sa area. The restaurant is in the Pongyang Ang Doi resort. It's an open air restaurant overlooking a waterfall. Wonderful atmosphere! The food is great too. My favourite is the Deep fried sun-dried pork strips - a Northern Thailand dish. They make it so well the pork is lovely and tender. Gaeng Hung Lay (Burmese Pork Curry) is also very nice here - tastes very different to the other restaurants.

You'll be able to go down to explore the waterfall as well.

Price: dishes are around 100 baht up.

Location: Mae Rim. Tel: 053 879 151

Udommit

This is fast becoming one of my favourite restaurants. Extensive menu with modern Thai cuisine as well as traditional dishes. Great food and great atmosphere (and great price!). See our review.

Price: most are around 60-85 baht

Location: 2nd floor, Nim City Daily (near Airport Plaza) Tel: 053 201 788

Hong Taew Inn

Nice Northern Thai restaurant with nostalgic 20s setting on trendy Nimanhaemin Road. Great place for dinner or lunch. Try the Pomello Salad, Fried naem (deep fried pickled pork).

Price: around 80-100 baht per dish

Location: Nimanhaemin Road opposite Nimanhaemin Soi 1. Tel: 053 218 333

Lemon Tree

Nice and bright restaurant with yellow and blue theme. Great food and great value! Try Gaeng Paa Luk Tung Gai (Jungle curry with free-range chicken) - warning- very spicy, but delicious!; Stir-fried vermicelli with salted egg.

Price: 65-140 baht per dish

Location: 26/1-2 Huay Kaew Rd, not too far from the shopping centre. Tel: 053 222 009

Ban Suan Mae Rim

Charming restaurant by the Ping River with great views. They also do Western food and Western/Thai Fusion. The food is great and the restaurant played host to the Thai Royal Family and President of Singapore.

Price: around 150 baht-1000 baht per dish. A little bit pricey, especially for Chiang Mai, but worth it.

Location: North of city by the Ping River (access via 2nd Ring Road near Mae Rim exit). Tel: 053 854 169

Udommit

This is a terrific Northern Thai & Thai restaurant. I would say more of a fine dining modern Thai experience, yet with a friendly and cosy feel and reasonable prices.

Udommit is situated on the second floor of the very pleasant Nim City Daily (near Airport Plaza).

The menu is quite interesting with the usual "traditional" Thai dishes, including lunch time rice and noodle dishes, as well as a modern take on "traditional" dishes. For example, we had the Deep Fried Morning Glory Leaf Salad, which was lovely. The morning glory leaves were light and crispy and the salad was topped with chicken, prawns and something else - I was enjoying it too much to take notice! The Green Curry was also very nice, as you would expect from a good Thai restaurant. The Stir-fried vermicelli with salted eggs and preserved garlic was also delicious and quite tasty yet subtle. Taro Spring Rolls - one of those very nice and crispy spring rolls, so I was satisfied!

There were 3 of us, and it all came to around 450 baht (including 2 beers).

Udommit's menu is quite extensive. We are sure to go back to try out the other dishes!

Nim City Daily 2nd Floor (Near Airport Plaza)

Phone: 053 201 788

Food for You

"Food for You" is a delightful find. It can be said that this restaurant is a local secret. I've never seen a ad for it. It is found in one of the small sois (lanes) in Sansai, a suburb on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Yet, it is a pretty little restaurant in a family home. It opens only for dinners from Tuesday-Sunday and caters for only around 30 people. 

The food is great too! I would say it's Chinese-Thai Fusion, and the menu is quite different from a typical Thai restaurant. 

We had the most delicious Prawn and Pineapple fried rice; mixed spring rolls - crab spring rolls, prawn spring rolls and vegetarian spring rolls - my favourite was the crab spring roll even if it was a bit oily; Hot and sour seafood soup - this is a bit like Tom Yum soup, but the flavours more subtle, and more peppery than spicy. It was full of flavour and beautiful! We also had Fish in Tamarind sauce - and other appetizing dish consisting of deep fried barramundi in tamarind sauce.

There were six of us and the bill came to around 920 baht.

28 M5 Chiang Mai-Doisaket Rd, Sansai

Phone: 053 491 604

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

Just Khao Soi

Just Khao Soy makes its' name turning Kao Soy as a street food into a fine dining experience. This restaurant serves, as the name suggests, only one main dish, the popular Khao Soy 

Khao Soi is a delicious Northern Thai curry noodle dish served with various condiments, including picked cabbage, red onion, lime juice and chillies. The whole mixture is then topped with crispy noodles. 

The restaurant, Just h Soy, is beautifully decorated, and atmosphere warm and friendly. Ordering Khao Soi here is an experience - you have a choice between two soup bases - a rich version, and a milder version. You get to choose the noodles, what kind of meat you'd like (vegetarian option available), how spicy you want it. 

Your Kao Soy then arrives on an "artist's palatte" with condiments placed around the main noodle bowl. You can then adjust the taste of the curry base to your liking. 

I found my Kao Soy experience at Just Kao Soy very nice, although having grown up with Asian food, I thought the soup was little bland - may be I didn't add enough condiments! I still think the restaurant is a great concept though, and the food is of a very high quality. It's also a great idea to have two versions of the soup base available, in case having something very rich and spicy is not your thing! I also like the fact that there is a vegetarian option, and it seems that no MSG is added to the meals. 

I must say though, that I really enjoyed the starter consisting of various Northern delicacies of Sai Oua (Northern Spicy sausages), spring rolls, crispy fried fish and sun-dried beef. The beef was a bit tough, but the spring rolls lovely. My favourite was the Sai Oua. It was quite spicy, but was one of the nicest I have tasted in Chiang Mai, and the little salad that came with it really balance out the flavour nicely.  

Location: 108 Charoenphratet Road, Chang Klan, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Phone: 053 818 641