Top 10 Dishes You Must Try When Visiting Chiang Mai City, Thailand

Chiang Mai Khao Soi is considered the most famous delicacy in northern Thailand. From humble eateries to upscale restaurants, finding a place to enjoy Khao Soi in Chiang Mai seems not too difficult. It is said that visiting Chiang Mai without tasting Khao Soi is not a complete trip. This dish is the epitome of the region's culinary scene. In Chiang Mai, you will find Khao Soi everywhere, from 5-star hotels to simple street stalls. This traditional dish consists of crispy fried egg noodles stir-fried with curry, beef or chicken, chili paste, pickled mustard greens, pepper, and lime. Khao Soi represents the flavor of Chiang Mai, rustic yet captivating enough to win over any discerning traveler.

The dish can be accompanied by bai bua bok (watercress) to cool down. This dish was brought by migrants from southern China and Hui Muslims from Yunnan. Khao Soi is not a luxurious dish; its rustic appearance and distinctive flavor add to its allure. The blend of ingredients and spices is sure to leave travelers with a lasting impression. Khao Soi's spicy, creamy curry broth combined with the aroma of star anise and cinnamon makes it even more enticing. This is one of Thailand's delicious dishes that travelers can only enjoy in Chiang Mai. As a local dish, there is no better place than local markets to taste Khao Soi.

In Thai cuisine, curry dishes are called Kaeng, and typically consist of meat, fish, or vegetables in a sauce made with a paste of chili peppers, onions or shallots, garlic, and shrimp paste. Additional spices and fresh herbs will define the character of that particular curry. Local ingredients such as chili peppers, lime leaves, lemongrass, and galangal are used. In central and southern Thai cuisine, coconut milk is also used. Northern and northeastern Thai curry, in general, does not contain coconut milk. Due to the use of fresh herbs, spices, and other fresh ingredients, Thai curries tend to be more aromatic than Indian curries.

In the West, some Thai curry dishes are described by color; red curry uses red chili peppers while green curry uses green chili peppers. Yellow curry - called Kaeng kari in Thai, which can also be translated as 'curry soup' - is more similar to Indian curry with the use of turmeric, cinnamon, and other dry spices. Kaeng Khanun is definitely an exotic dish that travelers should try when visiting Chiang Mai. Looking at the ingredients of the dish, it could be a jackfruit curry, a specialty not only in Chiang Mai but also throughout the northern region in general. The unique flavor of Kaeng Khanun will make you want to try it again. While it's still a curry dish, Kaeng Khanun stands out for its addition of jackfruit fibers and tomatoes.

Chiang Mai is an extreme northern province of Thailand, renowned for its majestic mountains, stunning national parks, and cool highland climate. Chiang Mai is also known for its unique and enticing cuisine. One of the must-try dishes when visiting Chiang Mai is 'Khanom Jeen,' which translates to fresh rice noodles, and 'Nam Ngiao,' which means traditional spicy tomato soup. The combination of these two elements has created a delicious and distinctive noodle dish. Kanom Jeen Nam Ngiao is a dish of fresh noodles served with a traditional spicy tomato broth that is beloved by the people of Chiang Mai. They are enchanted by the perfect blend of soft rice noodles and the characteristic spicy sour taste that never gets boring.

The accompanying items for this noodle dish are diverse, including various vegetables such as basil, cabbage, beans, raw vegetables, and crispy fried pork skin, sometimes with skewered meat and eggs. In addition to pork, the broth of this dish may also be simmered from beef bones, along with a mixture of broth from meat, blood jelly, tomato sauce, dried chili, and wild rice flowers. Khaonom Jeen Nam Ngiao is the culinary gem of Chiang Mai that travelers must indulge in during their journey. Although this dish is fermented noodles, it is surprisingly easy to eat, and its unique and enticing flavor will tantalize your taste buds and sense of smell. A bowl of Kanom Jeen Nam Ngeow topped with bean sprouts, with the noodles soaked in the broth, will awaken both your taste and smell senses because it's so deliciously indescribable. That's why Kanom Jeen Nam Ngeow is the most favored dish among the people of Chiang Mai among all the delicious treats. If you've set foot in the beautiful land of Chiang Mai, be sure to savor this tantalizing noodle dish.

Chiang Mai continues to be renowned for its ancient values, magnificent architectural structures, and distinctive cultural essence. Here, travelers not only have the opportunity to visit famous landmarks such as the White Temple and the Golden Triangle but also to indulge in many delicious dishes rich in the flavors of northern Thailand. Alongside savory dishes, Thailand also offers a plethora of sweet desserts bursting with tropical flavors. What's special is that you don't necessarily have to visit fancy restaurants; these delicious treats are easily found on the streets at very reasonable prices, accompanied by the warmest smiles from friendly vendors.

Exploring the food districts, you'll surely be curious about this colorful and adorable-looking treat. Thai mung bean cakes, known as Luk Chup, have simple ingredients and methods but require a bit of patience and skill to succeed. To make Luk Chup, mung beans are cooked with coconut milk, molded into fruit shapes, food-colored, then coated with a layer of agar jelly for preservation. Not only visually appealing, but they also have a creamy flavor from the mung beans and coconut milk. With their cute petite size, you can't help but enjoy the entire plate of 'fruit' anytime. For snack enthusiasts, this will definitely be the most favorite sweet treat.

Quail eggs have long been an essential ingredient in classic dishes such as crab soup, bao buns, and gio cakes,… However, as the main ingredient, few dishes truly highlight quail eggs. Quail eggs are considered a delicacy in many countries around the world, derived from the eggs of quail birds. In some countries, quail egg dishes are seen as more nutritious and healthier than other types of eggs. On average, a single quail egg contains the following nutritional values: Calories: 14, Protein: 1 gram, Fat: 1 gram, Carbohydrates: 0 grams, Fiber: 0 grams, Choline: 4% of the daily value (DV), Riboflavin: 6% of DV, Folate: 2% of DV, Pantothenic Acid: 3% of DV, Vitamin A: 2% DV, Vitamin B12: 6% of DV, Iron: 2% of DV, Phosphorus: 2% of DV, Selenium: 5% of DV,…

There are many exquisite dishes in Chiang Mai that travelers should try. Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities in Thailand. With its beautiful scenery and rich culinary culture, it has become an attractive tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors. At first glance, it may not seem particularly remarkable, but if you stroll through the food alleys of Thailand, this is also a popular snack. In particular, fried quail eggs with coconut milk and various spices added on top is the unique feature of this dish. Quail eggs contain selenium and riboflavin, important nutrients that help your body break down the food you eat and convert it into energy. Additionally, selenium also helps ensure the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland.

Crispy pork skin is a popular snack made from pig skin, pork rind, and is loved by many. Crispy pork skin has long been a delicious dish that has become a common light snack in many countries around the world. Those on keto and low-carb diets enjoy crispy pork skin as a substitute for french fries or crackers. If you've ever tried this crispy pork skin dish, then surely, no matter how picky you are about food, you'll be won over by this dish. It's a beloved snack in Chiang Mai, where crispy pork skin is fried until crunchy, then mixed with salt, ginger, and sometimes chili. Even if you enjoy it, you should only try it in moderation because this dish contains a high amount of cholesterol.

Crispy pork skin has been and is shaking up the snack world of many young people. A highly appealing snack, everyone who tastes it praises its deliciousness and finds it extremely enjoyable. Crispy pork skin contains a lot of protein and fat. They don't contain carbs, which makes them appealing to many. As a processed light snack, crispy pork skin also contains a lot of sodium. One serving provides nearly half of the recommended daily sodium intake of 2,300 mg. When looking for a snack for rainy and chilly days in Chiang Mai, you might think of the 'unusual dish' crispy pork skin tossed in garlic. The rich taste of pork skin, the spiciness of chili, the strong aroma of garlic, and the crispy sound will allure anyone who tries this dish.

Thai cuisine boasts a delicate balance of sour, spicy, salty, sweet, and sometimes bitter flavors, as well as the harmonious blend of herbs, spices, and fresh ingredients to create a refined culinary style that is also beneficial to health. The bold flavors of Thai dishes, characterized by their sourness, saltiness, sweetness, and especially spiciness, can be overwhelming to foreign visitors, even those who are accustomed to spicy food. Stir-fried Thai noodles, or Pad Thai, is a signature dish of the Thai people. Pad Thai is the most famous dish in Thai cuisine and also one that is often misinterpreted in its preparation. In both foreign and domestic settings, Pad Thai is typically prepared more simply than the original dish. Perhaps because the authentic Pad Thai consists of fresh rice noodles with sauce and a few other seafood ingredients, it may sound simple but is actually somewhat challenging to prepare.

Although the name sounds Thai, this dish actually originated from abroad. Both noodles and the concept of stir-frying were introduced by the Chinese. Thai chefs combined the two, adding their own country's sauce ingredients like fish sauce and tamarind. And to this day, it remains the most famous Thai dish worldwide. Unlike the Pad Thai dishes served abroad, it's rare to find Pad Thai in Thailand with any meat other than shrimp. Variations with beef or chicken are mainly to appeal to Western tastes. A basic Pad Thai dish usually has little sauce, with fresh shrimp and a piece of tofu on top. Most commonly, the dish includes stir-fried eggs mixed with noodles or a thin egg layer wrapped around them for added visual appeal. The vegetables in Pad Thai typically include Chinese chives and bean sprouts.

Thai people consider food as their favorite form of entertainment. Each region has its own way of eating and preparing food. Thai cuisine is actually the cuisine of 4 different regions, each with its own distinctive characteristics in their traditional cooking methods. Thai dishes always mesmerize travelers everywhere, with their unique blend of spices creating that irresistible flavor. Moo yor is a combination of two words, moo and yor. In Thai, moo means pork, while yor is the local term for 'sausage.' Yum Moo Yor Salad is a popular dish in Thai restaurants. This salad consists of Moo Yor sausage, onions, herbs, lime, fish sauce, and chili. It serves as a tasty appetizer in your meal.

Before you indulge in a feast, this will be a great appetizer for your meal. It is widely available in restaurants, but if you prefer not to dine in, you can buy it right on the streets of Chiang Mai. They are wrapped in banana leaves and displayed for sale in roadside stalls. This is another popular spicy salad of Thailand. It's almost like a must-have dish alongside Yum Woon Sen. Vietnamese pork rolls or banh mi that Thai people have enjoyed the flavor and texture of and incorporated it into many dishes. The sauce is a balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors from lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili. This spicy pork salad roll with the balanced sauce mixture truly represents the unique flavor of Thailand.