Neil Aronson My favorite city anywhere, also has some of the best places to eat for people of all tastes. Chiang Mai is well know for its culture, people, and food. There are places to eat that range from amazing street food, to Michelin Star restaurants, and everything in between. So if you are wondering if you will like the food, you will, since you can get everything possible.
This list of of some of my favorite of the best places to eat in the city and surrounding area. If you are vegetarian, on a budget, or don’t even like Thai food, you will have plenty of choices.
Where else can you get local fresh noodles with crab and pork for 65 baht.
For a complete guide to Chiang Mai, read our detailed Ultimate Guide for 2024.
In and around Chiang Mai, a lot of the food and different restaurants are determined by the different areas of the city. Some areas are more local, while others like Nimman and Riverside, are more upscale and are where you will find more of the trendy places to eat. For more on the different areas, explore our Best Areas of Chiang Mai article.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Local Thai Food
Street Food Everywhere. However you can find a lot over in the Night Bazaar, and the Sunday walking street has a lot of choices. In fact the Sunday walking street on Rachadamnoen Rd is one of the best places to eat, with dozens of amazing vendors to choose from. And you won’t believe what you can get for just 60 baht.
Blue Noodles. In the city center, a favorite of my wife for local noodles. It is a typical unassuming street side open air noodle shop on Rachadamnoen Rd.
Jiang Fish Ball on the west side of the Old City across from the moat, is a local favorite for noodles and fish. Their menu is large and there are many less spicy dishes for tourists. My wife and her cousins frequent this local spot. Last time I went recently I had simple egg noodles with bbq pork. Simple but delicious, for 60 bhat!
Aroy Dee. Local Thai food cooked out on the sidewalk, this is one of the best places to eat in the Old City. Simple, fast and great food at local prices. Popular with tourists. Watch YouTube video of Aroy Dee.
Wan Wan Noodle. Right next door to Aroy Dee, and fairly similar. Lots of tourists.
Number 9 Restaurant Chiang Mai. On my first trip to Chiang Mai in 2010, my friend who was living here took me to this local place for my first meal. He had become friends with the owners, and to this day they are still there, cooking their local food everyday. You can still get a great meal for 80 baht. Just down the street from the previous two spots.
Rot Nueng Restaurant. Charoen Prathet Rd. Located between the Night Bazaar and the Ping River. Local noodle shop frequented by my relatives and Anthony Bourdain in one of his episodes. Of the famous places to eat.
Nice Kitchen. Moonmuang Rd Lane 6. In the northeast corner of the walled city. Small local place on quite street with Thai food and a variety of Thai food and western. Friendly owner, she cooks your food. Good place for breakfast if your staying nearby.
Tong Tem Toh is a popular trendy place in Nimman to go if you want to have the authentic northern Thai cuisine. It is larger of the places to eat and gets crowded.
Mixed Variety
Airniversary Camp and Cafe Ratchaphakinai Rd in Old Town. This is one of my favorite places to eat and hang out. Incredible treehouse atmosphere, with fantastic food variety from Thai to Wood Fired Pizza.
Mix Restaurant & Bar in Nimman, is a steak house featuring a variety of Thai fusion and other cuisines from around the world. If you looking for good wines and a more trendy atmosphere, give it a try. Not your local cheap meal.
The Salad Concept is also a healthy option, with two locations, one in Nimman and one in the old city.
Healthy Daily is another healthy concept in Nimman.
I’m your Vegan in Nimman is a healthy concept specializing in Bowls, such as the following protein bowl.
Hummus, is your place to go for Vegetarian Mediterranean in Chiang Mai. If you like middle eastern food this restaurant is very tasty, and vegetarian. Located close to Tha Phae gate, but hidden down an alley. The pitas are amazing.
The Riverside Bar & Restaurant is a hot spot for tourists, and great dinning on the Ping river, with live music and several bars. You can also take a dinner cruise.
The Good View Bar & Restaurant Basically the same as The Riverside, and right next door. Both these places are higher priced tourists and trendy places, but provide a fun atmosphere and large variety.
Mr Chan and Miss Pauline is a local favorite I must have driven by dozens of times before my cousins arranged for us to meet them there. Off route 121 in the Hang Dong area, west of the the city center.
Yes the owners are Mr Chan and Miss Pauline, and they have been there for a couple decades. The food is amazing, and it is a great place to bring a large group or family because the menu is a large variety from salads to pizza, Thai food to steaks.
Zoe In Yellow. This is a popular night club and bar corner like a strip mall with multiple types of bars. However past the bars is an open street food stand area with seating for hundreds, and live music. A good place to get local street food.
Western Places To Eat
There are many great Pizza Places in Chiang Mai for more read our article. One of the best and most popular is an unassuming place on a quiet street in the old city called By Hand Pizza. They cook your woodfired pizza in a brick oven basically on the street. Highly recommend.
Another really good local Italian place I discovered on my last trip is La Fontana, on Ratchamanka Rd. Great food and staff.
Prova Cafe in Nimman is also a great pizza and Italian places to eat. The staff has been very friendly, not to mention great food. There is a nice patio on the street. And most nights there is live music.
There is an amazing amount of great places to eat pizza in Chiang Mai. More than anywhere I have ever been. So for more places to eat pizza we wrote an article. Pizza In Chiang Mai.
Arnos Steak and Burgers. 114/1 Ratchapakhinai Rd. Great burgers if you are craving one. It is a franchise, so this is just one of the locations.
If your looking for a local bakery, that also serves breakfast, try Crusty Loaf Bakery, on the popular Ratvithi Rd. It is next to and owned by the UN Irish Pub. They have good bread to take away, and when I was staying at the MD Boutique hotel I had a good breakfast there a couple times.
For the best breakfast place in the Old City, with a great patio, try Chiang Mai Breakfast World. They have large breakfast plates with home made jams.
On The Bread is my favorite breakfast place in Nimman. It is a quaint little place near Suri Buri hotel. Mostly items like breakfast sandwiches and smaller items. Friendly staff.
I hope this helps some of your decision making when visiting Chiang Mai city. For some of more recommended Japanese places to eat, I would check out this article from Chiang Mai City Life.
