If there is one dish you must taste while visiting Chiang Mai, it is Khao Soi! This delicious food originates from Burma and it is unique to Northern Thailand.
Khao Soi is a deliciously creamy and slightly spicy yellow curry served with tender chicken or beef or sometimes pork. Imagine a yellow curry broth simmered for about 3 hours, blended with coconut milk, chilli, a dash of sugar and soy sauce. First the bowl is filled with yellow egg noodles, followed by the delicious curry broth, then pieces of tender beef or chicken are placed and finally crispy noodles tops it all. A little bit of lime juice, some shallots and pickles and you have the perfect balance of sourness and heat. This dish is a real firework of flavours.
Khao Soi is a popular dish that can be found in many places in town, each restaurant having its own recipe and combination of ingredients, consistency and spiciness. This dish is eaten with chopsticks and a Chinese soup spoon. As portions are relatively small, it is not uncommon to eat another bowl, plus it gives you the opportunity to sample both beef and chicken!
Chiang Mai city houses many restaurants where you can taste delicious Khao Soi. Here is our selection of the 7 Top best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai:
HUEN PHEN RESTAURANT
Located in the heart of the old city, Huen Phen Restaurant serves probably the best Khao Soi in town: the chicken is always very tender and tasty, while the beef is cooked to perfection.
This restaurant is a favourite with locals and tourists, having been well patronised since it opened for 40 years ago. Apart from Khao Soi their menu offers other delicious Lanna dishes such as Chiang Mai sausage, chilli pastes, fried pork, young jackfruit salad, bamboo shoot stuffed with minced pork and much more...
Huen Phen Restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting price: THB 60.
112 Rachamankha Road. Chiang Mai
Tel. 053-814 548
Facebook: เฮือนเพ็ญ
KHAO SOI KHUN YAI
The name of this place literally means Grandma’s Khao Soi. It is located very near the moat, in the northern part of the old city. Some people find it a little difficult to locate, as it looks more like a home and garden and not a commercial restaurant.
Khao Soi Khun Yai is a typical Thai local eatery with wooden tables and electric fans. But the reason why it is so popular is because the food is so tasty and the staff are very attentive and always greet customers with a smile.
Their curry soup is available with pork, beef or chicken and the crispy noodles that top this dish are different from other restaurants.
If you feel adventurous, you can also taste the other dish on the menu: Kanom Jeen Nam Ngiew, which is a tomato-based noodle curry served with blood curd.
Prices starting from THB 50.
Khao Soi Khun Yai also serves a large selection of herbal drinks. The restaurant is open from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sri Poom Rd, just after Alley 8. Chiang Mai
Tel. 094-736-4838
KHAO SOI LAMDUAN FAHAM
One of their most famous version of Khao Soi is the beef one: a falling-off-the-bones type of drumstick that is really delicious. The meats are cooked in separate pots which give them a very good taste. Their curry is thick, creamy and not too spicy. In this restaurant, they also add the coconut milk to the curry soup at the last minute, so it allows you to request more or less coconut milk.
Khao Soi Lamduan is located on Charoenrat Road, opposite X2 Hotel.
As most of Khao Soi restaurants, they open at 10 am and close at 3 or 4 pm.
This restaurant also serves Sai Ua (traditional Chiang Mai sausage), and Lanna vermicelli soup Nam Ngiao.
Prices starting from THB 50.
Charoenrat. T. Wat Ket. Chiang Mai
Tel. 092-795 2228
facebook.com/khaosoilamduan
RACHAMANKHA RESTAURANT
The most stylish restaurant to eat Khao Soi is definitely at Rachamankha Hotel. Presented in elegant blue and white Chinese ceramic dishes and served in the intimate patio or the peaceful air-condition restaurant, this curry dish is always perfectly done by the restaurant’s Chefs.
You don’t have to be staying at Rachamankha Hotel to enjoy the delicious food on offer as the restaurant is located in the gardens, in a different building.
Open daily from until 10 pm.
Starting price: THB 250.
6 Rachamankha 9. Phra Singh. Chiang Mai
Tel. 053-904 111
Facebook: Rachamankha Hotel Chiang Mai
KHAOSOI MAESAI
Located off Huay Kaew road, this place is a bit more difficult to find than others, but just look for the restaurant with most cars and bikes parked in front and it and it will be there.
Expect to wait a little, especially during lunch time. But your wait will be worth it as the Khao Soi here is a divine spicy broth laced with thick coconut milk.
So far, Khao Soi Mae Sai has the largest choice of Khao Soi with chicken, beef, pork and meatballs. They also have Kanom Jeen Nam Ngiao, noodle soups and Thai tea and coffee.
Open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Prices starting THB 50
Ratchaphuek Rd. Chang Puak. Chiang Mai
Tel. 053-213 284
Facebook: Khaosoi Maesai
KHAO-SO-I
The latest addition to Khao Soi eateries in Chiang Mai is Khao-So-I restaurant. It looks and sounds Japanese but this place serves exclusively Lanna style Khao Soi. It is definitely a favourite amongst the young and trendy community of Chiang Mai and Bangkok visitors.
Khao soi at Khao-So-I tastes authentic plus the restaurant offers an array of toppings, including premium lobster and Wagyu beef.
Innovation has it, you can select your khao soi either in its curry broth or dry.
Prices ranging from THB 250 to THB 500.
(Lobster at THB 599 to THB 999).
Open daily 11am to 5pm.
Charoenrat Road. Chiang Mai
Tel. 061-515 4529
Facebook: khao.so.i.cnx
KAO SOY NIMMAN
This restaurant is located in the trendy Nimman neighbourhood. You can stop by while visiting the area or order delivery on GRAB, on which app they are very famous.
The broth at Khao Soi Nimman is excellent and the beef really well cooked. When ordering through app each ingredient is delivered separately.
You can choose your Khao Soi with beef, pork, chicken, meat balls or sea food. Or mixed.
If you are hungry enough, don’t miss to order house’s vermicelli soup Nam Ngieo, which is cooked in the most traditional Lanna way and served with ngieo flowers.
It is one of the few khao soi restaurant open at night (daily from 10 am to 9 pm).
Prices here are a bit expensive but Kao Soi Nimman Restaurant is featured in Michelin Guide. Prices starting from THB 90.
Nimman soi 7. Chiang Mai
Tel. 053-894 881
Facebook: kao SOY nimman
January 2023.
