If there is one dish you have to taste while visiting Chiang Mai, then it is Khao Soi. This delicious food originates from Burma and is unique to Northern Thailand.
Khao Soi is a deliciously creamy and slightly spicy yellow curry which is served with either tender chicken or beef and sometimes pork. A firework of flavours makes Khao Soi so unique: 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 a delicious curry broth, then pieces of tender beef or chicken are placed and finally topped with crispy noodles. A little bit of lime juice, some shallots and pickles and you have the perfect balance of sourness and heat.
Khao Soi is a popular dish that can be eaten with chopsticks and a Chinese soup spoon. Portions are relatively small so it is not uncommon to eat another bowl, plus it gives you the opportunity to sample both beef and chicken!
Chiang Mai has many restaurants where you can taste delicious Khao Soi (around 50 Baht). One of them is Ban Huen Phen in the center of town (city map E4). Farmers House, located in Sanpisua (opposite Thalop Temple- Ring road map D3) is also very well known and overlooking beautiful Ping River (Khao Soi set 100 Baht-Tel. 053-252 873).
Another delicious Khao Soi to try is at Rachamankha (city map D4). The restaurant, located in the Rachamankha Boutique Hotel, serves an out of the ordinary Khao Soi in stylish blue and white porcelain dishes (230 Baht++).
