Good to know
Good to Know
- Street food and night markets offer Michelin-star quality at budget prices; Chang Phueak Gate Market, Warorot Market, and Sunday Walking Street are major hubs.
- Stick rice (khao niao) is central to Northern Thai meals; use hands to roll rice into balls for dipping.
- Northern Thai flavors are earthier and more aromatic than Bangkok or Southern Thai; heavily influenced by Myanmar, Laos, and China.
- Ask 'mai phet' (not spicy) — though in Chiang Mai, 'not spicy' can still mean a mild burn; use 'pet nit noi' for a little spicy.
- Fish sauce appears in most authentic dishes; ask if dishes can be made without it for vegan dining.
- Chiang Mai holds an annual Vegetarian Festival (usually October) where the entire city shifts to plant-based menus with lower prices.
- Cash is preferred at many street food and local restaurants, though card payment is becoming more common.
- Eating out is significantly cheaper than cooking at home; many nomads find restaurant meals more economical than grocery shopping.
Supermarkets
Rimping Supermarket
- Areas Served
- Old City and multiple locations (Mahidol Rd, Mee Chok Plaza, Kad Farang Village)
- Description
- Local chain popular with expats; extensive imported goods, organic produce, multiple branches
Tesco Lotus (Lotus's)
- Areas Served
- Multiple branches including Hang Dong, Ruamchok Market, Airport Plaza
- Description
- Major hypermarket chain with wide variety of groceries, household items; largest supermarket in Chiang Mai
Big C Extra
- Areas Served
- Multiple large branches including Superhighway and Don Chan areas
- Description
- Hypermarket with groceries, electronics, clothing; competitive prices
Central Food Hall
- Areas Served
- Central Festival Chiang Mai, Fa Ham district
- Description
- Premium supermarket within Central Festival mall; fresh seafood, premium meats, organic produce, international products
Tops Market
- Areas Served
- Central Festival and multiple branches
- Description
- Chain offering good mix of local and imported products, fresh produce, deli and bakery
Makro
- Areas Served
- Multiple locations including near Superhighway
- Description
- Membership-based cash-and-carry wholesaler for bulk purchases
Budget
Khao Soi Samerjai
- Price Range
- THB 60
- Neighborhood
- Old City
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Khao Soi (Northern Thai curry noodle soup)
Chang Phueak Suki
- Price Range
- THB 60
- Neighborhood
- Chang Phueak
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Sukiyaki (hot pot)
Lam-yai
- Price Range
- THB 30
- Neighborhood
- Nimman
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mango sticky rice
It's Good Kitchen
- Price Range
- THB 80
- Neighborhood
- Old City
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local Thai dishes
High End
PO Concept Dining
- Price Range
- THB 3,276
- Neighborhood
- Old City
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary Thai cuisine
Badboys Valley
- Price Range
- THB 4,200
- Neighborhood
- Mae Rim
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fine dining with rare ingredients (chef's table)
Mid Range
Tong Tem Toh
- Price Range
- THB 150
- Neighborhood
- Old City
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Northern Thai cuisine (sausages, meat salads, pork belly)
Han Teung Chiang Mai Restaurant
- Price Range
- THB 120
- Neighborhood
- Old City
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Northern Thai specialties (larb, papaya salad, fermented pork)
Huen Phen
- Price Range
- THB 150
- Neighborhood
- Old City
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Northern Thai dishes
Aanchan
- Price Range
- THB 125
- Neighborhood
- Nimman
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Thai cuisine with vegan options
Delivery Services
Grab Food
- Notes
- Most widely used among expats and long-term visitors; covers hundreds of restaurants, street stalls, and cafes; accepts card, e-wallet, and cash; broadest coverage and reliable driver network.
LINE MAN
- Notes
- Strong for 7-Eleven deliveries and offers restaurants not on Grab; wider selection of small local restaurants; requires Thai SIM card.
Meals On Wheels 4U
- Notes
- Family-run platform founded in 2008; connects customers with local restaurants; uses professional delivery equipment.
TUK App
- Notes
- Local delivery app using tuk tuks and motorcycles; covers neighborhoods outside city center; ideal for group orders and late-night meals.
Must Try Local Dishes
Khao Soi
- Description
- Chiang Mai's signature dish: coconut curry noodle soup with crispy fried egg noodles, soft boiled noodles, and choice of chicken, beef, or tofu.
Sai Ua
- Description
- Northern Thai sausage filled with lemongrass, chilies, and spices; typically grilled and served with sticky rice.
Larb Kua
- Description
- Northern version of minced meat salad, cooked (not raw), with pork or chicken, served warm with sticky rice.
Gaeng Hung Lay
- Description
- Burmese-influenced pork and ginger curry with slow-cooked pork belly, served with jasmine rice or sticky rice.
Nam Prik Ong
- Description
- Thick chili dip made from dried chilies, tomatoes, shallots, garlic, and shrimp paste; served with vegetables or sticky rice.
Mango Sticky Rice
- Description
- Sweet sticky rice cooked with coconut milk, served with fresh mango slices and drizzled with coconut cream.
Hor Mok
- Description
- Steamed fish custard served in banana leaf cups, made with curry paste, coconut milk, and fish.
Khao Kha Moo
- Description
- Braised pork leg over rice, slow-cooked in soy sauce and spices, served with boiled egg and chili sauce.
Vegan Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Chiang Mai is one of Southeast Asia's strongest vegan scenes with over 100 dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants. Look for yellow เจ (jay) signs indicating traditional Buddhist vegetarian restaurants, typically vegan by default. The Old City and Nimman neighborhoods have dense clusters of options.
Dedicated Venues
Goodsouls Kitchen
- Neighborhood
- Old City (northeast corner)
- Description
- Entirely vegan restaurant in Old City with extensive international menu including falafel, wraps, Burmese tea leaf salad; known for Mushroom Steaks and vegan Khao Soi.
Pure Vegan Heaven
- Neighborhood
- Old City
- Description
- Beautiful vegan restaurant offering vegan Thai dishes and international foods (quesadillas, tacos, waffles, gnocchi, pasta); around THB 200 per dish.
Moreganic
- Neighborhood
- Chang Klan
- Description
- Vegetarian restaurant inside Away Chiang Mai hotel; upscale, air-conditioned; offers vegan Thai specialties; more romantic atmosphere.
Pun Pun Organic Vegetarian Restaurant
- Neighborhood
- Outside moat, west of town center
- Description
- Vegetarian restaurant at Wat Suan Dok temple serving organic food grown on their own farm; outdoor courtyard setting; most dishes THB 35-40.
AMA Vegan Kitchen
- Neighborhood
- Trams Square Wellness Resort Residency
- Description
- Entirely vegan; sources organic ingredients; known for vegan 'egg' dishes with tofu and Himalayan pink salt.
Downtown Vegan Garden
- Neighborhood
- Tha Phae Gate area
- Description
- Vegan café with open-air downstairs and covered patio upstairs; breakfast, lunch, dinner service; owned by same people as Goodsouls Kitchen.
International Cuisine
- Overview
- Chiang Mai, particularly in the Nimman area, offers trendy restaurants serving Italian, Japanese, Korean, and other international cuisines alongside traditional Thai options. Pizza, ramen, and seafood restaurants are readily available at mid-range to high-end price points.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.manitabi.com
- 2.veryhungrynomads.com
- 3.blog.hungryhub.com
- 4.cookly.me
- 5.baconismagic.ca
- 6.willflyforfood.net
- 7.the-shooting-star.com
- 8.veganfoodquest.com
- 9.veggiesabroad.com
- 10.dancingpandas.com
- 11.itravelforveganfood.com
- 12.globetrottergirls.com
- 13.thaiholidayguide.com
- 14.myvegantravels.com
- 15.airportels.asia
- 16.chiangmaiambassador.com
- 17.lovemychiangmai.com
- 18.chiangmaiambassador.com
- 19.portail-asie.com
More About Chiang Mai
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.