Restaurant and food guide – Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thai “Desserts” Let’s start this out by addressing a Thai culinary distinction from most Western cuisines. The line between dinner and dessert is a blurry one, namely in levels of sweetness. Thai food… most Thai food that is, encompasses the full scope of a flavor pallet. As such, sugar is less thought of here as… Read More
For better or worse Chiang Mai is changing with the times. There are hipster coffee shops around every corner. The shadows of malls cast over rice fields that were once their foundations. As the years roll on, the East is slowly starting to head west. However, Muang Mai Market seems be staying true, regardless of… Read More
Khao soi is by far and away the most well known dish in Chiang Mai. This old northern capitol is the only kind of place where something like this could be created. A dish shaped by different cultures, trade, wealth, and refinement. In Thai, khao soi translates to “cut rice”. This is in reference to… Read More
It was unfortunate that it took as long as it did for Siri Wattana (Tanin) Market to come come on my radar. I was still enthralled by the markets at Chang Phuak and Chiang Mai Gate the first time I made that left turn off the 107. Not to say these markets are bad, they are far from… Read More
There is by no means a shortage of khao soi available in Chaing Mai, unfortunately not all of it’s good. This is a real shame on account of most of the khao soi sold outside the northern half of this great country is already “meh”. I’m not talking Seattle or London here, you’d be hard… Read More
Sanmai Has the best Ramen in Chiang Mai. Full stop. I usually stay away from words like “best” and instead use “my favorite”, but Sanmai is in a league of their own when it comes to ramen. I’ve tried most of the other dozen or so ramen joints in Chiang Mai, and while I haven’t… Read More
Sometimes one culture sees what another is doing, takes note, and improves it. The Japanese and their Yōshoku come to mind, and being the burrito eating American I am so does Tex-Mex. While both of these are on offer in Chiang Mai, I want the Thai take on what things need improving. I want lava… Read More
There are very few meals in my life where I’ve immediately ordered a second serving after finishing my first. My introduction to Tom Yum Kung was one of those meals. Not just any Tom Yum Kung, but the Bangkok famous version they sell at P’Aoer. They do the more contemporary style of Tom Yum with… Read More
Often overlooked, beef can be just as good as the ubiquitous chicken when accompanying the absurdly complex and delicious dish of khao soi. In my opinion, no place does it better than Khao Soi Mae Manee, expect maybe Khao Soi Lung Prakit Kaat Gorm. This is your classic Thai noodle spot. There isn’t much in… Read More
Ristr8to was probably the last nail in the coffin for the completely wrong view I had of Thailand my first trip here. Before touching down in Bangkok I didn’t know anything about this country; probably couldn’t even point to it on a map. I just filed it under: in Asia, casual and inappropriate comments about… Read More
Call it cheese on toast or a a grilled cheese, but don’t you dare call it anything other than one of the best culinary strides we’ve ever made. Two perfect foods that somehow, when combined, create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. What they’re doing at Walk the Walk ain’t some… Read More
小笼包, Xiaolongbao, or เซียวหลงเปา no matter what way you choose to write it, soup dumplings spell out a good meal. If you’ve never had Chinese soup dumplings before, imagine if your bowl of noodles was made out of noodles, bite sized, and wrapped up for individual ingestion. That’s the gist of this centuries old dish.… Read More