There’s absolutely no doubt about it: khao soi is the ultimate Chiang Mai food. Places that serve it are everywhere, and it’s not even a debate — if you can only eat one meal in this city, it’s gotta be khao soi.
If you’ve never had khao soi, first of all: what? Why? You can find it on the menu of Thai restaurants all over the world, and it’s super delicious, so get on that you weirdo. But if you haven’t, it’s a noodle soup with a rich, flavourful curry-packed base that’s creamy and luxurious thanks to coconut milk. It’s traditionally served with two types of egg noodles: traditional noodles in the soup, and deep fried noodles on top.
It’s an absolutely delicious dish, and the version they’re serving at Sirichai isn’t kidding around. The broth is incredibly rich, and absolutely packed with a spicy and complex curry flavour. The mix of chewy noodles in the soup and crispy ones on top makes for an immensely satisfying contrast in textures.
It also comes with a perfectly-cooked chicken leg, which gives the bowl a meaty substance. A side plate includes the standard lime wedge, various pickled veggies, and some raw shallots. The pickles and the lime both do a great job of cutting the richness from the creamy soup. I shallots I skipped, because raw onions/shallots are for jerks.
Yeah, that’s right, I said it.
Location: Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
How to find it: It’s on a corner directly underneath a giant billboard. They also have a banner up to promote their khao soi.