While walking around the other day, I spotted a restaurant that was packed with people who appeared to be locals. That’s no small feat in a city as crammed with tourists as Chiang Mai.
So I pulled it up on Google Maps to see what the food looked like and what people were saying. That’s when I saw what might be one of the best Google reviews I’ve ever seen. I’m just going to copy-and-paste it in its entirety, because it’s great.
That dipping sauce!!! What a pleasure every mouthful is, it’s like all the planets have come into perfect alignment, planet chicken, rice and brown sauce all in flawless symphony! Can’t wait until I’m hungry again to stop by this little gem of a place! The old lady chef is such a beautiful woman, so passionate and happy to be bringing you amazing food! Prices start at 35 baht for their soups and 40 baht for rice based dishes. #BeatTheGrind
I’m not even sure what #BeatTheGrind is supposed to mean in this context, but it’s delightful regardless.
And come on, how am I supposed to read that and then not go there? Obviously I went there.
The menu mostly revolves around three different meats: crispy grilled pork, red roasted pork, and grilled chicken. They have an option to get all three, and that’s what I was going to do, but alas, the chicken was sold out — I’ll never get to experience planet chicken. I had to settle for two.
The two versions of pork are essentially Chinese-style roast and BBQ pork, and they’re both above average — but not exactly the life-changing experience the Google guy described. Still, they’re tender, porky, and tasty, with some satisfying crispy skin on the crispy grilled pork.
Then there’s the sauce, which initially seems like a pretty straightforward thick, sweet sauce. Once you have a couple of mouthfuls, however, you start to notice a savoury/umami richness to it that sets it apart. Again, I can’t quite share the enthusiasm of the Google guy, but it’s good.
Location: Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
How to find it: There’s no English on the sign (I don’t think the restaurant even has an English name), but there’s a menu posted facing the sidewalk that has English on it; the first three dishes are the three meats listed above.