Do you like beef? Do you like all of the beef? If so, Rote Yiam Beef Noodles in Chiang Mai is a must-visit.
There are a ridiculous amount of temples in Chiang Mai. I don’t think you can walk more than a block or two without stumbling onto a temple. It reminds a bit of Kyoto in that way.
The khao soi from Khao Soi Khun Yai was my third bowl in Chiang Mai, and it’s going to be very, very tough to beat.
If you only eat one dish at the market across from the North Gate… it’s gotta be the pork from the Cowboy Hat Lady. But if you eat two, that’s where Changphuak Suki comes in.
There’s a whole bevy of street vendors that pop up in the evening on a stretch of road across from the North Gate in Chiang Mai. There’s a lot of tasty food to be had here, but the most popular stall (by far) is Chang Phueak Pork Leg Rice.
Mango sticky rice is a classic Thai dessert, and it’s very, very easy to see why.
Alas, even though Chiang Mai is the home of khao soi, that doesn’t mean that every bowl is going to be great.
Case in point: Khao Soi Islam Restaurant. It’s a well known place, but the khao soi they’re serving is fairly middling.
The roast chicken at SP Chicken is one of those dishes that’s so simple, and yet so crammed with satisfying flavours, that it almost feels like a magic trick. Despite having had roast chicken literally hundreds if not thousands of times over the years, the chicken here still manages to surprise and delight.
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.
I take back everything I just said about the food in Yogyakarta not being that great. Lesehan Gudeg Kayu was more than delicious enough to make up for any number of mediocre meals. It was ridiculously good.