15 Chiang Mai Foods You Need to Try

As someone who loves Thai food, you bet in each Thailand city I visited I explored the day and night food scene. Chiang Mai is no exception.

All the Chiang Mai foods are flavorful, aromatic, powerful and, you guessed it, spicy. Fortunately, street vendors are very kind and take the spice level down for foreigners who like a more mild dish.

Chiang Mai is famous for its Northern Thai cuisine, influenced by Burmese, Chinese, and Laotian flavors. Curries, soups, vegetables, herbs…I’m getting hungry already.

If you’re hoping to sample some Chiang Mai famous food during your trip, you must hit some night markets. I’ve got a few recommendations for you on which ones to prioritize. 

Let’s get into the top 15 Chiang Mai foods you need to try during your visit.

Khao Soi

Khao Soi is perhaps the most famous dish in Northern Thailand. This coconut curry noodle soup features a rich, creamy broth with a perfect balance of spices. It is typically served with both soft and crispy egg noodles, and topped with chicken, beef, or pork. Accompaniments like pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime, and chili paste add to the complexity of flavors.

Sai Ua (Northern Thai Sausage)

Sai Ua, also known as Northern Thai sausage, is a flavorful pork sausage seasoned with a mixture of herbs and spices, including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and red curry paste. This aromatic sausage is often grilled and served with sticky rice, making it a perfect street food snack.

Nam Prik Ong

Nam Prik Ong is a Northern Thai chili dip made from minced pork, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. It’s typically served with fresh vegetables and crispy pork rinds for dipping. The dip’s spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor profile makes it a delightful starter or side dish.

Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki is a Thai take on Japanese sukiyaki, but it’s more similar to a Chinese dish. This dish is cooked with lots of Chinese cabbage, your choice of meat (pork, chicken, beef, or seafood), glass noodles, egg, and the extremely delicious sukiyaki sauce.

Tom Yum Soup

Tom Yum Soup is a classic Thai soup known for its hot and sour flavors, balanced with fragrant herbs like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal. It typically includes shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, and chilies, making it a flavorful and aromatic dish that’s perfect for any meal.

Gaeng Hang Lay (Northern Thai Pork Belly Curry)

Gaeng Hang Lay is a rich and aromatic pork belly curry with Burmese origins. This dish features tender pieces of pork belly slow-cooked in a blend of spices, including ginger, garlic, turmeric, and tamarind, resulting in a savory and slightly tangy flavor.

Khao Kha Moo

Khao Kha Moo is a classic dish made with fatty, tender meat that melts in your mouth, cooked in a broth that has been simmering for years and served over steamed rice with a soft-boiled egg. 

This dish was made famous by Anthony Bourdain when he visited the Cowboy Hat Lady food stall at Chang Phuak Gate Night Market. This stall is still here!

Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiao

Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiao is a traditional Northern Thai noodle dish made with rice noodles and a tangy tomato-based broth. The soup is usually topped with pork or beef, dried chilies, and fermented soybeans, and garnished with fresh herbs and vegetables. The unique flavor combination is both comforting and invigorating.

Pad Thai

Though not unique to Chiang Mai, Pad Thai is a quintessential Thai dish that you must try while in the city. This stir-fried noodle dish combines rice noodles with eggs, tofu, shrimp, or chicken, and is flavored with tamarind paste, fish sauce, and a hint of sweetness. It’s often garnished with peanuts, lime wedges, and bean sprouts for a fresh, crunchy texture.

Kaeb Moo (Crispy Pork Rinds)

Kaeb Moo, or crispy pork rinds, are a popular snack and accompaniment to many Northern Thai dishes. These crunchy treats are often served with spicy dips like Nam Prik Noom (green chili dip) or Nam Prik Ong, adding a satisfying texture to your meal.

Som Tam (Papaya Salad)

While Som Tam is originally from the Isaan region, it is widely enjoyed in Chiang Mai with a Northern twist. The papaya salad in Chiang Mai often includes local ingredients like tamarind juice, peanuts, and fermented fish sauce, giving it a unique flavor. This refreshing and spicy salad is a perfect side dish for any meal.

Mango Sticky Rice

Mango Sticky Rice is a beloved Thai dessert that features ripe, juicy mango slices served with sweet sticky rice and drizzled with coconut milk. The combination of flavors and textures makes it a delightful treat, especially during mango season.

Durian

Durian, known as the “king of fruits,” is a divisive fruit due to its strong smell. However, its creamy texture and unique flavor make it a must-try for adventurous eaters. Durian is often sold at local markets and can be enjoyed fresh or as part of desserts like durian sticky rice.

Miang Kham

Miang Kham is a traditional Northern Thai snack that involves wrapping a variety of ingredients in wild betel leaves. Typical fillings include roasted coconut, peanuts, dried shrimp, ginger, garlic, chilies, and a sweet-savory sauce. Each bite is a burst of complex flavors and textures.

Roti Gluay (Banana Roti)

For dessert, try Roti Gluay, a sweet and crispy treat. This Thai-style pancake is filled with sliced bananas and often drizzled with condensed milk and sugar. It’s a popular street food dessert that provides a delightful end to any meal.

Don’t forget the Nutella!

Where to Try the Best Chiang Mai Foods

Now that you’re familiar with the Chiang Mai foods you need to try, the question is: where?

Street food culture is one of my favorite things about Thailand, so I’m always going to recommend to try food at night markets. This allows you to try a lot of different things for very affordable rates!

• Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. The epicenter of shopping in Chiang Mai, the Night Bazaar runs every evening from 5 pm and covers a whole neighborhood. The collection of stalls does vary, but you can trust that there will be lots of great food options.
• Tha Pae Sunday Walking Street. As the name implies, Chiang Mai’s most famous market runs only once a week. If you can plan which days to be in Chiang Mai, I highly recommend a weekend.
• Chang Phuak Gate Night Market. Though on the small side, this market has some famous foods such as the Cowboy Hat Lady made famous by Anthony Bourdain. You can get any classic Thai dish here.
• Warorot Market (Kad Luang). This market is a little different in style as it’s a mostly indoors market. It’s a great choice for produce and ready-to-eat snacks and meals.
• Kad Na Mor Market. A market by the university, this area attracts a younger crowd. Not only is the food good, but you can also get fashionable clothing here.

If you’re also into good coffee, here are the best places for coffee in Chiang Mai. If you’re traveling solo, you may want to check out my guide to the best hostels for solo travelers in Chiang Mai. Finally, if you’re really passionate about food, why not take a cooking class in Chiang Mai?

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For all my foodie friends, I hope this helped you learn about Chiang Mai’s famous foods. Make sure to try as much as you can during your next visit!