The cuisine of northern Thailand and Chiang Rai is characterised by spicy and spicy dishes combining herbs, fish, meat, vegetables and fruit.
Thisdestination is perfect for the true foodie, because here you can taste a lot of typical regional dishes (called'lanna' after the ancient kingdom that used to stand here) mixed with recipes from Laos and Burma.
So if you plan a trip to Chiang Rai, here are the 10 foods to taste!
1 - Khao Soi
The most typical dish is this yellow curry and coconut milk flavoured soup served with fresh boiled noodles, egg, vegetables and chicken or beef, although there are also versions with pork and fish.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 30 bath / €1.00
Main ingredients: curry, noodles, egg, meat
2 - Khao Kha Moo
This is a dish the Thais are crazy about, a succulent, fatty stew of very tender leg of pork simmered with spices and sweet soy sauce.
It is usually served with stewed Chinese cabbage, pickled vegetables and hard-boiled egg.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: 30 bath / €1.00
Main ingredients: pork leg, soya
3 - Por Pia Tod
A spring roll made of fried phyllo dough and stuffed with meat and vegetables.
They are usually served with spicy or sweet and sour sauces to be added as desired.
Recommended for: snack, lunch and dinner
Average cost: 10 baht / €0.30 each
Main ingredients: fried fillo dough, vegetables
4 - Som Tam
For those in the mood for something fresh and not fried, this salad with papaya, peanuts, soya, green beans and tomatoes is ideal.
In the markets, it can be found already dressed with soya sauce, while at restaurants the sauces are on the side. There are variations with added shrimps or crab.
Recommended for: snack, lunch
Average cost: 50 bath / €2.00
Main ingredients: papaya, peanuts, tomatoes, green beans and soya
5 - Pad Thai
This is the national dish, consisting of dry noodles stir-fried and topped with mixed vegetables, meat or fish and chopped peanuts. There are also many variations for vegetarians.
Recommended for: always
Average cost: 30 bath / €1.00
Main ingredients: noodles, vegetables, meat or fish
6 - Tom Yum Goong
A spicy, fragrant soup popular throughout Thailand made with prawns, shallots, various herbs, tomatoes, coconut and lemon grass.
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: 50 bath / €2.00
Main ingredients: prawns, vegetables
7 - Kai Jeow
For Thais, this is the typical breakfast dish of omelette and rice served with a fish and lime sauce. Perhaps Westerners are better off trying it at lunchtime!
Recommended for: breakfast, lunch
Average cost: 30 bath / €1.00
Main ingredients: egg, rice, fish sauce
8 - Tom Yam Kung
A tomato, prawn and mushroom soup.
The special feature is that it is served in a dish with a hole in the centre containing a candle to keep the dish warm.
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: 40 bath / €1.50
Main ingredients: prawns, mushrooms and tomato
9 - Khao Pad
This is the simple fried rice that usually accompanies dishes of chicken, prawns, eggs, spices and vegetables. It is never missing in Thai cuisine!
Recommended for: lunch, dinner or a snack
Average cost: 17 bath, €0.50
Main ingredients: rice
10 - Pad Kra Pao
A speciality of fried chicken or pork strips, flavoured with basil and chilli and served over rice.
Easy to find on stalls and in small restaurants because it is an everyday dish.
Recommended at: lunch
Average cost: 30 bath / €1.00
Main ingredients: chicken or pork
Where to eat: best restaurants, typical places and street food
Chiang Rai is a paradise for street food and in addition to the many street corner stalls, one place that never disappoints is the night market, the evening market with tables and stalls where you can eat cheaply.
If, however, you prefer to go to a restaurant in this locality, there are some good and cheap places where you can taste Thai cuisine from the comfort of your seat.
Here are the places to eat:
1 - Nam Ngiao Pa Suk
Description: look for a yellow sign between Soi 4 and Soi 5 in Th Phahonyothin to find this place. Here you'll enjoy excellent ka-nom jeen nam ngée-o (a light pork-based broth served with tomatoes and noodles).
Speciality: ka nom jeen nam ngee-o
Average price: from 100 bath, €3.00 per person
Address: 197 Sankhongnoi Rd, Tel +66 53 752 471 - Get directions
2 - Phu Lae
Description: popular tourist spot, clean and tidy serves good Thai food, especially northern dishes
Specialities: gaang hang-lair (pork innards with rich curry) and sai-oo-a herb sausages
Average price: from 300 bath, €8 per person
Address: 341 4 Tambon Rim Kok, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Tel +66 53 166 888 - Get directions
3 - Aye's Restaurant
Description: clean and touristy, has a nice terrace and a large lounge where you can enjoy traditional and also international meat and fish dishes.
Speciality: Kow Soy noodles, gaang hang lair pork curry
Average price: from 300 bath, €8.00 per person
Address: Phaholyothin Rd, Tambon Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai District - Get directions
4 - Night Market
Description: night market where you can taste all the traditional Thai dishes while spending very little.
Specialities: fried insects, pad thai, papaya salad and soups
Average price: from 67 bath, €2.00 per person
Address: Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai District - Get directions
5 - Pad Thai
Description: small but very nice place, friendly staff offers delicious pad thai and other typical dishes
Speciality: pad thai
Average price: from 70 bath ,€2.50 per person
Address: 7/3, Moo 18, Soi Sanpanard Wiang - Get directions
6 - FourStars
Description: family-run place with a friendly atmosphere serving great cheap Thai food
Speciality: Hung Lay curry
Average price: from 170 bath ,€5.00 per person
Address: 423/3 Baanpa Pragarn Rd Near Clock Tower - Get directions
7 - Khao Soi Phor Jai Restaurant
Description: don't be fooled by the very simple appearance because here you will taste some of the best Khao Soi of your life!
Speciality: khao soi
Average price: from 40 bath ,€1.50 per person
Address: ChetyotRoad - Get directions
