Restaurants in Chiang Mai - 3 Recommendations for Authentic Thai Food

Are you in Chiang Mai, looking for great Thai food to eat, but not sure where to start and the guidebooks only show you the eateries that pay the most for advertisements? Do you look for food that is genuinely, honestly what the locals eat rather than what they cook up (and water down) for tourist or western taste buds? You've come to the right place. There is no shortage of great eateries and restaurants in the city that are just what the doctor ordered, and best of all none of these is going to break your bank account, which is just perfect for the budget-conscious traveler. Most of them are located right in the city center and within easy reach, or even walking distance, of any respectable guesthouse, hotel, or any other type of accommodation you have chosen for your stay.Chao Nang Coffee ShopGo there at lunch time (around 11.30 AM to 2.00 PM) and what will you see? It's packed from end to end! On particularly busy days you will see tables and seats spilling out of the restaurant proper, a testament to its sheer popularity to working Chiang Mai locals, teachers, and students. More importantly, most of the diners-or lunchers if you want to be picky-are either locals or expats. Very few tourists present, and that is the one of the signs you should be looking for. The lunch buffet is unmatched in variety, which gives you anything from perennial favorites like som tum (Thai green mango salad), pad thai (stir-fried noodle with tamarind sauce, yellow tofu and bean sprouts), green curry, northern sausages, and myriad other dishes including but not limited to honest-to-god Northern Thai fare that'll set your mouth on fire. Less Thai, but still delicious and great for value, is a sushi and sashimi section. All of this can be had for less than $10 (or ฃ6): cheap, clean, good service and high quality. This is the place to go if you aren't looking for fancy trims but want your meal tasty, in great quantity, and still fairly healthy. The Chao Nang is located within the city center on Chang Klan Road, within the business district next to the old See Suan shopping arcade (nearby sites are Wat Chaimongkol and several local schools as well as the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart). It is also open for breakfast and dinner.Khao Mao Khao FangLocated on Highway 105 and a good 2 kilometers from the city, it takes some investment in time and distance to reach this restaurant. If you are looking for trims and dining in the ambience of a tropical forest, however, this is going to be very worth your while. Designed to put you in the middle of a paradise while dining, the Khao Mao Khao Fang is located next to a lake, offers an indoor waterfall, and a garden replete with orchids and flowering vines. Even the restrooms are arranged around the concept of being one with nature and the taps are made of beautifully carved wood. Step in and you will forget you are in the modern world. Price range is mid to high, and you can expect to pay at least $15 per person if each diner is eating moderately.Suan PaakOrganic to the nth! Specializing in salads, Suan Paak takes pride in its vegetable garden and the servers will be happy to show you around if you ask. Here you can be absolutely sure that the greens you're eating are truly, thoroughly fresh: they are grown in the garden surrounding the restaurant, and picked straight from there into your salad bowl. The vegetables are grown organically in a hydroponic garden, and the outdoor seats are arranged in the midst of pleasing potted flowers and plants. Their lemon pie, if any is available on the day you are visiting, is also very much worth a try. Whatever you pick from their menu, you can rest secure in the knowledge that everything you eat there is squeaky-clean and suitable for either a weight-loss plan or health-conscious diet since much of the food is fairly fat- and cholesterol-free. Suan Paak is located near the Central Airport Plaza and today contains three separate restaurants.