When in Chiang Mai, you must try khao soi ข้าวซอย, traditional Chiang Mai egg noodles in a yellow curry soup. Khao soi is said to be Burmese-inspired and is very popular in northern Thailand and Laos.
The dish is made with deep-fried crispy egg noodle in a really rich curry sauce containing coconut milk, and it usually has chunks of beef or chicken in it. It’s also served with chopped onions, pickled cabbage, and lime, which makes the dish extra tangy.
I had my first encounter with khao soi at Le Grand Lanna at the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi which was superb! But I’d like to try the street version of this dish if I had the chance. Where can on find the best khao soi in Chiang Mai?
I asked my Thai officemates in our Chiang Mai Branch so I know that this is good info:
ReplyDeleteGo to Fahtani Soi (but they pronounce it as Faaah-taaa-nee). Soi means sub-disctrict in Thai. They also have it in their night bazaars
There’s also an area near my place, the Mall Bang Kapi Food Center, that sells Khao Soi, my officemates told me it’s also Arooooy mak ma (very delicious!)
hahaha Ivan, I just started a great debate here in my office for the best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai.
ReplyDeleteThe others said it’s in Soi Fah-Ham, near Micromic Hospital and Payap University They even drew a map!!!
One of the best khao soi is at Khow Soi Lamduan Faharm in 6/1 Moo 3, Chiang Mai – Lampang Superhighway, Chiang Mai
ReplyDelete☎ +66 (0)53-212798 ☎ +66 (0)53-226359
Once upon a time I worked part time in a Bangkok restaurant cheesily named “Khao Soi on the Soi”. Don’t ask why, but it was great fun and the food was the very best.
ReplyDeleteI can’t tell you where the best sample of that dish can be found in Chiang Mai, but I can certainly tell you that it was served in Soi Phipat near Convent Road in 1998. I’m really glad you liked that dish, and your post brought me back in time.
I worked in northeast Thailand, based in Chiang Mai in the early 90s. I was taken to a noodle house where my Thai colleagues wolf down several bowls in quick succession and I could manage only two. It was very good and cheap compared to Ma Mon Luk. Food in Thailand appears o be similar in quality whether eaten on roadside, small or big restaurants. The use of fresh mushrooms which I like very much is universal, unlike here where even the better Chinese restos use dried mushrooms.
ReplyDeleteThere is always good coffee in roadside restaurants and washrooms are always clean, unlike here. That is why not even the fanciest slogan can surmount Philippine tourist problems.
Romy Aquino