Khao Soi (ข้าวซอย)
Khao Soi is a northern Thai curry noodle soup, most commonly found in Chiang Mai. It’s made with egg noodles in a rich coconut curry broth and usually served with chicken or beef.
What to notice
Khao Soi is typically served with condiments on the side — lime, pickled mustard greens, shallots, chili oil, and sometimes sugar. Most locals customize the bowl before eating.
Watch how people adjust their soup:
Some add lime first
Some add chili immediately
Some taste before changing anything
There is no single “correct” version once the bowl arrives.
How to engage with it
If you’re eating with others, compare how each person seasons their bowl and talk about why. If you’re with children, ask them which topping changes the flavor the most.
The dish becomes less about the recipe and more about preference.
Locals recommend these places for Khao Soi
Khao Man Gai (ข้าวมันไก่)
Khao Man Gai is a Thai chicken and rice dish adapted from Hainanese chicken rice. Poached chicken is served over rice cooked in chicken fat and broth, with cucumber on the side and a light soup. A small bowl of sauce is served separately.
What to notice
At first glance, the dish looks plain. Most of the flavor comes from the rice and the sauce, not the chicken itself.
Watch how people eat it:
Some pour the sauce over the entire plate
Some dip each bite
Some barely use the sauce at all
The rice is doing more work than it appears.
How to engage with it
Taste the chicken and rice before using the sauce, then add it gradually. If you’re eating together, compare how each person uses the sauce and how it changes their experience of the dish.
Locals recommend these places for Khao Soi
Moo Krob (หมูกรอบ)
Moo Krob is Thai-style crispy pork belly. The pork is cooked so the skin becomes rigid and crunchy while the meat underneath stays tender and rich. It’s often served sliced on its own or added to dishes like rice plates, noodle soups, or stir-fries.
What to notice
The contrast is the point: hard crackling skin, soft fat, and savory meat. It’s a dish built around texture as much as flavor.
Locals recommend these places for Moo Krob
Guay Tiew (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว)
Guay Tiew is a general term for Thai noodle soup. It’s one of the most common everyday meals in Thailand and is eaten at all times of day. The soup can be made with different broths, noodles, and proteins, depending on the stall.
Most vendors specialize in one style and make it the same way all day.
What to notice
Guay Tiew stalls often move quickly.
Watch how people order:
many customers don’t look at a menu
orders are short and specific
regulars are recognized immediately
Condiments are usually already on the table. People season their bowls to taste without much hesitation.
How to engage with it
If you’re unsure what to order, ask for the stall’s standard bowl or point to what someone else is eating. Taste the broth first, then adjust slowly. If you’re eating together, compare how much seasoning each person adds.
Guay Tiew is less about the “right” version and more about finding the one you like.
Locals recommend these places for Guay Tiew
Khantoke Dinner (ขันโตก)
A Khantoke Dinner is a northern Thai meal served as a set, usually eaten while sitting on the floor around a low, round table. The food is shared and typically includes several small dishes rather than one main plate. Many Khantoke dinners are paired with traditional dance or music performances.
How to engage with it
Think of a Khantoke Dinner as a cultural overview rather than a typical meal. Try everything, even in small amounts. If you’re with others, talk about which dishes feel familiar and which don’t.
It’s okay to enjoy it for what it is without expecting it to represent daily life.
Here are a few recommended places
Markets
Food markets are where many people in Thailand actually eat. They can be morning markets, afternoon roadside setups, or evening night markets. Some stalls specialize in one item. Others sell several dishes from a small menu.
Most food is cooked to order or finished quickly when you arrive. Be sure to notice which ones people are willing to wait for, and consider trying something from there.
If you’re unsure what to order, watch what the person in front of you gets. If you’re with others, order different items and share. Don’t worry about getting it “right.”
Markets work best when you’re willing to try one small thing at a time.
Locals recommend these markets
Recommended Restaurants for Shared Meals
Northeast Chiang Mai - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uS9RiRH3NrqDa4xG8
Nimman Road - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Duz47cdyQ87fZzL9
Southwest Chiang Mai - https://maps.app.goo.gl/6poMS5HcYyAp73jEA