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Food tours in Chiang Mai: what to eat and which tour to book
Northern Thai (Lanna) food is different from what most visitors know from Bangkok. It is less sweet, uses less coconut milk, leans on herbs, bitter greens, chilli dips and sticky rice eaten by hand, and has strong Burmese, Shan and Chinese-Muslim influences. The dishes to look for are khao soi, sai ua sausage, nam prik noom and khanom jeen nam ngiao, and most of them are cheapest and best at morning markets, roadside shops that close by early afternoon, and the evening markets around the old city.
Use this page to decide what to order and where to find it: the dishes and areas below say what each market does well and when to go. The tours listed are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the current price and details on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Chiang Mai
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khao soi ข้าวซอย khao soi | Egg noodles in a mild coconut curry broth, topped with crispy fried noodles, served with pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime and chilli oil. Usually chicken or beef; it came to the city with Chinese-Muslim (Chin Haw) traders. | Khao soi shops around Wat Fa Ham and the Charoen Rat Road area north-east of the old city, and the Muslim quarter near Ban Haw Mosque off Chang Klan Road. Most close mid-afternoon. | roughly 50–90 THB (about €1.30–2.30) a bowl |
| Northern Thai sausage ไส้อั่ว sai ua | Coarse grilled pork sausage packed with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, turmeric and chilli. Eaten with sticky rice and raw vegetables. | Warorot Market and Ton Lamyai Market, grill stalls at evening markets. | about 30–60 THB (about €0.80–1.60) for a portion, or around 300–450 THB per kilo |
| Green chilli dip น้ำพริกหนุ่ม nam prik noom | Smoky dip of grilled green chillies, shallots and garlic pounded together, eaten with pork crackling (kaep moo), steamed vegetables and sticky rice. | Sold in bags at Warorot Market and every morning market; on the table at Lanna restaurants. | about 20–40 THB (about €0.50–1) a bag; kaep moo about 20–50 THB |
| Rice noodles in pork and tomato broth ขนมจีนน้ำเงี้ยว khanom jeen nam ngiao | Fresh fermented rice noodles in a sour, spicy broth of pork, tomato, dried flowers of the cotton tree and blood cubes; a Shan-origin dish. | Morning noodle shops and market stalls; usually sold out by lunchtime. | roughly 40–60 THB (about €1–1.60) a bowl |
| Hung lay curry แกงฮังเล kaeng hang lay | Burmese-style pork belly curry with ginger, garlic, tamarind and no coconut milk; dark, sweet-sour and rich. | Lanna rice-and-curry shops and market curry stalls, sold by the scoop over rice. | about 50–80 THB (about €1.30–2) with rice |
| Larb, northern style ลาบเมือง larb muang | Minced pork or beef with a dry northern spice mix (makhwaen pepper, long pepper, cumin), herbs and sometimes blood or offal. Different from the lime-and-fish-sauce larb of Isaan. | Specialist larb shops and Lanna restaurants; ask for it cooked (suk) if you do not want it raw. | roughly 60–120 THB (about €1.60–3.20) a plate |
| Sticky rice ข้าวเหนียว khao niao | Glutinous rice steamed and served in a small woven basket; rolled into a ball by hand and used to scoop up dips and curries. | Everywhere northern food is sold. | about 10–20 THB a portion |
| Mango with sticky rice ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง khao niao mamuang | Sweet coconut sticky rice with ripe mango slices; best in the hot season, roughly March to June. | Fruit stalls at Chang Phueak Gate and the night markets. | roughly 60–100 THB (about €1.60–2.60) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Warorot Market (Kad Luang)
The city's biggest and oldest market (since 1910), on the river side of the old city. Ground floor and the streets around it sell northern specialities to take away: sai ua, nam prik noom, kaep moo, dried fruit, and snacks. Ton Lamyai Market across the road is the fresh produce and flower side.
Chang Phueak Gate night stalls
Evening street-food strip at the north gate of the old city, known for a long-running pork leg on rice (khao kha moo) stall, smoothies and noodle stalls. Easy for a quick, cheap dinner.
Sunday Walking Street (Ratchadamnoen Road)
Weekly market running from Tha Phae Gate through the old city; temple courtyards along the route turn into food courts with Lanna snacks, grilled meats and sweets.
Wualai Saturday Walking Street
Smaller weekly market on Wualai Road south of the old city, in the silversmith quarter; similar food at a calmer pace than Sunday.
Chiang Mai University area / Nimmanhaemin
Student and expat district west of the old city: cafés, modern Thai restaurants and the Malin Plaza / university-gate night stalls with cheap student food.
Ban Haw Mosque area (Chang Klan Road)
Small Chinese-Muslim (Chin Haw) quarter near the Night Bazaar, with halal khao soi, curries and roti.
Food tours in Chiang Mai compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai: Cooking Class with Organic Farm at Mama Noi | 4 hours | from €26 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Chiang Mai: Evening Local Street Food Market Tour | 2.5 hours | from €36 per person | max 10 | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Chiang Mai: Local Food and Markets Guided Walking Tour | 3 hours | from €21 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Chiang Mai: Food Tour by Songtheaw Truck with 15+ Tastings | 4 hours | from €54 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Chiang Mai: Walking Food Tour | 3 hours | from €47 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Chiang Mai Cooking Class | 5 hours | from €37 per person | max 10 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
Chiang Mai: Cooking Class with Organic Farm at Mama Noi
On GetYourGuide · run by Mama Noi Cookery School
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €26 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 1,269 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Chiang Mai: Evening Local Street Food Market Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Chiang Mai Street Food Tours
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €36 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 706 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- All dishes Water Experienced local guide Leaflet detailing what you have tried and Thai phrases to help you order next time Roundtrip hotel transfer from Chiang Mai city center Other drinks, including alcoholic drinks…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Chiang Mai: Local Food and Markets Guided Walking Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by TripGuru Thailand
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €21 per person
- Rating
- 4.4 ★ from 176 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- Depends on the selected option
Chiang Mai: Food Tour by Songtheaw Truck with 15+ Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by A Chef's Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €54 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 168 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Chiang Mai: Walking Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €47 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 15 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Walking tour Guide Banana leaf sticky rice Chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce Larb kua (spicy minced meat salad with roasted rice powder) Sai ua (northern Thai sausage) Stir fried pak boong (morning glory) Khao s…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Monumento ai Tre Re
Chiang Mai Cooking Class
On GetYourGuide · run by TTWU Company Limited
- Length
- 5 hours
- Price
- from €37 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 5 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- (old town area) Visit to a local market Hands-on cooking class All ingredients for cooking Local chef
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Most northern food is street food: market stalls, curry-and-rice shops with trays of dishes, and evening stalls at the gates and walking streets. Point at what you want; a meal is often under 100 THB. Many of the best noodle and khao soi shops are morning or lunch only, so eat the big meal at midday.
Sit-down meals
Lanna restaurants serve set meals called khantoke (several northern dishes around sticky rice), and there are good modern northern Thai restaurants in Nimmanhaemin and the old city. Prices are still low by European standards, roughly 200–600 THB a head. Some popular places close one day a week; check before you go.
Cooking classes
Chiang Mai is one of the main places in Thailand for cooking classes. Most run half or full day, often on a farm outside the city, and include a market visit, choosing several dishes (curry paste, stir fry, soup, dessert) and eating everything. They are hands-on and good value; ask whether northern dishes like khao soi are on the menu, as many teach central Thai standards.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | 300–500 THB (about €8–13): market breakfast, khao soi lunch, street-food dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | 800–1,500 THB (about €21–40): one sit-down Lanna or modern Thai meal plus cafés |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | 3,000+ THB (about €80+): tasting menu at a top Chiang Mai restaurant |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Workable. Look for the yellow flag with red letters (เจ, jay), which marks vegetarian/vegan Chinese-Thai food. Elsewhere, fish sauce, shrimp paste and pork fat are in most dishes, including nam prik and many curries, so say 'gin jay' (I eat vegan) and expect some slip-ups. The old city and Nimmanhaemin have many vegetarian cafés.
Halal: Easier than in most of Thailand: the Chin Haw community runs halal khao soi, curry and noodle shops around Ban Haw Mosque and Charoen Prathet Road, and halal signs (green with Arabic script) are common there. Much northern food is pork-based (sai ua, hang lay, kaep moo), so ask elsewhere.
Gluten-free: Difficult. Rice and rice noodles are gluten-free, but soy sauce, oyster sauce and seasoning sauces with wheat are common, and khao soi uses wheat egg noodles. Carry a Thai-language card explaining you cannot eat wheat or soy sauce.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Tuk-tuk or songthaew drivers offering a cheap ride that ends at a restaurant, jewellery shop or 'cooking school' that pays them a commission. Agree the destination and fare before you get in, or use a ride app. Book classes directly or through a booking platform, not through a driver.
- Menus without prices at the Night Bazaar area and touristy riverside restaurants, with high charges for seafood or imported drinks. Choose places with prices on the menu or on the wall, and ask the price of anything sold by weight.
- Unlicensed 'cooking classes' or tours sold by guesthouses or street agents that turn out to be shorter or different from what was promised. Read recent reviews of the actual school, check what is included (transport, market visit, number of dishes) in writing, and be wary of very low prices.
- Peak-season smoke (roughly February to April) makes outdoor eating unpleasant and affects some farm-based classes and tours. Check air quality before booking outdoor activities in that period; it is not a scam, but many visitors do not expect it.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Is street food in Chiang Mai safe to eat?
Generally yes. Choose busy stalls where food is cooked to order or turned over quickly, and be more careful with raw dishes such as raw larb (larb dib) or raw pork, which locals eat but which carry a real parasite risk. Drink bottled or filtered water; ice in cylinders with a hole in the middle is made in factories and is usually fine.
When is the best time to eat khao soi?
Breakfast to lunch. Many of the well-known khao soi shops open around 8:00–9:00 and close by mid-afternoon or when they sell out, and several close one day a week. If you only find it in the evening, it will be at a night market or a restaurant, which is fine but usually not as good.
Do I need to tip?
Tipping is not expected at street stalls or simple shops. In sit-down restaurants, leaving loose change or rounding up is common; some places add a 10% service charge plus 7% VAT, shown as '++' on the menu. For cooking classes and tour guides, 100–200 THB per person is a generous tip if you were happy.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Eating mostly at markets and street stalls, about 300–500 THB (roughly €8–13) covers three meals and drinks. With one sit-down restaurant meal and café coffees, plan on 800–1,500 THB. Cocktails and imported wine raise the bill quickly; Thai beer is about 60–100 THB in a shop and more in bars.
When are the weekend walking streets?
The Sunday Walking Street runs along Ratchadamnoen Road from Tha Phae Gate, and the Saturday Walking Street runs along Wualai Road south of the old city. Both start in the late afternoon and go on until late evening. The Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road runs every night but is more about shopping than food.
Is a cooking class worth it in Chiang Mai?
For most visitors, yes. Classes are inexpensive compared with Europe, usually include a market visit and several dishes, and many run on farms outside the city with transport included. Check how many dishes you cook, whether you pound your own curry paste, whether hotel pick-up is included, and whether vegetarian versions are offered.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.