🌸 Hello, Here Comes My Chiang Mai Foodie Post!

Hey everyone! It’s been a little while since my last post - I haven’t had much time these past two months. Between settling in, eating my way around Milan, grieving Maya (my 12-year-old husky who recently passed 💔), and keeping up with work, life has been really busy, but in a good, productive way.

As promised, I’m finally sharing some of my favorite Chiang Mai foodie spots - from local street eats to lush restaurants.

Chiang Mai (or Thailand in general) is an absolute food heaven. You can honestly survive on just 200 THB (about 5 €) a day if you stick to street food, 7/11 snacks, and local markets - and some days, even less, depending on what you’re craving. Life there is wonderfully affordable, yet bursting with flavor and variety. No matter where you are or what time it is, there will always be either a 7/11 or some food vendors where you can grab something delicious.

That’s what I love most about Chiang Mai: you can enjoy a steaming bowl of 3 THB noodles (I probably eat about twenty bowls whenever I go there lol) one day and indulge in fine Thai, Italian, Japanese, or French dining the next - and both experiences feel equally satisfying in their own way.

Best Time to Visit

If you’re planning a trip, the best time to visit Chiang Mai is from November to February, when the weather is perfect - around 18-32 °C, sunny, and comfortable for exploring. Try to avoid March to May, which is the burning season, although I’ve heard it’s been much better over the last couple of years, with less smoke than before.

My Go-To Foodie Spots in Chiang Mai

Here are a few of my absolute favorite places I couldn’t stop going back to - each one special in its own way:

Khaosoi Lam Duan

Khaomanghai Sifah - Steamed and fried chicken with rice!

3 THB Noodles

Pad Thai ban Yim- one of the best Pad Thai spots in town. They also have other delicious dishes here.

Khaosoi Pa La, located near Sanpakoi market in the city. All this for only 50THB

Som Tam PooMah Jed Yod, papaya salad with mega seafood on top. One of my favs!

Steak Meat Love - delicious rib eye steak with rice and eggs!

Kanom Jeen Saipakoi Market — The best spicy red curry rice noodles! They even have a Michelin recommendation!

Chow Chow - A cute and delicious Thai restaurant. I love their Krapao and Steak salad.

Five Star Chicken - When you just want crispy fried or perfectly grilled chicken with sticky rice, go here. You’ll find Five Star stands all over Thailand, and it usually costs around 50–100 THB per person. Cheap, tasty, and always hits the spot!

Mooping - These grilled pork skewers are so good, and you can find them almost anywhere in Chiang Mai. They’re smoky, juicy, and perfect when paired with hot sticky rice. I didn’t buy these ones - my friend made them for me. Thank you, Izzie! ✨

Sushi Umai - My favorite Japanese spot in Chiang Mai. I ordered the sea urchin with salmon eggs, and it was so fresh and delicate.

Craving Italian while in Chiang Mai? Why Not in Nimman 100 percent Italian!

Meat Lovers? My favorite Beef BBQ- TENGOKU

Kei Jiang Mai- one of my favorite places to order authentic Northern Thai food.

Bacco - Another chill Italian restaurant I kept going back to. I love the atmosphere there, and the food is always good. Perfect for slow dinners and wine nights. 🍷

Tee Noi Boat Noodles

Lum Lum - All about Korean BBQ!

Mango Sticky Rice

Durian - Some people hate it, some people love it. I’m definitely in the second group, haha!

Anchan Noodles - These beautiful butterfly pea rice noodles come with tender pork and you can choose between a spicy or non-spicy soup. The color is stunning and the flavor is even better.

The Duke’s - Hands down the best American comfort food in Chiang Mai. Their burgers are my favorite - juicy, simple, perfect.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/807af8_379bee481f9c4d44ac3998537efb9c09/480p/mp4/file.mp4

Here’s a video of the Loy Krathong festival from this year - my family sent it to me. Loy Krathong is a Thai festival where people release floating lanterns and small decorated baskets (called krathongs) into rivers to let go of negativity and welcome good energy.

I have so much more to share, but I’ll stop here for now. These are just my personal favorites in Chiang Mai, and I really hope you get to try them too. Chiang Mai has this gentle, comforting magic - it’s slow, warm, and full of little moments that stay with you. Right now it’s Loy Krathong, one of the most beautiful times of the year, when lanterns float into the night sky and little candle-lit krathongs drift along the river. The streets fill with tiny food stalls, music, and that soft golden glow that makes everything feel a bit like a dream.

Sending love from Milan - I honestly can’t wait to be back for Christmas and New Year. ✨(And yes… if you go, be kind, support local vendors, and tip when you can - it really makes a difference 💛)