Khantoke Dinner And Show

[eek]

A friend of a friend is visiting Chiang Mai for the first time. We were thinking to go along to a Khantoke dinner and show, so she can experience a taste of Lanna food and music.

In an old thread the Khun Khantoke and CM Cultural center seemed to be the recommended places.

How do they fair now?

Any thoughts?

Thanks you

[daoyai]

I was there recently, (not my choice), it is stricktly tourist rip-off style, each group gets the same food, fried chicken, veg. tempura, clear soup, pork skin, raw veggies and nam prik ong, and some good gaeng hang lei. very average N. Thai fare. All drinks are extra, I had ice tea (100 Baht !) There is a dance perfomence by bored C.M. lovelies showcasing various Thai and Burmese styles. Then everyone goes out to a more rustic pavilian where a group of hill tribers perform their dances. I think the cost per person is 600 baht, not sure, this includes transportation. Really nothing special. I would reccomend a different venue, perhaps another member knows of a better kan tok experience. (?)

[elektrified]

Haven't tried it (always meant to...) but there is an absolutely beautiful place off of Canal Road past Suthep about 5 km, then up a soi to the right. I know it's not very helpful but perhaps you could google khantoke in Chiang Mai and find it. Much, much more beautiful than the other places.

[cmbe]

Have been both places, Khantoke on Thippanet road (CM cultural center) and Khum Khantoke (Plub Pla) in Nong Pakrung , only no experience about Khantoke (Plub Pla), I have been in the restaurant nearby, good food with music

Khantoke on Thippanet roat : http://www.oldchiangmai.com/index2.php ,

Khantoke (Plub Pla) http://www.youngday.net/design-portfolio/khumk/home.asp.htm

map : http://maps.google.co.th/maps?q=Khum+Khantoke+Mueang+Chiang+Mai+Chiang+Mai&hl=th&ie=UTF8&ll=18.798946,99.025719&spn=0.005454,0.006899&sll=18.805527,99.034195&sspn=0.021653,0.027595&oq=Khum&gl=th&hq=Khum+Khantoke&hnear=%E0%B8%AD.%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88+%E0%B8%88.%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=18.79904,99.02568&panoid=14C4X5v_g5pK_caz_eWBBA&cbp=12,94.22,,0,5.47

[jko]

I have reported on the Old CM Cultural Centre before - it's a highly profitable jaded tourist trap, and they have turned out the same yawn-making group tour stuff for many decades. The food is average, the drinks are overpriced, as is the tour itself.

It's impersonal assembly line table service, with a spiritless, assembly line type show. They get away with it basically because there is no serious competition as far as I know (so why indeed try harder?) Perhaps somebody has an update on this.

Conclusion: Not recommended - unless your friend likes the idea of sitting with hundreds of Kanthoke-curious tourists, and sharing the car park with lines of huge tour coaches.

[eek]

Really appreciate the honest and helpful replies. My friends friend is not here for long, so good to be able to weigh up what would be worthwhile on her trip and what isnt.

Thank you.

[Zeitvertreib]

I recommend เฮือนข้าเจ้า Huan Kha Jao (or similar),

Kaeo Nawarat Soi 3/3, 053-262905 (not speaking english)

+18° 47' 35.06", +99° 0' 26.84"\l "

Nobody can blame them to be a tourist trap. Always wonder why they dont care about english advertising. Google shows nearly nothing for varied english spellings. Google images for เฮือนข้าเจ้า to get an impression.

Great old teak house, collecting all kind of old things, e.g. movie posters from the 60s.

Food, service and place much more friendly and fascinating than the others. Show similar than in the other Kantokes (plus some 'special effects'...)

They used to have a show daily (at least in high season). Not been there for more than a year (no guests from home since a while ..). Dont know current status.

Old Cultural Center: I think that going there is clearly better than not going to any Kantoke for most novice CM visitors.

But I agree that they seem to be somehow lazy as a result of making easy money. Dont expect them to go the extra step...

(That is compared to CM level. The service in still much better than in most western countries)

I could only find one reason to go there instead of Huan Kha Jao: The staff normally speaks english. Not in Huan Kha Jao.

[beb]

I recommend เฮือนข้าเจ้า Huan Kha Jao (or similar),

Kaeo Nawarat Soi 3/3, 053-262905 (not speaking english)

+18° 47' 35.06", +99° 0' 26.84"\l "

Nobody can blame them to be a tourist trap. Always wonder why they dont care about english advertising. Google shows nearly nothing for varied english spellings. Google images for เฮือนข้าเจ้า to get an impression.

Great old teak house, collecting all kind of old things, e.g. movie posters from the 60s.

Food, service and place much more friendly and fascinating than the others. Show similar than in the other Kantokes (plus some 'special effects'...)

They used to have a show daily (at least in high season). Not been there for more than a year (no guests from home since a while ..). Dont know current status.

Old Cultural Center: I think that going there is clearly better than not going to any Kantoke for most novice CM visitors.

But I agree that they seem to be somehow lazy as a result of making easy money. Dont expect them to go the extra step...

(That is compared to CM level. The service in still much better than in most western countries)

I could only find one reason to go there instead of Huan Kha Jao: The staff normally speaks english. Not in Huan Kha Jao.

I would definitely suggest the same place. I took my visiting GF there after a lot of research on various local places. As I remember it was a set price, not too expensive, and more food than the two of us could eat. We got there early and had a choice of seats, which was good because the majority are on the floor. Here is a google map link http://goo.gl/maps/ztcBV

We really enjoyed the show and the GF got up for some audience participation. Afterwards we followed the group into the old Teak House for a tour and found ourselves trapped in a room as the guide explained the long history in Thai. It's a great place to walk through but if you don't speak the language, shy away from the group.

[barefoot1988]

went khumtoke once, find it pretty enjoyable. food was not the best but decent. might be alittle overpriced (its a tourist place after all, shouldnt much a bother unless on a very tight budget) but its quite entertaining imo. of course im not as well travelled as others and never been to a tribe village and perhaps thats the reason why i find it pretty acceptable and fun

at the end of it we went out and dance with the dancers

[whistleblower]

Really appreciate the honest and helpful replies. My friends friend is not here for long, so good to be able to weigh up what would be worthwhile on her trip and what isnt.

Thank you.

Just returned from a trip to CM.

Not Kantokke but I seriously recommend 'Tiger in town' bar and restaurant. Went there for an evening and they had about 3/4 different bands on. hat I liked about it was you could listen to live music but it wasnt so loud that you couldnt talk with friends.

also here is very nice http://www.chiangmairuenpae.com/events/%e0%b9%80%e0%b8%9b%e0%b8%b4%e0%b8%94%e0%b8%95%e0%b8%b1%e0%b8%a7%e0%b9%80%e0%b8%a7%e0%b9%87%e0%b8%9a%e0%b9%84%e0%b8%8b%e0%b8%95%e0%b9%8c

[whistleblower]

Really appreciate the honest and helpful replies. My friends friend is not here for long, so good to be able to weigh up what would be worthwhile on her trip and what isnt.

Thank you.

Just returned from a trip to CM.

Not Kantokke but I seriously recommend 'Tiger in town' bar and restaurant. Went there for an evening and they had about 3/4 different bands on. hat I liked about it was you could listen to live music but it wasnt so loud that you couldnt talk with friends.

also here is very nice http://www.chiangmai...à¸à¹„ซà¸à¹Œ

www.chiangmairuenpae.com

[bluweyze]

I have been to both Khum Kantoke and The Cultural Centre. In the low season they are reasonably priced, around 300 Baht including the food(but drinks are expensive) but maybe worth an hour for a tourist. In high season prices double and I don't think they are worth it. Of the two I preferred Khum Kantoke because the food was more varied. I have not yet managed to see the entire show in either.

[eek]

Thank you all.

Lots to go on.

If we decide to go to one in the end, will let you know a review.

Thanks again.

[kilt]

Sibsongpanna khantoke - off of Canal Road, south of Suthep Rd. 66/2 Moo.10 T.Sutep A.Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50200

It does not cater to Farang tourists much, but seems to get a lot of Thai tourist buses.

VERY beautiful teak building. Good food, good show, very good service.

We had an enjoyable evening there and were treated very well. There is a handicraft market in the parking lot after the show...

They have a Facebook page with photos and menus.

Highly recommended.