Good Restaurants in Chiang Mai

[Ulysses G.]

The so-called "saddos" suggesting food courts and McD's are just having a bit of fun.

Indeed.

[harrry]

The Thapae Gate McDonald's is better.

Airport Plaza's Mc Donald's has better scenery.

Edited November 27, 2014 by harrry

[Diplomatico]

Was in the Chiang rai forum and noticed a thread with this title.

Thought it would be useful to have a similar one for Chiang Mai..... ;-)

In many ways the Chiang Mai forum is more personal and useful than the Bangkok forum (where I now live), but when you look at a thread like this asking for 'good restaurants in Chiang Mai' and see a load of saddos suggesting food courts and McDonalds, you realise that the more functional style of the Bangkok forum has its pluses!

Chiang Mai has a fantastic range of restaurants. I'd suggest some myself, but until I come up at Christmas and sample them afresh, I don't like to review them. So how about a few of you 'foodies' telling the OP about the current situation at Chez Marco, Rioja 2, Le Terrasse, Billys', Pern's, O'Malley's, The Olive Tree (if thats what Jerusalem Falafel is now called, Le Lapin, or the excellent Thai places from different regions, or the Chinese /Japanese/Korean/Indian/.

Such a wealth of restaurants, such a paucity of bankrupt contributions.

Hate to disagree but CM does not have "a fantastic range of restaurants." Billy's? The Olive Tree? O'Malley's!? Please. You are much better off in Bangkok.

The so-called "saddos" suggesting food courts and McD's are just having a bit of fun.

I'll add that some of the worst service I've ever received has been at Pern's, so much so that I refuse to go there ever again.

When you are one of two customers in the place - and you're bussing your own table because the staff can't be bothered - and the bartender thanks you for "helping out" while the owner sits, watches, and says nothing.....then it's time to go elsewhere.

[millwall_fan]

Sure we have some very smart restaurants here in Bangkok, but many are twee, overstated and overpriced. What Chiang Mai has are a bunch of owner-operated places where the proprietor keeps a personal watch on quality and most items are home made and not mass produced. I confess I've never been to Pern's but I'm hoping to rectify that this Christmas, I think the food at The Olive Tree is excellent (or it was 2 years ago when I last ate there), Chez Marco is a great little bistro, O"Malley's does good quality pub grub. Roija2 a little gem, Yummy Pizza on the canal rd is another great choice.

Bangkok is good at top of the range restaurants and of course its a real effort to get to some places.For mid range no nonsense food and ease of access, Chiang Mai takes some beating.

[Ulysses G.]

IMO, Ching Mai is really starting to get a number of really good foreign restaurants, but they are not cheap and you have to have a car to get to many of them. There are a number of places with world class deserts now and that is a very recent phenomenon.

I can remember when there were no good foreign restaurants at all here, so CM has come a long way.

[Beanster1]

I guarantee you won't find a better restaurant in Chiang Mai. David's Kitchen. Check it it on Trip Advisor.

[jobin]

Always gotta wonder about the restaurants that won't tell their location. Hiding from whom? The govt, the public..? That is David's as advertised on TA. No thanks if 20 mins by taxi, hardly even qualifies as CM.

[kalbo123]

Always gotta wonder about the restaurants that won't tell their location. Hiding from whom? The govt, the public..? That is David's as advertised on TA. No thanks if 20 mins by taxi, hardly even qualifies as CM.

Well for sure it's in CM province, but besides that I and many other with me think that it is absolutely worth the small trip, it's a beautiful and peaceful

setting along the river, and much better food then many similar situated restaurants in town.

David hiding? you gotta be kidding, you are lucky to get a table there on some days.....

[JulieM]

Always gotta wonder about the restaurants that won't tell their location. Hiding from whom? The govt, the public..? That is David's as advertised on TA. No thanks if 20 mins by taxi, hardly even qualifies as CM.

David's has an excellent website showing how to get there from all parts of town. The menu looks amazing. It would be worth the trip from town for a special occasion, and it you live out that way you have a great local restaurant to frequent.

[elektrified]

Always gotta wonder about the restaurants that won't tell their location. Hiding from whom? The govt, the public..? That is David's as advertised on TA. No thanks if 20 mins by taxi, hardly even qualifies as CM.

Well for sure it's in CM province, but besides that I and many other with me think that it is absolutely worth the small trip, it's a beautiful and peaceful

setting along the river, and much better food then many similar situated restaurants in town.

David hiding? you gotta be kidding, you are lucky to get a table there on some days.....

Never heard of it but a google search reveals it's probably not the kind of place to take the family (although the set lunch menu prices aren't too bad). I generally avoid places that charge 200 for the first course, then 700+ Baht for the main course which includes 5! French Fries and when it arrives it is a small portion in the center of the plate with olive oil, balsamic, parsley and other "decor" occupying 2/3 of the plate. The dessert they offer "sticky toffee pudding" appears in the photo to be quite literally one bite!

Not really the type of place I would go to. For the price I expect some food for the money; not just a few bites here and there.

[JLT]

"If you don't like Thai food (and there is quite a scope to it) then push off to be happier back where you came from when you sit down at the table."

The OP was only asking for opinions. Your uncalled for comment just goes to show what a nasty individual you are....

[millwall_fan]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"If you don't like Thai food (and there is quite a scope to it) then push off to be happier back where you came from when you sit down at the table."

The OP was only asking for opinions. Your uncalled for comment just goes to show what a nasty individual you are....

Everyone knows that! Just ignore him!

David's Kitchen is another place that has arisen since we left - though I know David from a previous venture. Hoping to go there too over Christmas.

UG: it depends on what you call cheap. CM restaurants are considerably cheaper than here in BKK, Baht for Baht!

[Chiengmaijoe]

Always gotta wonder about the restaurants that won't tell their location. Hiding from whom? The govt, the public..? That is David's as advertised on TA. No thanks if 20 mins by taxi, hardly even qualifies as CM.

What are you on about? Tripadvisor is not his advertising and anyway there is a link to his website which, as has already been mentioned, has very good guides as to how to get there. If you can't be bothered trying the place why comment. I doubt if you'll be missed as I don't think you'd be adding much to the ambience.

https://www.davidskitchenat909.com/location.php

[Tokay]

Salsa Kitchen and Dukes are probably my two favorites for western food.

[Ulysses G.]

UG: it depends on what you call cheap. CM restaurants are considerably cheaper than here in BKK, Baht for Baht!

Not the restaurants that I am talking about. I think they are Bangkok prices, but the quality makes them worth it. However, there are a lot of places here that have one or two really great dishes that are cheaply priced. You can stick to them and keep switching around, if you know where they are. I have found a few from posts by Dave 2 and he often provides the location and a photo.

Edited November 29, 2014 by Ulysses G.

[anonymouse]

Salsa Kitchen and Dukes are probably my two favorites for western food.

Two of my favorites as well, generous portions of food, reasonable prices for Western food and they are consistent in their delivery in terms of food and service.

Two other places I have eaten recently that impressed me were Sun Tori Japanese Restaurant and Ragu at Promenada.

I recently joined the Chiang Mai Foodies Facebook group and every day I am seeing new restaurants added with tasty looking images, As UG mentioned in another post compared to a few years back we have a huge choice of great restaurants to try out and the quality has improved ten fold.

[Ulysses G.]

Two other places I have eaten recently that impressed me were Sun Tori Japanese Restaurant and Ragu at Promenada.

Me too. I just came back from Sun Tori a few minutes ago. I'm not sure that the fish tastes any better than other places, but the price is right.

[anonymouse]

Two other places I have eaten recently that impressed me were Sun Tori Japanese Restaurant and Ragu at Promenada.

Me too. I just came back from Sun Tori a few minutes ago. I'm not sure that the fish tastes any better than other places, but the price is right.

My view is that the fish is fresh and you know where it comes from, I suppose it is a lottery what fish you are getting as it depends on his catch of the week. I haven't tried the evening menu where there is more choice yet.

[quidnunc]

Always gotta wonder about the restaurants that won't tell their location. Hiding from whom? The govt, the public..? That is David's as advertised on TA. No thanks if 20 mins by taxi, hardly even qualifies as CM.

Well for sure it's in CM province, but besides that I and many other with me think that it is absolutely worth the small trip, it's a beautiful and peaceful

setting along the river, and much better food then many similar situated restaurants in town.

David hiding? you gotta be kidding, you are lucky to get a table there on some days.....

Never heard of it but a google search reveals it's probably not the kind of place to take the family (although the set lunch menu prices aren't too bad). I generally avoid places that charge 200 for the first course, then 700+ Baht for the main course which includes 5! French Fries and when it arrives it is a small portion in the center of the plate with olive oil, balsamic, parsley and other "decor" occupying 2/3 of the plate. The dessert they offer "sticky toffee pudding" appears in the photo to be quite literally one bite!

Not really the type of place I would go to. For the price I expect some food for the money; not just a few bites here and there.

Wow! What an imagination you have. In fact that's all you've got since you've never been there. I've gone 4 times now, 3 times for lunch and once for dinner. The size and the arrangement of the portions have nothing to with with the cliches that you've pulled out of thin air. Or rather, from a very unappetizing portion of your anatomy. Why do you write these gratuitously nasty and utterly false comments?

You can get a 3 course lunch at David's Kitchen for 290 baht. And the servings are a good size. I've had the sticky pudding and if your mouth is big enough to accommodate that in one bite, then you must be part land shark..

Anyway, the food is excellent and the setting is beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the penang beef short ribs. They use fresh ground spices - no store-bought mixes.

The restaurant is located inside a large estate and there are beautiful grounds to explore. And the staff is very attentive.

[mania]

While I dont use meals on wheels type services

I sometimes look at their sites to see if any restaurants sound good.

Here is a new service I just saw online.

What is nice about these things is you see the menu & prices & sometimes pictures

of the foods offered

This one is really excellent with so many to look at

81 Thai restaurants!

FoodPanda

Mealsonwheels4u

Edited November 29, 2014 by mania

[elektrified]

Salsa Kitchen and Dukes are probably my two favorites for western food.

Two of my favorites as well, generous portions of food, reasonable prices for Western food and they are consistent in their delivery in terms of food and service.

Two other places I have eaten recently that impressed me were Sun Tori Japanese Restaurant and Ragu at Promenada.

I recently joined the Chiang Mai Foodies Facebook group and every day I am seeing new restaurants added with tasty looking images, As UG mentioned in another post compared to a few years back we have a huge choice of great restaurants to try out and the quality has improved ten fold.

Two of my favorites as well. I would add El Diablos and 3 Little Pigs (same owner) to the list. Both very tasty, fresh, very generous portions and reasonably priced.

Ragu is also excellent. Haven't been to Suntori yet, hopefully next week.

[Ulysses G.]

Haven't been to Suntori yet, hopefully next week.

Br warned: The good part is that it is tasty and very inexpensive. The bad part is that it is so popular that you have to share your table with strangers. It is worth it though - IMO.

Edited November 29, 2014 by Ulysses G.

[trainman34014]

Geez; i thought this was a topic about good restaurants and then up came the words 'Mac Donalds'. !!

[Jackson86]

there's a nice restaurant along ping river, think the name is " river ping terrace " or something. it has a small band with some thai and english folk songs. price is reasonable.

[Diplomatico]

I was at Maya Mall last night and there is a large "Coming Soon...." banner on the food court level for The Duke's.

[robertmueller]

I like the restaurant Kai Yang Korat (Promenada; same building as RimPing).

They ONLY serve Thai dishes, mostly Isan style.

They use very fresh ingredients and combinations of spices which you can hardly find somewhere else.

But the best argument is that it tastes very delicious and you have a nice view to the Promenada garden/lake.

There is also one negative point: they do not change sometimes the placemat after every customer.

There is an easy solution for this: give it back to the waiter or put it to the side.

[Dante99]

However, there are a lot of places here that have one or two really great dishes that are cheaply priced. You can stick to them and keep switching around, if you know where they are. I have found a few from posts by Dave 2 and he often provides the location and a photo.

Right UG. That is the key to good eating at inexpensive prices. Local Thais know those places, just ask them if you know any.

[Ulysses G.]

I work with a bunch of Thais, but I wish they knew a good Kow Mok Gai place. I want yellow rice, not brown. There used to be a really amazing one in the 5th floor food court at KSK, but it went bust during the chicken flu scare a few years ago. I've never found one that good again.

[Dante99]

How does the Kow Mok Gai at the Muslim Khao Soi restaurant off Chaang Klan Road stack up these days? Used to be pretty good with yellow rice.

[Ulysses G.]

IMO, they are OK, but I got spoiled by the one at KSK - much more chicken for the same price and the ingredients seemed much fresher. The Muslim Khao Soi restaurant off Chaang Klan Road just never seemed more than just acceptable since.

Edited November 30, 2014 by Ulysses G.