This is a continuation of my Asia trip report. See also Back from Thailand and Singapore: 7 Biggest Takeaways, Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class SFO to SIN to BKK, Cathay Pacific Premium Economy HKG to SEA, A Taste of Andaz Singapore, One Day in Singapore, Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airport Lounge with Free Massage, Chiang Mai Excursion–Elephant Nature Park and Wat Ban Den, Chiang Mai Hotel Review Phor Liang Meun Terracotta Arts Hotel, The Real Scoop on Massages in Thailand
Still chugging away at my Asia trip report. A big part of our experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand was exploring the food and shopping options.
Food in Chiang Mai
I won’t be detailing every restaurant we visited in Chiang Mai. However, there are a few special ones worth mentioning:
The Faces Gallery and Gastro Bar
This restaurant was right across the street from our hotel, and some other guests recommended it to us on the first night. I’m not sure what was better, the ambiance or the food!
The property itself was stunning, with a magnificent glass building for indoor seating:
And unique areas to sit outdoors with waterfalls, sculptures, etc:
We dined like queens with smoothies, appetizer and yummy entrees:
It wasn’t cheap compared to more traditional restaurants, but we still only paid about $15 each all-in. I highly recommend splurging on The Faces restaurant for one night. We meant to go back there again, but we just had too many other choices.
Anchan Noodle
A few online guides recommended Anchan Noodle restaurant, which has been in the Michelin restaurant guidebook. So, we tried it for lunch:
The restaurant is famous for its butterfly pea blue noodles. Our meal, including soup appetizer and cold blue drink, was only $3 each. I loved the spicy chili sauce that I could add to my dish to make it just the right amount of spicy for me.
There is nothing fancy at all about this place. However, you can’t beat the food and the price!
Paak Dang
For our last night in Chiang Mai, I asked our hotel staff to recommend a restaurant. They didn’t hesitate to recommend Paak Dang for the pretty evening views.
This restaurant is also in the Michelin guide, and they employ under-privileged and at-risk youth.
The outside is beautiful, with a big koi pond and a gorgeous view of the river:
The food was good, and we paid about $15 each all-in. But we just couldn’t get enough of that nighttime view:
Street Food
Street food was available in many places around the city, not just in the outdoor markets but in small courtyards around the old city moat. We bought some mango sticky rice around the corner from our hotel for around $1.50:
Outdoor markets had plenty of food stands, with some more adventurous choices:
Warning: Some friends of ours got sick eating street food in Chiang Mai. I’m not sure how to tell what is safe and what’s not.
7-Eleven
I can’t talk about food in Thailand without at least mentioning 7-Eleven convenience stores. Just like in Japan, 7-Elevens are a big deal in Thailand. There are about 16,000 7-Elevens in Thailand, second in number only to Japan. The stores in Thailand are most well known for their selection of “toasties” sandwiches:
With meat, without meat, different kinds of meat…all kinds of toasties. After you buy it, the cashier puts it into a press toaster, and it comes out like a grilled cheese sandwich:
Shopping in Chiang Mai
If shopping were an Olympic sport, my daughter would have a gold medal. She loves to explore indoor and outdoor markets. It’s not my favorite things to do when we travel, but I try to balance my love of history and architecture touring with her love of shopping.
Chinatown’s Warorot Market
Yes, Chiang Mai has a Chinatown, and within it is the daytime Warorot Market that’s open until 6 p.m. It has stalls both outside and inside with lots of merchandise and food.
I did buy a cute Thailand tote bag at this market, but most stalls appeared to sell more everyday-type stuff for locals (spoons, shoes, spices, etc.)
Night Markets
After this market closed, we headed to the daily night markets nearby. First was Phaploen Market:
This market had a live band, food stalls and plenty of merchandise:
It was pretty empty the night we were there in low season. We kept walking down the street to another nearby night market that was a bit more lively:
Lots to see here, plus a Muay Thai boxing arena inside.
Sunday Night Market
Chiang Mai is famous for its Sunday Night Market. Streets in the Old City shut down for this market that runs from 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. every Sunday night. This market was conveniently located a few blocks from our hotel.
To be honest, this market was a bit overwhelming and claustrophobic to me. It was packed, even during low season.
We definitely found some interesting things for sale:
My daughter enjoyed this market a lot more than I did. My favorite part was seeing the temples along the streets at night. Many of the temples had food courts set up on their grounds:
I can’t stress enough how packed and crowded this Sunday Night Market was. I can’t even imagine how busy it is during high season!
Malls
In addition to the markets, we also went to two indoor malls (Central Changmai and MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center). My daughter wanted to see what typical clothing stores were like for teens. Both malls had plenty of food options, including a surprise American chain:
Lastly, we walked around the more upscale outdoor shopping area One Nimman. We ventured inside Mali Cat Cafe & Bar to visit with around 40 adoptable cats:
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
My wife and I are fans of Chiang Mai. It’s less overwhelming than Bangkok and a bit cooler in temperature while retaining the street food and adding history.