The Must Try Foods in Santitham, Chiang Mai
Thai cuisine is world famous because it has these unique and mouth-watering dishes as listed on this must try foods in Santitham list. The unique Thai cuisine from the north, however, isn’t talked about as much. It should be. Also known as ‘Lanna’, Northern Thailand has its own twist on the country’s cuisine and in my opinion, the best there is. The aromatic blends in the food up north is one of the many reasons I love Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai specifically.
On my most recent trip, I stayed in a lesser-known neighbourhood on Chiang Mai called Santitham which still retains in authenticity, full of locals, cheap food and not a McDonalds in sight. I spent a month in Santitham, trying all the local dishes from street food to 7/11 to restaurants. Here are my top 6 must try foods in Santitham, Chiang Mai and places to eat in Chiang Mai.
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The List of Chiang Mai Food
- Khao Soi
- Morning Glory
- Noodle Soup
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Ga Pow Moo
- Spicy Sausage / Sai Ua
At time of writing: 37 Baht = £1
Khao Soi – The Ultimate Must Try Foods in Chiang Mai!
I’ve tried A LOT of Khao Soi. It’s my favourite meal in the whole of South East Asia. What’s even better is that you can’t find this dish outside of Northern Thailand.
I’ve rarely seen it in any Thai restaurants outside of Northern Thailand which makes it a must-do on any Chiang Mai itinerary. It’s SO delicious too. There are many famous places to eat Khao Soi in Chiang Mai such as Khao Soi Mae Sai or by the lady wearing the cow hat as visited by the late Anthony Bourdain.
Khao Soi is essentially a chicken curried soup made from coconut milk and tasty spices. It comes in a bowl with yellow egg noodles and crispy noodles on top with red onion and pickle to garnish.
Tip: Take your own reusable chopsticks when eating street food. You can get them from Amazon here.
Staying in Santitham, I ate the BEST Khao Soi. Read this post for the 5 best Khao Soi found in Santitham
For a recommendation within Chiang Mai old city, I would suggest Bamboo Cafe. They serve a large portion and offer either vegetarian, chicken or pork and all are so good. Their version includes crunchy broccoli, carrot and cauliflower which isn’t common but definitely tastes good. Bamboo Cafe’s Khao Soi costs about 69 baht.
Bamboo Cafe Address: Ratvithi Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Morning Glory
Don’t let the name deter you, Morning Glory is so delicious and one of the top Thai street foods in the whole country. It’s a vegetarian meal consisting of green veg and red chillies, usually eaten at breakfast time, with juicy sauce. I’ve had this dish all over Vietnam and is extremely popular along with other tasty Vietnamese cuisine.
Read about Vietnamese cuisine: Pho in Vietnam
It’s so cheap to eat Morning Glory around Chiang Mai. My recommendation in the old city would be to go to Anusarn Market in the morning or early afternoon. Walk down the adjacent, quaint lane and find a stall selling Morning Glory. You can eat it at their table and chairs or you can have it to takeaway in little bags/boxes for 30-40 baht.
Address: 149/24, 149 27-28 Changklan Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Clear Noodle Soup: Duck or Pork Ball
The fragrance within a bowl of noodle soup from a Thai street market stall is unmissable when visiting Chiang Mai. It is essentially a clear broth with Duck or Pork Balls, rice noodles and lots of veggies to accompany. If you want to know what to eat in Chiang Mai, noodle soup is your answer.
In Santitham’s night food court, the stall closest to the traffic lights sold the best duck noodle soup. I ate here several times for only 40 baht a bowl!
Address: Hussadhisawee Rd, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
For Pork Ball soup, there’s a delicious one on Santitham Road and is always packed with locals eating breakfast here. This places also puts crackers in the soup which is a great addition. This soup is definitely a must-eat in Chiang Mai!
Address: Santitham Rd, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300
Corn on the Grill – Must Try Foods in Santitham!
For just 5 baht per piece on a humble stall in Santitham, you can snack on crunchy, tasty corn on the cob! This place offers lots of food on sticks, raw on ice, that you can have on their grill. All you have to do is choose what you want grilled, and use their green baskets to put your selection in. They will then put it on the grill and the charcoal smell wafts in your face and sizzles before your eyes. They then dab it in their own spice mix. So good!
Address: Hussadhisawee Rd, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ga Pow Moo
This is something I tried just once for lunch because I sadly only found the place toward the end of my trip. The dish is flavoursome minced pork with spices and a few greens and usually ordered with rice. It is found in one the quieter lanes in Santitham and costs about 30 baht (rice costs an extra 10 baht).
Note: Don’t get confused, ‘Moo’ means Pork in Thai.
Address: Yupa Brother Shop, Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Spicy Sausage / Sai Ua
Very basic, it’s a sausage. But not any old sausage, it’s Northern Thai spicy sausage and its full of flavour such as lemongrass, chillies and onion. You can find it on the grill throughout the streets of Santitham and at night food markets. My favourite place to try it though is in Thanin Market, right at the front is a lady selling just this sausage and she seems pretty famous. There’s a few newspaper cuttings around her stall and her sausage tastes incredible! This is one of the best local food in Chiang Mai.
Address: Thanin Market, 169 Ratchapakhinai Rd, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Santitham really has delightful gems and is a great place to get away from the busier old city. I highly recommend visiting this part of Chiang Mai if you want to go somewhere that feels authentic, less-crowded, cheaper and great food! If you want to visit Santitham and just want to go somewhere for a coffee, read this post for the best cafe’s to visit in Santitham, Chiang Mai.
More Posts on Thailand:
How to use Songthaews in Chiang Mai
Where to Find Live Music in Chiang Mai
Where to Stay in Santitham
Santitham is such a great neighbourhood in Chiang Mai with the best local food in Thailand you can find! It’s only a short walk or songtheaw into the old city and staying here gives you more of an authentic feel.
I always use booking.com to book my accommodation. Use the search box below to find accommodation in Santitham, Chiang Mai and start enjoying the food of Chiang Mai!
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