Joanna James
Chiang Mai has a distinctive cuisine that is quite different from the traditional food that is found in other parts of the country. As such, here are the top 5 must-try dishes when in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
This is not a simple dish, but rather a dining experience of a lifetime. The meal is served in a wooden tray, which will act as a table too. The Khan Toke is a meal that has many northern styled side dishes which is served with a bowl of flavoursome rice. You will have to sit on the ground and dig into with your hands. Having said that, there is a modern twist of this dish, where the food is accompanied by traditional performances which include tribal dance and folk music. You can try some of these dishes in Chiang Mai bars, the likes of The Service 1921, for good food.
This is an appetiser or a starter dish. The Sai Oua is basically a type of sausage famous in the North. The sausages are made from pork mixed in shallots, garlic, dried chillies and a series of spices and herbs. You might have seen this dish in the northern regions before, however, the taste of this sausage is very distinctive where it has more meat content and is very rich in herbal aroma.
Chiang Mai has a range of exquisite dishes. Therefore, it is important to serve a dip that will enhance the flavours of the already heavenly meal. The Nam Prik Ong or the Nam Prik Nume refers to the red or green chilli dip. Here, the dip is made out of roasted chilli peppers, and thus you can expect it to be very fiery in taste. The red chilli is quite milder than the green chilli dip. If you think you can't handle the spiciness, always choose the red one over the green, for less spice. For the ones who can handle it, make sure to try both before you leave Chiang Mai.
Asian curries are popular all around the world, and as such when in Chiang Mai, you must give the Gaeng Hang Lay a try. This is a yellow curry involving a tamarind soup, shallots, fish paste and pork chunks. As coconut cream is not added in the cooking process, the texture of this curry is not that thick. However, it is very rich in flavour and spices. Some find it difficult to like it on the first try. These people usually adapt to the taste of the curry overtime. So, don't give up on it!
The next one on the list of the local food cuisine that you must try is the Khao Soi. This is a noodle-based dish that is well known around the country. The noodle soup is served with lime slices, pickled cabbage and spring onions. This egg noodles can be tried with beef, pork and chicken.
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