Chiang Mai cooks northern Thai food, which is a different tradition from the coconut-heavy curries most visitors associate with Thailand. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
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The guide
Chiang Mai cooks northern Thai food, which is a different tradition from the coconut-heavy curries most visitors associate with Thailand. Lanna cooking is inland and mountainous. It uses less sugar and less coconut milk, more fermented soybean, pork, herbs, and bitter greens, and it borrows openly from Burma and Yunnan next door. The signature bowl, khao soi, arrived with Chinese Muslim traders. Markets are the centre of eating here rather than restaurants, and the good ones run on a strict daily cycle. Prices are low even by Thai standards, and the old city is small enough to walk.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Old City
Inside the moat and the walls. Temples, guesthouses, and market stalls at the gates. Convenient but the food is aimed at visitors more than elsewhere.
Nimmanhaemin
West near the university, where the coffee scene and the modern Thai restaurants are. Younger, busier at night, more design than tradition.
Chang Phueak
The north gate night market, and the place to eat khao kha moo from the stall that has been running for decades. Open late, mostly locals.
Wua Lai
The silversmith street, and the Saturday walking market. Northern snacks, sai ua by the coil, and stalls selling food you will not see in the old city.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Khao soi
· Curry noodle soup with crisp noodles on top, pickled mustard greens, shallot, and lime. Chinese Muslim in origin and the defining northern dish. - 02
Sai ua
· Northern pork sausage packed with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, and chilli. Sold coiled and grilled, by weight. - 03
Nam prik ong
· Pork and tomato chilli relish eaten with sticky rice, pork crackling, and raw vegetables. Shared from a single bowl. - 04
Khao kha moo
· Pork leg braised for hours in soy and five spice, over rice with pickled greens and a boiled egg. Late-night food at the north gate. - 05
Kanom jeen nam ngiao
· Fermented rice noodles in a pork and tomato broth with dried kapok flower. Northern and rarely found outside the region. - 06
Sticky rice
· Steamed glutinous rice eaten by hand from a woven basket, not with a fork. The default starch across the north.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Markets run in shifts: morning markets from 6:00, evening ones from 17:00, and the walking markets on Saturday and Sunday nights. Most kitchens close early compared with Bangkok. Cash only at stalls. The burning season from roughly February to April brings serious air pollution and is worth avoiding. Tipping is not expected; rounding up is enough.
All 20 food tours
Viator last revised 2026-11-09The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
The Rice Barn Thai Cooking Farm Chiangmai
Learn how to cook some of the most delicious Thai dishes ever created! Choose from five different and varied menus. Unlock the secret of traditional Thai-style cooking. Have you ever wondered why Thai food tastes so dif
6h - 02
Thai and Akha Cooking Class in Chiang Mai
Learn how to cook Thai and Akha dishes during your holiday in Chiang Mai with our master chef, a native Akha people. You will learn some unique cooking style and dishes, plus the history and culture of this ethnicity. Li
6h - 03
Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai
At Smile Organic Farm, we do not teach you only how to cook Thai food. Our school is set in a beautiful, serene organic farm and garden, you will learn how to grow vegetables and taste herbs in our own garden, as well as
6h - 04
Doi Inthanon Private Tour with Trek & Lunch from Chiang Mai
Join us and explore Thailand’s highest peak – Doi Inthanon National Park. The best time to visit is during December to February for cool climate and you will get a chance to see the blossom of Siamese sakura flowers all
9h - 05
Evening Cooking Class in Organic Farm with Local Market Tour
Explore Thai culinary delights since 2006 at The Best Thai Cooking Course in Chiang Mai. From our organic farm to fire cooking, savor an immersive journey led by experienced chefs. Market tours, van pick-up, and recipe
5h from $1429 - 06
Full Day Thai Cooking at Farm (Chiang Mai)
At Smile Organic Farm, we do not teach you only how to cook Thai food. Our school is set in a beautiful, serene organic farm and garden, you will learn how to grow vegetables and taste herbs in our own garden, as well as
8h - 07
Half Day Cooking Class in Chaing Mai with Visiting Local Market
Learning how to cook famous Thai dishes with Tomyumthai Cooking School. We will guide you on how to cook Thai food in the right ways and make it tasty, also we will give you tips and technique of cooking Thai, Hand on st
5h from $930 - 08
Chiang Mai Jungle Coffee Experience: Farm Trek, Roast & Brew.
☕ Farmers, not factories. Forest, not cages. This isn't a coffee lesson. It's a day inside a Karen farming family's forest, where coffee ripens slowly in the shade and nothing is rushed. • Leave something growing: plan
8h - 09
Half-Day Cooking Class
Discover Authentic Thai Cuisine with us in Chiang Mai's Old Town Embark on an unforgettable culinary adventure! Located in Chiang Mai's Old Town, our cooking school is a haven for Thai food enthusiasts. Our experienced
4.5h - 10
Half Day Evening Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai
Yummy Tasty Thai Cooking School Are you thinking about taking a cooking class, but don't know if it's worth it? Does the name of your most cooked meal have the words "hamburger" or "helper" in it? If so, a culinary arts
4h from $950 - 11
Chiang Mai Thai Cooking Class at Grand Canyon and Market Tour
- Learn to cook 7 traditional Thai dishes in a fun, relaxed atmosphere like cooking at home with your family or friends. - Visit a local market to learn about fresh ingredients with your cheerful and fun instructor to u
5.5h from $930 - 12
Evening Cooking Class
With the help of a local teacher you will learn about all of the ingredients and methods to making your favorite Thai dishes. You will prepare 4 dishes of your choice and enjoy them with your fellow students. After the c
4h from $1026 - 13
Morning Cooking Class in Organic Farm with Local Market Tour
Explore Thai culinary delights since 2006 at The Best Thai Cooking Course in Chiang Mai. From our organic farm to fire cooking, savor an immersive journey led by experienced chefs. Market tours, van pick-up, and recipe
5h from $1429 - 14
Authentic Thai Cooking Masterclass with Local Market Walk
Delve into the art of traditional Thai cooking at The Rice Barn in Chiang Mai, where culinary creativity meets the freshest ingredients. This immersive cooking experience allows you to prepare 8 authentic Thai dishes, in
6h - 15
Northern Flavours Chiang Mai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
Calling all foodies. Want to discover what real Northern Thai cuisine is all about? Forget the tourist markets and hop onboard our daily small-group adventure limited to just 8 exclusive guests. Over 4 hours you'll ride
4h - 16
Half Day Morning Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai
Yummy Tasty Thai Home Cooking Class Are you thinking about taking a cooking class, but don't know if it's worth it? Does the name of your most cooked meal have the words "hamburger" or "helper" in it? If so, a culinary
4h from $950 - 17
Cooking Class with Organic Farm in Chiang Mai at Mama Noi
Mama Noi Thai Cookery School is a unique cooking experience that offers travelers an authentic and immersive experience in Thai cuisine. They will be able to learn about Thai flavors and techniques with the guidance of a
4h from $1000 - 18
Morning Thai Cooking with Grandma - Market Visit & Farm Tour
Unlike standard cooking schools, this class combines a lively local market visit with an authentic organic farm experience. Guests don’t just cook — they also feed and hug chickens, collect eggs, and explore a mushroom h
4h - 19
Lanna Kingdom Chiang Mai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
With its sheer number of snacks and dishes, it's hard to grasp Northern Thai cuisine. Top that with the language barrier and it's easy to see why most farang stick to pad Thai from the tourist markets. Fear not. On this
4h from $59 - 20
Lanna Smile Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai with Market tour
open-air kitchen at a countryside area of Chiangmai-feels more traditional with local instructor. Cooking in Peaceful setting (Semi Private class max to 8-10 people only). Discover authentic classic Thai cuisine which is
5h
Frequently asked
- How much do food tours in Chiang Mai cost?
- Roughly $59–$1429 per person, with the median around $950.
- When should I book?
- One to two weeks ahead in peak season; same-day is sometimes possible off-peak but limits choice.