Quick answer
For the best khao soi in Chiang Mai, expect to pay between 40-350 THB, with Khao Soi Khun Yai being a top recommendation for its legendary status and rich broth. This guide focuses on spots favored by locals and expats, offering a more authentic experience beyond the typical tourist traps.
- Best overall
- Khao Soi Khun Yai
- Top pick
- Khao Soi Khun Yai
Top verdicts
- Khao Soi Khun Yai: Sells out by 1:30-2:00pm regularly; arrive before noon.
- Khao Soi Lung Prakit Kad Kom: Cash only; menus are mostly Thai.
- Khao Soi Maesai: Lunch hours move fast; come 11:30 or 1:30 for shorter waits.
Every travel blog has a "best khao soi in Chiang Mai" list. Most of them recommend the same three places — Khao Soi Lamduan, Khao Soi Islam, and whatever spot the blogger got a free meal at. The problem? Long-term residents and expats will tell you most of those "famous" spots have watered down their broth over the years.
Area map
1. Khao Soi Khun Yai
Start with:
- 1. Khao Soi Khun Yai
- 2. Khao Soi Lung Prakit Kad Kom
- 3. Khao Soi Maesai
- 4. Khao Soi Mae Manee
- 5. Khao Soi Nimman
- 6. Khao Soi Loong Surin
- 7. Khao Soi Lamduan (Faham)
- 8. Khao Soi Islam
- 9. The House by Ginger
- 10. Khao Soi Mae Manee 2
- 11. Khao Soi Samerjai
- 12. Shakilar Chicken Briyani
- 13. Khao Soi at Chiang Mai Gate
- 14. Khao-So-i (Old City)
All 14 spots at a glance
| # | Name | Style | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khao Soi Khun Yai | legend | mid | 145 Soi Sri Poom 8, near Chang Phueak Gate |
| 2 | Khao Soi Lung Prakit Kad Kom | restaurant | mid | Hai Ya district, south of Old City |
| 3 | Khao Soi Maesai | restaurant | mid | Huay Kaew Road, near Chiang Mai University |
| 4 | Khao Soi Mae Manee | restaurant | mid | Near City Hall, north Chiang Mai |
| 5 | Khao Soi Nimman | tourist-friendly | mid | Nimmanahaeminda Road (Nimman) |
| 6 | Khao Soi Loong Surin | day-trip-gem | mid | Doi Pui Village (up the mountain past Doi Suthep) |
| 7 | Khao Soi Lamduan (Faham) | og-classic | mid | Charoen Rat Road, Faham area (east of Old City) |
| 8 | Khao Soi Islam | halal | mid | Charoen Prathet Road, near Night Bazaar |
| 9 | The House by Ginger | restaurant | mid | Moonmuang Road, Old City |
| 10 | Khao Soi Mae Manee 2 | restaurant | mid | Chiang Mai (separate location from Mae Manee #1) |
| 11 | Khao Soi Samerjai | restaurant | mid | Near Mae Ping River |
| 12 | Shakilar Chicken Briyani | restaurant | mid | Chiang Mai |
| 13 | Khao Soi at Chiang Mai Gate | street-food | mid | Chiang Mai Gate market area |
| 14 | Khao-So-i (Old City) | restaurant | mid | Old City, Chiang Mai |
1Khao Soi Khun Yai
Legend
Verdict: Sells out by 1:30-2:00pm regularly; arrive before noon.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Khao soi pilgrimage opener
- Strengths
- Known for Legend · 145 Soi Sri Poom 8, near Chang Phueak Gate
- Price / value
- 50–70 THB
- Why it made the list
- Khun Yai is the legend most khao soi enthusiasts visit first in Chiang Mai — small Old City room, lunch-only, the curry that defines the dish for many travelers.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai (chicken) with the side of pickled mustard greens, raw shallots, and a wedge of lime.
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2Khao Soi Lung Prakit Kad Kom
Restaurant
Verdict: Cash only; menus are mostly Thai.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Old-school local khao soi
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Hai Ya district, south of Old City
- Price / value
- 60–80 THB
- Why it made the list
- Lung Prakit's Hai Ya district shop is the lifelong-trade khao soi room locals send first-timers to — old-school recipe, generous portions, nearly no English signage.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai with the curry-puff-style fried noodles on top.
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3Khao Soi Maesai
Restaurant
Verdict: Lunch hours move fast; come 11:30 or 1:30 for shorter waits.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- University-side khao soi
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Huay Kaew Road, near Chiang Mai University
- Price / value
- 50–70 THB
- Why it made the list
- Maesai sits near Chiang Mai University on Huay Kaew Road, draws a mix of locals and students, and is consistently named among the better northern-side khao soi rooms.
- What to order
- Khao soi neua (beef) — the deeper-flavored version.
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4Khao Soi Mae Manee
Restaurant
Verdict: Less English signage; let the menu pictures guide you.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Neighborhood weekday lunch
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Near City Hall, north Chiang Mai
- Price / value
- 50–70 THB
- Why it made the list
- A neighborhood khao soi shop with consistent traditional execution — long hours, regularly named in deep-local recommendation lists, easy walk from the Old City.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai with the standard garnish plate.
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5Khao Soi Nimman
Tourist-Friendly
Verdict: A useful introduction for Nimman-staying visitors; not the most traditional but a clean version.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Nimman-area introduction
- Strengths
- Known for Tourist-Friendly · Nimmanahaeminda Road (Nimman)
- Price / value
- 80–150 THB
- Why it made the list
- A polished Nimman-area khao soi room aimed at the digital-nomad crowd — modern setting, English menu, traditional recipe with a slightly dialed-back spice.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai with the option to add extra spice on the side.
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6Khao Soi Loong Surin
Day Trip Gem
Verdict: Hours can be limited; lunch is the safe window.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Family-run traditional khao soi
- Strengths
- Known for Day Trip Gem · Doi Pui Village (up the mountain past Doi Suthep)
- Price / value
- 50–70 THB
- Why it made the list
- A long-running family-run khao soi shop run by the Surin family — traditional Northern Thai recipe, generous broth, distinctly local-leaning crowd.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai, plus the side of pickled mustard greens.
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7Khao Soi Lamduan (Faham)
OG Classic
Verdict: The Faham strip has multiple khao soi shops; arrive earlier on weekends to compare.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Historical khao soi address
- Strengths
- Known for OG Classic · Charoen Rat Road, Faham area (east of Old City)
- Price / value
- 50–80 THB
- Why it made the list
- Khao Soi Lamduan on Faham road has been serving the dish for decades — among the oldest continuous khao soi addresses in Chiang Mai, with a recipe that has stayed close to the Burmese-Muslim original.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai or neua, eaten with raw shallots and pickled greens on the side.
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8Khao Soi Islam
Halal
Verdict: Halal kitchen; the broth profile differs from the chicken version, in a good way.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Halal-style khao soi neua
- Strengths
- Known for Halal · Charoen Prathet Road, near Night Bazaar
- Price / value
- 50–70 THB
- Why it made the list
- Islam runs the Muslim-northern Thai version of khao soi with halal beef — different broth profile from the chicken-coconut classic, deeply rooted in Chiang Mai's Burmese-Muslim community.
- What to order
- Khao soi neua (beef) — the broth here is the appeal.
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9The House by Ginger
Restaurant
Verdict: Reservations help in high season; pricing is double the street rooms.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Sit-down restaurant khao soi
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Moonmuang Road, Old City
- Price / value
- 180–350 THB
- Why it made the list
- The polished Old City restaurant in a colonial-era house — khao soi shows up on a wider Northern Thai menu rather than as the single-dish focus, a sit-down option for travelers wanting comfort with the curry.
- What to order
- Khao soi as a starter, then a Northern Thai sharing main like sai oua or hung lay curry.
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10Khao Soi Mae Manee 2
Restaurant
Verdict: Cash works easiest; menu pictures speak for the kitchen.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Backup Mae Manee location
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Chiang Mai (separate location from Mae Manee #1)
- Price / value
- 50–80 THB
- Why it made the list
- The second Mae Manee location — same recipe lineage as the original, easier to reach from a different part of town. A useful backup when the original is closed or queued.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai with the standard garnishes.
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11Khao Soi Samerjai
Restaurant
Verdict: More tourist-friendly menu signage than the deep-local shops; portions run large.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Visitor-friendly khao soi sit-down
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Near Mae Ping River
- Price / value
- 50–70 THB
- Why it made the list
- Samerjai is one of the most internationally name-checked khao soi rooms in Chiang Mai — included in international food-press lists for years, with broader hours and seating than the single-dish specialists.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai or neua with a side of sai oua sausage.
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12Shakilar Chicken Briyani
Restaurant
Verdict: Halal kitchen; the broth leans more spice-forward than the standard Northern Thai version.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Muslim-Thai khao soi lineage
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Chiang Mai
- Price / value
- $
- Why it made the list
- A long-running Muslim-Thai kitchen near the Chiang Mai night bazaar — biryani is the headline, but the khao soi here carries the Burmese-Muslim lineage that originated the dish.
- What to order
- Order khao soi alongside a chicken biryani to see both sides of the kitchen.
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13Khao Soi at Chiang Mai Gate
Street Food
Verdict: Best as part of a Chiang Mai Gate night market food walk; cash only.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Night-market khao soi stop
- Strengths
- Known for Street Food · Chiang Mai Gate market area
- Price / value
- 40–60 THB
- Why it made the list
- A khao soi stand at Chiang Mai Gate market — the working night-market version of the dish, lower price than sit-down rooms, distinct local crowd.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai eaten standing or at the market benches.
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14Khao-So-i (Old City)
Restaurant
Verdict: Pair with the Old City temple loop for a tight half-day.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Old City temple-walk lunch
- Strengths
- Known for Restaurant · Old City, Chiang Mai
- Price / value
- 99–180 THB
- Why it made the list
- An Old City khao soi shop sitting within walking distance of the main temples — a logical lunch anchor for a Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh walking day.
- What to order
- Khao soi gai with the standard garnish set.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a bowl of khao soi cost in Chiang Mai?
A bowl of khao soi at a street stall or local shop costs 50–80 THB ($1.50–$2.30 USD). More upscale restaurants like The House by Ginger or Khao Soi Nimman charge 120–250 THB ($3.50–$7). Even at the priciest spots, khao soi remains one of the best-value meals in Southeast Asia.
What is the difference between chicken and beef khao soi?
Chicken khao soi (khao soi gai) is the most traditional version — a whole braised chicken leg in coconut curry broth with egg noodles. Beef khao soi (khao soi neua) uses slow-cooked beef chunks and tends to have a richer, heartier flavor. local consensus: try the chicken first for the classic experience, then beef at places like Khao Soi Mae Manee 2 or Lung Prakit where it's the specialty.
When is the best time to eat khao soi in Chiang Mai?
Most traditional khao soi shops open around 8–9 AM and close by 2–3 PM or when they sell out — whichever comes first. Lunch rush is 11 AM–1 PM. For the most popular places like Khao Soi Khun Yai and Lung Prakit, arrive before 11 AM to avoid lines. Some shops are closed on Sundays.
Is khao soi spicy?
Khao soi has a mild-to-medium spice level by Thai standards. The coconut milk in the curry base tames the heat significantly. Most shops provide condiments (chili oil, pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime) so you can adjust. If you're sensitive to spice, places like Khao Soi Mae Manee are known for a milder base — you can always add chili oil to taste.
Which khao soi place do Chiang Mai locals actually eat at?
According to local consensus, Khao Soi Lung Prakit Kad Kom is the top local favorite — famous among Thais and even visited by politicians. Khao Soi Khun Yai near Chang Phueak Gate and Khao Soi Mae Manee near City Hall are also heavily local. The tourist-heavy spots like Khao Soi Lamduan and Khao Soi Nimman are still good, but expats tend to gravitate toward the smaller, less-photographed shops.