01 Kanom Jeen Nam Ngiaw ขนมจีนน้ำเงี๊ยว
Unusual Ingredients
It contains an interesting looking long, spindly herb that is the dried flower center of the red cotton tree. And we probably shouldn't be telling you this but the dark red cubes are blood cake. Think red tofu. Seriously, you wouldn't have known the difference. Red tofu!
Where to Find Nam Ngiaw in Chiang Mai
112 Ratmakka Road | (053) 277-103 | Open daily from 8:30am to 4pm and 5pm to 10pm
02 Sai Oua ไส้อั่ว | Northern Thai Sausage
What Sai Oua Tastes Like
The prominent flavors of this Northern Thai sausage is lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, and galangal. It's smoky from the grill and has a little heat to it from the added chilies. To be fair, if you're not familiar with how the first three ingredients taste (hint: lemongrass does not taste like lemon and kaffir lime leaf does not taste like lime), then it's hard to imagine the flavor. But hey, that's all the more reason to sample sai oua while you're in town.
How to Eat It
This is finger food. Eat the bite sized slices as is, punctuated with small pinches of sticky rice or dipped in nam prik noom, a classic Thai dip made of pounded grilled green chilies, garlic, herbs, and fermented fish. Small bamboo skewers are often offered to be used as a utensil. Sai oua goes great with a cold bottle of local Leo or Singh beer.
Where to Find Sai Oua in Chiang Mai
This is one food we'd recommend eating from a food stall or Thai market. Go to any food stall set up - along Suthep Road by Chiang Mai University or at Chiang Mai Gate (open every evening starting around 5pm). The Saturday and Saturday Night Walking Street Markets are good places to start, too.
03 Gaeng Hunglay แกงฮังเล | Northern Pork and Ginger Curry
What Gaeng Hunlay Tastes Like
This hearty, meatlovers dish is a no-coconut smoky curry with prominent flavors from ginger, soy sauce, garlic, and tamarind. It is subtly sweet and tangy with a kiss of heat, and if properly slow cooked then each bite should melt in your mouth. This is the perfect dish if you're craving lots of protein.
Where to Find Gaeng Hunglay in Chiang Mai
Huen Muan Jai 4 Ratchaphuek Road | (053) 404-998 | Open daily (except Wednesdays) from 10am to 10pm
04 Khao Soi ข้าวซอย | Northern Yellow Egg Noodle Curry
What Khao Soi Tastes Like
Khao Soi get's its exotic flavor from a curry paste mixture of dried and fresh chilies, anise, coriander seeds, and turmeric. The creamy soup is made with a base of chicken stock that's been thickened with a generous scoop of coconut milk. This is then ladled over a mound of soft, wavy egg noodles. Usually we go for khao soi that's been served with chicken - a slowly stewed drumstick to be exact - but we have also had versions served with slices of white meat chicken (meh, not nearly as much flavor), hunks of slow cooked beef, slices of roasted pork, and even some vegetarian versions.
Where to Find Khao Soi in Chiang Mai
You can find it practically everywhere, but here's a map of our favorite khao soi restaurants and food stalls:
05 Nam Prik Ong น้ำพริกอ่อง | Pork Tomato Chili Dip
What to Look For
The dip itself looks like Bolognese sauce - a very thick, chunky tomato sauce loaded with ground pork. It's served in a small bowl, which is usually served alongside a larger platter featuring raw or parboiled slices of cabbage, long beans, okra, cauliflower, and eggplant. It can also be served with fried pork cracklings called kap moo, boiled eggs, and Thai sausages.
What Nam Prik Ong Tastes Like
We joke that it tastes just like rich, thick spaghetti sauce without the western herbs like thyme and basil. It's garlicy and can range from mild to spicy depending on who makes it. Surprisingly, this particular dip excludes 'classic' Thai or Asian flavors such as fish sauce, lemongrass, or soy sauce.
How to Eat It
This is another finger food and doubles as a good appetizer. The vegetables are already cut up into bit sized pieces (generally speaking), so just dip away and consume to your heart's content. We like this dish when we're in the mood for something light and 'healthy'.
Where to Find Nam Prik Ong in Chiang Mai
You probably won't find this dish at street vendors, so you best bet is to eat it at a sit down Thai restaurant.
Faces ( Terra Cotta Arts Garden) Prapokklao Road Soi 2 | (053) 278 187 | Open daily from 8am to 11pm
There ya have it! Even though this list barely skims the surface of Northern Thai food, at least you can be confident in sampling a handful of new dishes while you're in Chiang Mai There's no point in flying halfway across to globe only to find yourself eating at McDonald's, amiright?