Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Two markets share a site just outside the city moat at Chiang Mai Gate, and which one you'll find depends entirely on your arrival time. In the morning, the fresh market takes place, where locals buy vegetables, herbs, curry pastes, pork, chicken, and northern Chinese sausage, rather than just browsing. There's also a small covered area with dry goods and fresh produce. In the evening, the area transforms into a street food district that feels refreshingly unpretentious and authentic. Here, no one is putting on an act for tourists.

The food selection is decent, but not huge. Noodles, skewers, steamed buns, gyoza, khao kha moo, and khao soi are available at some stalls for around 40 baht. The prices at the fruit and smoothie stalls are particularly popular, varying considerably from stall to stall. Therefore, it's advisable to walk around the entire market before making a decision. Mango sticky rice is easy to find everywhere.