A culinary tour of Chiang Mai is a guided tour through markets, street stalls, and traditional family-run businesses. It typically lasts three to four hours and features northern Chinese dishes that are difficult to order on your own. The guide takes the orders and explains the dishes. Group tours cost between 1,300 and 1,550 baht per person (approximately US$59 if paid in US dollars), including the meal. One operator is frequently mentioned in reviews, blog posts, and Reddit threads: A Chef's Tour. These tours operate in a red songthaew truck, traveling between stops.

Two long-established local businesses are listed right next to it in the Google Maps results: Chiang Mai Foodie Tours, offering a morning and an evening city tour, and Chiang Mai Street Food Tours, which picks you up from your hotel in the evening and takes you to the night markets. For the first evening, I would book a cooking tour, and for vegetarians in the group, Chiang Mai Foodie Tours.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

This route ends in Chiang Mai. Search for hotels in Chiang Mai for your travel dates or narrow your search to the region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.

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My recommendations in every price category in Chiang Mai

  • Shangri-La Chiang MaiLuxury · 5 stars · 4.6 (4,289)
  • U Chiang Mai HotelMid-range · 4 stars · 4.8 (2,000)
  • Cross Chiang Mai Riverside · Budget · 3 stars · 4.8 (994)

    • Key facts

    1,300 to 1,550 baht or 59 US dollars

    The Chiang Mai Street Food Tours cost 1,300 Baht, the Chiang Mai Foodie Tours 1,550 Baht, and the A Chef's Tour US$59 per person. Food is included in all three tours.

    About three to four hours

    A Chef's Tour and a Chiang Mai Foodie Tours last four hours, while the evening market tour by Chiang Mai Street Food Tours lasts about three hours.

    Morning or evening

    The morning and midday tours start at 9:00 or 10:00 AM and take you to the Khao Soi food stalls, where the food is usually sold out by early afternoon. The evening tours begin between 4:00 and 7:00 PM and end at the night markets.

    Small groups

    A Chef's Tour accommodates up to 8 people, while Chiang Mai Street Food Tours can accommodate 2 to 10 people. All three also offer private tours.

    Northern Thai cuisine, not Pad Thai.

    Look forward to Khao Soi, Sai Ua sausage, Larb, Kaeng Hang Le curry, and braised pork knuckle with rice. A Chef's Tour includes tastings of 15 or more dishes, while a Chiang Mai Street Food Tour includes 8 to 10.

    Please observe the dietary guidelines.

    Northern Chinese cuisine is based on pork. Chiang Mai Foodie Tours offers tours for vegetarians, pescatarians, people with lactose intolerance, and people with gluten intolerance; the other two providers state that their tours are not suitable for vegetarians.

    Comparison of culinary tours in Chiang Mai

    The prices are per adult for a group tour and are listed on the respective tour operator websites. Booking portals offer the same tours under different names and sometimes at different prices.

    Three worthwhile culinary tours in Chiang Mai

    A Chef's Tour is the restaurant that consistently comes up in independent reviews, blog posts, and Reddit threads. The other two are established local businesses that appear next to it in Google Maps results and have fewer reviews.

  • 1. Culinary Tour of the Old City and Beyond (Highly Recommended): The evening "Nordic Flavors" tour departs at 5:00 PM from Wat Lok Moli and takes you on a four-hour journey in a private red songthaew (shared taxi), stopping at five or six locations. The tour begins with Khao Kha Moo, braised pork knuckle with rice, from the famous stall at Chang Phueak Gate. Then, outside the Old City walls, you'll enjoy Kaeng Hang Le curry, Larb, grilled Sai Ua sausage, and pork and chicken cooked in clay pots—a total of 15 or more tastings. Pad Thai is not on the menu—and that's the catch. The group size is limited to 8 people, and the price is US$59 per person. The midday tour of the Kingdom of Lanna takes place from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the same temple for the same price. The tour begins at a large market and then continues to a small Khao Soi food stall, a barbecue stand serving grilled chicken and papaya salad, and a dessert shop that has been operating for almost 40 years. A Chef's Tour describes the two tours as similar and advises against taking both. Neither is suitable for vegetarians or vegans, as meat is included in five or six dishes without alternatives. Those with celiac disease are advised against the tour. You can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours in advance. Getting there: Wat Lok Moli is located on Manee Nopparat Road, a short walk west of the Chang Phueak Gate. The guide will be wearing an A Chef's Tour T-shirt and will assist you with transportation back at the end of the tour. Opening hours: Evenings from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and lunchtimes from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
  • 2. Chiang Mai Foodie Tours, Old City and Warorot Market – Ideal for vegetarians and temple lovers. Chiang Mai Foodie Tours offers two four-hour tours for 1,550 baht per person, led by licensed guides from northern Chiang Mai. The Original Foodie Tour starts at 9:00 am at the Three Kings Monument and combines visits to lunch spots with insights into the history of the Old City. The itinerary includes Khao Man Gai and pork satay at a restaurant that, according to the organizers, has been family-owned since 1957, a visit to Wat Chiang Man, Khao Soi at the home of the family behind the Chiang Mai version, and a dessert stop. The tour crosses the pedestrian bridge over the Ping River and ends around 1:00 pm at the stalls of Warorot Market. The evening foodie tour runs from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and follows the same route in reverse. It begins in front of Warorot Market with Sai Ua (fried rice), mango sticky rice, and Thai iced tea, then proceeds to the flower market, a restaurant in northern Thailand for Kaeng Hang Le (fried vegetables) and Larb (a traditional Thai dish), and ends at Chang Phueak Gate with pork knuckle on rice and a warm roti. The tour is mostly on foot and never exceeds 700 meters at a time. Private transfers are available for longer distances. It is the only tour here to offer vegetarian, pescatarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free options. A refund is available for cancellations made up to 24 hours in advance. Getting there: The morning tour meets at the Three Kings Monument in the Old City, and the evening tour meets at the foot of the pedestrian bridge over Warorot Market, right on the riverbank. Hotel pickup is included for private tours only. Best opening hours: Mornings from 9:00 to 13:00 and evenings from 16:00 to 20:00.
  • 3. Chiang Mai Street Food Tours, Pick-up Throughout the City – Best Value with Hotel Pick-up. Chiang Mai Street Food Tours offers an evening market tour. You will be picked up from your accommodation between 6:15 pm and 7:00 pm, driven in a private car to several of the city's evening street food markets, and returned around 9:30 pm. You will sample 8 to 10 dishes, including Khanom Jeen noodles, braised pork knuckle, and coconut dumplings. Your guide will then teach you enough Thai to order the dishes yourself. Groups consist of 2 to 10 people, and solo travelers can join a group. The price is 1,300 baht per person and 850 baht for children aged 8 to 15. All food, drinks, and insurance are included. Payment is made in cash to the guide at the start of the tour. A private tour costs 2,500 Baht per person or 1,500 Baht per person for two people. However, this may not be possible during peak season. It is not suitable for vegetarians. Getting there: Pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation in the city are free. The company charges a fee for locations outside the city center. Best time to travel: Evening, with pick-up from 6:15 pm and return around 9:30 pm.

    • More culinary tours in Chiang Mai can be found on the booking portals.

    The booking portals list many more offers, including Michelin-recommended street food walks, tuk-tuk night tours with temple visits, an evening in Doi Suthep with two night markets, and private tours with a local guide via Withlocals. Most of these offers are sold under product names without company information and with few independent reviews, so I haven't compared them here. A chef tour, as well as the "Northern Flavours" and "Lanna Kingdom" tours with over 15 tastings, can also be booked through the same portals.

    How to choose a culinary tour in Chiang Mai

    Start with the time of day. Khao Soi is a lunchtime dish, and the famous shops sell out by early afternoon. Therefore, morning and midday tours are best for eating it, while evening tours end at the night markets around Chang Phueak Gate.

    For a first day in Chiang Mai

    A culinary discovery tour with a top chef (available on one of two dates) offers you the widest selection of North Korean dishes in a group of up to 8 people. Book early during your stay so you know what you'd like to order for the rest of your trip.

    For Khao Soi

    A tour in the morning or at midday. Both the Original Foodie Tour by Chiang Mai Foodie Tours and the Lanna Kingdom Tour by A Chef's Tour stop for a bowl of food, while the evening routes omit this.

    For vegetarians

    Chiang Mai Foodie Tours is the only local operator offering vegetarian, pescatarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free options. A Chef's Tour and Chiang Mai Street Food Tours explicitly state that their tours are not suitable for vegetarians.

    For families

    Chiang Mai Street Food Tours charges 850 baht for children aged 8 to 15 and offers hotel pick-up, which is especially convenient if the children are tired around 9:30 pm. Chiang Mai Foodie Tours welcomes children aged 6 to 12 accompanied by an adult; children under 6 who eat with their parents travel free. A Chef's Tour offers all tours for families.

    On a small budget

    The cheapest Chiang Mai street food tours cost 1,300 baht, including transport. If you organize the tour yourself (see below), it will cost only a fraction of that.

    The best-rated hotels in Chiang Mai

    Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Chiang Mai. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.

  • #2 Anantara Chiang Mai Resort 4.7 (2,377 reviews) A luxurious riverside resort in the heart of Chiang Mai, blending colonial elegance with Thai heritage. Check prices
  • #4 Meliá Chiang Mai 4.7 (2,054 reviews) A premium hotel on Charoen Prathet Road with elegant rooms, a spa, and a rooftop bar with city views. Check prices
  • #5 Mad Monkey Chiang Mai 4.8 (1,595 reviews) A sociable party hostel in the center of Chiang Mai with a pool, bar, organized events, and a lively backpacker scene. Check prices

    • DIY, lunch in Khao Soi and dinner at the night market

    Most of the dishes on a food tour can also be prepared at home for just a few hundred baht. Start your day at Warorot Market, the city's main daytime market, which opens at 6:00 AM. There you can find sai ua (pork rinds) and northern Thai snacks, such as a sausage on a skewer for 30 to 40 baht. For lunch, Khao Soi is recommended, with bowls costing 50 to 80 baht. You can eat at either Khao Soi Mae Sai in Chang Phueak (Monday to Saturday until 4:00 PM, cash only) or Khao Soi Khun Yai near Wat Lok Moli. The latter opens in the late morning, while supplies last. Arrive before 1:00 PM.

    In the evenings, you can find Khao Soi at Chiang Mai Gate for around 40 baht, and at the night market at Chang Phueak Gate, you can enjoy braised pork knuckle with rice from the cowboy hat lady for under 200 baht per plate every evening from 5:00 PM. On Sundays, a stroll along the Sunday Walking Street is recommended, starting at Tha Phae Gate between 4:00 PM and 10:30 PM. Along the way, you can eat in the temple courtyards, with Wat Phantao being particularly recommended. On Saturdays, the Walking Street takes place on Wua Lai Road starting at 6:00 PM. A guided tour offers the advantage of being able to order the dishes, hear the stories behind them, and discover dishes you would never find on a typical Thai menu.

    Booking tips

    During the cooler months from November to February, when Chiang Mai is busiest and A Chef's Tour groups (maximum 8 people) fill up quickly, it's recommended to book a few days in advance. Refund policies vary. A Chef's Tour offers a full refund up to 48 hours before the tour. Chiang Mai Foodie Tours will refund or reschedule if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. No-shows are non-refundable. In case of extreme weather, the tour will be canceled, and a new date or a full refund will be offered. Chiang Mai Street Food Tours accepts cash payments on-site, so please bring Baht.

    Eat a light lunch before an evening tour and nothing heavy before a morning tour. Wear comfortable shoes and, on Chiang Mai Foodie Tours routes, clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for temple visits. A scarf or shawl will be provided in case you forget. If you also book a cooking class, take the culinary tour first so you know which dishes you'd like to learn.

    Plan your other meals in Chiang Mai.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions about the best culinary tours in Chiang Mai and how to choose the right one.

    Most independent reviews recommend A Chef's Tour with its evening tour "Nordic Flavors" and lunchtime tour "Lanna Kingdom," both for US$59 and up to 8 people. For vegetarians, Chiang Mai Foodie Tours is the right choice.

    Group tours cost 1,300 to 1,550 baht per person including meals, or US$59 for a cooking tour. Private tours for one or two people are more expensive per person.

    Yes. The evening tour from A Chef's Tour runs from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the evening tour from Chiang Mai Foodie Tours from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Chiang Mai Street Food Tours picks you up between 6:15 PM and 7:00 PM for the night markets and brings you back around 9:30 PM.

    Chiang Mai Foodie Tours offers vegetarian, pescatarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free options. A Chef's Tour and Chiang Mai Street Food Tours state that their tours are not suitable for vegetarians.

    Khao Soi, egg noodles in a coconut curry broth with crispy fried noodles, costs 50 to 80 baht per bowl. It's a lunchtime dish, and the best places sell out by early afternoon.

    First Khao Soi, then Sai Ua, the herb-stuffed grilled sausage, Nam Prik Noom chili dip with sticky rice and pork crust, Kaeng Hang Le pork curry and Khao Kha Moo, braised pork knuckle on rice, at Chang Phueak Gate after nightfall.

    Chang Phueak, north of the old town, is ideal for khao soi for lunch and pork knuckle with rice from the night market after dark. In the morning, the Warorot market by the river is recommended. On Sundays, countless food stalls line the pedestrian zone in the old town.

    Four hours for A Chef's Tour and Chiang Mai Foodie Tours, and about three hours for the evening market tour by Chiang Mai Street Food Tours, including hotel pick-up.

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