Thailand: Chiang Mai Part 2… “if you don’t like Thai food, you are probably dead inside and your soul is lost in Hell”

night view from AT Khua Lek Cafe & Restaurant

Hello Meanderthals, welcome to today’s Blog and if I don’t talk about the amazing cuisine and coffee establishments in Chiang Mai then I’ll be committing a social Faux Pas, akin to patting someone on the head in Thailand. Which incidentally I didn’t know and might explain the weird look I was given from the mother as I ruffled a child’s hair while trying to engage them with my Terrible Thai.
Now Terrible Thai is my middle name. It took me about 2 weeks to get hello down pat (Sawatdee Krap) and a week to remember Thank You (Kob Kun Krap). But at least I’m trying. The Thais know their language is difficult to learn for Farang so they’re quite forgiving and amused a little when you mess it up. Moreover, it acts as an icebreaker and opens far more doors for you than simply pointing at your smart phone for directions or using translator apps.
im trying to remember today’s new phrase,  ‘Hong Nam U Tii Nai  (where the bloody hell is the toilet I’m about to pee my pants) but I’ll probably forget it and have to go back to miming.   Try to mime that my friends, I dare you.

AT Khua Lek Cafe & Restaurant during the day

Ok back to the restaurants. Chaing Mai has an abundance of Restaurants, and they cater for absolutely everything. I mean I even saw Australian beef on a menu the other day. It’s not hard to find westerner style food but why would you when everything Thai is amazingly delicious. Incidentally the word for delicious is ‘Aroi Maak’ but now I’m just showing off.
But seriously if you don’t like Thai food you are probably dead inside and your soul (if you have one) has departed for some distant hell. Sure, it can be spicy but it’s not hard to ask for ‘little bit spice’ (Pet nit noi or pet noi). Weirdly enough after a couple of weeks, I actually found myself reaching for the spicy homemade sauce (chilli, garlic and fish sauce based) that’s always on the table. I’m told its Naphrik napla but they are probably having a lend of me as there was a lot of laughter when I asked about it.

Samsen Villa Pad Thai Kurung (prawns) seriously who doesn’t like Pad Thai???

Health wise, Initially I went out of my way to frequent Farang style restaurants as I was always conscious to make sure I was eating in a popular establishment to minimise the risk of the Thai Trots (I made that up but you get the idea). Having the shits from bad food can really ruin a good day. I certainly didn’t want to go down the path of my good friend who was just in Bali for 2 weeks and spent a whole week creatively painting the toilet bowl. However, after a week or so try as I may avoid ‘local’ restaurants as I pushed further into the wilds of Thailand. Farang popular became a thing of the past, so I was conditioned to eat where the locals eat. But you know what if you like rice and don’t order anything that’s not freshly cooked the experience will be all good and to date, I can’t complain.

Mee Coffee- green chicken curry and noodles very Aroi but a little pet noi

Chilli garlic fish sauce - careful this can be very pet noi and will let you know you are alive. but when you combine it with the blander local foods it adds good flavour

my ‘local village’ restaurant in Ban Pha Deng, simple effective and safe food. it fills the belly and soul; this meal came with soup and a coconut juice and cost me 70 baht or $2.87 AUD

Location wise in Chian Mai the more expensive restaurants (which are still cheap by Australian standards) that cater for the wayward Farang are predominately situated on the Ping River. I’ll just rattle off a few, include some pictures and give you some insight into them. Mind you this is my experience and its subjectively written and certainly isn’t a MKR (my Kitchen rules) episode- God I hate that show.!

Samsen Villa

This place was pretty flash by Chaing Mai standards. I felt rather dapper here rocking up on my scooter and fortunately I had my best Sunday threads on. The food was ‘Aroi Maak’. There were a couple of us here and our Thai friend churned out a Banquet for us. The beer was icy cold, so much so it was partially frozen but if I’m honest it rather suited the humid environment. Retrospectively thinking, this place was probably not my favourite, it was a little too swanky for me but location wise on the Ping River it afforded a great little view.

chilli chicken snack at Woo cafe to accompany my carrot cake and coffee of course. Sometimes all I do is eat in Thailand, but you know what i’m ok with that

Woo Cafe carrot cake, ok this is swanky but my goodness it tasted good. Ok i admit its Instagram able

Woo Café

Ok this place was pretty show and pony type of place. It proudly advertised as part of the Instagram-able tour. I’m not sure what that means but I’m guessing it is a place where one goes to selfie up and post to Instagram.Anyway, it is pretty flash, the coffee and the carrot cake were next level. So I confess I took pictures of them.I even went so far as to be tempted with a chicken Penang curry and boy did that come out fancy. The chilli art was a flamboyant touch. The place also doubled as an art gallery and a fancy curio shop

Riverview Restaurant

Ok this place was probably our most negative experience in Chiang Mai. But negative is a little harsh to label this place. The service was poor and I think this was because it was crazily busy. Don’t come here on a Friday night and it might be better. I’ll have to come back before I can fully sledge the place in all fairness. The food is good but there’s this culture of cooking your own on mini BBQ type contraptions. I guess if you can cook it’s a way to show off to your friends and family. But I wouldn’t have wanted to come here with a hot date in case you mucked it up. Sorry Red you don’t count as a hot date by any stretch of the imagination mate and besides if I’m going out to a restaurant then someone else should do the cooking is my humble opinion.

Riverview restaurant a very popular place that is a do your own thing kind of place.

Santitham Breakfast & Chiang Mai Pizza restaurant

This bad boy was amazing. It churned out poached eggs on toast and a hash brown for all of 100Baht ($4.10 AUD), the coffee was good, and the Coconut juice was icy cold straight out of the coconut. We went back every day simply because it was good food, good service and close to our accommodation.

Santitham Breakfast & Chiang Mai Pizza restaurant does amazingly simple Farang breakfasts, you have to try the ice-cold coconut juice - it’s my new hangover cure

Last but not least by any stretch of the imagination

Mee Coffee or Secret Coffee or Meejeerakul garden

As the name implies this secret little cafe with a working coffee and fruit trees farm is a little hard to find. situated in the village of Pa Pae, its out of the way and you need a scooter to get here but the views are alluring and put you in a trance, before you know it the day is gone. The staff are super friendly and welcoming. it offers Great coffee and simple foods. If you go to Pai or want a day trip out of Chiang Mai do yourself a favour and drop in, you won’t be disappointed.

Mee Coffee or secret coffee cafe, in Pa Pae village Amazingly friendly team who made me feel welcome and didn’t mind this Meanderthal soaking up the view and Wifi .

I guess there is a multitude of restaurants like this throughout Chiang Mai and surrounds. In fact, everywhere you go. I have not detailed all of them in fact I’m sitting in my favourite local café (Mee Coffee) now with a view to die for.  If you frequent one regularly the more welcome your custom appears to be. Summing up food in the Chiang Mai region, in a couple of words- I’ll Aussie slang it up for you- ‘Bloody amazing tucker’ with icy cold beers. Enjoy your feeds, enjoy the Chang Beer and live the dream. WHEN you visit this place not if every you visit this place