Big C Supercenter Chiang Rai 2 Airport

Stock up here rather than sightsee here. This is a full-scale supermarket on Phahon Yothin Road with a food court attached, a short hop from Chiang Rai International Airport, and the crowd is mostly local people doing their weekly shop. That's the appeal, if it appeals at all. Nobody is selling you anything.

The grocery floor is where I'd spend my time. Fresh produce, Thai snacks in packet form, drinks, ready-to-eat stuff. If you want to take something home that isn't from a souvenir stall, this is a cheaper and more interesting place to look than the airport shops. The food court does the usual quick Thai plates at ordinary prices, and it's an easy first meal if you've just landed and don't fancy decoding a menu yet. Nothing here will be the meal you remember from your trip, but it's cold inside, it's fast, and you'll eat for very little.