Skip to main content
Visit Thailand Today

Khao Soi Maesai

The locals' khao soi champion in Chang Phueak — Michelin-listed bowls that sell out by early afternoon, worth planning a morning around.

4.5(6,006)$$$$
Directions

Plan your visit

Hours
Mon–Sat 08:00–16:00
Price
$$$$
Budget

Learn the Spice Scale

Say 'mai pet' for no spice, 'pet nit noi' for a little spice, or 'pet mak' if you want it Thai-hot. Most cooks will default to a toned-down version for foreigners unless you specify otherwise.

Details

Full opening hours
Monday08:00–16:00
Tuesday08:00–16:00
Wednesday08:00–16:00
Thursday08:00–16:00
Friday08:00–16:00
Saturday08:00–16:00
SundayClosed

Is this your business?Feature it

Why go, and how to do it well

Ask Chiang Mai residents where they eat khao soi and Khao Soi Maesai comes back more than any other name. It's a plain, busy shop in the Chang Phueak neighborhood northwest of the old city, Michelin-listed for years, where the curry broth runs fragrant and balanced rather than heavy and the crispy noodle crown stays shatteringly fresh because turnover never stops. Chicken is the classic order; the pork and beef versions have their partisans; and the tables fill with university staff, monks' drivers and khao soi tourists holding maps.

The shop's fame comes with a deadline — it opens in the morning and closes when the pots empty, often by early-to-mid afternoon — which is the most reliable endorsement a noodle shop can offer. Prices remain defiantly local.

Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026

Stay within reach of Khao Soi Maesai

Sponsored

Search Chiang Mai hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.

See hotels near Khao Soi Maesai

Opens Booking.com with your dates

Also compare on Expedia · Trip.com

Taste more of Chiang Mai

Street-food tours, market visits and Thai cooking classes near Khao Soi Maesai.

Sponsored · GetYourGuide

Around here, on foot

Well-rated places within a short walk of Khao Soi Maesai, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.

Experience hints

Visitor favorite
Budget-friendly

Pair your visit. After Khao Soi Maesai, round out your day in Chiang Mai with contrasting stops nearby.

29, 1 Soi Ratchaphuek, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai

Open in Google Maps

More restaurants & food nearby

All within a 6-minute walk of Khao Soi Maesai.

Huen Muan Jai

Huen Muan Jai

50 m walk4.4(4,853)$$$$
24 Soi Ratchaphuek, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Northern Thai done properly, but you'll line up on the spot for it, so turn up as the doors open.
Khoei Chiang Mai - Northern Food (Chiang Mai Restaurant)

Khoei Chiang Mai - Northern Food (Chiang Mai Restaurant)

340 m walk4.8(6,827)$$$$
14 Thanon Santitham, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Proper northern Thai cooking with no concessions to nervous palates, and the jackfruit curry proves the point.
Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Cafe

Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Cafe

430 m walk4.3(458)
7/3 ซอยเซเว่น ข้างวัด Thanon Santitham, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai
Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Café pairs two Chiang Mai obsessions — plant-based Thai food and slow travel — in a leafy Santitham house where the khao soi is vegan, the fruit shakes are enormous, and bicycles hang from the walls.
Cat Graffiti Thai food and fried chicken stall

Cat Graffiti Thai food and fried chicken stall

510 m walk4.6(20)$$$$
QXWC+WC2, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
A beloved local street food stall in Chiang Mai serving fried chicken, rice, and assorted dishes at budget prices.

Tips for Visiting Restaurants & Food

Follow the Crowds

The busiest street stalls are almost always the best — high turnover means fresh ingredients and a recipe that locals vouch for. An empty restaurant at dinner time is a red flag.

Ice Is Safe

Factory-made tube or cylinder ice (used in virtually all restaurants and stalls) is made from purified water and is safe to consume. You don't need to skip the iced Thai tea.

Use Grab for Delivery

The Grab app works for food delivery across Thailand, letting you order from street stalls and restaurants alike. It's invaluable on rainy days or when you want to eat in your hotel.

Khao Soi Maesai: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Khao Soi Maesai worth visiting?

Khao Soi Maesai holds a 4.5★ rating from 6,006 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated restaurants & food in Chiang Mai.

What are the opening hours of Khao Soi Maesai?

Khao Soi Maesai is typically open 08:00–16:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.

How expensive is Khao Soi Maesai?

Khao Soi Maesai is budget-friendly (฿) relative to other restaurants & food in Chiang Mai.

When is the best time to visit Khao Soi Maesai?

The best months to visit Chiang Mai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & Songkran (April) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: Mid-February – April (smoke & heat).

Where is Khao Soi Maesai located?

Khao Soi Maesai is at 29, 1 Soi Ratchaphuek, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, in Chiang Mai. Getting around Chiang Mai: Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks); Grab (available in city center).

Also popular in Chiang Mai

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai
Sponsored

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai

4.6(2,560)$$$$
119/10 Tha Phae Road, Tambon Chang Khlan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
No riding and no tricks, just a day of feeding and mud with rescued elephants in the Mae Wang hills.
Central Chiangmai

Central Chiangmai

4.5(20,303)
99 99/1 -99/2 หมู่ที่ 4 Lampang - Chiang Mai Superhighway, Tambon Fa Ham, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand
Come for the fourth-floor food hall, stay because you've forgotten what you actually came to buy.
Moment's Notice Jazz Club

Moment's Notice Jazz Club

4.7(1,455)$$$$
185/3 Wua Lai Rd, Tambon Hai Ya, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Real live jazz on Wua Lai Road, three bands a day, and the music doesn't start until around 9.30pm.
Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh

4.7(17,570)
2 Samlarn Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Go early or go at dusk, when the golden chedi is lit and the crowds have thinned right out.

Similar Restaurants & Food across Thailand

Khao Soi Restaurant

Khao Soi Restaurant

4.7(863)$$$$
Prasopsook Rd, Tambon Wiang, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai, Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand
Beloved Chiang Rai spot serving authentic khao soi, northern Thailand's iconic curry noodle soup, at budget prices.
Khao Soi Pai

Khao Soi Pai

4.9(363)$$$$
Pai, Pai District, Mae Hong Son 58130, Thailand
A Pai institution serving northern Thailand's iconic khao soi noodle curry, open daily 9am–8pm.
Khao Soi - Northern Thai Food, Lanna Style

Khao Soi - Northern Thai Food, Lanna Style

4.9(795)$$$$
136, 371 Hua Hin 102, Tambon Nong Kae, Amphoe Hua Hin, Chang Wat Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand
Authentic Northern Thai khao soi in Hua Hin, bringing Lanna-style curry noodles to the coast at budget prices.
The Sky Gallery

The Sky Gallery

4.3(10,702)$$$$
400 หมู่ที่ 12 Phra Tamnak, ตำบล หนองปรือ, Amphoe Bang Lamung
An indoor-outdoor restaurant on the Pratumnak headland with seafood, crêpes and cocktails over the bay, best at sunset.