Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant
Come for dinner, stay for the band. This is a dinner-only kitchen on Kwae Wai Road, open from 4.30pm to 11.30pm every day, and the outdoor seating by the Kok River is where you want to be. Get there early enough and you'll catch the sunset with a beer. Musicians usually strike up around 7pm, which turns a quiet meal into something more sociable. If you'd rather talk than listen, eat early.
The cooking is Thai done properly and served fast, sometimes startlingly so. Tom yum gets a lot of praise, particularly the clear fish version, and the tom kha is a favourite too. Steamed ruby fish with lime and mint, fried barramundi and the coconut seafood curry are all worth ordering, though that last one runs heavy on squid. Skip the shrimp curry, where the prawns are small and the whole thing lands flat, and don't order tea or coffee unless instant powder is your thing. Prices are fair for what arrives.
Taste more of Chiang Rai
Street-food tours, market visits, and Thai cooking classes near Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant — a guided way to eat like a local.
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Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant, round out your day in Chiang Rai with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
The place is quite pleasant at night, especially during the winter-ish time in Chiang Rai. The outdoor seating is a great option to enjoy the ambiance. The food is also quite satisfying. The fish tom yum in clear soup is refreshing and delicious, with a nice fish. The seafood curry in coconut is also recommended, and it’s delicious, but seems more squid inside. The stir-fried vegetables are cooked fresh and well-seasoned. However, the shrimp curry is quite ordinary, and the shrimp is very small. The live music adds a nice touch to the place, making it a relaxing spot to enjoy food. This is a great place in Chiang Rai by the river that you must try. They do cook very fast and price is reasonable but not the cheapest
Claimed as the best Thai restaurant in Chiang Rai. I came on a Friday night it was full of tourists. Service was really quick, a fried barramundi was served less than 10 mins. There was a live band starting to play at about 7 pm. Food tastes good. One thing though they don't serve Thai beer. Only Heineken and Tiger.
A good place to eat and enjoy a good sunset and a beer. Many Thai families here on a Friday night. We left before live music started. Plenty of parking place with a parking attendant. Please don't order tea or coffee because it's horrible (nescafe and powder tea). Prices reasonable.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 1,490 reviews on Google.
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Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant worth visiting?
Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant holds a 4.3★ rating from 1,490 Google reviews — a strong rating for restaurants & food in Chiang Rai.
What are the opening hours of Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant?
Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant is typically open 16:30-23:30 — 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 Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant?
Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant is moderately priced (฿฿) relative to other restaurants & food in Chiang Rai.
When is the best time to visit Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant?
The best months to visit Chiang Rai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – February — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: March – May (smoke & heat).
Where is Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant located?
Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant is at 58 2 Kwae Wai Rd, Tambon Rop Wiang, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand, in Chiang Rai. Getting around Chiang Rai: Grab (available in city centre); Songthaews.
Location Info
58 2 Kwae Wai Rd, Tambon Rop Wiang, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand+66 53 600 000www.leelawadeechiangrai.com/Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – September
Avg. temperature
14°C – 35°C(57°F – 95°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – February
Getting there
Mae Fah Luang Airport (CEI) has direct flights from Bangkok (1.5 hrs). The bus from Chiang Mai takes ~3 hrs. There's also a scenic Golden Triangle road trip from Chiang Mai.
Getting around
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Songthaews
- •Motorbike rental (฿200/day)
- •Car hire (for Golden Triangle & hill tribes)
Where to stay near Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant
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Tips for Visiting Restaurants & Food
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.
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.
Nearby Places
Lulum Restaurant Chiang Rai
Proper northern Thai cooking by the river, spice included, and the 5pm sunset table is the one to aim for.
De Lanna Riverfront Café & Restaurant
Spacious riverside café and restaurant in central Chiang Rai serving Thai, Chinese, and Western food.
Joonlapak
A well-regarded evening dining spot in central Chiang Rai, open nightly from 5pm.
Latest Recipe at Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort
Hotel restaurant at Le Meridien Chiang Rai serving buffet breakfast with authentic Northern Thai dishes daily.
Similar Restaurants & Food Across Thailand
Kodtalay The Riverfront Seafood Buffet
Open-air seafood buffet on the Chao Phraya from 599 baht, and the river seats are worth asking for.
Central Pattaya
A big air-conditioned mall on Beach Road where the food court does the heavy lifting.
The Village Farm To Café
Looks like nothing from the highway, then opens up into green fields, high ceilings and properly fresh food.
Kodtalay Seafood Buffet Sukhumvit
Live river prawns from the tank, grilled at your table, and no clock ticking on how long you stay.
Where to stay near Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant
Find hotels in Chiang Rai on the booking sites travellers trust most.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Expedia
Bundle & save
Compare rates on Hotels.com
Member prices
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Location Info
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – September
Avg. temperature
14°C – 35°C(57°F – 95°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – February
Getting there
Mae Fah Luang Airport (CEI) has direct flights from Bangkok (1.5 hrs). The bus from Chiang Mai takes ~3 hrs. There's also a scenic Golden Triangle road trip from Chiang Mai.
Getting around
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Songthaews
- •Motorbike rental (฿200/day)
- •Car hire (for Golden Triangle & hill tribes)