Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant
Dinner-only riverside Thai with a live band from about 7pm and outdoor tables worth booking on a cool night.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 16:30–23:30
- Price
- $$$$
- Mid-range
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
- Phone
- +66 53 600 000
- Website
- www.leelawadeechiangrai.com
Full opening hours
Is this your business?Feature it
Taste more of Chiang Rai
Street-food tours, market visits and Thai cooking classes near Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant.
Why go, and how to do it well
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 favorite 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.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Sep 2026
Stay within reach of Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant
SponsoredSearch Chiang Rai hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
See hotels near Leelawadee Chiang Rai RestaurantOpens Booking.com with your dates
Taste more of Chiang Rai
Street-food tours, market visits and Thai cooking classes near Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 1 minLulum Restaurant Chiang RaiRestaurants & Food · 90 m · 4.1★
- 3 minDe Lanna Riverfront Café & RestaurantRestaurants & Food · 210 m · 4.1★
- 3 minJoonlapakRestaurants & Food · 230 m · 4.8★
- 6 minLe Méridien Chiang Rai Resort, ThailandHotels & Resorts · 460 m · 4.7★
- 6 minChivit Thamma Da Coffee House, Bistro & BarRestaurants & Food · 510 m · 4.6★
- 7 minFavola at Le Méridien Chiang Rai ResortRestaurants & Food · 540 m · 4.6★
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.
58 2 Kwae Wai Rd, Tambon Rop Wiang, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand
Open in Google MapsMore restaurants & food nearby
All within a 6-minute walk of Leelawadee Chiang Rai Restaurant.
Lulum Restaurant Chiang Rai
De Lanna Riverfront Café & Restaurant
Joonlapak
Latest Recipe at Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort
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.
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: Mid-February – April (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 center); Songthaews.
Also popular in Chiang Rai
Ban Mai Market
The Library ChiangRai
Baan Dam Museum
75 Anniversary Flag and Lamp Park
Similar Restaurants & Food across Thailand
Khao Soi Maesai
Om Garden Cafe
Ruan Thai Kung Pao
