Ideal View Villa Lanna

For over 20 years this local favourite has been serving tasty, wallet-friendly chicken rice, first in Sam-Yaek Market in San Sai and now at this larger branch on Old San Sai Road. Show up early, both to beat the crowds and because the food invariably runs out before closing time.

Soontaree Vechanont doesn’t just own “Soontaree’s House” – the singer also performs here nightly. Set on the Ping River in an open-air, Lanna-style building with more tables outside, this charming restaurant can accommodate up to 350 guests. Among the Northern Thai cooking they serve is their signature boneless murrel fish stuffed with pork. It’s a creative dish, with the well-seasoned sausage proving suitably fragrant and spicy.

We-La-Dee brings central Thai cuisine north in an airy industrial-style dining room marked by playful accents. The restaurant’s large collection of action figures and a floor-to-ceiling installation of artificial flowers inspire photographs. Its extensive menu, which includes some original recipes from the chef, inspire both relaxed meals with family and friends and afternoons spent sipping coffee or tea and enjoying dessert.

A solid choice for no-fuss Northern Thai food, this laid-back restaurant serves rustic, traditional dishes in small sharing portions. Highlights include the well-balanced kaeng om and boldly flavoured lap nuea, available with pork, beef or fish – raw or cooked – all prepared in classic Northern style. In an open-air setting with a relaxed local vibe, the place fills up with Thai diners at peak times. Service is friendly, with staff often speaking Northern Thai.

This spacious restaurant balances scale with efficiency, accommodating 200 diners in the air-conditioned room, VIP room and out on the terrace. Locals and visitors flock here for home-style Northern Thai food, cooked to order and piping hot. Highlights include stir-fried termite mushrooms with aromatic herbs, and the fresh and flavoursome saep pork rib. The wooden Lanna-inspired structure has character, making this a welcoming spot for families and groups.

Restaurant

Bar