Khao Soi Mae Manee

A humble diner north of the Old City, Khao Soi Mae Manee stands out from the many khao soi offerings in Chiang Mai for its variations of the traditional dish. Beef, chicken and fish are offered alongside some offal dishes for the brave!. The warm and friendly owners have been in the business for over 50 years, and it’s a long-standing joke that diners order the same dish more than once.

There are lots of different sausages and pork rinds, and the flavours tend to be quite rich. Nam prik ong is a kind of pork, tomato and fermented soyabean ragu that you dip fresh vegetables into; gaeng hung lay is a Burmese-influenced pork belly curry. The region’s most famous dish is probably khao soi, a curried egg noodle soup.

There is no shortage of restaurants serving North Thailand’s signature dish, khao soi. Debate rages on various travel websites and social media about where to find the best khao soi in Chiang Mai, but in reality it’s an impossible question to answer because there are so many variables. But if you are trying this noodle dish for the first time, Khao Soi Mae Manee and Khao Soi Mae Sai (listed below) are decent benchmarks to compare the others against.

Then there is the Bib Gourmand, which mentions good quality, good value restaurants, and Chiang Mai had a whopping 17 nods – Gai Yang Cherng Doi, Ginger Farm Kitchen, Han Theung Chiang Mai, Huan Soontaree, Huen Muan Jai, Khao Soi Mae Manee, Khao Tom Yong (Suthep Road), KruaYa, Kuakai Nimman, Meena Rice Based Cuisine, Na Chantra, Racharos, Rote Yiam Beef Noodles, Saiyut and Doctor Sai Kitchen, Sanpakoi Kanomjeen, SP Chicken, The House by Ginger.

Opening hour: Daily, 09:00 – 15:30 Address: 18 Chotana Rd, Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand Click here to Google Maps. Khao Soi Mae Manee, a small cafe north of the Old City, stands out among Chiang Mai’s many khao soi options for its unique take on the traditional dish. On the menu are beef, poultry, and fish, as well as some offal dishes for the brave!

Khao Soi Mae Manee is a bit far from the city centre, but its Michelin Bib Gourmand Khao Soi makes the trip well worth it. Founded in 1984, the shop is inside a house in a residential neighbourhood, so it is best to get there via a taxi or motorbike. Once there, get the khao soi with your choice of protein from chicken, fish, pork, and beef and the portion size you like.

Khao Soi Mae Manee opened in 1984 serving various noodle dishes. Over time, this humble noodle shop has evolved into a multi-award winning, Michelin-recognized, humble, khao soi hotspot. Claiming to serve “the most flavorful bowl of Khao Soi in Chiang Mai”, Mae Manee specializes in “khao soi neua”, a beef variation.

The rankings may have only changed by one number, but IMHO there is a big gap between Khao Soi Mae Manee and everything below it. It’s also the first place on this list where I much prefer the beef over the classic chicken. Khao Soi Mae Manee is the real deal from setting to substance.

Unlike other Khao Soi Chiang Mai eateries, the menu at Khao Soi Mae Manee is pretty extensive. Besides the typical egg noodles, you can choose vermicelli noodles or even instant noodles. Beyond the standard chicken, beef, or pork ribs, you can also choose Vietnamese sausage or fish.

The chefs in Khao Soi Mae Manee — a homey kitchen — assemble bowls of beef khao soi at lightning speed, keeping the hungry lines moving. Consistently good, with the creamy coconut broth perfectly calibrated for heat level and tanginess. 18 Soi 24 Chotana Road; +66 81 806 7127

KHAO SOI KHUN YAI (probably my Number 2 choice) – Wow , this place is very popular . We arrived by Taxi , got allocated a ticket and awaited out turn. The food took an hour to arrive and also that long to find and squeeze on to a small table.

Yes, you read correctly, we went directly from one restaurant to another until we finished all 5 bowls* of Chiang Mai’s best khao soi (ข้าวซอย).