Where to find Chiang Mai’s best khao soi, famed curry noodle soup of northern Thailand
- Khao soi is a delicious dish known for its curry broth and crunchy noodle topping. It was introduced to the country by Chinese-Muslim migrants
- We sample four food stalls and restaurants serving the best versions of the curry noodles in Chiang Mai
It’s nearly impossible to visit Chiang Mai and not find yourself at a food stall tucking into a bowl of the delicious Thai curry noodle dish khao soi.
The bundle of soft yellow egg noodles sits in a subtly spiced curry broth, made velvety and slightly sweet thanks to a splash of coconut milk. The dish is most commonly served with braised tender chicken, beef, or (in non-halal versions) fried pork, and is topped off with deep-fried noodle strands for added crunch.
Khao soi is always accompanied by a plate of condiments, including nam prik pao (roasted Thai chilli paste), pickled mustard greens, quartered shallots and a wedge of lime, used to tune the flavours to your liking.
The portion may be small, but it packs a phenomenally delicious punch.
What differentiates one version from another is how the broth is made. Some are rich, creamy, and heavy, with a thick coconut milk base, and others are significantly thinner, with an almost watery consistency and oily sheen. Some are sweet while others are unpredictably fiery.
While khao soi is synonymous with northern Thailand, it traces its roots to the chin haw (Thai for Chinese migrants), a group comprised primarily of the Hui – Chinese Muslims hailing from Yunnan province.
