It should come as no surprise for those that know us (even a little bit) that we are huge foodies.
You could even say that we choose our travel destinations, at times, based on the food that we love or want to try.
One of the biggest factors in choosing our first apartment in Thailand was the ease of accessibility to good eats.
We found the hip Nimman neighborhood (The main crossroad is Nimmanhaeminda Road, hence the name…) as a great fit for us for this very reason.
Living on Soi 15 gave us the ability to walk to tons of great Nimman cafes and restaurants. We had a chance to make some of the best restaurants in Nimman our regular spots.
Our favorites might become yours. Here’s a list of our top 5 restaurants in the Nimman area of Chiang Mai.
1. Khun Mor Cuisine
| Location | Soi 17 |
| Open | 11pm to 8:30pm |
| Best Meal | at least 4 dishes: basil chicken, sausages, green curry, tom yam |
It’s only appropriate to start off with a place that offers a very authentic Thai flavor. All the dishes here seem to be phenomenal.
We tried a bunch of different plates and really couldn’t pick our favorite because they were all so delicious. My go-to was the basil chicken.
It seems like a pretty standard dish but when it’s made just right, it really hits the spot!
We actually avoided going to this restaurant initially due to low reviews, but once we tried it we kept going back.
Our last stay in Chiang Mai was 3 weeks in Thailand and we must have been here at least 5 times! When I think of Thai food, this is the restaurant that I miss the most!
2. Tong Tem Toh
| Location | Soi 13 |
| Open | 8am to 11pm |
| Best Meal | mushroom sautee |
This is one of the most authentic places you can eat at in the neighbohood of Nimman, and perhaps all of Chiang Mai!
I don’t think you can go wrong with getting any of their dishes. We tried several and loved them all. They are spicy!
The tea leaf salad, mushrooms, garlic pork and pretty much anything with chicken with a side of sticky rice are all great options!
Don’t skip this when you are in the area. There is usually a line during the weekend and peak hours but even if you have to wait for a table, it is well worth it!
3. Why Not? Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar
| Location | Soi 11 |
| Open | 5pm to 11pm |
| Best Meal | Meat lover’s pizza & Tiramisu |
Seriously, why not? Why not have a nice meal every once in a while. Not that other meals aren’t “nice” (We love us some Thai street food on the regular).
I’m just saying that this place has a wonderful ambiance (without the snooty factor).
With their outdoor patio seating, romantic candle lighting, and delicious Italian fair, you’ll feel like it was a celebratory dinner any time you go.
The pizza is thin crust and delicious! They have a wide variety of pasta dishes as well that all look wonderful.
Whatever you order, pair it with a nice glass of wine and finish off with their home-made gelato and Tiramisu. You will leave perfectly content.
4. Accha Indian Restaurant
| Location | Soi 9 |
| Open | 11am to 10pm, Mondays 4pm to 10pm |
| Best Meal | Chicken Tikka Masala |
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, we both have had our share of very good Indian food.
Having that background has really spoiled our taste buds with all sorts of ethnic foods being available to us back home.
So, when it came to trying this little place, we were a bit hesitant at first. Not only is a bit hidden and hard to notice as a restaurant, we just weren’t sure they would deliver.
After hearing from our friends that this was the place for good Indian food, we decided to give it a try. We were impressed right from the moment we sat down.
The service was sincere and warm, the decor and dishware were authentic and stylish, and the food just knocked it all out of the park! If you love Indian food, this is a MUST try!!!
5. Beast Burger
| Location | Soi 17 |
| Open | 5pm to 9pm, Closed Sundays |
| Best Meal | Cheeseburger & Fries |
So, just to give you a bit of history on this joint: It used to be a food truck! Yup, last year, you could not miss it as you walked on Nimmanhaemin Road.
They had a little food truck and a couple of fold-out tables, but they served a mean burger. It was nice having this burger joint so close to make us feel more “at home.”
What really made it feel like we were back in California was how much the burger resembles the famous In-N-Out Burger.
We would say it’s a mix of In-N-Out and Five Guys, in the way it looks and tastes. Well, I guess we weren’t the only ones that loved it.
Their popularity caused them to outgrow the truck and move into a restaurant on Soi 17. They just recently added lunch hours. We are super excited about that!
6. Khao Soi 13
| Location | Soi 13 |
| Open | ? |
| Best Meal | Chicken Khao Soi & Fried Rice with Pork |
This Khao Soi restaurant on Soi 13 has some delicious bowls of Khao Soi for those interested in a taste of Northern Thailand cuisine.
If you’ve never had this yummy noodle soup, we would highly recommend trying it for the first time at this spot.
They have many different kinds of Khao Soi, but our go-to is always the chicken.
While the bowls look deceivingly small, you get pretty full with all the thick egg noodles and meat they put in there. If you feel like you need even more, go ahead and order their fried rice.
Oh, and make sure you add to you Khao Soi all the “fix’ns” they give you on the side. The pickles veggies and lime add a nice touch to an already delish meal!
Bonus Recommendation: Chai N Thai
| Location | Soi 9 |
| Open | 7:00am |
| Best Meal | Tandoori Chicken |
We are absolutely in love with this place!
The service and vibe of this place is just as good as the food. They really know what they are doing here.
I know we mentioned an Indian restaurant already but we can’t keep this one a secret. It is worth mentioning because we enjoyed the dishes and felt full and happy after dining here!
Bonus Restaurant Recommendation #2: Cherng Doi
For the best roasted chicken and pork dishes head over to Cherng Doi. This place is one of those low-key restaurants with small dishes that pack a punch.
If we had to pick only one restaurant to eat at while in Chiang Mai, this would be it!
So next time you are in Chiang Mai, take a Red Truck or Tuk Tuk over to Nimmanhaeminda Road and check out all the great places to eat along the different Sois.
You’ll also find some great little shops and dessert spots along the way, so don’t be surprised if you end up spending at least a half day here!
Do you have any of these on your list of favorites? Anything you want to tell us about? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
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