Marisa Marchitelli

If there’s a single dish that is the icon of Northern Thai cuisine, it’s khao soi – a fragrant, curry-laden bowl of rich coconut broth, silky egg noodles and finished with crispy golden strands of those very same noodles deep fried on top.  Yet, for all its deep ties to Chiang Mai, khao soi is something of an outlier in Lanna cuisine. Unlike most northern Thai dishes, which lean toward herbaceous, smokey and coconut-free flavours, khao soi bursts with over thirty bold spices, creamy stewed meats and curiously Chinese-Muslim and Indian influences. So how did this peculiar dish become the unofficial ambassador of northern Thai fare? Well, it is said to have arrived in Thailand via Yunnanese and Muslim traders on the Silk Road way back in the 13th century. And while Chiang Mai remains the heartland of khao soi, Bangkok has been steadily catching up, with top-tier Chiang Mai transplants popping up across the capital as the love for this food cascades over the country (with one of our featured listings recently winning big at Grab’s 2025 Thumbs Up Award). Here’s a roundup of the ten best places to eat khao soi – from legendary roadside stalls to modern interpretations in both Chiang Mai and the capital. And, for a bit of good measure, we’ve also thrown in a few expert-approved cooking schools where you can master the dish yourself. Let the slurping begin!