Take a break from the fried street food offerings and try some of these healthy places to eat in Chiang Mai, Thailand. While they may be a little more expensive than a street omelette or your basic local ‘hole in the wall’ Thai place, we can vouch that they are delicious, healthy, and a great change of pace. Many of the below places will suit vegetarians.
Shan salads and khao soy at Free Bird Cafe in Chiang MaiCheck the opening hours on the Facebook pages. There’s usually at least one day a week restaurants and cafes will be closed.
NIMMAN AREA
Pun Pun Organic Restaurant
We recommend the khao soi, crispy morning glory salad, banana flower salad, pad thai (this is my fave pad thai that I’ve had), any curry (honestly anything here is delicious).
Location: Inside Wat Suan Dok (temple) off Suthep Road (First find Wat Suan Dok temple on Suthep Road going west out of the moat. Turn into the temple and walk back past the large temple building on your right. Turn into the carpark immediately past the large temple building. Pun Pun will be on your left.
Price range: approximately 50 baht and over
Salad Concept
Build your own salad or order off the menu. Also has great smoothies. This place is popular with locals and long term international residents.
Location: On cnr of Nimman and Soi 13.
Price range: Approximately 100 baht and over
The Larder Cafe
Western brunch and lunch fare. I get the open sandwich with hummus, roasted bell pepper and parmesan for 95 baht. But everything is great!
Location: About a 1 minute walk up Sukkasem Rd (off Nimman)
Price range: 95 baht and over
Muesli with fresh fruit (yoghurt not in picture served on the side) at The Larder in Chiang MaiAnchan Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant
The menu is constantly changing but always delicious and feature farm fresh ingredients.
Location: Nimman between Soi 6 and Soi 10 (The soi opposite Salad Concept)
Price range: 90 baht and over
Food for Thought
Everything is delicious here – they have a bunch of wraps and they are all fabulous. They have a good range of western and thai food.
Location: 15/14 Moo 1, Soi Sudjai, (off Canal Road near Huay Kaew Road)
Price range: 80 baht and over
OLD CITY (Or near Old City)
Free Bird Cafe
Not only does Free Bird serve delicious healthy vegetarian food, it is also a social enterprise that supports the education programs they run (upstairs from the cafe) for Shan refugees in Chiang Mai. Make sure you try the Shan pumpkin curry and Shan noodle salad. They also have western and Thai dishes.
Location: North side of the Old City, on the outside of the moat.
Price range: 70 baht and over
Good Souls Kitchen
A vegan restaurant in the Old City with Thai and western offerings. People rave about the veggie burgers, but the massaman curry and green curry fried rice dishes are also delicious. Portion sizes are large so bring your appetite or ask to take some home with you. Good Souls has indoor seating with air con and some outdoor seating.
Location: North of Wat Phra Singh in the Old City
Price range: 90 baht and over
My Secret Cafe in Town
While the grilled vegetable sandwich is delicious, it’s hard to pass up the cheap and healthy Thai options. There’s only three – and two are fusion Thai salads.
Location: Hidden in the soi behind Akha Ama Coffee in the Old City
Price range: 80 baht and over
Noodle salad at My Secret Cafe in Chiang Mai, ThailandAUM Vegetarian Restaurant
Serves everything from curries and spring rolls to vegetarian sushi!
Location: 65 Moon Muang Road, next to Black Canyon Coffee and opposite Thapae Gate
Price range: 60 baht and over
Blue Diamond
Blue Diamond is more of a fusion of western and Thai food. They have lots of sandwiches and salads as well as curries and stir-fry dishes.
Location: 35/1 Moon Muang Road, Soi 9
Price range: 65 baht and over
Bird’s Nest Cafe
Serves breakfast all day along with sandwiches, soups, salads, and Thai food. It’s also a decent place to get some study done. (But no AC, so it can definitely get hot!)
Location: Singharaj Road, Soi 3
Price range: approximately 50 baht and over
Cat House
Fusion foods and healthy smoothies. They do a great Burmese tea leaf salad, and delicious falafel dish with their own homemade hummus.
Location: Two locations – one in the Old City, and one just east of the city. Old City location is called the Cat Shack (walk 1 minute down the soi behind UN Irish Pub).
Price range: approximately 80 baht and over
If you are looking for an extensive list of vegetarian or vegan options in Chiang Mai, these websites have loads of places you can check out.
Happy Cow
Mostly Amelie
Happy, healthy eating!
If you’re interested in sampling Thailand’s delicious cuisine over an extended period consider studying abroad in Thailand!
