Chiang Mai Food Tour: 15+ Tastings with Local Guide

Taste your way through Chiang Mai's street food without the guesswork

A 4-hour food tour of Chiang Mai led by a professional foodie guide in a private songtheaw truck, stopping at street vendors and fresh markets to taste 15+ regional dishes. Groups stay under 8 people. The tour covers Northern Thai specialties (khao soi curry, grilled chicken, som tum papaya salad, sai oua sausage and more) that most travelers miss on their own, and ends in the Nimmanhaemin district. Bottled water is included. The tour operates in all weather and is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not suitable for vegetarians, pescatarians, no-pork diets, or severe shellfish, peanut or gluten allergies due to the nature of street food vendors.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chiang Mai food tasting tour

• Meet professional foodie guide
• Board private songtheaw truck
• Visit street eats and markets
• Taste 15+ Northern Thai dishes
• Enjoy khao soi curry and noodles
• Try spatchcocked chicken and som tum
• Sample lemongrass-stuffed sai oua sausages
• Conclude tour in Nimmanhaemin district
• Meet new friends and learn street food tips

The experience

If you land in Chiang Mai with a free afternoon or a morning to kill, this tour solves the problem that stops most travelers cold: Northern Thai cuisine is nothing like the pad Thai they know, the vendors don't speak English, and the best food isn't in the tourist markets. A professional foodie guide meets your group, no more than 8 people, and walks you through the city's street stalls and fresh markets in a private songtheaw truck, stopping to taste dishes you'd struggle to find alone. Over four hours, you'll try khao soi curry with crispy noodles and pickled greens, spatchcocked chickens sizzling over charcoal served with som tum papaya salad and sticky rice, lemongrass-stuffed sai oua sausages, chilli jam, and more than a dozen other tastings that map out what Northern Thai food actually tastes like.

The guide is there to translate the menu, explain what you're eating and why it matters to the region, and help you navigate the vendors' limited English. Bottled water comes with you. The tour runs in all weather, so bring an umbrella in the rainy season. The route ends in the Nimmanhaemin district, not far from the central hotels, so you'll know where you are when it's over. By the end you'll have the knowledge to keep eating street food across Thailand without ordering blind.

What’s included

• Led by a professional foodie guide fluent in English.
• private songtheaw truck transport around Chiang Mai's streets and markets.
• 15+ regional food tastings including khao soi curry, grilled chicken, som tum papaya salad, sai oua sausage and chilli jam.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 10:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by A Chef's Tour

Is this one for you?The 4-hour commitment leaves your morning or afternoon intact, so you can fit this around hotel check-in, a rest day or other plans. Book it if you want to understand Northern Thai food instead of guessing at the menu, and if you're willing to eat meat: the street vendors' limited options mean vegetarians and no-pork diets will miss most of the dishes.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is Northern Thai food, and how is it different from what I know?

Northern Thai cuisine relies on jungle herbs, barbecued meats and sticky rice instead of the green curries and pad Thai of central Thailand. Khao soi, a creamy curry with crispy noodles, and sai oua sausage are regional staples you'll taste on this tour that rarely appear in tourist restaurants.

Can I do this tour if I'm vegetarian or have dietary restrictions?

The tour is not suitable for vegetarians, pescatarians or no-pork diets because street vendors have limited menus and most dishes center on meat. It's also not suitable for severe shellfish, peanut or gluten allergies due to the nature of street food preparation. Lactose intolerance and no-beef diets can work with some dishes missed.

How many people will be on the tour, and will I be with strangers?

Groups stay under 8 people maximum, so it's small and manageable. You'll meet other travelers along the way, but the size keeps it intimate rather than a crowded bus experience.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The 15+ food tastings, bottled water, the private songtheaw truck and the professional guide are all included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you'll need to arrange your own transport to the meeting point.

How long does the tour take, and when does it end?

The tour runs for 4 hours and concludes in the Nimmanhaemin district, a trendy neighborhood not far from central Chiang Mai hotels, so you'll have the rest of the day free after it wraps.