Hello, welcome! Take a look inside kaaa. Here's what I have for you today:​

Picture this: you're in a city where every corner promises a new, incredible flavor, where the air hums with the scent of spices and sizzling woks. Sounds like a food lover's dream, right? That's Chiang Mai for you.

But here's the thing: with so much amazing food, how do you even begin to separate the good from the truly legendary?

Chiang Mai isn't just a city and a province; it's a culinary pilgrimage. It consistently ranks as one of the best food cities in the world, and for good reason. From bustling night markets to tiny hole-in-the-wall joints, the food here isn't just sustenance – it's an art form.

Everyone goes to Chiang Mai talking about "the best Khao Soi." The curry noodle chicken soup. By the way: The name is derived from the Lao language meaning 'sliced rice': khao is “rice” and soi means “sliced”.

But let me tell you, finding your best Khao Soi is like finding a needle in a delicious haystack. There are hundreds of places. Some are tourist traps, some are merely good, and then there are those few, tucked-away gems that make you want to weep tears of joy. The secret? Don't just settle for the first place you see. Wander, explore, and ask locals. Your perfect bowl might be hidden down a nondescript alley.

I found my personal best Khao Soi in a place I wouldn't have expected: a restaurant that the great Anthony Bourdain, the pioneer of the food vlog, visited years ago and featured on his show in 2003. I'm talking about Aroon Rai Restaurant. Given its fame, a visit there in 2025 would be a disappointment, I thought. But on the contrary: Time has stood still. And the taste remains. What a pleasant surprise!

The restaurant is featured in this video from minute 3:27 on:

Anthony who? Before Chiang Mai became a global hotspot, Anthony Bourdain visited, fell in love, and showed the world its magic. He didn't just eat; he celebrated the street vendors, the home cooks, and the sheer authenticity of Northern Thai cuisine. He validated what locals already knew: this food is world-class, unpretentious, and utterly soul-satisfying. When you're slurping noodles at a roadside stall, you're walking in the footsteps of a legend.

Bourdain made one female street chef particularly famous: the "Cowboy Hat Lady". Her pork leg stall is still running. But she preferred to run on a treadmill in the gym when I tried to watch her cooking. The downside of fame: She now lets others work for her but disappoints well-traveled gourmets.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

Unlike the coconut-milk-rich, sweet-and-spicy central Thai dishes you might be familiar with, Northern Thai food boasts a different vibe:

They cook everything fantastically because food is more than just fuel; it's deeply woven into their culture and identity. Generations of knowledge, fresh local ingredients, and a profound respect for flavor mean that even the simplest dish is crafted with passion.

I also discovered that Thai people in the north are excellent at roasting chicken—actually a specialty of chefs in Isaan in the northeast. I mean, look at that:

Ready for your own Chiang Mai food adventure? What's the one dish you absolutely have to try when you get there? Reply and let me know!

​Join my Thailand Discord Community of travelers who are helping each other travel like a pro (plus custom maps access). Because nobody knows everything.

Or grab my 13 Thailand AI Tools (Thai Food Decoder, Packing Assistant, Tourist Traps, Health Helper,…) for 50% off. You wish you had these sooner.

​- Tim

P.S. If this email was forwarded to you, or you want to read a past newsletter, go here.