Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with FacebookLatest Chiang Mai hotel reviews
4
Helpfulness
You can't go to Chiang Mai without trying a Khan Toke Feast. In case you wondering what it is, it's the Thai equivilent of a smorgasbord served in khans (small serving bowls) on a toke (low, round table). You get to sit sprawled on the floor on mats and triangular cushions while you feast. If this is not hedonistic enough, there will be distracting stage shows where the staff try to roll about on knives, dance with umbrellas and the like.
What's there not to like?
This meal originated as a culinary/ cultural showcase for Westerners in the 50's and it's guaranteed to appeal to the tourist in anyone, including travel-cynics like myself.
Anyway, there's 2 decent places in town to try the Khan Toke. One of them is Khum Khan Toke and the other is the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Centre I went to the former since the food was reportedly better.
Favorite Dish: Everything that was served on the toke was delicious. Let me describe each dish in a clockwise fashion, starting from the deep fried chicken since it's instantly recognisable.
Beside it is a bowl of crispy deep-fried vermicelli noodles,
followed by "Nam Prik Ong" (minced pork cooked with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and chilies),
"Cab Moo" (fried pork skin),
a bowl of fried vegetables
and lastly "Gaeng Hang Lay" (pork curry with garlic, ginger and other spices).
These dishes were eaten with raw vegetables, "Kao Nieow" (sticky rice) and the best chilli dip in the world. Yes, you tease the Nam Prik Awng ( the fiery red dip seen in the centre ) occasionally out of the Khan with a piece of pork rind or silver of cucumber. It's not exactly a healthy meal but an indulgent feast that will sweeten your holiday memory.
Cost - 1500B
Tip: Call up the restaurant, request for a minivan pickup (free) since the sprawling restaurant is situated outside the city near the highway(God only knows where).
Tip2:This is a bloody smosgarsbord so eat your money's worth and get your dishes refilled at least 10 times!
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Helpfulness
Khantoke is a popular eating way for the locals on special occassion. There are several places you can go for a Khantoke meal, the popular ones bein g old Chiang Mai - we chose it becos of the hilltribe dance show and there are some night stalls selling tribal crafts too. Other popular Khantoke places are Khuim Kaew Palace, Khum Khantoke and also Nakorn Lanna. I have to say i did enjoy some of the dances, like finger nail dance, sword dance. The second part of the show was outside in an open area, mainly short brief dances by hill tribe people. Along the way to the tribal show was small stalls - which i bought a skirt with embroidery for a mere 200 baht. Well - i have great ideas - i was going to cut out the embroidery and frame it up or make it to a pillow case!!!
Favorite Dish: The food is standard - it is served on a round elevated lacquered tray - and there was fried chicken drumsticks which i was so amused watching all the guests feast with their fingers and chomping them and tucking away merrily. I was not fond of it, cos i have sort of given up eating chicken since bird flu scare - so i tried a small morsel and the taste was offensive. My husband thot it wsa finger licking KFCs!!!!Also available was Burmese dry pork curry, and crucnchy sweet dried noodles - it was more like a sweet toping. And also good serving of stir fried cabbages which was my main course!!! i even had second helpings. I enjoyed the vege mixed with a dipping sauce of chilli and tomato which was actually meant for the pork crackling (yikes). A very odd addition to the meal was fried banana fritters. Served with sticky rice or plain rice, and vegetable soup. tea or cofffee and rice crackers for dessert. Drinks are extras, and the meal cost 660 baht for two.
Written Jun 15, 2006
Address: Wua Lai B3-4
Phone: 053 202 993
Helpfulness
Our hosts took there the first night we arrived in Chiang Mai. It was raining but restaurant staff provided HUGE umbrellas! Inside, decorations were breathtaking. We sat on the floor -- since we can't sit cross-legged for too long, there is space under each low table to stretch your legs. :-)
Show was made up of local dances, music, etc. It was amazing!
Favorite Dish: Food was served Lanna-style -- each table received a tray which was refilled as necessary. It was plenty! The specialty here is sticky rice -- I really liked it. In fact, I liked everything -- just be open-minded and try everything, it's great!
See website below for more information!
Written Sep 2, 2005
Website: http://www.yummytaste.com/restaurant/detail/khumkhantoke.htm
Helpfulness
The way to enjoy meal and Chiang Mai culture, when you visit there, a must for you is find a chance to have Khantoke dinner. I had a great time at Chiangmai Cultural Center. I made reservation by phone and they arranged me from my hotel to there and back. I had Khantoke dinner, the way they have meal, all food on wood tray, sit one the floor, inside decore with old thai style and beside that enjoy Lanna dance show and some guests be invited to join them. After meal there is a hill tribe show outside. Ok finish of the great time there... You should try..
Favorite Dish: All Thai Dishes on Tray !
Written Jan 12, 2005
Address: 185/3 Wualai Rd, T.Hayya, Muang District Chiangmai
Phone: 66-53-202-993-5
Website: http://www.oldchiangmai.com/index.php
Lanna dishes -- yummy, aren't they?
Written Sep 2, 2005
Great service or what?! It was raining and they provided these HUGE umbrellas for us!
Written Sep 2, 2005
1 - 6 of 6
Sponsored Links
Rimping Village Chiang Mai
1 Review and 528 Opinions Perfect - hotel, people, service, food, room EVERYTHING, highly recommend - LOCATION LOCATION...
Golden Cupids Hotel Chiang Mai
2 Reviews and 112 Opinions I was met by courtesy transportation laid on by the hotel at Chiang Mai airport and on arrival at...
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai
2 Reviews and 282 Opinions Everything you would expect from a Mandarin Oriental plus the really spectacular design. Two...
Khum Khantoke tips and photos posted by real travelers and Chiang Mai locals.
Write a ReviewGreat service or what?! It was raining and they provided these HUGE umbrellas for us!
106 members live in Chiang Mai
Q: Hello VT , does anybody know a nice guesthouse with a/c in the old city for 350 to 450 baht ? . I would like the opinion of those...
A: see tripadvisor.com for reviews
Read 4 Replies
1
Smoke from inscents swirl around the nose, travel through the body until it reaches the depths of the heart. The chanting of monks can be heard in the distance. Bells from the monasteries chime in the...
2
VISITING COUNTRY THAILAND - CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai is Thailand's northern capital, and is quite popular with tourists and also Thais. A short flight from Bangkok and I arrived in Chiang Mai. The countryside looked quite pretty from the......
3
Chiang Mai Trip 2005: Wed 4th May - Sun 8th May
The introduction of budget airlines in Singapore opens up a whole new possibilities for short trips out of the country. In February 2005, Tiger Airways, the budget carrier operated by Singapore...
4
Chiang Mai is a great place to base your location when you want to experience the wonderful opportunities in Thailand with all of it amazing places, nature, culture, food and more.
5
Jungle Trek and Elephant Ride in Chiang Mai
Wanna experience my jungle trek? Check out my TRAVEL JOURNAL
Build your own Chiang Mai page
Sponsored Links
