No longer the preserve of Chiang Mai University students, Nimmanheiman (or Nimman) is emerging as a top destination for savvy travellers – and its growing reputation as a foodie paradise certainly helps.
Ginger Farm creates locally-inspired dishes with ingredients from its own farm (Photo: Allie D’Almo)
Unlike most places in Chiang Mai, Nimmanheiman is known for the hip, rather than the historic. A favourite with digital nomads, this trendy neighbourhood is thrumming with contemporary art galleries, boutiques specialising in sustainable wares, co-working spaces and, of course, excellent bars and restaurants. To reach it, you’ll need to head northwest from the Old Town along the traffic-clogged Nimmanheiman Road towards the university but it’s worth the pilgrimage. As neighbourhoods come, Nimman is compact, but it boasts a pleasingly high ratio of fantastic food to pavement, making it a popular spot for greedy travellers. With, quite literally, hundreds of restaurants, cafes and street food stalls to choose from, we’ve rounded up seven of the best places to eat in Nimman.
Ginger Farm Kitchen
Ginger Farm is one of Chiang Mai’s greatest gastronomic success stories and there are now several outposts of the brand dotted across the region. As you might expect, the restaurant is outrageously stylish, with oversized wicker lamps hanging overhead, colourful crockery and some exceptionally photogenic dishes. There’s more to this restaurant than good looks though; the food is fantastic. The farm-to-city menu focuses on local flavours using organic ingredients from the restaurant’s own farm in Saraphi. Local dishes are treated to modern interpretations, such as Japanese scallops in coconut-chill dressing, deep-fried pork belly with Sichuan pepper and a pleasingly purple-hued rice bowl.
One Nimman, Nimmanahaeminda Rd.
Kao Soi Nimman
Kao Soi specialises in Chiang Mai’s most famous dish (Photo: Allie D’Almo)
This simple soup shop on a quiet backstreet in Nimman specialises in Chiang Mai’s most famous dish – khao soi. Portions are generous, the broth is rich and packed with flavour and the noodles are homemade. There are 10 or so variations of the dish on the menu, including chicken, beef, lobster, and even Thai sausage. Save room for starters; the spring rolls – served crispy and stuffed full of shrimp – are heavenly. Be warned, this is a popular spot and you’ll see the queue long before you see the restaurant. The service team run a slick operation though and the queue passes relatively quickly.
22 Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 7.
Northern Thai Food
The rather unimaginatively named – albeit SEO-friendly– Northern Thai Food serves up traditional Thai dishes with a focus on dishes from Lanna (northern Thailand). Unlike southern Thai dishes, the food here is influenced by Myanmar and Laos, so expect plenty of curries and spices. Start with a sharing platter of nam prik noom (a savoury dip made from chillies and aubergines served with pork scratchings and raw veg), then move onto a steaming bowl of khao soi or gaeng hinlay (stewed pork and beef rib). Save room for a side of sai oua (spicy grilled sausage made with plenty of garlic, galangal and lemongrass) and wash it all down with a glass of fresh plum juice or a frosty beer. Service is friendly and food is served as it is ready.
16/ 1 Nimmanahaeminda Rd, Lane 5.
One Nimman
The weekly night market at one Nimman (Photo: One Nimman)
This sleek new space is a one-stop-shop for all your dining, drinking, shopping and spa needs. Modelled on an Italian piazza, the space encompasses more than 30 shops, dozens of restaurants and wellness spaces offering free sunset yoga sessions and swing dancing lessons. But best of all is the sprawling food court, which includes at least two dozen street food stalls selling everything from Northern Thai classics like khao soi and sai oua sausage to cheap and cheerful pad thai and pad kra to smoothies and mochi balls. Every Friday and Saturday night, a street food market spills onto the main square offering further temptations.
1 Nimmanahaeminda Rd.
Healthy Junk
A perennial favourite with digital nomads who pour from the co-working space next door, Healthy Junk serves up healthy, tasty takes on junk food. Crowdpleasers include crispy (air-fried) chicken pieces, protein-packed Mexican rice bowls and guilt-free sweet potato fries. There’s also plenty for veggies and an impressive-looking drinks selection featuring beverages like the ‘low-cal, no sugar’ choco milk and Taiwanese tea. For a serious health kick, top it all off with a smoothie or – even better – a smoothie bowl, with tropical fruits, housemade cashew milk and more nut varieties than you’ll find at Holland and Barrett. Service is fast and prices are affordable.
7 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Lane 5
Blackitch Artisan Kitchen
The menu changes monthly at Black(Photo: Blackitch Artisan Kitchen)
The second floor above a gelateria in an unassuming townhouse on Nimmanheimin Soi 7 may seem a strange location for a buzzy restaurant, but once you’ve made it past the jars of fermenting vegetables and condiments it makes sense. It’s an intimate affair, with just 16 seats at the chef’s table, which means servers are always close by to share their understanding of the dishes. Chef Phanuphon Black Bulsuwan spent years in Japan and applies these techniques to local flavours, though the nine-course menu changes monthly and spans entire continents. What does stay the same, is a steadfast commitment to using local ingredients. He also brews beer and sake for food pairing.
27/1 Nimmanhemin Soi 7
Kuay Teaw Tamlung
For cheap and cheerful noodles, it’s hard to beat Kuay Teaw Tamlung for value or taste. The decor is simple and unlikely to distract you from what everyone is here for: crispy, deep-fried noodles, steaming bowls of soup and melt-in-the-mouth meat. It’s a favourite with locals at lunchtime so you’ll need to get here early if you’re hoping to avoid a queue. Kuay Teaw Tamlung has been here for over 40 years, so you might say the veteran owner knows what he’s doing. Most dishes are less than $2, so you can afford to come hungry and try as much as your stomach can take.
1 Tambon Su Thep.