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-side omelette or your basic Thai place, we can vouch that they are delicious, healthy and a great change of pace. Many of the healthy restaurants in Chiang Mai listed below will also suit vegetarians or vegans.
Make sure to check the restaurants’ opening hours on their Facebook Pages before you go – 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, phad thai (this is my fave phad thai ever) and any of the curries. Honestly anything here is delicious!
Location: Inside Wat Suan Dok (temple) off Suthep Road (First find Wat Suan Dok on Suthep Road going west from 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: 50 baht and over
Salad Concept
At Salad Concept you can build your own salad or order off the menu. It also has great smoothies. This place is popular with locals and long term international residents.
Location: On the corner of Nimmanhaemin Road and Soi 13.
Price range: 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 120 baht…but everything is great!
Location: About a 1-minute walk up Sukkasem Road off Nimmanhaemin Road
Price range: 120 baht and over
Anchan Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant
The menu at this Thai restaurant is constantly changing but always delicious and features farm-fresh ingredients.
Location: Between Nimmanhaemin Soi 6 and Soi 10 (the soi opposite Salad Concept)
Price range: 90 baht and over
Food for Thought
Wide range of Western and Thai food including wraps and salads plus smoothies and coffee.
Location: 15/14 Moo 1, Soi Sudjai (off Canal Road near Huay Kaew Road)
Price range: 80 baht and over
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 for Shan refugees in Chiang Mai. Try the Shan pumpkin curry or Shan noodle salad. They also have Western and Thai dishes.
Location: 14 Sirimankalajarn Soi 9
Price range: 70 baht and over
Lang Mor (Suthep Road)
Rosy-Cheeks
Healthy Asian fusion food that satisfies vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters.
Location: Soi Ban Ling Ha 3
Price range: 150 baht and over
Bee Vegan
A simple place offering super cheap and delicious vegan food.
Location: 19 Suthep Road
Price range: 15 baht and over
Royal Project Store
Located inside the CMU campus near the corner of Suthep and Canal Roads offering fresh produce for sale and a salad bar with seating area.
Location: CMU Faculty of Agriculture
Price range: varies
OLD CITY (Or near Old City)
Goodsouls Kitchen
A vegan restaurant in the Old City with Thai and Western offerings. People rave about the mushroom burgers, but the massaman curry and green curry fried rice are also delicious. Portion sizes are large so bring your appetite or ask to take some home with you. Goodsouls has indoor seating with air con and some outdoor seating.
Location: Corner of Singharat Road and Wiang Kaew Road
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, including two fusion Thai salads.
Location: Hidden in the soi behind Akha Ama Coffee in the Old City
Price range: 80 baht and over
AUM 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
Serves 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 studying done. (But no AC, so it can get hot!)
Location: Singharaj Road Soi 3
Price range: 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: Just east of the Old City.
Price range: 80 baht and over
Hummus Chiang Mai
New Mediterranean restaurant (all vegetarian). This is my favourite falafel and hummus in Chiang Mai. The falafel sandwich in freshly made pita is good value at 100 baht. The salads are also great.
Location: Near ThaPae Gate (inside Old City)
Price range: 100 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!
This article was originally published September 2016. Updated August 2019.
