Man, I can't believe it's been over 10 months since we returned from our Laos – Thailand trip, and I still haven't finished my vacation posts yet! So to make sure that I get these posts done, I thought I'd deviate from my usual chronologic posts and start with our favorite meal(s) in Chiang Mai.
We kind of regret that we didn't check out Huen Phen until our last day in Chiang Mai, we'd surely have wanted at least another lunch there. Huen Phen is located down Thanon Rachamankha, in a more sedate area of Chiang Mai.
Huen Phen itself is actually two different restaurants. During the evening, it's the crowded antique filled restaurant. During lunch, the area to the front left of the restaurant serves up steam table and noodle dishes.
The lady behind the counter was very nice, and even provided samples. I even sampled the broth 
for the Khao Soi, which only confirmed (this was third version I tasted) that I didn't care for it. Of course everything we asked about was met with a, "it's good…you try, you try….." Which is kinda what happened, we ended up eating enough to feed a small army. And incredibly we finished everything.
I've suddenly realized that if I went over every single dish, I'd still be writing on Monday, so I'll keep this to mostly photos. Let me just say, that I really enjoyed some of the dishes, especially the various Nahm Prik (dips/pastes) which is one of the signature dishes of Lanna (Northern Thai) cuisine. So without further ado, here are the photos:
We enjoyed lunch so much, that we returned for dinner!
Though we enjoyed lunch more, dinner was no less yummy! Especially the Nam Prik Ong, the classic Chili and Pork dip…think Thai Bolognese sauce. As much as I enjoyed that, the version with crisp pork skin was even better!
So here are the dinner photos:
Just a quick note, wouldn't you know that the only dish we didn't care for was the Morning Glory pictured above! Of course the Northern style Fish Soup was super!
I think there are times when the photos speak for themselves.
Huen Phen
112 Thanon Rachamankha
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wow this is amazing, I had dry salmon at IKEA today! The boiled egg looks like a sideways Kintaro face. You might’ve made a small fortune on ebay..!? Thai Bolognese Sauce sounds so amazingly goood…
Well, I appreciate your devotion to finishing your posts of everything from Thailand and Laos.
Hi Dennis – I didn’t even notice that!
Hi Lynnea – Yes, I’m kinda behind, but determined to at least make an effort…… Thanks for reading!
It’s amazing how the dishes look so different than most of what we think of as “Thai food.” Thanks for sharing the photos.
Did you say crispy pork skin, ooooo?!?! hehe. Too bad the morning glory wasn’t that good. The only “leafy greens” I would eat as a kid. 🙂
yummy! I agree that the pictures say it all :9
Hi Ed – Yes, it’s not all Pad Thai and curry…….
Hi Carol – That Nam Prik was really good.
Hi Kat – Thanks!
Geesh I’m so full after drooling over the pictures.
Hi Billy – We enjoyed our meals at Huen Phen.
Yum–I love Northern Thai food. I love love love khao soi, but it’s hard to find a good version of it–too bad it didn’t impress you.
Hi LMCC – I tried Khao Soi three times and really didn’t care for it…..maybe next time I’ll try a bit harder to find a good version.
Ah, I went there too when I was in Chiang Mai…but I went in the evening. I really like the look of the food at lunchtime though – but unfortunately, I didn’t know about that! Next time – thanks!
Hi Su-Lin – We really enjoyed lunch more than dinner…..I guess it may have been the variety and the really nice folks.
It is about time Nam Prik got some love! It seems to me to be the dish missing from Thai restaurants in USA. I like mine with waterbug essence
Hi Chris – There are a few restaurants that make it, but non in San Diego.
wow, so many dishes in one day! I finally had morning glory, delicious texture. I kind of wish you had written descriptions, but maybe it is better we just drool in ignorance
Hi FH – Yeah…..we kinda went overboard, but finished every bite! Ong Choy….morning glory is good stuff!