Kiew Kai Ka

Overall Review: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Dickson's Fooday Tongue-Tied Food Review #228 - Chiang Mai, Thailand
Michelin Spotting 🌟+1

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, there are quite a few Michelin restaurants, and this visit is to one located in the Nimman area, inside the well-known Nimman 1 mall.

Nimman 1 is a large shopping complex, and the first floor has many market-like stalls. This Michelin restaurant is conveniently located right next to the building's entrance, making it easy to find.

There are two entrances: one inside the mall and one outside, allowing access from both sides.

Whether entering from the front or the back, the doors of the restaurant are plastered with Michelin logos, indicating that this place has held Michelin stars for several years!

Since this is a Michelin-starred restaurant, I was worried about not getting a reservation while still in Taiwan, so I booked online quite early.

The reservation system here is different from the inline booking method used in Taiwan. If you want to reserve a table, there’s a link available on Google Maps for easy booking.

If you are still concerned about securing a reservation, you can also fill out your information on the restaurant's official website.

When it's time to dine, simply show up and provide your name and reservation code. It's actually quite straightforward!

This restaurant mainly serves authentic Thai cuisine, and each page of the menu features dishes that look incredibly appetizing. I spent a significant amount of time just deciding what to order.

Moreover, the prices here are quite reasonable. Even at this Michelin-star restaurant, the costs are still very different from those in Taiwan.

It's comparable to the prices at a regular budget Thai restaurant in Taiwan, allowing you to enjoy Michelin-star Thai cuisine in Thailand! Therefore, that day, I was determined to order a lot and try as much as possible.

However, although I mentioned that prices are cheaper here, it’s relative to Taiwan's prices. If we compare the restaurant's prices to those of typical street vendors, there's clearly a significant difference.

So, I initially ordered a round of dishes that I frequently eat. In terms of flavors, I found the Thai dishes here to be quite authentic, but there was nothing particularly surprising. It is more aligned with traditional Thai cuisine.

In Taiwan, many Thai restaurants cater more to local tastes. However, I think that this Michelin Thai restaurant needs to accommodate tourists, thus the flavors don’t fully embody that traditional Thai essence, leaning more towards a commercial twist.

Nonetheless, since it is a Michelin restaurant, the dishes and flavors are generally quite good.

For friends fortunate enough to visit Chiang Mai, Thailand, if you’re aiming to grab some Michelin stars, I believe this restaurant is truly worth considering.

Firstly, because you can reserve online, and its location at the Nimman 1 mall, a place you’ll definitely visit while in Chiang Mai, makes it quite convenient!

Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Drinks: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Price: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

⭐️ Food Section

👉 Meat Platter
The menu here features names I'm not familiar with, so I refer to this as a meat platter. Essentially, it has a variety of different meats cooked by grilling or boiling. The quantity of meat is substantial, and with the different cooking methods and dipping sauces, you can experience varying flavors.

However, the downside is that due to the large portion, it can feel a bit greasy after eating too much.

👉 Crab Soup with Rice Noodles
This dish primarily uses crab soup paired with rice noodles, along with additional condiments for guests to customize their dish. Personally, I found this dish quite ordinary, perhaps due to the crab soup's flavor being lacking. The rice noodles mixed with the other condiments reminded me of eating Taiwanese rice noodles.

👉 Crab Omelette
Although named crab omelette, I honestly couldn't identify the omelette when it was served. This might be due to the difference between Taiwanese and Thai omelettes. This dish is very unique and quite authentic; I’ve never encountered it in Taiwan.

The omelette here resembles a firm cookie texture, as the egg is cooked until solid! Then, a pile of crab meat is placed on top, making it feel like you’re eating a cookie with a base of egg and a topping of crab meat—quite a special dish.

In terms of taste, I found it just okay, but due to its novelty, I'd recommend everyone try it!

👉 Crab Fried Rice
The fried rice was rather ordinary, resembling typical egg fried rice but with added crab meat. The flavor is not significantly different from Taiwanese fried rice, so you don't need to making a special order for it.

👉 Thai Spicy and Sour Shrimp Soup
From the name, I expected it to be very spicy and sour. It indeed looked intimidatingly red when served, causing some initial fear about the spice level.

However, the spiciness was actually manageable, but because of that, it felt less distinctive. I remember this dish ended up being left uneaten.

👉 Crying Tiger
It's unclear why this dish is named crying tiger.

From the picture, it resembles grilled meat. I would recommend trying this because, compared to the earlier meat platter, these grilled meats overall are quite delicious!

👉 Mango Sticky Rice
I think everyone has probably seen this commonly available in Thailand. It’s a very popular dessert and snack, typically involving sticky rice mixed with mango—sweet and refreshing!

However, this dish is ubiquitous, so the price at a Michelin restaurant might be slightly higher, but there’s no remarkable difference compared to street vendors.

So if you really want to enjoy it, it's better to find other restaurants or roadside stalls!

Overall, I feel that this Michelin restaurant doesn’t have overly impressive offerings. While most dishes differ significantly from Taiwanese flavors, if you want authentic Thai cuisine, you’re likely to enjoy small vendors or eateries more.

Overall, this restaurant feels stable, serving flavors that won’t be too extravagant or hard to accept, while still showcasing the essence of Thai cuisine.

It’s a safe, tasty, and acceptable spot, but if you desire a more intense local flavor, you might need to venture out and explore further.

⭐️ Drinks Section
That day, I subconsciously ordered a coconut juice, which is just coconut juice and doesn't need further introduction—it’s everywhere on Thai streets!

⭐️ Atmosphere Section
The restaurant's indoor space isn’t particularly large, so there aren’t many tables. Much of the space is used for decorations, with plenty of flowers and plants, creating a cozy ambiance without feeling too sparse.

However, it may be because of all the greenery that my dining companions complained about being bitten by mosquitoes.

This does result in some points being deducted, but for visual appeal, the restaurant successfully creates a dining experience reminiscent of eating in a jungle.

⭐️ Service Section
Earlier, I noted that the restaurant allows online reservations, which means you don’t have to wait long to be seated during your meal—this is quite commendable for a Michelin restaurant.

Most of the staff can communicate in English, making it easy to order. Furthermore, the menu is also available in Chinese, so even if you’re dining alone, there won’t be too many barriers.

Aside from that, the service offered is standard—taking orders, serving food, and refilling drinks.

⭐️ Price Section
As mentioned earlier, Thailand's overall cost of living is lower than Taiwan's, so even dining at a Michelin restaurant here won't lead to exorbitant expenses.

If you're looking to explore different Michelin options, Chiang Mai is a great choice since there are quite a few Michelin restaurants available.

Given the price situation, it's also relatively affordable!

Overall, this meal feels reminiscent of dining at some traditional Thai chain restaurants in Taipei's northern district.

⭐️ In Summary
If you’re a tourist visiting Chiang Mai for the first time and wish to try some well-known Michelin restaurants, this place is indeed a great option.

Firstly, it's convenient for reservations, and its accessible transportation and geographical location are very favorable.

The overall dining cost isn’t burdensome, and the food obviously has a certain level of quality.

So, if you're visiting Chiang Mai for the first time, consider adding this Michelin restaurant to your itinerary!