Khao Soy Nimman, Chiang Mai

Khao Soy Nimman

[Non-halal] Khao Soy Nimman is one of the more popular spots for Khao Soi noodles in Chiang Mai.

It was one of three different Khao Soi spots we visited during our recent trip. So how does it stack up against the others? Read on to find out more.

Khao Soy Nimman in Chiang Mai

If you’re planning a trip to Chiang Mai, there is a high chance that you’ll be recommended to try the famous Khao Soi noodles here.

We last visited Khao Soy Nimman back in 2015, and the place has certainly been spruced up a bit since.

We remembered Khao Soy Nimman was already popular with locals and tourists then, but the place now has certainly been upgraded for a more comfortable dining experience. The years of recognition from the Michelin Guide also helped, we figure.

While Khao Soi is typically a brunch/lunch dish, we liked the fact that Khao Soy Nimman is opened daily until 9pm.

Thus, we were able to tuck into a bowl of curry noodles at 8pm, which was what we did recently. But this restaurant offers more than just noodles, as it also serves Nam Prik (spicy chilli sauce served with vegetables) and local dishes to enjoy with rice.

Khao Soy Super Bowl

So what is Khao Soi/Soy? Particularly popular in Chiang Mai, Khao Soi is a curry noodle dish with spices and flavours influenced by the Laotian/Burmese cuisine.

The curry is usually served with egg noodles, crispy fried noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots and lime.

We tried the best-seller Khao Soy Super Bowl (THB195 or USD5.50) which is served with chicken drumstick, prawns, fried pork, squid, and sai ua (Chiang Mai sausage).

Chicken is tender, broth is rich in coconut milk

Khao Soy Nimman’s noodles dish has been popular for years, and we can understand why. Compared to Khao Soi Mae Manee (see our post here), we find the broth to be thicker in consistency, and richer in coconut milk with a good spicy kick.

Khao Soi Mae Manee, Chiang Mai

The noodles here had good texture – the fried noodles were crispy in the right way, and the egg noodles had a nice al-dente bite.

Among all the protein that came with the bowl, we thought the chicken was the best as it was tender and flavourful – having absorbed all the spices of the broth. That is not to say the friend pork and sausage were bad at all.

We thought the Big Bowl was food enough to share for two, along with other side dishes.

Nam Prik and Pork Satay

Nam Prik is another popular dish in Chiang Mai. Made with chillies, garlic, shallots and lime – is a type of dipping sauce usually served with steamed or raw vegetables.

We ordered the Nam Prik Noom (THB125 or USD3.50) which comprises veggies such as cucumber, eggplant, carrots and long beans. Overall, we think this dish is definitely an acquired taste as we found the dip to be on the spicier side – perfect for those who can take the heat. This dish is definitely not for us.

The Pork Satay were lean and tender, but we wished it had a more smoky aroma. We also found the peanut sauce to be decent but it lacked the tanginess of tamarind that’s more prominent in our version. In the end, we still think our Malaysian satay is superior.

Summary

Overall, we still think Khao Soy Nimman still offers one of the best versions of Khao Soi in Chiang Mai.

If you only have one spot to visit in Chiang Mai for this noodle, Khao Soi Nimman remains a strong candidate to take that spot.

Khao Soy Nimman
Address: 22 Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 7, Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
Hours: 10am-9pm Daily
Phone: 66 53 894 881