Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is widely regarded as having some of the finest cuisine in the whole of the country. What better way to immerse yourself in the Thai culture than learning to cook the local food?
Here is a list of the best and most unique Thai cooking classes in Chiang Mai where you can learn how to master the amazing Lanna dishes that the province is famous for as well as how to cook your favorite classic Thai dishes from around the country.
1. Thai Akha Cooking School (Evening Class)
Thai Akha Kitchen is rated as one of the best culinary schools in Chiang Mai. It is also one of the most unique due to the fact that visitors will learn how to cook the food of the Akha hill tribe people as well as learning about their culture and history in Thailand.
At this evening cooking class, you can immerse yourself in the local culture by learning how to make hill tribe dishes, such as sapi thong (tomato dipping sauce), Akha salad, and Akha soup, as well as Thai classics, such as tom yum soup, panang curry, and mango sticky rice.
Once you've finished cooking your Thai feast in the outdoor kitchen, you can move inside to the air-conditioned room to share your creations with your fellow students.
Local collection from your Chiang Mai hotel is included in the price.
- Starting time: 5pm
- Duration: 4 hours
- Minimum number of participants: one
- Language: English
- Price: $32
- Address: 15/1 Soi 4 Arak Road, Phrasing Sub-District, Muang District, Chiang Mai 50000
Want to know how many days to spend in Chiang Mai? Check Chiang Mai itineraries from 3 days to 7 days.
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2. Love Chiang Mai Cooking School
Love Chiang Mai Cooking School is situated in Hang Dong, a countryside town located 20 minutes away from Chiang Mai city. This is the most expensive class on the list but you really get what you pay for with this one.
The head chef, Lin, learned to cook traditional Lanna dishes and desserts with her mother, which they sold at the local markets. This school is as authentic as it gets.
The class starts with a trip to the local market to learn about the ingredients you will be cooking with later on.
The cooking school is set in an organic garden and you will be using the ancient method of cooking with charcoal to create your dishes. This class is different from most in Chiang Mai as it focuses solely on local Lanna cuisine.
You will learn to cook three dishes, such as khao soi (curry noodles), hang lay (local pork curry), and tum kanoon (jackfruit salad).
The price includes local collection from your Chiang Mai hotel as well as free local coffee and drinking water throughout the day.
- Starting time: 9am
- Duration: 6 hours
- Minimum number of participants: two
- Language: English
- Price: $66; collection from your Chiang Mai hotel is included in the price
- Address:240 Moo.2 T. San Pak Waan A. Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230
3. Galangal Cooking Studio
Located a short 10-minute drive from Chiang Mai city, near the famous Ping River, Galangal Cooking Studio is the perfect choice for those looking for an introduction into classic Thai cuisine.
The beauty of this course is that you can pick which dishes you would like to cook beforehand so you know you're going to like what you eat at the end of the day!
You will start your day with a tour of a local market to learn about Thai ingredients and collect what you need to cook with at the school.
You will learn how to make classic Thai dishes, such as papaya salad, spring rolls, pad Thai, chicken with cashew nuts, tom yum soup, and a choice of Thai curry.
- Starting time: 8:30am
- Duration: 6½ hours
- Minimum number of participants: one
- Language: English
- Price: $41; local collection from your Chiang Mai hotel is included in the price
- Address:366 Charoen Rat Road, Wat Ket, Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50000
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4. We Love Green Vegan Cooking School
Located a 20-minute drive south of the city, We Love Green is one of the only truly vegetarian/vegan cooking schools in Chiang Mai. The school has a spacious cooking studio on a big piece of land complete with an outside relaxation area and its own garden. The cooking area is completely air-conditioned.
A lot of other classes have vegetarian options but if you are strict and don't want to be around any animal products at all then this is the place for you. You will learn to cook eight dishes in total including vegan curry paste, peanut sauce, fresh spring rolls, a choice of Thai curry, soup, pad Thai, and papaya salad.
- Starting times: 9am and 2pm
- Duration: 6½ hours
- Minimum number of participants: one
- Language: English
- Price: $47; local collection from your Chiang Mai hotel is included in the price
- Address:59/12 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road, Nong Phueng, Saraphi, Chiang Mai 50140
5. Akaraka Open Kitchen
Akaraka Open Kitchen is located a short 10-minute drive from the city, just across the Ping River. It is a unique choice on the list due to the fact that it's not just run by cooks but also a photographer and food stylist, giving you the complete package.
Not only can you cook amazing local dishes but they will look incredible too. Imagine the Instagram photos you could get!
Guests can choose to make two dishes and a dessert from a list that includes northern Thai staples, such as gaeng khanoon (jackfruit curry), larb kua (minced meat salad), nam prik noom (roasted green chili dip), and khao niew ma muang (mango sticky rice).
The opportunity to learn how to properly style and photograph your final dishes makes Akaraka Open Kitchen the perfect choice for any budding food photographers and social media enthusiasts.
- Starting times: 11am and 6pm
- Duration: 3 hours
- Minimum number of participants: three
- Languages: English, Thai
- Price: $66; there is no hotel collection included in the price — students must find their own way to the school
- Address: Gadesabye Workspace, 54 Montri Road, Muang, Chiang Mai 50000
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Tips for Choosing the Right Cooking Class
Our top tip would be to make sure the school you choose caters for your specific needs. If you are looking forward to learning about dishes from the Lanna region, for example, make sure you don't book a generic class that teaches about Thai food from different parts of the country. On the other hand, if you are a complete beginner and just want to learn the basics of Thai cuisine, you don't want to be stuck in an advanced class only concentrating on a few select dishes. Do your research online and make sure whichever one you pick is right for you.
Visit Chiang Mai with Us
For any aspiring cook, experiencing a cooking class in Chiang Mai is one of the best experiences in Thailand. Our premade itineraries can easily accommodate a trip to one of these amazing cooking schools. Alternatively, our knowledgeable travel advisers are on hand to take the hassle out of your planning and help you create your own customized trip. Take a look at some of our most popular Thailand tours below and start dreaming about your next Thai getaway today.
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