Ben - Two Iced Teas When Hunger Strikes…
It had been a long day. The tour we’d been on was fantastic, but after an awesome day sightseeing, were in need of sustenance. Our tour guide had helpfully suggested we check out the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar…
We left our hotel with a general sense of where it was, we followed our noses. It didn’t take us too long to get to where we were going.
First Impressions
The bazaar’s food market is essentially a food hall. Vendors on the perimeter surrounding a sea of yellow tables and chairs.
There is a stage at one end hosting some live entertainment, and whilst it was loved and ignored in equal measure by the (predominantly local) audience, for us it was just nice not to be hearing Ed Sheeran’s greatest hits piped in as usual.
At one end were the toilets (15฿) and a bar (70฿ for a large Chang/Leo). Outside the food market, the bazaar is full of stalls selling souvenirs, clothing, etc.
Reader Tip
There appeared to be two distinct food areas – the one with yellow tables and seats we’ve described, and one with wooden furniture. Everyone we spoke to said the yellow area was by far the better choice. Judging by how many people had also made that choice – this seemed to hold true.
Exploring the Food Stalls
We did a couple of laps to scope out the food on offer. Thankfully, the stalls were more geared towards full meals than the finger food we’d eaten at the night market. Neither of us were up for that sort of decision making!
In amongst the usual fare – Pad Thai, Noodle Soups etc. – we noticed a vendor selling Thai Hotpot – Jim Jum. She must have seen the excitement in Emi’s face and started chatting with us straight away. Evidently, the decision was made.
Reader Tip
There’s a lot of choice here – take your time, enjoy scoping out the options. Most of the vendors we spoke to had good English and were more than happy to explain their dishes. Choose wisely!
Jim Jum (Thai Hot Pot)
This is the part of this blog writing process in which I make myself extremely hungry, but I have to explain. Jim Jum (which apparently translates to “dip, dunk”) has been on our must eat list for a while, but having not ventured north, the options were limited.
Essentially, this is hot pot with a Thai twist. Served in an authentic terracotta pot, heated over charcoal, the staple broth comes at your desired level of spice. Alongside that is a platter of meat – in our case a mixture of chicken and beef – plus vegetables, noodles and nam jim jaew dipping sauce.
Once served it’s simply a case of waiting for the broth to boil and getting stuck in. Suffice it to say, the result is stunningly delicious. Spicy, meaty, fragrant – everything you could want from a hearty meal after a long day. At one point, the heavens opened and those not under cover had to run for the dry. I’m sure we barely noticed it! Once the meat and veg have imparted their flavour to the broth, add the noodles and soak up the goodness!
Clearly, if you find Jim Jum, we would recommend it.
Khao Soi Ice Cream
No, you do not need to adjust your monitor, you read that right. Khao Soi, the curry based noodle soup dish favoured in Northern Thailand – in ice cream form.
Being someone who will try anything once, I did indulge, although all I can say here is, if you see it – try it. It’s just something you need to experience for yourself (although not, surprisingly, as disgusting as it sounds).
Visiting Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
Address: WR4M+5M2, Tambon Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand
Opening Times: 6pm – 11pm, every day
