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Sticky rice, khao nieow, is commonly eaten with northern dishes. It is first soaked for several hours and then steamed, together with some herbs, in a conical basket of woven bamboo. This reduces the stickiness as well as the sweetness of the rice. It keeps well after cooking and may be kept in baskets for a long time. It is usually eaten by taking a small lump and pressing it with the fingers to form a hard ball. Then the ball is dipped (by hand) into some spicy flavoring and eaten. The ingredients used to flavor rice were originally those that came from hunting, foraging and fishing.
Older Northern Thais may wistfully tell you about the flavor of venison in their youth, but most wild meat has been hunted to extinction. The more adventurous visitor may, perhaps, like to sample the various dishes that use innards and the seasonal dishes that feature insects.
The herbs and spices for flavoring are those commonly used in all Thai cooking, but northern Thai dishes have been bly influenced by Burmese and Shan cooking and use less coconut than those of central Thai cuisine.
Dishes served with sticky rice are of several kinds: nam phrik - hot dips served in small bowls along with fresh or lightly steamed vegetables and crispy pork skin: kaeng - curries (dry or watery); yam - vegetables and meat mixed with a variety of herbs and spices.
A Khantoke Dinner usually consists of a whole range of northern Thai dishes.
For a list of restaurants in Chiang Mai, see: [ Night Life of Chiang Mai ]
Eating at street stalls is both enjoyable and cheap and usually clean.
Ordering at food stalls is a bit of a problem for non- Thai speakers.
In Chiang Mai two markets cater to visitors and have English menus. These are Anusarn Market (Chang Khlan Road near the Night Bazaar) and Sompet Market (Moon Muang Road a little north of Thapae Gate).
This market is part of the Night Bazaar area. A large open air terrace with many stalls offer a wide choice. Prices are only slightly above regular market prices elsewhere.
In the morning there are two good food stalls offering very tasty chicken rice and knuckle of pork Thai style at regular market prices. Hrs. 06:00 till food is finished (ca. 13:00 - 14:00 hr.).
Anusarn Market also has several restaurants, but these do not serve food at budget prices. The market is home to restaurants serving fresh prawn (priced by the kilo). One of the best restaurant is 'Ouan Heha' (Anusarn Market. Hrs. 17:00- 24:00, Tel: 818441), where dishes are cooked at an extraordinary speed. Several restaurants in the Anusarn Market area operate till the early morning.
See also: [Fruits in Chiang Mai]