'NAN' the Series: Episode - "I've Been to This Restaurant Before"

Food is just as important as the destination when traveling. So, before embarking on my trip to Nan, I spent almost two days researching the local cuisine. I compiled a list of nearly ten must-try restaurants, ensuring I wouldn't go hungry during my four-day stay.

This episode focuses on reviewed restaurants and local dishes that are commonly eaten (and that I could stomach). I opted for dishes that weren't too spicy, exotic, or heavily seasoned, and kept my portions moderate.

Stop 1: Morning Market, in front of Pua Stadium

My first stop after getting off the bus was the Pua market, hoping to find a porridge shop. Instead, I stumbled upon a butcher shop, live fish, vegetable stalls, and – surprise! – a fresh market. I spotted a stall selling Hat Yai fried chicken, another offering a variety of chili pastes, and a soybean milk vendor.

My first breakfast, therefore, consisted of Hat Yai fried chicken (albeit enjoyed in Nan), chili paste with fresh vegetables, and soybean milk. The fried chicken and sticky rice cost 40 baht, the chili paste 20 baht, and the soybean milk 14 baht.

Dinner at the evening market in Ban Sathan, Pua

Dinner at the market in the village near Tanong Homestay, but it was a long walk. However, a kind aunt who was a vendor in the market gave me a ride to the market. It is a small fresh market near the temple that sells everything from fresh produce to ready-to-eat food. There is also a shop that sells fashionable clothes (it's a pity I didn't bring my camera because I thought there wouldn't be anything interesting).

I walked around and found a shop that sells stir-fried noodles of all kinds. It looks ordinary, but it's delicious.

And the food shop, I looked at several pots, the things that are probably edible are clear soup and grilled pork with waterfall sauce.

I bought everything I needed, but there was no cooked rice, only sticky rice (oh).

I walked around looking for cooked rice at the food stalls, but there wasn't any. In the end, I had to buy rice to cook at home.

On the way back, I was still teased by the aunts at the intersection to the market. Didn't you get lost? 55555

Stir-fried noodles 2 boxes 40 baht, soup 2 bags 50 baht, rice 20 baht

Day 3 Home

Breakfast was rushed, no time to go to the market, so I had leftover soy milk from yesterday with a view of the rice fields.
Today, I have to rush to tour around the city of Pua by songthaew.

Day 4: Tai Lue Coffee Shop

A relaxing coffee shop with rice field views, included in the city tour by songthaew.

Affordable prices and good quality coffee.

Iced green tea 40 baht, iced latte 45 baht.

The Fifth Hand: Mushroom Farm Baan Huay Nam Homestay

This restaurant is included in the city tour of Pua by songthaew. It is also a homestay (although the price was a bit high for us). This is where the Thai Tourism Authority once filmed, and they even chose the same dish as us. There is also a Wang Sila Laeng nearby, but due to the tour time limit of half a day, we couldn't reach it. We could only sit and eat while enjoying the view. As the name suggests, Mushroom Farm, there must be a menu made from mushrooms. This meal had a total of 3 contenders:

• Mushroom pizza: Cheesy, gooey, and with a soft crust.
• Mushroom soup: Aromatic with whole wheat bread sprinkled with cheese.
• Stir-fried basil with mushrooms: Medium spicy (but we like it very spicy).

The total price was 275 baht.

Day 6: Unrivaled Noodle Soup

This restaurant, located in Nan city center, was on our list of places to try. It lived up to its name, serving a delicious bowl of noodle soup with a generous portion of pork bone, meatballs, and ground pork, all in a flavorful tom yum broth. The highlight was the crispy pork rind, which had us chewing with gusto (much to the amusement of our companions). The flat noodles were a nice touch, adding to the overall enjoyment. While the price tag of 150 baht was a bit surprising, it was well worth it for the quality and quantity of the food.

Dessert at Nim's Shop
A dessert shop where I had my eyes on the bualoy in particular. I enjoyed the privacy of the second-floor seating, as no one else was there.

With a view of the evening cityscape of Nan, I slowly savored the bualoy with sweet egg.

I also tried my friend's lotus seed tau suan, which was equally delicious and not too sweet. The coconut milk was just right.

The total price was 60 baht.

Night Market in Nan Province (Meal 8.1)

The night market in Nan Province felt familiar, like any other night market in Thailand. However, the atmosphere was noticeably less lively, with about 50% fewer people and an early closing time (no later than 10 pm).

For this meal, we didn't indulge heavily. We simply enjoyed some fish balls and grilled squid with seafood dipping sauce.

Day 8.2 at 7-Eleven

While stopping by to pick up some medicine, I stumbled upon a squeeze bottle of sauce that I've been missing for years.

To satisfy my craving, I ordered a Big Bite sausage and squeezed the sauce all over it.

I then tossed everything together into a salad, including leftover pizza from the mushroom farm, and avocado that I grew myself as a souvenir from the songthaew tour.

Relaxing on the ground floor of my accommodation, I listened to music while enjoying my meal.

Day 9: Uncle Song's Noodle Shop

They say it sells out quickly, so we opted for an early breakfast, arriving at 8 am.

The bowl was generously filled with toppings, and the meatballs and pork were delicious. However, the yellow noodles were not particularly impressive.

The total cost was 70 baht.

Day 10: Heuan Hom

This mid-range local restaurant offers a delicious fish kang som curry that is a must-try. Their three-flavor chili dip is also a good choice.

While they have a khao soi menu, it is only available for lunch, and we arrived during the afternoon, so we missed out on trying it.

The restaurant offers both regular tables and khantoke seating.

• Fish kang som curry: 100 baht
• Three-flavor chili dip: 150 baht

Day 11: Walking Street Nan, in front of Phumin Temple

The market was long, but we happened to come on a rainy day, so only half of it was left. It was all food, mostly local dishes at reasonable prices. We walked around and bought so much that I had to tell my friend to stop because my hands were full. 5555

My mother said that Mieng Laap is delicious. I think the filling is good, but I don't like the wrapper (pickled cabbage).

Chicken in water is like a curry with lots of lemongrass and spices. It's not greasy, but I couldn't finish it.

Spicy Minced Pork Salad (Laab Moo Kua)

This is a delicious and not-too-spicy dry-style minced pork salad.

Khao Niao, a sticky rice dish mixed with blood and wrapped in banana leaves, served with fried shallots and garlic.

It's incredibly delicious, I love it so much that I'm craving it right now! 555

Deep-fried pork with ma-kheuang, a recommended dish in Nan province.

I don't know which skewer it is because it is mixed with other fried pork. I ate it and felt nothing special because I didn't know which skewer it was.

Pork app, pork mixed with spices, probably lemongrass.

I wanted to try it, I tried it, I didn't like it very much, it was strange, but I don't want to eat it again.

Mild and non-spicy Northern Thai sausage, packed with flavorful meat.

Each shop's price is no more than 50 baht. I walked around buying things and didn't even count them. 555

Day 12: Morning Market at Tangjit Nusorn

The Tangjit Nusorn morning market is a bustling hub of activity, offering a wide variety of goods. While exploring the market, I stumbled upon a large stall selling blood pudding soup. The impressive size of the stall and the enticing aroma led me to choose it for my breakfast.

The highlight of the dish was the fresh water spinach, which the stall owner proudly informed me was grown on their own farm. The soup itself was packed with ingredients, including generous chunks of pork and a steaming bowl of rice mixed with brown rice. The combination of flavors and textures was delightful, and the portion size was incredibly generous for the price.

Total cost: 90 baht

Day 13: Khao Soi Ton Nam

A small but delicious Khao Soi restaurant. The broth is rich and flavorful, the chicken drumsticks are tender and perfectly cooked. Squeeze a little lime, add some pickled mustard greens, drizzle with a little coconut milk, and top with crispy fried shallots. It's so good, you'll be tempted to lick the bowl clean.
Price: 70 baht

Day 14: Coffee at Heuan Sawan, Nan Riverside Art Gallery

Heuan Sawan, a charming cafe nestled within the Nan Riverside Art Gallery, offers a delightful atmosphere to enjoy both sweet and savory treats. Despite a full stomach, we couldn't resist ordering an iced latte and green tea. However, the highlight of our visit was the unexpected discovery of the sesame and chia seed cookies. These cookies, boasting a delightful crunch and subtle sweetness, were an instant hit, prompting us to purchase nearly ten boxes to share with our loved ones.

Day 15: Indy Shabu

Following a recommendation from the motorbike rental shop, we visited Indy Shabu, an all-you-can-eat buffet. Unbeknownst to us, there was no time limit for dining (although we only had 45 minutes before our bus back home). We rushed to eat, savoring the tender sliced pork, flavorful broth, and large mussels. Despite the time constraint, the experience was enjoyable. The price was 199 baht per person, excluding drinks.

A total of 15 places to visit in Nan, where you can eat without any regrets. There are many other shops that I missed, either because they were closed or I didn't have time.

For example, the Hug Nan restaurant.

This winter, if you're looking to try something different for your meals, why not try some authentic local cuisine? Delicious northern Thai food is a great option, and Nan province is a perfect destination to experience it.