Thai Cooking School in Chiang Mai

If you're looking for a Thai cooking school in Thailand, Chiang Mai's a good place to head - I visited 10 schools - there must be a few more around the city. I feel cooking isn't on many people's 'to do' list when they first come to Thailand! When you come to a place like Chiang Mai though, and see the quiet surroundings of the cooking schools and how relatively cheap it is, I think many think, 'why not!'.

You'll see small signs and leaflets advertising schools all around the city, most, if not all of which are included in my list below. Schools that I may have missed might be ones that don't advertise, and are tucked away down a small street.

To the market for the food

You might find it difficult to decide which course to do! Most of the Thai cooking schools are in Chiang Mai city itself - most are actually inside the old city walls (see the central square area in the middle of this map). 3 of the schools are based a short journey outside the city, often in countryside surroundings. 2 of the schools are just vegetarian cooking. There are some things all Chiang Mai cooking schools offer:

A visit to a local market to buy the ingredients.

You'll always eat the food you cook at the end of the course.

The choice of cooking vegetarian food.

Water and/or herbal tea free during the day.

A decent level of English to communicate. Some might be able to speak French.

Every school offers the delicious mango and sticky rice to cook as a dessert.

Many of the cooking schools position are shown on this map, under 'Cooking Schools'.. You'll notice that 5 of the schools are very close together, on or close to Rachadamnoen Soi 5 road.

1) May Kaidee's Vegetarian Restaurant and Cooking School - A popular vegetarian restaurant with 3 restaurants in Bangkok too, Ive often seen people happily learning to cook here. The lady who runs the course is very friendly. Classes tend to be a bit smaller (2 to 6 people) here than some of the more popular places. Dishes include:
- Pumpkin Hummus
- Steamed noodles with vegetables and curry tofu peanut sauce
- Deep fried seaweed served with chilli-mango sauce or peanut sauce.
Classes between 9am and 1pm have a set 10 recipes you'll learn. Between 1pm and 5pm, you can choose from the menu what to cook You can have a look at their menu on their website:www.maykaidee.com. (opens in new window). Food is MSG free. Cost is 1,200 baht per 4 hour class. Address 202 Ratchapakhinai Rd. (number 4 on the map). Tel: 086-3984808, 087-7175275

(The photos on this page are of a May Kaidee cooking class).

2) Smart Cook Thai Cookery School - On a quiet street, this cooking school has 3 hour classes for 700 baht, 5 and a half hour classes for 900 baht and a special menu class for 1,500 baht. Dishes include:
- Steamed Fish with Lemon
- Stir-Friend Prawn in Tamarind Sauce
Class size is between 2 and 9 people. There's one wok cooking station per person in an open-air kitchen. Website: www.chiangmaismartcook.com. (opens in new window). Address: 21 Moon Muang Soi 5 Rd. (see number 104 on map). Tel: +66 (0)53 418 309 Email: smartcookthailand@yahoo.com

3) You Sabai Cooking Course - Vegetarian, 3 day cooking course from Monday to Thursday in a scenic village, 50 kilometers north of Chiang Mai, in Mae Taeng province. You'll stay in an earthern natural house, the food cooked is MSG free and mostly organic. Total price is 2,900 baht and includes accommodation, cooking 12 dishes, all food for the 3 days, yoga and free pick up from Pun-Pun restaurant (see letter I on the map on this page) on Monday morning. Dishes include eggplant green curry. Have a look at their website: www.yousabai.com. (opens in new window). Mobile Tel: 086 096 6439 / 085 720 6201

Preparing the food

4) Thai Orchid Cookery School - A school down a very quiet street in Chiang Mai, I spoke with a friendly lady who runs the place. Classes are for between 2 and 12 people, and cost 750 baht for a half day, 950 baht for a full, 6 and a half hour day. Dishes include:
- Chicken with cashew nuts
- Red Curry with roast duck
Website: www.thaiorchidcooking.com. (opens in new window). Address: 1, Singharat Soi 1 Road (see number 37 on map)). Tel: +66 (0)53 416349 Email: orchid_cooking@hotmail.com

5) Thai Farm Cooking School - Cooking in the countryside, 17 kilometers from Chiang Mai on an organic farm where vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown. All the ingredients are fresh and organic. The day begins between 8:30am and 9am (pick-up from your hotel). Back at 5pm, cost: 900 baht. After lunch, you get to have a break and enjoy the scenery. Dishes include:
- Yellow curry with chicken
- Tom Yam with shrimps
Included in the price is a color recipe book. The website - www.thaifarmcooking.com (opens in new window) is good as it details all the food grown at the farm. (the website is currently offline - it should be back soon...) The office is back in Chiang Mai - Address: 2/2 Rachadamnoen Soi 5 Rd - number 107 on the map. Mobile Tel: 081 288 59 89 / 087 174 92 85 Email: info@thaifarmcooking.com

Cooking the food!

6) Baan Thai Thai Cookery School - This Thai cooking school has classes for between 2 and 9 people, costing 900 baht for a 6 and a half hour lesson. Dishes include:
- Papaya Salad
- Seafood in coconut milk
Price includes transport to and from the school if required and a color recipe book. You can pick vegetables from their garden.Website: www.baanthaicookery.com (opens in new window). Address: 11 Rachadannoen Soi 5 Rd (number 109 on the map). Tel: +66 (0)53 357 339 Email: info@baanthaicookery.com

7) Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School - A full day course (6 hours) at this thai cooking school costs 900 baht, a 4 hour, half-day course is 700 baht. Dishes include:
- Glassnoodle Salad
- Pad Thai
- Cashewnut with chicken
They'll pick you up from your hotel if needed - included in the price is a cookbook and a welcome snack. Their website: www.asiascenic.com (opens in new window) has a nice youtube video of their school on the homepage. Address: 31, Rachadamnoen Soi 5 Rd (number 110 on the map). Tel: +6 (0)53 418 657 / 418658 Email: gayray@asiascenic.com

...and ready to eat!

8) The Master Thai Chef Cookery School - You'll be cooking a 15 minutes drive away, outside the city with this school. Price for half a day is 700 baht. For a 6 hour, full day, it's 900 baht. Dishes include:
- Chicken in coconut milk sauce
- Hot and sour prawn soup
Website: www.chiangmaicooking.com (opens in new window) They have an office in the center of Chiang Mai: Address: 5, Ratchamanka Road (on the map, it's between Moon Muang Road and Ratchapakhinai Road, not marked....) Tel: +66 (0)53 277 823 Email: brotherchef@hotmail.com

9) Thai Chocolate Cookery center alternate name: Thai Kitchen Cookery Center - Price here is 750 baht per day. Dishes include:
- Grilled fish salad
- Masaman curry with deep fried bean curd
No website. Address: 32 Loi Kroh Soi 1 Road (see the center marked in the lower left hand corner of the map on this page. Tel: +66 (0)53 272 569 Mobile: 081 980 1950 Email: thaichocolatecookerycentre@hotmail.com

Enjoying the food....

10) Kanjana Home Cookery School - I don't have much info about this Thai cooking school. It's in the area of Rachadamnoen Soi 5 Road where many of the other cooking schools mentioned above are. Address: 7/2 Rachadamnoen Soi 5 Rd. It's number 108 on the map. Tel +66 (0)53 418 368

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