Places to eat in Mae Sariang

Even if there are not a lot of options in Mae Sariang when it comes to dining, several restaurants that you’ll find are a nice surprise, all offering a decent choice – from simple Thai dishes, to freshwater fish and Western food.

Street Food

If you’re searching for something quick and cheap, head straight to the bus station. All around it, you’ll find a few food stalls selling noodle soup or rice dishes for THB30.

A small evening market gets to life every night but don’t expect the same variety you can usually find everywhere else in Thailand; just some classic chicken or pork on a stick will calm your hunger until you find a place to sit down for dinner.

If you happen to be in town at the end of the week, don’t miss the weekly Friday market – it is actually the major attraction of Mae Sariang with all the locals and few tourists flocking in for a night of shopping and food.

Restaurants

Almost all the restaurants, with just a couple of exceptions, are located along Langpanich Rd, which runs parallel to the river bank, and many of them have a terrace overlooking the river that will give you a good chance to enjoy your dinner with a remarkable view.

Below we feature some of the options which appeal to us most but in fact almost any venue will offer you very authentic Thai food at reasonable prices. Many have some kind of lounge areas with mattresses with triangular pillows to sip your beer – you just won’t want to leave!

Thai Food

For a more authentic Thai dinner head to Inthira (Wiang Mai Rd, open every day from 8am to 10pm). Just off Langpanich Rd, on the main street exiting the town, it is the oldest restaurant in Mae Sariang. Open in 1964, over the years it has been renovated and expanded, but it still maintains the original charm and serves simple but yummy dishes what make it a favourite place for locals. The menu is quite extensive and offers basic dishes like Pad Krap Pao (stir-fried chicken/pork with holy basil, THB80) and fried rice (THB60) along with some seafood and freshwater fishes. Try their deep-fried Salawin fish with garlic and thai chilli (THB200). Beers come at a reasonable price of THB80 for a big bottle of Leo.

Western and International Food

A good example is Sawadee Restaurant and Bar, an international place run by a Thai/German couple and offering both Thai and Western food with vegetarian options available, too. Even if it’s one of the most popular place among tourists, it attracts many of the locals in need of some ‘nightlife’ Mae Sariang style. What makes Sawadee worth a visit is definitely its relaxed atmosphere. You can easily spend the whole night there watching the sun go down behind the mountains with your a cold beer in hand, then continuing with your dinner on the romantic terrace and finishing the day with a refreshing cocktail while playing pool or darts with your new Thai friends. Christian, the German guy who owns the place, is a passionate biker, so if you’re travelling around Thailand by bike don’t hesitate to ask him for tips and suggestions.

Steaks

Also close to river, even if it doesn’t have a river view, there is Coriander in Redwood (12 Moo 2 Langpanich Rd, open every day from 11am to 10pm) which is arguably the best restaurant in town. The building, made completely of redwood, has gone through 100 years of history without any major renovation and preserves a unique historic feeling and romantic atmosphere. Though the setting can look upscale, Thai dishes are still quite affordable (prices start from THB70). But what makes Redwood famous among the locals who sometimes come here even from other towns in the area is Coriander’s delicious steaks from locally grown beef. If you feel like spoiling yourself for one night try that and accompany it with a bottle of wine. They have the best (and only?) wine list in Mae Sariang.