Khao soi is northern Thailand's curry-noodle bowl: silky coconut-and-yellow-curry broth ladled over egg noodles, topped with crispy fried noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots and lime. Originally Chiang Mai, now ubiquitous across Bangkok.
Where to eat it: 7 restaurants across 3 cities.
Khao soi came to Thailand via Yunnanese-Muslim traders along the Burmese border in the 19th century, taking its modern form in 1930s Chiang Mai with the addition of coconut milk. Bangkok adopted khao soi in the 1980s through northern-Thai migration and the Lanna-restaurant boom of the 1990s. Now Krua Aroy Aroy in Silom serves the Bib Gourmand canonical Bangkok version, with chicken or beef in a coconut-yellow-curry broth and a heap of crispy fried noodles on top.
Common allergens: Gluten (wheat noodles), Coconut, Fish sauce, Shellfish (shrimp paste)
Tip from the editors. If you can't find khao soi paste, use any good Thai red curry paste with 1 tsp ground turmeric and 1 tsp mild curry powder added; it gets you most of the way there.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
Why locals love it: Bib Gourmand canteen tucked off Pan Road, lunch-only, with the city's best khao soi northern Thai curry-noodle bowl.
Tip: Cash only. Lunch only, 09:00 to 17:00, closed Sundays. The room is small; arrive by 12:00 to avoid the office workers.
Supanniga Eating Room in Bangkok's Tha Tien serves grandmother-recipe Trat and Khon Kaen Thai dishes opposite Wat Pho, with a sister branch on Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor).
Signature: Moo cha muang, Yum tomato pomelo, Khao soi
Order: The moo cha muang (pork in cha muang leaf), the yum tomato pomelo salad and a side of khao soi.
Tip: Closed Mondays for the Tha Tien location. Ask for the second-floor balcony seat overlooking the temple at sunset.
Lotus of Siam on Sahara is Saipin Chutima's original Northern Thai room, reopened May 2026 at its Commercial Center home five years after a roof collapse forced the move.
Signature: Khao soi, Crispy duck on drunken noodles, Nam khao tod
Order: The khao soi: coconut curry, egg noodles, crispy noodle nest on top. Saipin Chutima's signature plate.
Tip: The original Sahara room reopened May 8 2026 with a limited dinner menu Wed to Sun; the Flamingo branch covers the full menu.
Lotus of Siam Flamingo in Las Vegas is the Chutima family's larger second branch, the full Northern Thai menu plus the city's deepest Riesling list to balance the heat.
Signature: Khao soi, Crispy duck, Nam khao tod
Order: Khao soi and crispy duck on drunken noodles; Saipin Chutima's signature pair.
Tip: Reservations essential; sommelier Bank Atcharawan curates a Riesling and Gewurztraminer pairing for the spice.
Weera Thai in Las Vegas is the Sahara strip Thai room since 2010, a neighbourhood favourite for boat noodles, green curry and a deeper Thai menu than the average suburban room.
Signature: Boat noodles, Green curry, Pad see ew
Order: Boat noodles with beef and a side of crispy pork belly; the boat noodles are the kitchen's signature.
Tip: Lunch specials run 11:00 to 15:00 at a steep discount; the noodles run the full price all day.
Earl Ninsom's Northern Thai room on SE Division in Portland has a Friday-Saturday late-night karaoke lounge with khao soi, fried chicken and a cocktail bar.
Try: Khao soi and late-night karaoke
Tip: Late-night karaoke menu starts at 22:00 Fri-Sat. Walk-ins only for the lounge.
The Belmont outpost of Earl Ninsom's Southern Thai chicken concept in Portland, with rice-flour fried chicken, khao soi and walk-in counter seating.
Signature: Fried chicken, Khao soi
Order: Khao soi with the half chicken
Tip: Counter ordering, table service. Open daily 11:30 to 21:00. No reservations.
More cities are in research. Want khao soi covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.