Chiang Mai Gate Market: Best Guide (2025)
One of the best parts about travelling in Thailand is the street food. I’ve eaten it everywhere I have been in Thailand.
It’s cheap, quick, authentic and tastes delicious, and if you ask me, the Chiang Mai Gate Market is the best place to get your street food in the northern city.
But I know it can be quite daunting taking on a new market for the first time. Especially if you haven’t been in Thailand for long and everything is still a bit of a culture shock.
So to help you out, I’ve put together a guide to one of my favourite street food markets in all of Thailand.
Where Is Chiang Mai Gate Market?
The Chiang Mai Gate Market is along the south side of the Old City.
If you look at Chiang Mai on a map, there is a square in the centre of the city which is created by the canals and walls from when the city was the capital of the Lanna kingdom.
The market is located on the south canal, as shown on the map below. As the name suggests, the market is by the Chiang Mai South Gate, which isn’t as famous as the Tha Phae Gate or the Chang Phuak Gate, but is instead known for its market.

It’s easy to find the market as you can simply walk to the southern edge of the canal and walk along and you will find it, or you can follow directions on Google Maps, it’s really easy to find.
The market is also known as the South Gate Night Market, the Bumrung Buri Market, and the Pratu Market, so there are four names for this one market. I heard the two “gate market” names the most often while I was in Chiang Mai.
What Time Does Chiang Mai Gate Market Open?
The market doesn’t exactly have opening hours as it is just in the street, but it “opens” in the morning and in the evening.
In the morning, the market begins around 6 am and ends around 10 am. Although, since it is Thailand, things are rarely stuck to a strict schedule and you can find vendors before 6 am and after 10 am.
For the evening hours, the market starts again around 5 pm or so. Just like in the morning, you’ll find some vendors who set up early to get the custom of those who are hungry early. And it ends around midnight, give or take.

Personally, I prefer the evening market as as much as I love Thailand and Asia in general, I’ve never been able to get accustomed to having noodle soup and meat for breakfast – it’s just a bit much for me.
I also think the atmosphere is better in the evening, which makes sense as many people don’t even know it opens in the morning.
Is It Worth Visiting?
There are so many reasons to visit Chiang Mai, and so many reasons to visit the market. Bumrung Buri Market is absolutely worth visiting. As I’ve said briefly already, it’s my favourite place for street food in Chiang Mai, and it’s one of my favourite night markets in all of Thailand.
The food is incredible. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from – you’re spoilt for choice, the variety is insane. Main courses, desserts, fruit juices and smoothies, everything. The market also has some dishes which are regional specific such as Khao Soi which is harder to find in the southern parts of Thailand.
As well as being tasty, the food is also authentic. I find street food is a lot more authentic than in restaurants aimed at tourists with higher prices. To be fair, there are some Western food stalls if you are missing a bit of home selling the likes of chicken goujons and french fries.
I always like it when I see locals eating somewhere as well as tourists, and that’s the case at the Gate Market.

The third bonus in terms of food is that it’s very cheap. Street food is much cheaper than eating in restaurants which is why it’s so popular amongst backpackers in Thailand, and the lower prices mean that you can try a variety of dishes without spending a fortune.
And don’t worry, unlike the rumours you might have heard, street food isn’t guaranteed to give you food poisoning. Don’t get me wrong, it can happen, but it can happen in restaurants too. In my opinion, seeing the food being cooked right in front of me is pretty reassuring and I can see if it’s cooked thoroughly or not.
Chiang Mai is also very safe to visit, so you don’t have to worry about safety concerns when you’re going out for your dinner either.
Another thing I like about the Gate Market is that prices are always displayed. If you’ve been to Vietnam or some other countries in Southeast Asia, you’ll know that street food doesn’t always display a price and you need to negotiate. This isn’t the case in Thailand and I prefer it so much more – I hate haggling.
Lastly, the atmosphere is very good too. The market is always busy (except on Sundays because of the Sunday Night Market). If anything, it’s almost a little too busy, but I like it when markets are filled with people…it adds to the experience.

I could stay in Chiang Mai forever and the food is a big factor. I would say 4 days is enough days in Chiang Mai, and I would of course recommend spending all 4 days at the Gate Market for your dinner!
Gate Market Chiang Mai Foods
There are quite literally hundreds of dishes you can eat at the Chiang Mai Gate Market, and it would be impossible to list all of them but to give you an idea of what’s on offer in the street food market, here are some of the most popular dishes along with some of my personal favourites.
Khao Soi

Khao Soi is a must-try dish when you’re exploring Northern Thailand, especially if you find yourself in Chiang Mai. It’s a unique and flavourful curry noodle soup that is unlike anything else I have had in Thailand.
It’s a smooth, spicy coconut curry filled with tender chicken or beef, though you can often find vegetarian options too, with a delightful mix of soft, boiled egg noodles in the curry and crispy noodles on top – a very nice combo if you ask me.
The typical price is 50-70 Baht depending on which meat you choose.
To be honest, there aren’t loads of options for Khao Soi in the night market, as it’s more popular in restaurants, but there are still a few places which offer the local dish. Even if you don’t try it at the market, you definitely need to try it somewhere in Chiang Mai – I recommend Huen Phen.
Pad Thai

You can’t go wrong with a Pad Thai, it’s a staple dish when visiting Thailand. After all, it is the national dish of Thailand.
It’s a noodle stir-fry dish with vegetables and usually a form of meat. Sometimes it is also topped with peanuts, so make it clear if you have a nut allergy.
Typically the protein options are beef, chicken, pork, seafood (usually shrimp) or a plain vegetable option.
I found the Pad Thais to be cheaper than in Bangkok, which is always nice. I had a Pad Thai in the market for only THB, that’s so cheap!
Fried Rice Dishes

Personally, I absolutely love the fried rice dishes in Thailand, especially from the Chiang Mai Gate Market.
Again, there is a choice of proteins and the options are more or less always the same: vegetables, chicken, pork, beef or seafood.
I found a stall which sells chicken fried rice (my go-to) for only THB! That’s the equivalent of only
During my week in Chiang Mai, I definitely had this dish more times than what would be considered healthy, but I can’t help it, it’s so delicious.
Fried Noodle Dishes

Another of my favourites is a stir-fried noodle dish, also known as a “dry noodle” dish, to differentiate it from noodle soup dishes.
It’s more or less the same as the fried rice dishes, but you just exchange the fried rice for fried noodles. But while they are so similar, they’re also so different.
What I like about the noodle and rice dishes in the Gate Market is that they’re the same price, which meant I also had way too many noodle dishes during my time in Chiang Mai.
Noodle Soup Dishes

Noodle Soup dishes are exactly what they say on the tin: noodles in a broth, mixed with vegetables and proteins (again, the usual chicken, beef, pork or seafood).
Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of noodle soup dishes. I prefer dry noodles, but I will still enjoy one from time to time. They’re usually one of the cheapest dishes to eat, which is a nice bonus too.
But if you are a noodle soup lover, you should expect to pay around 30-50 THB, so it is really cheap.
Skewers

I love having skewers from street food places, and the ones in Chiang Mai were just as good as anywhere I have had.
“Skewers” is pretty vague and I did that on purpose because you can get lots of different types of skewers. You can get fresh fruit skewers, grilled meat skewers and grilled vegetable skewers.
I’m a lover of grilled meat skewers, they’re so so good and really cheap and quick too. The only downside is that they aren’t enough for a full meal, but that’s also why I love eating street food because you can have a combination of foods.
It’s usually 20THB for a skewer of meat, I’m not 100% sure about the other prices as I can’t remember and I didn’t take a photo (I know, what kind of travel blogger am I?).
Chiang Mai Sausage

You can probably guess that the Chiang Mai Sausage is a type of sausage local to Chiang Mai, and you’d be exactly right.
In Thai, it’s called the Sai ua, and in English, the Chiang Mai Sausage or sometimes also the Northern Thailand Sausage. But whatever it’s called, it’s always delicious.
The sausage is a typical sausage in that it has minced pork meat inside, but it’s mixed with herbs, spices, and kaeng khua red curry paste. It’s a really unique sausage flavour but I love it. Funnily enough, I also had it skewered! They cost 20 THB each, so just over $0.50 a piece.
Roti

Moving onto a dish that is not native to Chiang Mai, or even Thailand at all. Roti is a traditional Indian dish, but it’s very popular amongst all of Southeast Asia.
You can get savoury options with meats and vegetables, but to be honest, I went for a different kind of roti.
There’s a stall in the Chiang Mai Gate Market which sells dessert rotis. I tried the chocolate roti one night for 20 THB. Let’s just say I went back for 2 every night for the rest of my time in the city – that’s how good they are.
They are genuinely one of the nicest pancake/crepe-like desserts I have ever had, and the man who runs the stall with his wife is very friendly and speaks good English. It’s right on the eastern end of the market, it’s one of the first or last stalls depending on which way you walk.

Mango Sticky Rice

Continuing on with the theme of desserts, Mango Sticky Rice never goes a miss. You can’t go wrong with it, it’s simple but tastes amazing.
I’ve met some people who eat it as a main course, and honestly, good for you, but I prefer saving it for a dessert because of how sweet it is.
Around 50 THB is a good price for Mango Sticky Rice, but you can sometimes find it for cheaper if you look hard enough. It’s not really a dish where price = quality, because it’s so simple to make.
And So Much More
As I said, it would be impossible to list every possible food dish you can have at the Chiang Mai Gate Market. The best way to see what the market has to offer is to go for yourself and walk along the market, checking out each stand- I promise you’ll find something.
There are lots of vegetarian and vegan options too. I’m not either, but I have met a lot of people in Thailand who have said that it’s much easier than I expected to stick to their diets in Thailand, so you won’t have to worry about that aspect of it.
It’s such a cliche and I hate saying it, but there truly is something for everyone at the night market. There are too many options to choose from if anything!
Street Food Tips
As someone who has travelled in Thailand for a long time and on multiple occasions, I’ve gotten to know how to make the most of any street food market. These tips apply specifically to the Chiang Mai Night Gate Market, but most will also apply to any night market in Thailand and beyond.
- See where the locals are eating: Locals will always know the best food stalls with the best food and best prices, it’s their city after all. If you see a lot of locals eating from one stall, go over and check it out.
- Follow the crowds: If there’s a stall with 5 people at it and a stall with 0 people at it, even though it will take longer, I always go to the one with more people. It’s tips like this that can help you avoid food poisoning.
- Pay in cash: Cash in king in Thailand so make sure you have cash in hand (I recommend using Revolut to withdraw in Thailand). If you have a Thai bank account, you can pay using a QR code, but this isn’t an option as a tourist.

- Keep your notes small: Another cash-based tip is to pay in as small of a note as possible. If a dish costs 50 THB, the person probably won’t have enough change for a 1000 THB note. If you need change, go buy something cheap from a 7-Eleven.
- Sit in the right seats: If you order a dish and sit down to eat it, make sure you sit in the right spot. Each stall has its own section of seating. In the Gate Market, the seating is behind the stall.
- Try a variety of dishes: Since the food is so cheap, why not try some things you haven’t tried before? And why not have more than one dish? I have a Thai friend who said Thai people rarely snack, they just have another meal when they are hungry because it is so cheap.
- Make it clear you want to order: The Gate Market is very busy and there will be people pushing past you. Usually in markets, you will be approached by the vendor to try to convince you to buy something, but I didn’t find this to be the case here, I had to say “hello” in Thai first, they never spoke to me first.
- Make use of the free water: Some street food stalls will have a big container of drinking water which you can get small cups from. You can’t drink tap water in Thailand, so if you find a stall offering it, definitely take advantage.

- Clean up after yourself: Most people don’t do this but I always do it no matter where I am. Tidy up your dishes and return them to the stall. It takes you next to no time but makes the vendor’s life so much easier.
- Be careful: While I’ve been consistent in saying that you aren’t guaranteed to get street food poisoning, it is still a possibility. Don’t eat anything that you aren’t sure about – it’s better to be safe than sorry. Based on stories I have heard, you will be sorry if you catch a bug.
- Start conversations with people: Often in the market, especially when it is busy, the vendor will sit you at a table with other people, particularly if you are solo. Meeting people is one of the best benefits of solo travel, so rather than eating in silence, why not start a conversation?
- Don’t sit for too long: I actually made a good friend by speaking to someone I was sitting with, but we sat for about 15 minutes after we had finished our food. It’s not like a restaurant where you can sit as long as you want, we were asked to leave to make room for the next customers as the market is always packed with people.
- Watch out when crossing the road: Chiang Mai Gate Market spans across both sides of the road and the traffic is always busy. There is a crossing, but make sure you are careful when crossing, as it’s quite different crossing the road in Thailand compared to other countries.
Other Chiang Mai Street Food Markets
While I love the Gate Market in Chiang Mai, you might also want to try some of the other street food markets in the city.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is exactly what it says it is, a bazaar, which means it is primarily focused on souvenirs, clothes and other cheap buys.
But there is a food court too with some options for traditional Thai food and also Western food such as burgers. There are also some bars and restaurants in the area.
In my opinion, though, the selection is pretty small and the prices aren’t as cheap as the Gate Market. It’s also outside of the city walls.
Wua Lai Saturday Market
Wua Lai Saturday Market is actually very close to the Gate Market, just a few minutes walk away, so you can combine the two if you are visiting on a Saturday night between 4 pm and midnight.
The market turns the street into a walking street meaning no vehicles are allowed, which is a nice change from the Gate Market and the constant bikes weaving between people ordering their dinner!
There are lots of opportunities to pick up some more street food, cheap souvenirs, or maybe even get a cheap massage, as there are some stalls which give foot massages and Thai massages on the street itself. Obviously, this is cheaper than a massage in a parlour.
Tha Phae Walking Street (Ratchadamnoen Sunday Walking Street Market)

To be clear, Tha Phae is the famous walking street in Chiang Mai. But what a lot of people don’t know, is that it only transforms into a walking street on Sundays.
It begins around 4 pm and finishes around 10 or 11 pm. It’s guaranteed to be one of the busiest markets you will ever visit. It’s like being a tinned sardine, you can’t spin around in a circle without hitting someone!
What I do like about the Ratchadamnoen Sunday Market is that it sells souvenirs, but also has an abundance of food options. I’m pretty sure that some people from the Gate Market move to the Walking Street on Sundays, which is why I actually recommend going here instead of the Gate Market on Sundays.
It’s pretty unique eating street food right in front of a temple too! Seeing how the market completely takes over the street is fascinating – it’s unrecognisable from during the daytime.

FAQs
Below are some common questions related to the South Gate Market in Chiang Mai along with my answers to each question.
The most obvious difference is that the Saturday Market is held on Saturday and the Sunday Market is held on Sundays. They are also in different locations. I personally prefer the Sunday market as it has a wider variety of stalls, and the food is better. It’s also much busier.
The Chiang Mai Gate Market starts around 5 pm for the night time. It closes around 12 midnight. But you can often find vendors before and after these times, hoping to get some extra customers.
The famous walking street in Chiang Mai is Tha Phae Street, where the Sunday Market is held, but it is only a walking street on Sundays when the market is on. It’s one of the best walking street markets in Thailand, so definitely visit if you are in Chiang Mai on a Sunday.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, a complete guide to visiting the Chiang Mai Gate Market.
I ate there every single night I was in Chiang Mai except on Sunday when I went to the walking street, but I really enjoyed everything I ate there. It was so good and had such a wide variety for low prices.
Chiang Mai is one of my favourite places in Thailand, and Hoi An is one of my favourite places in Vietnam. What do they both have in common? A really good street food market. It genuinely made my Chiang Mai experience incredible.
So get out there and go and try some tasty meals. Oh and if you need somewhere to stay in Chiang Mai, I recommend the Smile Robotist Hostel. The owner, Ton, is one of the nicest people I have ever met.
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