And what Thailand trip would be complete without sliced juicy mangoes on top of rice sticky with coconut and sugar, right?

Food stalls dot night markets, day markets, high end malls and neighborhood streets. At Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night extravaganza, food kiosks crowd Wat Phan Tao’s temple plaza with everything from khao soi to equally delicious sweet treats. But Thailand’s food horizons stretch far broader than street food!
 

Thai cuisine has a sophisticated side that a lot of travelers overlook. These exclusive dining experiences pair creative flavors recognized by Michelin experts with the artistic presentation Thailand is known for.

Recent Thai Cuisine Fine Dining Experiences

These two recent experiences give you a look at two different fine dining experiences you can have in Thailand. One on the outskirts of Chiang Mai in the north and another in the core of Bangkok’s busy metropolis.

Traditional Thai Lanna Cuisine

Thai Lanna homes in Chiang Mai transformed into a fine dining experience at Ruan Rak

Off a small country road east of Chiang Mai, we arrived at a sprinkling of traditional Lanna houses. The homes featured intricate woodwork and ornate painting and were surrounded by flowering shrubs, thick foliage, and palms trees.

Instead of the rumble of trucks and traffic, you could hear tweeting birds and the bubbling of fountains all around. A group of children swam in a nearby pond, laughing as they dove down to plant lotus seedlings in the waterbed. As dusk settled around us, everything seemed to orchestrate a peaceful still that invited us in.

The dining area itself was simple. But at Ruen Rak, culinary expert and professor Dr. Sai’s bold flavors come from depth of experience, pride, and passion.

Chefs serve up dishes on Chiang Mai Celadon, hand-designed fine ceramics with their signature crackled jade glaze. Thai people value beauty, and both the elaborate Thai food carvings and dinnerware was exquisite.

We indulged in coconut cream soup with chicken, banana blossoms, and galangal, a variety of ginger. Whole sea bass stuffed with minced fish and pork was next on the menu. Tangy glazed shrimp colored with chilies and a mountain of jasmine rice followed. And the meal ended, of course, with an elegant variation on mango sticky rice.

The surroundings made for a leisurely dinner but there was nothing relaxed about the cuisine. Every single bite was on point, singing with flavor and perfection. Authentic traditional Thai cuisine at its best.

Thai food carving at its best. This rose is shaped from a radish; brilliant orange leaves from mango.

Modern Fusion Thai Cuisine

Thai cuisine at Ojo brings an added dimension to “dining experience.” Located inside the funky pixelated MahaNakhon building (or the minecraft building as my husband calls it.), the restaurant sits 76 stories high, Bangkok’s highest restaurant. The exclusive experience begins with an escorted high-speed multimedia ride. We stepped out into a maze of mirrors and glittering gold and 360 views fashioned by designer and restauranteer Ou Baholyodhin.

After two weeks in Thailand, I was longing for some Mexican food. Ojo’s food is distinctly Mexican with a Thai flair. We had fresh crab folded into avocado creme drizzled with hints of prawn oil. Iberico pork with tomatillo, jalapeño, topped with creamy ant eggs. Food—excellent. View—incomparable. Service—outstanding.

For an after-dinner excursion, we went up two floors to SkyWalk, the 78-floor rooftop overlooking the city. For an extra adrenalin rush (I passed; my husband did not), you can step onto a glass deck high above Bangkok.

Niteo’s Kjell Garborg on SkyWalk’s glass platform, 78 stories high.

Two completely different special occasion dining experiences but equally as impressive.

There’s no doubt food is a highlight on any trip to Thailand. But when you think of Thai cuisine, don’t limit yourself to the deliciousness of Thai street food. There’s so much more! Whether you’re aching for street food or a special occasion experience, Thailand’s food scene is the answer to both.

Interested in next year’s Thailand excursion for women?