Tak’s food scene has two personalities. In Tak town you find northern Thai cooking, riverside snacks and night-market noodles. In Mae Sot, close to Myanmar, Burmese tea shops, curries and noodle soups are part of daily life, alongside Karen, Shan, Muslim and Chinese influences. Read this with our things to do in Tak.
Dishes to try
Mohinga
Myanmar’s national breakfast: rice noodles in a fish-based broth thickened with toasted rice and flavoured with lemongrass, topped with crispy fritters and boiled egg. Look for it in Mae Sot’s morning tea shops.
Lahpet thoke (tea leaf salad)
Fermented tea leaves mixed with crunchy beans, peanuts, tomato, garlic and chilli. Tangy, bitter and addictive.
Burmese tea and snacks
Sweet milky tea served with samosas, fried bread, nan bread with curry or bean dishes, often eaten while chatting for hours.
Roti
Muslim-style roti, plain with condensed milk or served with curry, is a favourite Mae Sot snack.
Burmese curries
Slow-cooked, oily curries of chicken, pork or fish served from big pots with rice and a spread of side vegetables.
Khao soi
Northern curry noodle soup with coconut milk and crispy noodles on top, easy to find in Tak town.
Nam ngiao
A tomato-and-pork northern noodle soup with dried flowers and pork blood cubes, sharp and savoury.
Sai ua and nam prik num
Herby northern sausage and green chilli dip, sold at markets with crispy pork skin and sticky rice.
Highland produce
Vegetables, avocados and fruit from the hills around Doi Musoe and Umphang, fresh and cheap at roadside stalls.
Markets and night markets
- Mae Sot morning market: the best place to see the town’s mix of cultures and to eat breakfast Map.
- Rim Moei Market: Burmese snacks, dried food and goods near the Friendship Bridge, subject to the border situation Map.
- Tak town night market: noodles, grilled food and desserts in the evening Map.
- Doi Musoe market: hill-tribe produce on Highway 12 Map.
Where to eat
Tak is not covered by the MICHELIN Guide, so the best approach is to follow locals. In Mae Sot, tea shops near the morning market and the town centre are busy from early morning; look for crowded places serving mohinga and samosas. In Tak town, the night market and riverside shops are good for northern noodles. Opening hours change often; check before you go, and use map searches for current options.
Festival food
During Loy Krathong Sai in November, food stalls fill the riverside in Tak town as crowds wait for the lines of coconut-shell lamps. During Songkran, families share northern dishes after merit-making. See dates in our Tak travel guide.
Tips
- Tea shops in Mae Sot are busiest from early morning; many close by early afternoon.
- Carry small notes; many stalls do not take cards.
- Some Muslim restaurants do not serve pork or alcohol; respect local customs.
FAQ
What is special about food in Mae Sot?
Burmese dishes like mohinga, tea leaf salad and curries, plus roti and tea-shop culture.
Are there MICHELIN restaurants in Tak?
No, Tak is not covered by the MICHELIN Guide. Markets and local tea shops are the highlights.
What can I eat in Tak town?
Northern Thai dishes such as khao soi, nam ngiao and sai ua at the night market and local shops.
Is it easy to eat vegetarian?
Fairly: tea leaf salad, bean dishes and vegetable curries are common; ask for no fish sauce.
Cover photo: Rim moei.jpg · Lerdsuwa · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
