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    Khun Churn, Chiang Mai Review

    8 November, 2010 by Kip 10 Comments

    Please note: this restaurant is now closed.

    Many of my recipe ideas come to me via the medium of getting on a plane and pissing off to somewhere warm for a few weeks. Keeping that in mind, it's only fair to share some of my favourite restaurant experiences. Khun Churn, with restaurants in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai (this review specifically focused on the Chiang Mai branch), is definitely one of my highest rated experiences of my recent trip to Thailand.

    photo of given name

    Khun Churn Vegetarian Restaurant

    https://www.facebook.com/khunchurn

    Nimmanhemin Soi 17
    Chiang Mai, 50200
    Thailand

    Open from 08:00-22:00, don't let the fact that the restaurant is outside the inner city walls put you off as a tourist; it's a 20 minute walk from the city's Western Suan Dok gate or a quick tuk tuk ride, and I promise you won't regret it. Khun Churn features a lunchtime buffet at a ridiculously reasonable 98 baht (update: I've been told it's now 129 baht), including drinks, with a selection fit for a king. The a la cart menu, available all day, is a massive collection of mouthwatering descriptions, so be sure factor an extra 15 minutes into your lunch break for in-depth menu perusal.

    Starters

    Miang Ta Krai Bai Cha Plu

    Miang Ta Krai Bai Cha Plu at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

    A tangy bite of heaven wrapped in wild beetle leaves, these Thai treats made the dinner worthwhile on their own. They're packed with citrusy lemongrass, aromatic mint and an array of other saporous ingredients that will leave you craving them long after you've packed up and gone home.

    Kaow Tang at Khun Churn

    Kaow Tang at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

    These crispy (and absolutely adorable) little rice patties are served with a coconut milk and peanut sauce. I'm certainly a fan and would love to try making rice based mini dip receptacles one day at home.

    Mains

    Hed Kra Ta (Sizzling Plate)

    Hed Kra Ta (Sizzling Plate) at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

    An assortment of some of the most delicious mushrooms you'll ever try, the creaminess of this dish came not from the sauce but from the mushrooms themselves. At a guess I'd wager the major players were shiitake, wood ear, straw, and oyster mushrooms, alongside a delectable (do people still use this adjective?) mix of ginger and herbs. Sometimes I can't believe I didn't used to like mushrooms, and for those who still say that I bet this dish would change your minds.

    Pad Prik Khing Krob

    Pad Prik Khing Krob at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

    Crispy stir fried TVP chunks, a simple but generally atypical method of preparation, are the way forward. I'm convinced. These babies were done in a delightfully spicy red curry paste with kaffir lime leaves and long beans, but it's the texture I loved above all else. A bit of the chewy, a bit of the crispy, a lot of the fried. What's not to love?

    Lunchtime Buffet

    At the time of writing, the buffet cost 98 baht, or £2, and it's not a shabby place either. I mean I'd don a dress and bring a first date here (alternatively, slip into some manky khakis and convince my partner we would die of deaththings if we didn't go). Not everything is vegan, so you might have to ask about a few things (mainly egg based) if you don't consume any animal products, but it's still a definite goldmine for vegans, omnivores, and vegetarians alike.

    The buffet space accomodates many tens of dishes, from simple condiments, salads, and soups to hearty curries, noodles, rices, and fried creations. Desserts and drinks are included, a super plus, and the selection contains a good lineup of foods to suit all tastes in terms of chili tolerability.

    Jackfruit Soup from the Khun Churn Buffet

    Jackfruit Soup from the Khun Churn Buffet

    Sp-sp-spicy! Good stuff, nevertheless. Must try this at some sometime!

    Khun Churn Buffet

    Noodles, red chili and tofu, coconut rice, and salad at the Khun Churn Buffet

    Khun Churn Buffet

    Khun Churn Buffet

    Khun Churn Buffet

    Khun Churn Buffet

    Tapioca and Taro Topped with Salty Coconut Milk

    Tapioca and Taro Topped with Salty Coconut Milk at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

    If you're a fan of rice pudding, tapioca, and other such slimy milky puddings then this coconut milk based dessert, despite it's resemblence to frogspawn, would knock your socks off. I ate two huge bowls full and had to practically be rolled out the door.

    Final Thoughts

    If you're in Chiang Mai, you're a fool to skip this place. Just be prepared to want to return again and again, and to extend your stay in the city so you can try as many menu items as possible. I covet nearly everything I tried on a pretty much constant basis.

    « Vegan Iron Chef: Green Curry Sweet Potato Pommes Duchesse in Coconut Cream
    Wow 'em with this creamy coconut mushroom dip »

    Reader Interactions

    I reserve the right to improve any malicious and trollish comments left below.

    Comments

    1. Anonymous

      November 09, 2010 at 2:14 am

      Oh wow, that all looks seriously awesome - especially the mushroom dish, I don't think I've ever even tried half of those mushrooms!

      Reply
    2. Jennifer

      November 14, 2010 at 9:05 pm

      I love Khun Churn! I have such good memories of eating there many times when I was in Chiang Mai ten years ago.

      Reply
    3. Leo Sigh

      December 31, 2010 at 12:45 pm

      Wow, thanks for this. I live in Bangkok and travel to Chiang Mai often and haven't eaten at either of these locations. Will be trying out the one on Sukhumvit next week. Looks incredible.

      Reply
      • Kip

        January 02, 2011 at 9:14 am

        Enjoy! I miss eating there and am supremely jealous of your living in Bangkok!

        Reply
    4. Anonymous

      December 02, 2011 at 3:14 am

      December 1, 2011 - We're stay just down the street for a month... everything in the review is spot on... Fabbo! (update: the buffet is now 129Bt)

      Reply
      • Kip

        December 06, 2011 at 9:42 am

        Cool, thanks for the update!

        Reply
    5. Patchwork

      February 13, 2015 at 11:58 am

      Khun Churn has relocated (nov 2014) to the Chiang Mai Cultural Centre on Thipanet Road

      Reply
      • Kip

        March 11, 2015 at 9:29 am

        Thanks for the update!

        Reply
    6. I reserve the right to improve malicious and trollish comments.

    Trackbacks

    1. Review of Pun Pun Vegetarian Restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand | Recipe by The Messy Vegetarian Cook says:
      21 November, 2010 at 11:12 pm

      [...] do mean hidden. We spent a good hour looking for it (not such a bad thing as we’d just had a buffet lunch at Khun Churn not 3 hours prior- hey, it was my birthday and all I wanted to do was eat), but it seemed obvious [...]

      Reply
    2. Review of Pun Pun Vegetarian Restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand | Recipe by The Messy Vegetarian Cook says:
      21 November, 2010 at 11:12 pm

      [...] do mean hidden. We spent a good hour looking for it (not such a bad thing as we’d just had a buffet lunch at Khun Churn not 3 hours prior- hey, it was my birthday and all I wanted to do was eat), but it seemed obvious [...]

      Reply

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