Khon Kaen food guide
Khon Kaen is one of the four big cities in the Isaan region and one of the most modern. While there is plenty to see there from nature to silk and dinosaurs, the Isaan food is worth a visit on its own.
Here are 6 Khon Kaen food places that put their own unique spin on Isaan dishes that will have you booking extra flights just to visit them.
What is Khon Kaen known for?
Khon Kaen is one of the big three cities of Thailand’s Isaan region, along with Korat and Udon Thani. Of the three, Khon Kaen is usually considered the most young and urban.
Khon Kaen University is one of the top destinations for Thai students, making the city particularly young and vibrant.
It’s also a great hub for exploring Thailand’s nature-filled countryside. And if you’re a fan of spicy Isaan food, there’s no place like Khon Kaen to taste the authentic flavours of som tam.
Baan Heng: Affordable breakfast cafe famed for pan-baked rice and delicious bread
Baan Heng (บ้านเฮง) is a breakfast cafe and gift shop 2-in-1 that is the perfect place to start your day. They’ll serve you all the classic, simple Thai breakfast dishes.
What we’ll recommend are their signatures: the house-style pan-baked rice with Chinese sausage and the bread with butter and pork floss.
The pan-baked rice, called Khao Obb Kun Chiang (ข้าวอบกุนเชียงสไตล์บ้านเฮง) is served on the pan it is cooked in. You’ll mix the ingredients in the pan just before you eat it, much like bibimbap if you’re familiar with that.
The Chinese sausage is a good combination of savory and a very subtle sweetness that is not overpowering the dish. The rice that crisped up on the sides of the pan offers a good crunch to each bite as well.
There’s not much to say about the bread with butter and pork floss other than the fact that you can really smell and taste the individual components prominently. You’ll get hit with the tender and moist floss first then smacked in the face with the fragrant butter.
Both dishes are quite affordable at ฿69 and ฿32 per bun, respectively.
Address: 54/2 Glang Muang Rd, Khon Kaen 40000
Opening hours: 6am-9pm, Daily
Contact: +66 9 2626 2236 | Google Maps
Prasit Pochana: Hole-in-the-wall serving classic Isaan dishes with a focus on beef
Good beef can be hard to find in Thailand. Prasit Pochana (ประสิทธิ์โภชนา) is a shop that specializes in beef, and you won’t be surprised to see why once you’ve eaten there.
Their signature is Chaew Hon (แจ่วฮ้อน) which is an Isaan-style soup. They’ll serve it in a Thai-style hotpot with a chimney in the middle. Then you dip your choice of very well-marbled beef into the soup like shabu along with boiled veggies.
Their brisket, called Suea Rong Hai (เสือร้องไห้, lit. crying tiger), is also a must-try. This cut of meat is called crying tiger in Thai because it is said that tigers shed tears for how delicious this part of the cow is. You might not be crying, but you’ll certainly empathize after eating Prasit Pochana’s brisket.
Address: 44/4 Ammat Rd, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen 40000
Opening hours: 9.30am-2pm, closed Mondays
Contact: +66 4323 9740 | Google Maps
Kaen: Homey Isaan fusion fine dining with local, seasonal ingredients
If you’re about appreciating food as an art form, Kaen (แก่น) is one restaurant you must visit while in Khon Kaen. The restaurant is a refashioned house that serves simple Isaan fusion dishes with seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers.
As a result of their dedication to providing the best quality food, their menu will change as the seasons change.
But if there are dishes to be recommended, you can’t go wrong with the Massaman lamb shank curry. The meat will fall off the bone with the gentlest of nudges, and the curry is incredibly subtle.
If you’re used to the smack to the taste buds that Thai food usually gives you, this curry will be an amazing surprise. The more subtle curry allows you to fully experience all the different spices and herbs that you might’ve missed from a more intense dish.
Address: 140 64 Soi Adulyaram, Nai Mueang, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen 40000
Opening hours: 11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm; Daily
Contact: +66 8 3912 8659 | Kaen’s Facebook | Google Maps
Just Follow The Goat: Artisan coffee shop with beans imported from Africa & South America
Image credit: @mymga via Instagram
Just Follow The Goat is a coffee shop for coffee lovers. Their shop name comes from an Ethiopian legend where a goatherder first discovers coffee because of his goats.
It is a fitting name since the shop takes its coffee very seriously, shown by its numerous awards. They have various coffee blends with beans from Africa and South America.
Image credit: @num_november25 via Instagram
Their decor is also perfect for a relaxing drink. The shop is decorated with vintage furniture and exposed bricks for a very trendy feel. The sacks of coffee on the second floor only add to the coffee vibes.
Address: 251 Moo 11, Just Follow The Goat The Original, Ban Ped Sub-district, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen 40000
Opening hours: 8am-5pm, Daily
Contact: +66 9 6242 1729 | Google Maps
Mekin Farm: Eatery & homestay where you can see the herbs & veggies go from the ground to the table
For those looking for an idyllic farm life, Mekin Farm (มีกินฟาร์ม) is just what you’re looking for.
This restaurant has its own vegetable and herb garden that the owners will pick from to cook for you daily. Their eggs are also super fresh because they are from chickens and ducks raised on the property.
If you can’t get enough of the lifestyle, you can book their cooking class or a night in their homestay through their Facebook.
Address: 40240 Chorakhe, Nong Ruea District, Khon Kaen
Opening hours: 9.30am-5.30pm, Daily
Contact: +66 6 1695 9926 | Google Maps
Kai Yang Rabeab: Roadside eatery with juicy grilled chickens & non-spicy som tam
Grilled whole chicken in Thailand can be a mixed bag where you’ll often get overcooked chicken. At Kai Yang Rabeab (ไก่ย่างระเบียบ), they use locally bred chickens to ensure a very tender and juicy bite.
The chickens the shop uses do not have a lot of meat, but what is there is juicy and intensely flavorful.
Their som tam might surprise you, however. This is one of the few shops in Thailand where you won’t burn your tongue off if you forget to order som tam without chili. This is because this shop makes their papaya salad without chili unless you ask for it.
Address: 391/5 Thepharak Alley, Tambon Nai Mueang, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen 40000
Opening hours: 9am-3.30pm, Daily
Contact: +66 8 1662 3851 | Google Maps
How do I get to Khon Kaen?
The quickest and most convenient way to get to Khon Kaen is simply to fly there and land at Khon Kaen International Airport.
If you’re already in Bangkok though, there are a couple of cheaper and more scenic alternatives.
First is to take the train. You can reserve your ticket online here or simply make your way to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, formerly known as Bangsue Grand Station. Seats can go from as ฿150-฿2,000 depending on the date you book and how premium the seats are.
There are also plenty of bus services available like 12Go which’ll cost around ฿500 per seat.
Isaan food with a twist in Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen is one of the big four cities of the Isaan region and home to some of the region’s best food. While you may have had Isaan food in Bangkok, nothing will prepare you for the flavours that originate from this region.
For our other area guides, check out things to do in Sao Chingcha, one of Bangkok’s most picturesque historic districts. We also have a comprehensive look at Silom from property prices to food places recommended by locals.
Cover image by The Smart Local