Chiang Mai Kitchen in Oxford

Distinctly average. I saw all the rave reviews and genuinely don’t get it. We tried to ask a staff member about particular dishes and he just barked “number” at us to order from the menu. The food was incredibly over salted and the beef dish was tough. It was a busy Friday night but there are plenty of better places to eat. It’s a nice quirky building but not worth all the hype.

Delicious food, pleasant atmosphere, good and fast service, a bit cramped.

Honestly, tastes nothing like Thai food. The price to food ratio is in the higher range compared to many Thai restaurants in the UK and the food is seriously not much better than just edible. Not somewhere I would return.

Very wonderful place in the center of Oxford. Very good Pad Thai. Definitely worth it

La comida era excelente, el servicio bueno y era una buena relación calidad-precio. Un entorno inusual y peculiar. Comida muy agradable, sin duda volveríamos.

Always a favourite 8n Oxford. Particular shout out to OP who was brilliant at getting a difficult customer's order spot on!

Hey Chang Mia Kitchen, solo quería decir cuánto disfruté de la comida! A menudo califico un restaurante tailandés en la calidad de su Tom Yum - una sopa simple, pero para acertar al 100% es un arte, que sin duda saben! Más delirante Tom Yum en Oxford y auténtico (al menos para un alma sencilla como yo). Fantástico servicio y un encantador edificio de época, volveré. Jw

Really good dishes, very friendly atmosphere and shout out to Margaret whith her recommendations for spicy food

Disappointing experience. Service quite unprofessional. The starters were remarkably bad. Atmosphere was uncomfortable. My main was alright, but others at our table were disappointed with their mains too. All together an unpleasant dining experience.

La mejor comida de la historia y el servicio con la sonrisa🥰🥰🥰 gracias a todo el personal por su trabajo duro. Sin duda me gustaría cenar con usted muy pronto.

¡El calamar! Absolutamente increíble , también recomendaría el curry rojo, ensalada de manzana, helado de coco . Personal muy servicial y amable.

Went out for a lunch with my mates. Fascinating old building. The lunch was so delicious, we would be returning back here again. I would recommend everyone to try the mix starters, the pineapple fried rice and the Tom yum soup. 10 on 10 would recommend.

My friend the only reason why I didn’t cause a fuss was because my daughter had graduated and booked I’m not suprised that you are lying- if your sauces are fresh then i humbly suggest you hire competent Thai chef’s- but in reality admit you don’t like Asian people in your restaurant!! Also the chefs were definitely not Thai as I noticed as I walked by and if you are saying the sauces were cooked by the chef’s then they are not Thai or capable- the option for the service was not offered I was presented with a bill and was told to leave- absolutely rude and disrespectful service definitely not acceptable

Visiting Oxford and a friend recommended this restaurant. I'm glad I found this restaurant. Good service, easy travel, delicious food, everything tastes Thai. Will come back to eat at this restaurant again.

We’ve been eating here for 20 years and it is still the best Thai restaurant in Oxford. Gorgeous flavours, with some authentic dishes that you’d struggle to find in England. I recommend the Mieng Gai starter, which is small parcels of different flavours and textures wrapped in spinach leaves. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and experience. Tucked away in an alley off the High Street, the decor balances the historic architecture of Kemp Hall, built in 1637, with Thai artefacts for just the right ambiance to complement the food.

The worst Thai food and hospitality outside Thailand that I ever have around the world. First, we booked for table for 10 guests by 6pm. Been told after arriving restaurant to leave by 7:30pm as they claimed that they will have the party. The unfriendly Thai man staff who totally lack of knowledge of English menu terminology and always asked us to order by numbers. Asked for speciality dishes, been told by randomly number and it was not even delicious. Quality and taste of food is poorest as they were cooked by instant sauces. 7:20pm requesting for dessert, been told by same man staff that “you don’t have time for that as it was only 10 minutes left!”. So asked him to pack few food for take away which he aggressively and looked very angry, did it on the table. We left the place with no sign of party going on in the place and there were still tables available for other guests who just arrived. We spent money almost 350 pounds with service charge almost 30 pounds. Not worth at all in any term. Decorative likes fine dining with cheapest food and poorest service. Especially, I am Thai, it was shameful and embarrassing as we should not been treated like we were there begging for your food and service for free and the only group that had such a small limited of time.

Authentic Thai cuisine. I would recommend.

I really enjoyed eating at Chiangmai. The staff were kind and accommodating and also interesting, the food was delicious and the building was wonderful. I ate alone and felt very comfortable. Thank you

It is like a fast food restaurant, pad thai tastes good, unfortunately the sweet duck tastes like go bad, and the server replace it with chicken. Maybe cannot expect too much from it.

Tasted just like I was in Thailand again. If you know, you know.

Lovely food, especially the red duck curry. Eat upstairs if you can but downstairs is nice too.

Great food, excellent service and ambience. Definitely try steamed sea bass, pad thai, barbecue chicken and mixed starters.

Hidden away from the high street, some genuinely 'aroi' dishes to be found. The yum talay was so fresh and perfect for the warm weather.

Wonderful little place down an alleyway. Very smart place and lovely food

Absolutely delicious food and amazing customer service. Love going to this restaurant and having full pleasure of authentic food and being served by amazing staff. Highly recommended 👍🙌

This is from far away our favourite restaurant. From the quality of the food to the amazing service, this place deserves 5 stars. Margaret is a real pillar of the place. She is kind, welcoming, takes the time to understand what you want and ensures you are 100% satisfied. We are having an awesome experience on each visit. Delicious traditional Thai cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. The quality of the service is a huge part of our experience. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a high standard of service delivery. The staff is very accommodating and they make you feel great. Kudos to Chiang Mai Kitchen.

One of the best Thai Restaurants In Oxford! A must visit 🤩

We were a group of seven. The rest of the restaurant had been booked by a large group. The group were lovely, but I felt that the restaurant should have declined our reservation and concentrated on the group. The food was good, the service was okay. There was no atmosphere. We declined dessert and coffee when it was eventually offered and took ourselves elsewhere. Disappointed.

I've been going to CMK since 1994 whenever I visit Oxford from Australia. I was gobsmacked to see that we were charged GBP 15.00 for a bowl of overcooked / gluggy rice (supposedly 3 serves) and there was an additional GBP 10.00 optional service charge factored into the bill total (presented as the total amount due). So that's AU$50.00 for bugger all... that's it for us, we won't be going back. We'll try somewhere that's not a ripoff.

A great restaurant , friendly ,always buzzing and busy , gorgeous historical building steeped in history in the heart of academia world down the famous high st alleyways. A fabulous lunch - go to favourite of mixed starters and red Thai curry with coconut rice Also had pad Thai and sizzling prawns Veg tofu options were a hit with my friends Finished off with a fresh lemon cheesecake with coffee for desert Delicious 😋

Awesome food. This was better than the Thai food we get in London. Fresh ingredients, authentic flavours. I say this as someone who has lived in Thailand. The green curry even had pea aubergines. That's nearly impossible to find a Thai restaurant in London unless you are prepared to pay exorbitant prices.

What a delightful warm and welcoming restaurant. Everyone here is so lovely. My friend and I had a really special and surprising reunion after twenty years, and the restaurant staff were so kind to serve us food just before they closed and then let us stay and talk long after they closed, reassuring us that we were welcome. I am so grateful that they were part of our magical evening. Thank you for taking our photos because our selfies were terrible! Food was amazing (and I have lived in Thailand for 14 years so have some awareness) especially the real deal Som Tam - Papaya Salad. One reviewer below complained (and photographed) all the herbs and spices she removed from the Tom Yum Soup….my god! If I had seen that photo, that alone would convince me to visit this restaurant. It wasn’t from a curry packet! It was fresh real beautiful Thai food, prepared authentically. ขอบคุณมากม้าาาากนะคะ

Chiang Mai Kitchen is without a doubt my favourite restaurant in Oxford and has been for the last 10 years or more. Not only is the food exceptional but the both vibe and staff are also absolutely wonderful. ❤️❤️❤️

Stir-fried soy sauce is very delicious. I miss Thailand.

Hands down best restaurant in Oxford! Incredible Thai, nowhere comes close!! Staff amazing! When in Oxford you must visit!

Ordered pad Thai and red chicken curry and it was fantastic! Highly recommend. We got the coconut rice with mango for dessert which was also great.

Delicious food w excellent vegetarian options in historic building. Excellent service, menu choices, good prices, atmosphere. Just discovered this place, easy to miss as it's down a narrow passage.

guys this place is trash #dontgetthelychies

Sadly a dissapointing experience. Firstly we asked to move because a large very noisy party arrived, we were the first ones in there at 5.00pm so thought that would be easy to accommodate us as are food had not been ordered, but it was a not possible. 3 of our dishes were perfectly adequate, the other 3 very dissapointing. Garlic chicken- way to much garlic and poor cuts of meat. Chicken in ginger - bland I couldnt taste the ginger Barbecued chicken - poor cuts of chicken very below average All rice was over cooked and stodgy, it seemed like it had been prepared hours before. No criticism of the waiter, very pleasant. I'm afraid we won't be going back !

We have eaten here for around 15 years and recently went back after a long gap. It is still excellent.Some of the best Thai food we have eaten, excellent service and a lovely, unique setting. Good value.

We went to this restaurant after seeing it on here and needing a place to eat near Christ Church Cathedral. The food was amazing, the best Thai meal we’ve eaten! The service was good and I’d definitely go back again!

Food was delicious. Unfortunately, the only baby highchair available was taken. We could use our pushchair, but the space was quite small.

Authentic thai food with local spices. The menu offers ala carte and chu char style ( main dishes with rice ). Advised to reserve a table before coming as it can be crowded. It might be hard to navigate from its entrance as it is located in an alley along the high street. Watch out for street signs in the alley. Bicycle car parks near by in the alley as well. The signature for me is the fried hor fun and the pineapple fried rice. The glass noodle side dish is good as well, but it might be too spicy for non-asian people but overall it is a very refreshing appetiser. I like the fact that its atmosphere is s good and the lights are not too bright, with some asian decor on its interior, making it a high-class looking asian restuarant unlike the typical stereotype of asian eatery which js always busy and filled with too much smoke.

Waited nearly an hour for main course. Sizzling beef was not sizzling. Probably sat somewhere waiting to be served.

Walking down High Street in Oxford, we found this little gem hidden in a very old building. The food is fantastic, the place nice and warm. We come back the following day. Highly recommended.

Awesome food, great staff and cozy ambience. A great place to have Thai food!!

Sorry but would not go again, the food is edible but a very "British" version of Thai food, hardly a chilli in sight. Tom Yum Goong was edible but not spicy and FULL of mushrooms (see picture) not even Asian Straw Mushrooms, just standard British Mushrooms with 4 small prawns. Pad Thai Mixed was edible, fair sized portion, but taste was mediocre. Thai Beef Salad is one of my favourite dishes, this was close to the worst I've had, imagine a Thai Beef Salad without Thai ingredients, more like lettuce, tomatoe and onion with Beef on top. No Chili, could not taste fish sauce, not even corriander. £ 35.00 / head excluding drinks was expensive for a poor meal. Could not recomend anything but it is a nice old building in Oxford.

Best thai ive had in a while Panang was incredible Chicken with basil recommended for people who enjoy spicy food

We have been coming to this reliably friendly restaurant with its delicious food for many years whilst living in Oxford. As we move away, lunches and dinners at the Chiang Mai will certainly be among the things we miss most.

I have been there several times during stay in Oxford. The food is amazing and service is over the expectation. Would love to go there again if I revisit UK. I literally miss the food and everyone at the restaurant! :)

Had the best meal ever. Service was spot on. Food was fresh. Tasty and amazing. Would 100% recommend

Crowded and noisy with unexceptional food. Our local Thai takeaway is a lot better. My wife ordered prawns but was served beef, which she cannot eat. My stir-fried chicken with cucumber and tomato was a pile of dry chicken with one slice of tomato and two of cucumber.

On a cold rainy day, the promise of Tom Yum soup lead us here. The atmosphere is not typical of a Thai restaurant. Our server was not overly helpful in terms of understanding orders or making suggestions. A couple of curry dishes, pad see ew, and a bowl Of Tom Yum. The soup had nice flavor but I was forever picking out lemon grad bits that were like toothpicks in my soup as well as lime leaves, dry chunks of ginger. I did enjoy the many mushrooms included. The other dishes were fine. Not bad but not great.

Excellent experience from start to finish. We had a meal for a large group of friends and the restaurant never put a foot wrong throughout the evening. Staff were attentive and pleasant and the food was delicious.

Quite simply the best Thai food outside of Thailand! This is an absolute hidden gem of the Oxford restaurant scene. You will need to go several times to really discover how superb the menu is. The beef massaman is to die for, and the chicken satay is the best ever. The pad Thai is outstanding - in short, you need to try this place! Margaret and her team will take excellent care of you. The venue is homely and comfortable and the prices are entirely appropriate for the quality and standard of the food you will enjoy. Tell your friends: get to Chiang Mai Kitchen!

Absolutely delicious food - best Thai I have had in UK. Wonderful building and staff. I will definitely return next time I am in Oxford. Not to be missed!

WOW. This was the best Thai food I ate in my life. We were here for dinner during our Oxford visit. We had an extraordinary Tom Yum with rich ingredients such as mushrooms, prawns, bambu and chili peppers, and what a base! Perfect amount of chili. Coconut rice… I’m trying this for the first time and my mind is blown. We had to order one more. How can rice be so perfect. I noted this down so we had to try it at home. Pak choi with fish sauce and garlic. Nothing to criticise. Sticky mango rice. This was also something we tried for the first time. A little salty and sweet rice pudding with fresh and tasty raw mango. Simply amazing. Well done!

Really nice food, quick service and good portions.

So glad to have been taken here by friends, I had not idea it existed ! The whole experience was amazing, from the look and feel of the building to the tasty food and attentive staff. It is definitely on my list to return soon.

Fantastic. Lots of options and authentic Thai food, the pad thai was even better than some we've eaten in Thailand! Super recommended.

This place was recommended to us by a former Oxford student and we would recommend it to others. We had the chicken satay and fried vegetables for starters and red Thai curry with prawns, chicken with cashews, jasmine rice and coconut rice for mains. It was all delicious. We were disappointed not to be able to try the Thai red wine but found a good alternative. We sat downstairs. It was a little tight for space as it was very busy but that did not mar the experience. The waiter was very attentive and friendly.

We ordered the Chiang Mai Kitchen fried rice, tom yum noodle soup, fish cakes, and mixed vegetables with oyster sauce. It quite hit the spot for most dishes except for tom yum noodle soup that tasted weird. Nonetheless, it was overall a satisfying meal if you need a dose of Thai cuisine!

First went here in 1994... A revisit after nearly 30 years. Still excellent, no longer as studenty as I remember. Great dinner. Friendly service.

Ordered a takeaway vegan green curry with rice. Huge portion size and extremely tasty, with green beans, chili, tofu, mushroom etc. Pricey (£12.50 for curry, £5 for rice) but the portion size is generous, ingredients fresh, service quick (collected it after 15 minutes) and it's the centre of Oxford. The restaraunt itself is very beautiful and has a lovely atmosphere. Very friendly staff and lots of smiling, relaxed customers. I love the fairy lights outside and the alleyway you walk through the reach the front door. Recommend if you don't mind spending more money for good quality food and service.

Have eaten here several times over many years and enjoyed it, but was very disappointed last night. Tables were squeezed so tight downstairs that our table for two was frequently jostled and knocked by the large party next to us. The bowl of rice was forgotten and brought 5 minutes late, without apology, by which point the curry had gone cold. Food was tasty, although sizzling beef somewhat tough, and pad thai prawns weren't peeled. Disappointing. Make sure you go at a quiet time.

Chiang Mai did the catering for a party of around 90 people and we'd definitely recommend them - the food was delicious and we were brilliantly looked after by Margaret and her team. Everything ran like clockwork and nothing was too much trouble - many thanks!

Chiang Mai did the catering for a party of around 90 people and we'd definitely recommend them - the food was delicious and we were brilliantly looked after by Margaret and her team. Everything ran like clockwork and nothing was too much trouble - many thanks!

Booked a table several weeks ago, arrived tonight, followed the signs and climbed to the top of the stairs to be met by a rude woman who said your table is downstairs. She led us down to a dark room overcrowded with furniture with a depressing unwelcoming atmosphere and threw the menus down at a table near the toilets. We took our seats, within moments, a customer behind us rudely said to us, someone is joining me in a terse manner. Unsure how this information affected us so we got up and left before ordering. Was looking forward to a meal here but first impressions count.

Plane white rice costs 5£ in this place. The waiter speaks horrible English, doesn't recognise the dishes, and charges service fee without informing me.

What a hidden gem!!! As someone that has been to Chiang Mai and tasted the food, this place was incredibly similar😍 I must say the calamari starter made me want to order 5 more of that singular dish!! For the main, I asked for no spice in my vegetable and tofu green curry and it was simply perfect!! A tiny hint of spice from the curry paste made it exceptional. The restaurant is expensive, starters at 8 pound and main courses around 13.50 pounds but it was worth every penny🫶🏻

Rice served in its bag and was like a block stuck together, overly microwaved, sizzling beef did not come sizzling at all. No atmosphere at all, Will not return

We dropped in on a Saturday evening without a reservation and were served promptly and were very happy with the food. The restaurant is in an old building and has considerable charm, and we would definitely go again.

Really enjoyed the food very tasty. Place is cramped as lots of tables, however it didn’t bother me as I sat on the end, so was able to get out easily. Enjoyed the atmosphere, staff were friendly enough and wine was fine. Seemed reasonable prices. Service was good. I would go back for the food as what we ordered we all enjoyed.

Really difficult to find with Google map, but great food

Booked a table and had to wait while they got it ready, the place was vey busy, people were waiting for tables the whole time we were there, the food was good not the best Thai ive eaten. I really hate to see dirty plates etc stacked up in the restaurant. Probably would return but I wouldn’t rush.

That friend rice was amazing! Really tasty.

A lovely little independent restaurant hidden away from the bustle of Oxfords busy highstreet. We ordered the sum tam (papaya salad), yum nuea (spicy beef salad), and the classic Phad Thai noodles with Prawns. All the dishes were freshly cooked and delicious, so much better than the standard preprepared food you get in so many chains these days. Will definitely be going back soon :)

This used to be my favorite Thai. I have been here countless times. The takeaway I received this evening was the worst food I have ever had from here. Sour pineapple in the rice. No flavor, green curry was awful and the egg fried rice was bland and over cooked. I won’t eat here again.

A rustic little restaurant with great food. Great ambience

Tucked away in an old building down a quaint alley off the high street, this Thai restaurant is a hidden gem worth discovering. The convenient yet secluded location adds to its charm, providing a cozy atmosphere. The delightful food is accompanied by a bustling ambiance. I’d highly recommend reserving in advance to secure a table.

Food is always excellent. The building is historic and lovely, but space is at a premium, as the restaurant was busy we were crammed into a corner very close to other diners. Service very good as usual, but our bottle of red wine was very cold. Despite being a bit cramped and cold red wine, we will try again because the food is so good.

Quite delicious and reasonably priced Tom Yum soup is a must! Pad Thai is by far the best food in Europe Eating the same food as people in Oxford makes me smarter

The best restaurant in Oxford. Being going there for over 20 years and the quality of food and service has always been excellent. Still my favourite restaurant, always a warm welcome. Another visit this week, the same warm welcome, great service and fantastic food. A real treat.

Excellent service and beautiful food. Would love to again. I do not hesitate to recommend it most strongly. Book, though, as it was fully-booked when we went.

Cool location in an old house down an alley. Delicious food- the red curry duck and seafood salad were our favorites. Friendly staff.

We hadn't booked, it was a Thursday night but the rudeness of the staff(the woman who was at the door as we entered) put us off. We would have waited or happy to be told they were sorry but no tables were available, not to be greeted with "will you leave by 8 pm if we fit you in?" It was 7.20 when we went in. Very rude and unwelcoming so we went elsewhere. We are going to be regulars in Oxford but would never try Chiang Mai Kitchen again. It was full and I am sure the meal would be good but friendliness and courtesy rank high for us on a special night out.

Good restaurant with sensible prices. Staff are friendly

The restaurant is in a fantastic location by the High street, but it is in an alley, so not as loud and busy. It’s in an old building, and the atmosphere is quite welcoming and cozy, especially at night. I’m glad we booked because it was completely full when we arrived. We had the red curry and the seafood platter, and rice to go with it. It was all fantastic, will definitely go back. The staff were pleasant and professional.

Beautiful old timbered rooms of original tudor house,all was good staff,food atmosphere, will return again very soon.

The Chiang Mai used to be my favourite go to for a great thia meal; sadly not any more. I have not been since the pandemic, it has got smaller with many more tables squeezed in. I understand the economics but I don't think that it's appropriate to charge the amount they do! and please sort the toilets out. That said, the meal was delicious.

Authentic Thai food! Highly highly recommended, I haven't eaten so well in a Thai restaurant in a long time!

Fantastic food, relatively cheap

Discovered this little Thai restaurant by chance and couldn't be happier with the find. The restaurant is a little hidden down a narrow alley, but with the help of Google maps, it can be easily found. From what I could see, they have three small rooms, one on the ground floor and two on the first floor. The food was excellent as was the service. A very nice and cosy ambience. If you like tea, do try one of their fantastic teas with a flower which blooms in front of your eyes. Honest prices for a very pleasant experience.

The food here is always amazing and the service is fantastic (attentive, friendly, efficient and helpful). It's the best Thai restaurant, simply delicious!

Good food ....but small space.... too noisy, hardly can hear your own voice.

It's the first time I've tried Thai food and I really like it. The coconut soup is great. Good wine list, but they should have better service when serving the bottles. The waiters are really kind. Nice and warm historic place.

I was walking through Oxford looking for something to eat when I came across this restaurant. I was craving some Thai and figured why not give it a try. The front door is interesting an has an interesting history with the building dating back to 1637. I was greeted when I walked upstairs and given a menu. I ordered Veggie Spring Rolls (Popia Tod), the Tom Ka with chicken and Pad See-Ew Noodles with chicken. It didn't take long to get my order and it was all still hot when I arrived back at my hotel. They also wrap it all quite tight so nothing spills out. The Spring Rolls weren't what I was expecting. I thought they were going to be fresh spring rolls but they are fried; it does say on the menu but I didn't read that part. It came with a plum sauce but would have been nicer with some hot mustard. Unfortunately, they do not do fresh spring rolls. The Tom Ka soup was quite good. It's a bit heavier than most Tom Ka soups I've had and I would have preferred it to be a bit spicy. The Pad See-Ew was fantastic. They serve a very generous portion and it's just delicious! And like the soup, it would be nice if it was a little spicy. I'm sure they can make it spicy if you ask them and I wish I would have asked. The food is very fresh and delicious and I would absolutely come back here.

I was walking through Oxford looking for something to eat when I came across this restaurant. I was craving some Thai and figured why not give it a try. The front door is interesting an has an interesting history with the building dating back to 1637. I was greeted when I walked upstairs and given a menu. I ordered Veggie Spring Rolls (Popia Tod), the Tom Ka with chicken and Pad See-Ew Noodles with chicken. It didn't take long to get my order and it was all still hot when I arrived back at my hotel. They also wrap it all quite tight so nothing spills out. The Spring Rolls weren't what I was expecting. I thought they were going to be fresh spring rolls but they are fried; it does say on the menu but I didn't read that part. It came with a plum sauce but would have been nicer with some hot mustard. Unfortunately, they do not do fresh spring rolls. The Tom Ka soup was quite good. It's a bit heavier than most Tom Ka soups I've had and I would have preferred it to be a bit spicy. The Pad See-Ew was fantastic. They serve a very generous portion and it's just delicious! And like the soup, it would be nice if it was a little spicy. I'm sure they can make it spicy if you ask them and I wish I would have asked. The food is very fresh and delicious and I would absolutely come back here.

Good portions and lovely historic building.

Back in Oxford to bring my son back to school - we both knew the one thing we must do was to have dinner at Chiang Mai Kitchen. As expected everything was great! Recipes were authentic Thai. In fact we both agreed that Thai cooking here was as good or even better than most of the restaurants we visited in Bangkok during our recent trip there. (August 2023).