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Chiang Mai cooking classes offer you the opportunity to learn about the distinctive northern Thai cuisine.
Under the guidance of a local Chiang Mai chef, including farm and market visits, you’ll learn the signature dishes and authentic recipes.
During our visits to Chiang Mai, before the pandemic, we took cooking classes to learn about the local specialties.
While some of those Chiang Mai cooking classes have since closed, this newly updated article features the best cooking classes in the city.
On your Chiang Mai travels, dive into the cuisine with a Thai cooking class. To help guide you, here are 6 of the best Chiang Mai cooking classes to take.
Best Chiang Mai Cooking Class Comparison Table
| Chiang Mai Cooking Classes | Price ($ USD) | Start Time | Duration (hours) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aromdii Cooking School | $22.89 | 9:00 am | 4.5 h | Market tour and traditional Thai food |
| Thai Akha Chiang Mai Cooking Class | $35.90 | 8:30 am and 4:30 pm | 6 h | Northern Thailand cuisine |
| Tom Yum Thai Cooking School | $25 | 8:30 am and 3:30 pm | 5 h | Hand-on Thai cuisine |
| Smile Organic Farm Cooking School | $22.89 and $34.33 | Half day class 8:00 am and 3:00 pm; Full day class 8:00 am | 6 h to 8 h | Rural outdoor cooking |
| Grandma’s Home Cooking School | $34.05 and $51.21 | 9:00 am | 4 h to 6.5 h | Classic Thai grandma recipes |
| Benny’s Home Cooking Chiang Mai | $44.35 | 8:15 am | 6 h | Cooking at a local’s home |
Prices for these Chiang Mai cooking classes are in Thai Baht (THB). We provide USD conversion at the time of writing. Prices might vary slightly when you book your class.
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Top Chiang Mai Cooking Classes
1. Half-day Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour with Aromdii Cooking School
Founded by Nok and Aek, a married Thai couple, Aromdii Cooking School teaches you how to make authentic Thai recipes.
They both hail from different regions of Thailand, the north and south, and they teach the traditional and street foods from their hometowns.
The name “Aromdii” means good mood and that is exactly the experience they create in their cooking classes. Fun, entertaining, welcoming and patient are words that used to describe the classes.
Your cooking class experience begins with a stop at a local market to pick up ingredients and learn about the native produce.
You’ll then head to Aromdii cooking school and choose from a selection of five menus, the Thai dishes to make.
At your own cooking station, you’ll make Pad See Ew, papaya salad, Tom Yum soup, Khao Soi and more.
Dessert will most likely be mango sticky rice or local treats, depending on what you select.
Your fun Chiang Mai cooking class ends not only with a delicious meal of your own creation, but also recipes to make again.
For a range of Thai dishes, this is one of the best cooking classes in Chiang Mai to take.
Cost: About $22.89
Time and Length: Approximately 4.5 hours. Classes start around 9:00 am
Group Style: Small group cooking classes conducted in English
RELATED: 15 Best Authentic Chiang Mai Food and Where to Eat It
2. Cooking Class in Chiang Mai with Thai Akha Cooking School
Immerse yourself in the cooking traditions of Akha people. This is an indigenous hill tribe from the northern mountains of Thailand.
This Thai Akha Cooking School offers an opportunity to dive into the Akha culture through cooking.
You’ll be making 11 different traditional dishes using unique Akha ingredients. The Akha traditions say that every meal must have a dipping sauce or Sapi Thong, one salad and one soup.
With that in mind, you’ll choose one of three soups, a curry dish from a vast selection and one of four stir-fried dishes.
You’ll also make two appetizers like Akha salad or fried spring rolls. Two desserts like pumpkin in coconut milk and mango sticky rice will delight your senses.
After you finish, you eat what you cooked alongside locally grown Akha Hill Tribe coffee and local teas.
This Chiang Mai school for cooking offers morning and evening classes. Included with the morning class only, is a visit to the local market where you’ll learn about local Akha ingredients.
The evening class jumps right into the cooking experience, finishing off with a lovely dinner of the delicious food you’ve made.
If you are interested in learning about northern Akha hill tribe cuisine, this Thai Akha Cooking School is not to be missed.
Cost: About $35.90
Time and Length: Approximately 6 hours. Classes start at 8:30 am and 4:30 pm
Group Style: Small group cooking classes conducted in English
3. Half-Day Cooking Class in Chiang Mai with Tom Yum Thai Cooking School
Spend half a day at Tom Yum Thai Cooking School, with Oun and Kae, your guides and instructors.
Start your Thai cooking class with a guided local market tour to learn about and pick local ingredients for the class.
Once you get back to the kitchen, you’ll choose to make six different dishes.
Cucumber salad, cashew nut with chicken,Thai noodle soup, green curry are just a few of the tasty options available. And, a special sticky rice with mango for dessert completes the tasty experience.
You’ll have your own cooking station with equipment at your disposal to follow along, while getting your hands dirty.
An interesting feature of this Chiang Mai cooking school is that you will learn to do vegetable carvings to decorate your dishes.
After savoring your delicately prepared Thai cuisine, the class ends with a cookbook of the recipes as a gift.
Also, you will savor what you prepared with Thai snacks, seasonal fruits, coffee or local teas. Alcoholic beverages are not included.
This Chiang Mai cooking school is the best choice for those who want a hands-on step by step experience.
Cost: About $25.75
Time and Length: Approximately 5 hours. Classes start at 8:30 am and 3:30 pm
Group Style: Small group cooking classes conducted in English
RELATED: Fall in Love with the Best Authentic Khao Soi in Chiang Mai
4. Chiang Mai Cooking Farm at Smile Organic Farm Cooking School
Go outside of the city to a quiet organic farm and learn how to make traditional Thai cuisine.
Smile Organic Farm, located about 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, offers a unique opportunity to learn about Thai herbs and cook outdoors.
Transportation is provided and on your way to the cooking school you’ll briefly stop at a local market for a taste of traditional rural life.
Smile Organic Farm offers two different Chiang Mai cooking classes. You can choose either a half-day class or full-day Thai cooking class.
In the half-day class, you will learn to cook five different Thai dishes. Curry paste, curry dishes, stir fried dishes, soups and spring rolls. You can also choose a vegetarian or vegan cooking class.
The school provides all the ingredients, an individual cooking station and and the recipes for you to take home.
If you choose the full day cooking class, you’ll be making eight different traditional dishes similar to the half- day options. In addition, you’ll learn to how to make traditional Thai salads, desserts and a special Thai herbal drink.
The menu is flexible and how spicy you want your food is totally up to you. What is special about this Chiang Mai cooking farm is the cooking outdoors experience, in a relaxing environment, surrounded by nature.
Smile Organic Farm is one of the best cooking classes in Chiang Mai for an authentic Thai rural experience.
Cost: About $22.89 for the half-day class; $34.33 for the full-day course
Time and Length: Approximately 6 hours for the half day class; Or 8 hours for the full day class. Half day class offered at 8:00 am and 3:00 pm and full day starts at 8:00 am
Group Style: Small group cooking classes conducted in English
5. Traditional Thai Cookery Course with Grandma’s Home Cooking School
Home cooking, like grandma is the experienced you can expect at this Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai.
Grandma’s Home Cooking School will teach you classic traditional Thai recipes just like grandmas used to cook.
You will learn about the ingredients used and how they are beneficial to the body. Learning about Thai history and culture is also included as part of the experience.
The Thai cookery course will start after a visit to the market, where you will hand-pick the ingredients you will cook.
When you arrive at Grandma’s Home, snacks and drinks will be waiting for you.
In the five hours morning class, you will learn to cook three dishes like soups, stir fry and curry recipes with an additional dessert. You will choose to learn how to make traditional thai tea.
If you are up to diving even deeper into Thai cuisine, you can choose the full day course. Plan for a seven hour cooking class in Chiang Mai Thailand, after the market tour.
You will learn to make five dishes, a special menu and an extra menu. Appetizers, soups, curry paste, stir fry and curry dishes and not to forget desserts and refreshments session with tastings.
Depending on the weather, you’ll have the choice to either cook inside or outside in the garden kitchen. A tour of the farm and lunch are included in both classes and also a book with the recipes.
For traditional homestyle Thai cooking, Grandma’s Home Cooking School is one of the best Thai cooking classes to take.
Cost: About $34.05 for the half-day class; $51.21 for the full-day course
Time and Length: Approximately 4 hours for half day class or 6.50 hours for full day class. Both classes start at 9:00 am
Group Style: Small group cooking classes conducted in English
RELATED: The 15 Most Delightful Popular Thai Desserts to Indulge In
6. Chiang Mai Cooking Class at Benny’s Home Cooking Chiang Mai
In a lovely home, about 20 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, is where you’ll find Benny’s Home Cooking School.
The school is surrounded by an organic garden and rice fields and offers a tranquil environment for a cooking class.
Started by Benny, a former Thai cooking instructor, she’s passionate about teaching clean and healthy Thai cuisine.
Pick up is available from Chiang Mai and you start with a trip to a nearby local market. You’ll learn about Thai food culture while picking up ingredients for the class.
You’ll select what to cook from a set menu and you can also ask for or choose a vegetarian cooking class experience.
You’ll be making about five different Thai dishes and desserts at your own cooking station. Hands on instructions will be provided as you make your own curry paste for your selection of dishes.
In addition to cooking, you’ll also visit the organic farm and rice paddy, savor fruits freshly picked from trees.
The class is fun and well-paced. Benny is full of energy and you’ll be amazed by the delicious Thai food you’ll learn to cook.
Benny’s Home Cooking Chiang Mai is best suited for those who want an intimate cooking experience at a local’s home.
Cost: About $44.35
Time and Length: Approximately 6 hours. Class starts at 8:15 am
Group Style: Small group cooking classes conducted in English
RELATED: Where to Stay in Chiang Mai for Food Lovers
What to Consider When Choosing Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
These best cooking classes in Chiang Mai all offer authentic Thai cooking expereinces.
Though the experiences differ. Some include local market visits, others take place on a farm, while others focus on specific elements of Thai cooking.
As you plan for your Chiang Mai cooking class, here are a few things to consider.
What Kind of Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience Do You Want
Fun and informative are the first two things you will get at any of these Thai cooking classes in Chiang Mai.
As you look at the options, take into account your personal expectations and preferences.
Are you a nature-oriented person who loves farm activities?
Do you like to wander through local market stalls talking to the locals and trying unique specialties? Or you want to go directly to the kitchen and start cooking?
Do you want a half-day or a full immersive day spent learning about local Thai food culture?
Do you want the menu adapted for a vegan or prefer a cooking class with vegetarian options?
Whatever your preferences, choose the ideal Chiang Mai cooking class that matches your tastes.
What Is Your Budget for Your Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
These Chiang Mai cooking courses differ in experiences as well as budget.
The best cooking classes in Chiang Mai range from about $22 USD to $52 USD.
All cooking classes in Chiang Mai adhere to Covid safety guidelines. And, the cooking classes have a free cancellation policy that allows you to opt out up to 24 hours in advance.
The cooking workshops range anywhere from 4 hours to 8 hours allowing you to easily add them to your Chiang Mai travel plans.
More Local Food Experiences and Recipes
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Rosemary is the editor-in-chief and strategist at Authentic Food Quest.
Traveling slow since 2015 with her partner, Claire, she has explored the cuisine in 45 countries and more than 240+ culinary cities.
Her writing about local food specialties has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post.
As a food and travel writer, Rosemary has co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
Rosemary is an avid runner when she’s not eating and exploring new destinations. She has run ten marathons and counting.
Before Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary held senior-level strategy positions in advertising.
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Hi, I have a plan to stay at least a month in Thailand and my mission is to join a cooking class. I really want to travel, explore, and learn the culture. True that to enjoy the cultural immersion, cooking should be on the list. This is why I love to cook. Bookmarking this information about this cooking class. I am really excited.
That’s wonderful to hear Taylor. You will love a cooking class at Aroy Aroy!! Do check the website for tips about what and where to eat the local dishes in Thailand. Reach out with any questions 🙂 Safe travels
I only started doing cooking classes while travelling on my last trip in Central America & now I’m hooked – I want to revisit Asia all over again just to take cooking classes & Thailand is 1st on my hit list, Chiang Mai I am on the way soon!
When you head out to Chiang Mai, definitively check out Aroy Aroy…you will be in for a fantastic experience!! Indeed, cooking classes do add a new dimension on the food on one’s travels. Thanks so much Sheena for your comments!
I love cooking and although I always try to visit local food markets (and bring some products home) I’ve never had cooking classes while traveling. Your post made me add it to my list!
That’s wonderful to hear Maria that you have now been inspired to take a cooking class on your next trip. It does add a new dimension to visiting the local markets and bringing home ingredients. Learning to make the dishes is a wonderful way to recreate that experience at home. Glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks so much 🙂
I also had the opportunity to do a cooking class in Thailand, that was a lot of fun 🙂
Thai cuisine is one of the richest, in terms of flavour, in the World.
Cooking class is definitely something to do there!
That’s awesome to hear that you took a cooking class in Thailand. What did you learn to make? Agree, taking a class is truly a remarkable and fun experience. Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂 Cheers.
Omg! My mouth is drooling. The food looks really delicious! I can only imagine it up close and personal. This seems like a fun idea for someone like me who likes to experience culture outside of visiting museums and walking tours, etc. Thanks for sharing!
It is our pleasure, Adriana to share our experience at Aroy Aroy. The idea is to inspire you to travel through local food. On your next trip, plan for a cooking class and you’ll be amazed at the different perspective it provides on the local culture and place. Do let us know about your experience. Cheers!
Looks fabulous This would have been a perfect day for you Guys! I am now living in Thailand, yes how lucky are we? I am looking forward to learning to cook Thai. I was interested in a comment from a new friend here who has been having Thai conversation classes – learning taxi and polite greeting Thai. She mentioned she also learnt how to ask for Pad Thai without sugar (I’m not sure whether that ruins it?) because there is an immense amount of sugar in local food here. I would never have guessed that, we all think we are eating so healthily!
Love Wren x
So cool to hear from you Wren. That’s exciting you are now in Thailand!!! Sounds like you are already getting acclimatized to the food scene and the local ingredients. You are right, while sugar does play a part in the diet, it is balanced out with salt and spices. However, it is shocking to see locals adding heaps of sugar to their meals. Let’s connect!!!
Okay, this sounds like a dream to me. I am a chef so I’m obviously very passionate about food. I love how you can pick out your ingredients at the market beforehand. Cooking classes and food tours are such a great idea when traveling. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome Jenn! Great to hear your perspective as a chef. Yes, agree on the cooking classes, they make us much more active on our travels to seek out for the local specialties and how to make them!
This looks like a great cooking school in Chiang Mai. The dishes look wonderful and the market trip sounds like fun.
It was a lot of fun Rhonda. We didn’t have any expectations and we quite blown away by the entire experience. The market visit, the stories behind the dishes and of course making the food, allows one to travel deep. Do check out Aroy Aroy the next time your travels take you to Chiang Mai. Thanks Rhonda for your comments.
One of my biggest regrets from my Asia trip is that I didn’t do any cooking classes. I was going to do one in Chiang Mai but got too distracted with Songkran! Your pictures are stunning and it sounds like you really enjoyed it. I will def have to get myself back for a cooking class!
That’s a bummer that you did not get a chance to take a cooking class in Chiang Mai. Completely understand as there is lots to do in Chiang Mai. The next time you are in the area, do check out Aroy Aroy…totally worth the experience!! Thanks Claire for stopping by.
Looks fabulous and I would love to do this. We did a food tour in Bangkok/Ayutthaya and the guide (who was a chef) took us to the markets to buy our lunch….so much fun and a way of experiencing the local way of eating . Your comment about the woks made me smile. I remember when I first saw them all lit up with flames coming out at all angles. Amazing.
That’s awesome to hear Kerri and it sounds like you had a great time. Totally agree, learning to make the local dishes, does elevate any trip to a new level. Glad you caught the note about cooking with the wok, much heavier than we expected 🙂 Thanks for your comments and cooking classes should be on every travelers list of experiences!
ha, lovely reading this, brings back memories 🙂 I’m very familiar with the khanom krok, but never heard of the khanom keng, is it similar? Looks delish!
So glad you enjoyed thie article. Yes the desserts are similar and in the end…all delicious 🙂 Thanks Amelie for stopping by 🙂
So glad you enjoyed the article and that it brought back delicious memories. Yes, the two are very similar and as you noted, both incredibly delicious! Gotta love Thai desserts. Thanks Amelie.
Cooking class on a tour. That gave me some major goals. It is so good to learn to cook a cuisine, that way you can bring the country home and do your own little experiments and live the experience all over again! It is just so amazing.
Yum–looks like you made some delicious food! I always love taking cooking class like this. It’s such a great way to get a look into the local culture, especially when you add a market tour on like you did. Aroy Aroy looks like a great place to book a tour–I’m definitely going to keep them in mind!
Thanks Jenna and we totally agree, taking a cooking class and learning the local culture is always a good idea. True, we did indeed make delicious local specialties at Aroy Aroy. Do keep them in mind the next time you are Chiang Mai. A fun experience that is totally worth it 🙂 Please let us know if you have any questions!!
I agree with you that understanding the local cooking is also learning about culture and I think Thailand is easily one of the best places I have traveled to. Are they edible flowers?
Appreciate your feedback, Nisha. Yes, cooking classes by local chefs is a great way to immerse oneself in the local culture. Actually, the flowers are not edible…lol, but used for presentation. For the Thai, presentation matters!! Cheers 🙂
Looks pretty great! I’ve heard of this place, but always went to Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School.
If you love cooking classes, do check out Aroy Aroy the next time you are looking for a cooking school in Chiang Mai. Amazing experience and great local insights. You won’t regret it 🙂