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Northern Thai cuisine is one of the most renowned styles of cooking in Thailand, and Chiang Mai is the perfect location for cooking classes.
These Chiang Mai cooking classes offer you the opportunity to learn about the distinctive northern Thai cuisine.
During our visits to Chiang Mai, we took cooking classes to dive deeper into the local specialties.
Under the guidance of a local chef and with farm and market visits, you’ll learn the signature dishes and authentic recipes.
If you are eager to learn Thai cooking, here are our recommendations for the best Chiang Mai cooking classes.
Best Chiang Mai Cooking Class Comparison Table
| Chiang Mai Cooking Classes | Price ($USD) | Group Size | Start Time | Duration (hours) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Yum Thai Cooking School | $28.21 | Max 10 | 8:30 am or 3:30 pm | 5h | Hands-on class |
| Traditional Thai Cooking Class | $33.53 | Max 10 | 9:00 am | 4h 18 min | Classic grandma recipes |
| Benny’s Home Cooking Chiang Mai | $44.86 | Max 9 | 8:15 am | 6h | Cooking at a local’s home |
| Smile Organic Farm Cooking School | $22.57 | Max 12 | 8:00 am or 3:00 pm | 6h | Rural outdoor cooking |
| Thai Akha Cooking Class | $37.90 | Max 12 | 8:30 am or 4:30 pm | 6h | Thai mountain cuisine |
| Mama Noi Cooking Class | $28.21 | Max 20 | 9:00 am or 3:30 pm | 4h | Market tour and organic Thai cooking |
| Authentic Thai Cooking Class | $37.98 | Max 12 | 9:00 am and 5:00 pm | 5h | Thai cuisine and organic farming |
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Beyond cooking classes, taking a food tour is another delicious way to dive into the local specialties in Chiang Mai. While in Chiang Mai we took an amazing northern flavors food tour and spent about 4 hours exploring delicious Chiang Mai food at unexpected places. Read more about our Chiang Mai Food Tour.
Top Chiang Mai Cooking Classes
1. Cooking Class in Chiang Mai with Tom Yum Thai Cooking School
Cost: $28.21 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approx 5 hours. Classes start at 8:00 am or 3:30 pm
Group Style: Small group class, maximum 10 people
Spend half a day with Oun and Kae, your guides and instructors learning to make delicious Thai cuisine.
This 5-hour cooking class at Tom Yum Thai Cooking School starts with a guided local market tour to learn about and get the fresh ingredients for the class.
Once you get back to the kitchen, you’ll get the choice of six different dishes to make.
With step-by-step guidance, you’ll learn to make Thai salad, cashew nut with chicken, noodle, and green curry soups, and many more tasty options..
For dessert, a special sticky rice with mango completes the tasty experience.
You’ll have your own cooking station with the equipment and support needed to follow along.
As you have fun learning the cooking techniques and secrets of Thai cuisine, you’ll enjoy snacking on snacks along with traditional Thai drinks.
In the end, you’ll sit down to savor your delicately prepared Thai cuisine and receive a booklet of the recipes as a gift.
What You’ll Love About Tom Yum Thai Cooking School
- A half-day cooking class creating 5 dishes from scratch, including Tom Yum and Khao Soi.
- Learning about Thai vegetables and seasoning on a guided local market visit.
- Step-by-step guidance cooking experience in a small group setting.
2. Traditional Thai Cooking Class in Traditional Pavilion and Farm
Cost: $33.53 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approx 4 hours. Classes start at 9:00 am or 4:00 pm
Group Style: Small group class, maximum 10 people
Home cooking, like grandma, is the experience you can expect at this Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai.
This 4-hour Thai cooking course in a traditional pavilion and farm visit takes place at the popular Grandma’s Home Cooking School.
You will learn how to make a variety of classic traditional Thai recipes that have been cooked at home for generations.
This Chiang Mai cooking class starts with a market visit to pick up the fresh ingredients you’ll need.
And, when you arrive at Grandma’s home cooking school, snacks and drinks will be waiting for you.
In this fun cooking experience, you’ll learn to cook soups, stir-fry dishes, curry recipes, and desserts.
If you want to dive even deeper into Thai cuisine, you can choose a full-day option, which includes learning to make coconut curry from scratch.
Depending on the weather, you’ll have the choice to either cook inside or outside in the beautiful garden pavilion kitchen. A tour of the farm and recipes are provided at the end of the class.
What You’ll Love About This Thai Cooking Class in Traditional Pavilion
- Head outside of the city with convenient transportation provided to the cooking school.
- Option to choose a 4-hour class or immersive full-day cooking experience.
- Hands-on cooking experience of favorite Thai dishes.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: If your travels through Thailand take you to Bangkok, consider taking a Bangkok food tour to explore the street food in one of the world’s top food cities. See our guide to the 7 Best Bangkok Food Tours You Want To Take
3. Cooking Class at Benny’s Home Cooking Chiang Mai
Cost: $44.86 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approx 6 hours. Class starts at 8:15 am
Group Style: Small group class, maximum 9 people
In a lovely home, about 20 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, is where you’ll find Benny’s Home Cooking School.
Surrounded by an organic garden and rice fields, you’ll enjoy a 6-hour cooking class at Benny’s Home Cooking School.
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 your own ingredients for the class.
You’ll select what to cook from a set menu, and there are vegetarian options available as well.
Regardless of the option you choose, you’ll be making about five authentic 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 an organic farm and rice paddy where you’ll eat mouthwatering fruits freshly picked from trees.
For an even more intimate experience, Benny’s cooking school in Chiang Mai also offers a private cooking class experience. You’ll enjoy making dinner and round trip transportation is provided.
What You’ll Love About Benny’s Home Cooking Chiang Mai
- An intimate cooking class at a local’s home.
- Opportunity to select either a small group class or a private dinner class.
- Fun and well-paced energetic Thai cooking school experience.
READ MORE: Where to Stay in Chiang Mai for Food Lovers
4. Chiang Mai Cooking Farm at Smile Organic Farm Cooking School
Cost: $22.57 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approx 6 hours. Classes start at 8:00 am or 3:00 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 12 people
Head outside of the city to a quiet organic farm and learn how to make traditional Thai cuisine from one of the best local cooking schools.
Enjoy a 6-hour at Smile Organic Farm learning about Thai herbs and cooking outdoors.
The cooking school is located about 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, and transportation is provided.
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 a half-day 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.
If you choose the full-day cooking class, you’ll be making eight different traditional dishes similar to the half-day options.
The menu is flexible and how spicy you want your food is totally up to you. You’ll be cooking at individual stations and you can customize the menu for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free diets.
What is special about this Chiang Mai cooking farm is the outdoor cooking experience in a relaxing environment surrounded by nature.
What You’ll Love About Smile Organic Farm Cooking School
- Visiting an organic farm and learning about Thai herbs and vegetables.
- Customized attention as you learn to makeThai dishes from scratch.
- The convenience of roundtrip transportation to the Chiang Mai countryside.
5. Cooking Class in Chiang Mai with Thai Akha Cooking School
Cost: From $37.90 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approx 6 hours. Classes start at 8:30 am or 4:30 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 12 people
Immerse yourself in the cooking traditions of Akha people. This is an indigenous hill tribe from the northern mountains of Thailand.
This 6-hour 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 prepare 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 cooking class in Chiang Mai is offered twice a day in the morning and evening.
Included only in the morning class is a local market tour 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.
What You’ll Love About Thai Akha Chiang Mai Cooking Class
- Learning about the cooking traditions of a Thai indigenous community.
- Getting to know traditional Akha ingredients on a guided local market tour.
- Making so many traditional foods to enjoy – 11 dishes in total!
6. Cooking Class with Organic Farm in Chiang Mai at Mama Noi
Cost: From $28.21 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approx 4 hours. Classes start at 9:00 am or 3:30 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 20 people
If you want to explore the vibrant flavors of Thai cuisine, this Chiang Mai cooking class will give you a taste of the country’s authentic cooking methods in a hands-on way.
This 4-hour Mama Noi cooking class starts with a visit to an organic farm in the heart of Chiang Mai. You’ll see fresh ingredients at the farm and in a local market.
Back in the kitchen, your local chef will guide you through the preparation of five dishes from scratch.
As you learn to make each dish, you’ll learn about Thailand’s rich history, culture, and traditions.
Back-and-forth transportation is provided allowing you not to worry about getting to the school. And, instead focus on cooking and learning how to make a variety of Thai foods.
After you cook, you’ll sit down and enjoy your hand-made Thai feast. And, with your souvenir recipe booklet, you can make the recipes again at home,
What You’ll Love About Mama Noi Cooking Class
- Cooking authentic Thai dishes with the guidance of a local chef.
- Making your dishes at your own personal cooking station.
- The convenience of hotel pick up and drop off.
7. Authentic Thai Cooking Class and Farm Visit in Chiang Mai
Cost: From $37.98 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approx 5 hours. Classes start at 9:00 am and 5:00 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 12 people
With transportation provided, you’ll head outside of Chiang Mai for an immersive cooking class and farm visit.
This 5-hour authentic Thai cooking class starts with a visit to a local market where you’ll learn about Thai culinary traditions while picking up fresh ingredients.
At the cooking school, along with a Thai chef, you’ll choose your menu from five different curries and noodle dishes.
Depending on your dietary considerations, vegan and vegetarian options and the levels of spice can also be adjusted.
In the end, you’ll make 4 Thai dishes and end the cooking class experience with freshly made mango sticky rice.
Included in this Chiang Mai cooking school experience is visiting an organic farm.
This additional perspective, including the market visit, offers a comprehensive understanding of Thai food from farm to table.
If you are looking to go beyond Chiang Mai City and dive into authentic Thai cooking with a farm and market visit, this is the class for you.
What You’ll Love About Authentic Thai Cooking Class
- Learning about Thai cuisine on an organic farm in Chiang Mai.
- The local market visit and tasting herbs in the organic garden.
- Learning to make a variety of Thai dishes customized for diet and spice levels.
What to Consider When Choosing Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
These best cooking classes in Chiang Mai all offer authentic Thai cooking experiences.
However, 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.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Make your culinary travels worry-free! With the right travel insurance, you’ll enjoy a delicious experience. From medical emergencies, flight cancelations, car rental protection, or tour cancelations, a good travel insurance has got you covered. Check out our travel insurance review for food lovers to get started.
What Kind of Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience Do You Want
We’ve taken cooking classes in Chiang Mai and they are fun and informative. You’ll have a great time diving into traditional Thai cooking.
As you make your choices, consider your personal preferences and expectations.
How much time do you have in your schedule? Some Chiang Mai cooking classes offer half or full-day immersive experiences.
What kind of cooking experience do you want? Some cooking classes include a market tour while others cook on a farm.
Are you comfortable cooking in a small group with other travelers? Or is taking a private Chiang Mai cooking class preferred?
Based on your preferences, simply choose the best cooking class in Chiang Mai for you.
What Is Your Budget for Your Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
These cooking classes in Chiang Mai offer different experiences and price points.
The best cooking classes in Chiang Mai range from about $22.57 to $44.86.
All cooking classes in Chiang Mai have a free cancellation policy that allows you to opt out up to 24 hours in advance.
Which of these Chiang Mai cooking classes would you like to take? Please let us know in the comments below.
Savor the Adventure!
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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.Â
Find out more about Authentic Food Quest
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 🙂