For visitors to Chiang Mai, a Kantoke dinner is an original way to experience the gastronomy of the ancient Lanna kingdom. For locals, it's a festive gathering that brings family together around fine meals in a warm, convivial atmosphere.

An Important Reception in Northern Thailand

During a Kantoke dinner, you dine as royalty—quite literally. The festive traditions of the sovereigns and nobles of the ancient Lanna kingdom are recreated here. For inhabitants of northern Siam, it's a way to celebrate significant events. Most often celebrations. Festivals, weddings, monk ordinations, and more.

What You Need to Know About This Experience

It's a highly immersive group experience. You eat on a large mat or woven rugs, seated at ground level and barefoot. A Kantoke—a small round wooden table—holds the cups and bowls of food.

You're comfortably seated on cushions, facing a stunning stage. Dancers and singers frequently invite spectators to participate in the performance. After the show ends, you can take photos with the artists to capture the moment.

Culinary Highlights of the Event

Food is typically served buffet-style. Guests select what they wish to eat and place it on their individual Kantokes. These tables are perfumed with incense and decorated with floral arrangements to stimulate your appetite. The meals are rich in color. Fried chicken or pork, steamed vegetables, soup, and more are artfully combined on a single Kantoke. Kantoke dishes are free of sugar and coconut milk. Genuine culinary discoveries to savor in a beautifully decorated dining hall.

Must-Visit Addresses in Chiang Mai

Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center

The Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center is a benchmark throughout the city. The establishment has been promoting Kantoke dinners for over 40 years and has perfected the art of hosting this event. Food is unlimited. Lanna dishes can be enjoyed with your preferred beverages. The performances are varied and engaging. You savor your Thai delicacies in a restored Lanna-era building, complete with a richly decorated dance stage.

Here's the address: 185/3 Wualai Rd, T. Muang Chiangmai, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The establishment is closed on Sundays.

Khum Khantoke

Khum Khantoke Restaurant has made this original dinner its specialty. The establishment's architectural style, décor, and the performers' costumes are inspired by Lanna tradition. The show is captivating, and the food is generous and refined.

You can find it at 139 Moo 4, beside Payap University, Super Highway Chiang Mai-Lampang Road. The establishment is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Benjaron Khantoke

If you're in the Suthep district, step into Benjaron Khantoke to experience this famous dinner with a different twist. The elegant setting of this establishment allows you to savor your Lanna dishes with dignity.

The restaurant is located at Benjarong khantoke 101 Moo 4 T. Suthep A. Murng Chiang Mai Thailand 50200. It welcomes guests from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.