One of the four provinces in the Northeast that are mentioned in the Michelin Guide 2023 is Khon Kaen, which boasts a total of 11 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand, making it a significant food tourism destination if you want to try some new tastes.
1. Khon Kaen's Ban Heng breakfast and souvenir joint specializes in morning dishes like porridge, pan-fried eggs, and a variety of toasts and coffee with a superb taste in a cozy setting.
2. At Mee Kin Farm, the farm owner's objective is to retain nature's way of doing things. The environment is natural, the food is 100% organic, and there are no chemicals or pesticides used in the agricultural process – all of the products are used in cooking.
3. Prapai Dining Room is a culinary garden offering a variety of Isaan foods, such as the restaurant's hallmark dish, fried pickled fish, but don’t neglect the crispy fish served with side dishes and papaya salad, crab papaya salad, and fermented fish papaya, loved by countless customers who come to this restaurant.
4. For more than 40 years, the Prasit Pochana Isaan restaurant has been operating, utilizing the best bits of the meat to prepare the spicier meals, according to the restaurant's motto. It is regarded as a restaurant fit for meat enthusiasts, offering a range of Isaan-style menu items such as Larb, Namtok, Yum, and Chim Chum, making it another Isaan restaurant worth the time you spend to get there.
5. Sojeeng Pochana, a northeastern Thai fusion eatery that provides the ideal blend of dishes in a family-friendly setting great for bringing the family out to eat on special occasions. It is another venerable eatery that has served the people of Khon Kaen for a very long time.
6. Tam Katoey Saket Salad is a local Isaan restaurant with fusion and seasoning crucial to satisfy you, another restaurant that is suitable for the family to dine at, a restaurant in the style of a northern forest garden that’s beautiful, luxurious, and natural.
7. Congee, Noodles, Tom Sen, Cue Card. This is a great street food restaurant that has arrived. Don’t miss the Tom Sen with Pork Sausage dish and its mellow taste. The onion, spices, and garlic, and the not-messy noodles with perfectly tender chicken legs and concentrated pork sausage from Ubon Ratchathani are superb. It's so delicious that customers don’t mind waiting in long queues.
8. Visit Khao Suan Kwang Grilled Chicken. Here, one of the dishes that should not be missed if you’re visiting Khon Kaen is Khao Suan Kwang Grilled Chicken. The chicken here is grilled to a perfect dry texture with crispy skin and a delicious spicy papaya salad.
9. Khon Kaen Grilled Pork Neck has a fantastic recipe for marinating meat in a unique sauce. This eatery also has a wide variety of dishes if you want to try something other than the delicious grilled pig neck. This is another shop that is worth visiting because there are so many options.
10. At Khun Jang Noodle Kao Wang Pak Mo, the dish that should not be overlooked is the crucial Noodle Kao Wang Pak Mo, with a smooth, rich flavor that is neither salty nor overly sweet. Pork Sago is another option, plus the must-try Pak Mo dessert. It's impossible to stop eating because of the flavor of the solid sago filling and the not-too-thick crust.
11. Leng Yentafo, a well-known Yentafo noodle shop among the population of Khon Kaen. The meatballs are handmade, and the soup is clear but filling. When visiting Khon Kaen, one must try this additional eatery.