Chiang Mai University Night Market: Best Local Eats

Cat is Out of the Office contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

If you are looking for a cheap, local night market in Chiang Mai that most tourists never visit, you should try Chiang Mai University Night Market!

Located just across the street from Chiang Mai University and known locally as Kad Na Mor or Malin Plaza Night Market, this night market is as local as it gets. When I recently ate here with a group of friends who were also living in Chiang Mai, we were the only foreigners there!

University students around the world have a knack for finding delicious food at crazy cheap prices, and many of them eat here every night. Other popular night markets in the Old City are cheap, but this one is even cheaper and maybe even more delicious. 

And while you won’t really find souvenirs here (since it’s not a market for tourists), you’ll find plenty of stalls selling clothing, from jeans to t-shirts to shoes to accessories.

I’ve been exploring different night markets all over Chiang Mai for months, so I can confidently say that this is one of the best night markets in Chiang Mai, perfect for travelers who are looking for an authentic experience away from the usual tourist traps!

🤩 My favorite way to get to know a new city is by taking a food tour. This Northern Thai Food Tour will change your life. You’ll try hidden restaurants, street stalls, and local markets that most tourists never find and be transported in an iconic red rod daeng truck with a small group of hungry travelers. Come hungry because you’ll be trying more than 15 different dishes!

Essential Information: Chiang Mai University Night Market 

The night market near Chiang Mai University is located, you guessed it, right across the street from Chiang Mai University, across Huai Kaeo Road, and just down the street from Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center.

Clothing and Food Stalls at CMU Night Market

Clothing and Accessories:

Right across the street from the CMU Parking Lot is the clothes shopping section of the Chiang Mai University Night Market. Here you’ll find so many affordable clothes and accessories – no wonder the university students shop here! 
There are few souvenirs for sale here, but if you want to buy clothes, it’s worth checking out. 

There are countless stalls of jeans, t-shirts, sweatpants, workout clothes, shoes, sandals, sunglasses, jewelry, watches, handbags, and hats. If you are looking for deals on clothes, I would start here. Don’t forget that it’s normal and EXPECTED to haggle the price of clothing items in local markets. 

Electronics:

You’ll even find some stalls selling basic electronics and things like cell phone cases. 

Food Stalls:

There are a few food stalls in the clothing part of the market as well, but the majority of them are further down the street (east or to the right if you’re looking at the market from the street). Once you’re done clothes shopping, head next door to the huge food market. 

You’ll notice that many of the stalls are being run by university students, and many of the customers are too.  One of the perks of university students being the prime customer is that they attract some trendy vendors. 

There’s a great mix of traditional Thai street food and trendy international street food stalls here. The popularity of Korean and Japanese street foods is growing fast, so you’ll find several of those food stalls here too!

Some of my favorite Chiang Mai University Night Market Food Stalls are:

• Fresh fruit smoothies
• Mango sticky rice
• Meat skewers (I love the sweet pork)
• Gyoza
• Sausage with vermicelli noodles inside
• Korean fried chicken
• Japanese Takoyaki
• Crepes
• Roti (my go-to is banana with Nutella)
• Waffles
• Egg Tarts

You’ll also notice that the prices here are quite a bit cheaper than the other night markets in Chiang Mai (which are already pretty cheap!). Honestly, I can’t believe backpackers in Chiang Mai aren’t flocking here!

The middle stalls are my favorites, but there’s not that much public seating. So after buying lots of snacks from those stalls, my friends and I got a table at one of the sit-down restaurants – as long as you order a couple of plates from them, they don’t mind if you bring other food there.

Vegetarian Options: 

There aren’t tons of vegetarian options, but there are some. Two of my friends are vegetarians and they found plenty of things to try, although I think they had better luck at the Old City night markets, which have more practice with tourist dietary restrictions.

👉 I’ve solo-traveled all over the world and LOVE to take tours that I find on Viator. They have so many 5-star tours, and it’s easy to see which ones have the best ratings. I’ve also had to use their 24/7 customer service more than once and was helped immediately.

Worried About Food Poisoning?

The last thing you want when you’re on vacation is to be down for the count with explosive diarrhea (sorry, there’s nothing travelers like talking about more than bowel movements). 

If you follow some basic safety measures, you should be fine. Trust me, I’ve spent months in Thailand and ate street food EVERY SINGLE DAY – sometimes multiple times a day – and not once did I get sick from it (although I’ve gotten sick from other things). 

The key is to make sure that the food is cooked properly and piping hot when served. Look out for fresh ingredients that are being cooked in front of you, as well as hot charcoal grills for meats. 

One of the best parts about eating street food is that the kitchen is right in front of you! You can watch to make sure they’re wearing gloves and handling the food in a clean way.

Also, try to eat where there are a lot of people eating, especially if you see locals. They know the best spots! 

Most food-related illnesses come from fresh produce being washed in contaminated water, so salads and raw veggies are often the riskiest things you can eat.

And don’t forget to use your common sense: if something doesn’t look or smell quite right, just don’t risk it!

Remember, the only way these street food vendors make a living is if they sell lots of food every night. They can’t risk their customers getting sick – that would be bad for business!

⛑️ My number one safety tip for travelers, no matter where you’re going or how long your trip is, is to buy SafetyWing insurance to protect your trip.

Things to Do Near Malin Plaza, Chiang Mai

Exploring the University Night Market is a great way to experience Chiang Mai, but there’s much more to do in the area! Here are some of our favorite things to do near Malin Plaza:

• Hike the Monk’s Trail to Wat Phra Lat, a beautiful temple hidden away in the mountains of Chiang Mai. The climb up the mountain gives you an amazing view of the city and plenty of photogenic spots.

• Get your steps in at Angkaew Reservoir, a small reservoir with an easy walking path, located at Chiang Mai University and open to the public.

• Enjoy shopping at Maya Mall, one of Chiang Mai’s newest shopping centers featuring designer shops and international restaurants. It’s also home to a movie theater.

• Visit the Huay Kaew Waterfall, a small waterfall that’s easy to visit from Chiang Mai. There are hiking trails nearby if you’re up for an adventure.

👉 Check out this full-day Chiang Dao Kayaking, Caving, and Jungle Tour from Chiang Mai. You’ll get to kayak along the Mae Ping River, surrounded by a tranquil forest and a bamboo jungle, greeted by water buffalo and birds. After a local lunch, you’ll explore the Chiang Dao Cave System with headlamps and flashlights.

Other Best Night Markets in Chiang Mai

• Gate Market – An open-air market located near Tha Pae Gate, Gate Market offers a great selection of Thai street food. This is one of my favorite night markets in Chiang Mai. 

• Phuak Gate Night Market – A small local night market that comes alive in the evening. You’ll find my favorite sukiyaki stall here, and the famous Cowboy Hat Lady pork knuckle stew.

• Warorot Market – Better known as Kad Luang by the locals – is Chiang Mai’s largest market, open day and night. Located in Chinatown, this market dates back over a century and is home to countless vendors who sell almost anything imaginable. From fruits and vegetables to ready-made clothes and freshly made local delicacies, Talat Warorot has it all!

• Night Bazaar – Located at the eastern end of Chang Klan Road in Chiang Mai’s old city center, this large night bazaar features everything from crafts to clothes to jewelry. There are several food courts along this big night market worth checking out. And the live music is pretty good, too!

• Saturday Night Market – Located at the Chiang Mai Gate, this popular night market offers a variety of goods and activities. You can buy souvenirs, food, snacks, and more. Combine with a visit to the Gate Market and Silver Temple if you’re short on time.

• Sunday Night Market – This market is located on the east side of the old city and features a wide variety of items as well as local food stalls. My favorite papaya salad is sold here, next to a delicious fried chicken stall.

• White Market at One Nimman – Open Friday-Sunday, this higher-end night market is not the cheapest night market in town, but it’s fun! There are a number of food and clothing stalls set up, and also live music! 

👉 My pick for the best hostel in Chiang Mai is Hostel Lullaby. I stayed here multiple times when I was backpacking Thailand. It’s a quiet hostel that attracts more mature backpackers and is in a great location with super comfortable beds with curtains and rooms with A/C. I made so many friends who I traveled with all over Northern Thailand at the complimentary breakfast.

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Budget

My pick for the best hostel in Chiang Mai is Hostel Lullaby. I stayed here multiple times when I was backpacking Thailand. It’s a quiet hostel that attracts more mature backpackers and is in a great location with super comfortable beds that have curtains, and rooms that have A/C. I made so many friends at the complimentary breakfast who I traveled with all over Northern Thailand.

Mid-Range

My top pick for a hotel in Chiang Mai is POR Thapae Gate because it’s in the perfect location and has a great breakfast! The staff here is amazing, and you’ll love having a relaxing place to come home to after a full day of exploring.

Luxury

My pick for the best 5-star luxury hotel in Chiang Mai is Maladee Rendezvous Hotel Chiang Mai, with a near-perfect 10 rating and a swimming pool. This is the tranquil retreat from the city you need! 

University Night Market Chiang Mai FAQs

👉 My pick for the best Chiang Mai temple tour is this City Tour of Viewpoints, Wat Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Pha Lat with a near-perfect 5-Star Rating.

Final Thoughts: Kad Na Mor Night Market Chiang Mai

The Chiang Mai University Night Market is one of the best night markets in Chiang Mai, and it’s hardly ever visited by tourists!

If you are looking to try local food without tourist prices, or if you need to pick up a few clothes or accessories, this is the place!

The Kad Na Mor night market is cheaper than the more touristic night markets in the Old City, and you won’t see many other foreigners when you’re here.

I love taking street food tours all around the world, and taking a food tour in Chiang Mai is truly the best way to experience Chiang Mai’s food scene, in a less stressful way. I love taking food tours as a solo traveler because I always make friends with the other people on the tour! 

And if you haven’t eaten sukiyaki at the Phuak Gate Night Market yet, you’re missing out – here’s everything you need to know about visiting Phuak Gate Night Market!