Ask a Chiang Mai local where the best khao soi of their life came from, and many will pause for a moment before naming a place with no app listing, no Google reviews — just word of mouth passed down for decades. Uncle Prakit's khao soi stall at Kad Kom market is one of those places.
Kad Kom — A Market Still Alive
Kad Kom is a morning market that has held onto its soul remarkably well. Not built for tourists — no English signs, no photogenic wooden tables — just the real daily life of Chiang Mai residents who arrive before dawn to buy vegetables, pick up groceries, and eat breakfast.
Uncle Prakit has been setting up his khao soi stall here since before "street food" became a trend, before Michelin came to Chiang Mai, before khao soi became a globally beloved dish. He does it because it's his craft. Because he loves it.
A Broth That Takes Time
What makes Uncle Prakit's khao soi different from dozens of new openings isn't location or marketing — it's the broth.
His broth begins at 4:30am. He dry-roasts his curry paste in the same iron wok he has always used. Freshly pressed coconut milk every morning. A slow simmer over low heat, letting the aromas and flavours gradually find each other. No seasoning powder, no packaged coconut milk, no shortcuts.
What's in the Bowl
The khao soi here arrives complete and correct — soft noodles cooked in the broth, crispy fried noodles on top, slow-braised chicken or pork that falls apart, pickled shallots, lime, and chilli paste on the side for you to adjust as you like.
What's different is a broth you can drink without feeling heavy. The coconut fragrance is present but not overwhelming. The heat builds slowly after the first spoon — not a sharp assault. You'll finish every drop, and if Uncle Prakit isn't busy, he'll nod to let you ladle more from the pot yourself.
Menu & Prices
- Khao Soi Chicken — 50 ฿
- Khao Soi Pork — 50 ฿
- Khao Soi Beef — 60 ฿
- Lime soda or water — 10 ฿
Prices that have never tracked trends, in an era when new khao soi shops in Nimman open at 180 ฿ and up.
Getting There & Hours
- Open: ~06:00 — 12:00 (or until sold out)
- Days: Monday — Saturday (occasionally Sunday)
- Location: Kad Kom market, Chiang Mai — ask anyone in the market for "ร้านข้าวซอยลุงประกิจ" — everyone knows
- Tip: Arrive before 8am to avoid a queue and reduce the risk of selling out
Why Come
In a Chiang Mai where a new khao soi restaurant opens every week, Uncle Prakit's stall has never changed. No rebrand, no gimmick, no collaboration. Just the same broth in the same bowl at the same plastic table, and a man who still remembers the face of every regular.
That's what you won't get from a guidebook listing — the feeling that you're not just eating a meal, but becoming part of a story that was already in motion long before you walked in.
Learn more: Chapter 3 (VII): The Lanna Festival Calendar & Life Rites