Aunt Aoy Kitchen, Chiang Mai

thokohmakan

February 2

Aunt Aoy Kitchen in Chiang Mai

[Non-halal] We enjoyed our meal at Aunt Aoy Kitchen in Chiang Mai.

Recognised by the Michelin Guide, this restaurant offers lovely home-cooked Thai dishes in a simple but comfortable space.

Aunt Aoy Kitchen in Chiang Mai

Similar to the popular Jay Fai in Bangkok, it appears that Aunt Aoy is the sole person cooking all the dishes in the kitchen.

With decades of experience cooking in hotel kitchens, her expertise is exemplified by dishes such as the Chef's Omelette (minced pork, pork cackling and salted egg on egg), Stir-Fry Basil with Wagyu Beef, and Stir-Fried Soft Shell Crab with Yellow Curry.

Patience is key here at Aunt Aoy

As Aunt Aoy is the only one cooking in the kitchen, patient is key here. We arrived for lunch at about noon to find a few person ahead of us in a queue.

Nevertheless, they provided seating area for us to wait - and it took only about 20 minutes for us to get a table. It then took another 30 minutes for our first dish to arrive. Hence, we don't recommend coming here on an empty stomach lest you get "hangry".

Stir-fry basil with wagyu beef

So is Aunt Aoy's dishes worth the wait? We think yes.

Our first dish - the Stir-Fry Basil with Wagyu Beef (THB300 or USD8.50) is a common basil leaf dish elevated with slices of tender Wagyu beef.

Not everything is made better with Wagyu, but this version somehow works as the tenderness of the beef really absorbed the savoury flavours of the gravy and fragrance of basil leaves. There was enough spicy kick from the slices chillies.

Stir-fried soft shell crab with yellow curry

We also enjoyed the Stir-Fried Soft Shell Crab with Yellow Curry (THB320 or USD9).

The soft shell crab pieces were crispy and nicely-marinated with spices, and blends well with the soft omelette and fragrant yellow curry sauce. Best to enjoy this with lots of rice.

We had no complaints either about the Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables (THB150 or USD4).

Summary

Our meals during this Chiang Mai were a hit-and-miss, but Aunt Aoy's was one of the hits for us. We enjoyed the home-cooked dishes at affordable prices in a comfortable setting.

Aunt Aoy Kitchen
Address: 377 2 Chiang Rai Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Hours: 10pm-7pm, Closed on Mondays
Phone: +66 81 716 0938