Is it the most utterly delicious meal in the city? Not exactly. Is it a quintessential Chiang Mai experience? 100 percent. The northern Thai equivalent of dinner theater couples deliciously pan-regional meals — think slightly sweet, northern Thai-style pork curry, chile-based dips, as well as a couple central Thai dishes — with traditional dance, and has been entertaining both local and foreign visitors for the last 40 years. [$$]

It’s not specifically Chiang Mai-style, but the rotisserie chicken here — which was the inspiration for the version served at Portland’s famed Pok Pok — is delicious regardless of provenance. Couple the dish with a basket of sticky rice and a plate of spicy-tart papaya salad and you’ve got yourself a crash-course in the food of Isan, Thailand’s northeastern region. [$]

Among Thais, Chiang Mai is renowned for its cafes, and at the top of the heap is Akha Ama. Quite possibly one of the best-value coffee shops in the world (an excellent cappuccino will set you back less than $2), it also serves a good cause: The beans here are grown in the remote corners of neighboring Chiang Rai province, providing a needed economic resource for northern Thailand’s minority groups. [$]

While hostel-style sleeping may not be your thing, it’s still possible to dip your toe in the Chiang Mai backpacker world at this longstanding, delightfully granola spot. Hearty, healthy breakfasts; decent baked goods; and appropriately vegetarian-friendly options abound, and there’s even an attached shop selling pesticide-free fruit. [$]

One of Chiang Mai’s most legendary eateries is this shack-like shrine to bubbling oil. Choose your deep-fried protein — chicken, pork belly, sun-dried beef, among others — and enjoy it with a mountain of steaming sticky rice, a plate of crunchy pickled mustard greens, and a spicy northern Thai-style dip. As the name suggests, this is for late-night noshing only. [$]

Khao soi, wheat noodles in a curry broth, is Chiang Mai’s signature dish, and there are dozens of places in the city to get it. But a good starting point is the pleasantly mild and creamy (from coconut milk) Muslim version of the dish, sold here for several decades now. If you need a bit more oomph, opt for the excellent mutton biryani, served with fragrant yellow rice, a tiny bowl of savory broth, and a sweet-and-sour dip. [$]

For decades, this rambling riverside shack has entertained and satiated just about everybody who’s ever resided in or been to Chiang Mai. The menu spans every corner of Thailand (and has some Western, Japanese, and vegetarian dishes, too), but with that superlative view, the breeze, and live music, it’s really all about the atmosphere and the classic Chiang Mai vibe. [$]

Khao soi completists can’t miss this one, one of the city’s most famous (and longstanding) venues for the dish. The bowls served here are rich and fragrant, and unlike most places, which stick to chicken or beef, the options here include pork or even shrimp. A slew of other northern Thai dishes and snacks are also available, making this a great one-stop shop for northern Thai flavors. [$]

After khao soi, Chiang Mai’s other noodle superstar is khanom jeen nam ngiaw, thin, round rice noodles topped with a tart and savory broth of pork ribs and tomatoes. Open since 1977, this market-bound stall offers a hearty version of the dish, plus a variety of other curries served over the eponymous noodles. [$]

Sophisticated slurpers (like me, and those willing to make the drive 20 minutes north of the city) know that Prince does the absolute tastiest khao soi in Chiang Mai. The coconut milk-spiked broth is mild and meaty, with a subtle backbone of dried spices, and each bowl features the superlative wheat-and-egg noodles that are still made in-house, as well as a crunchy, slightly sweet side of pickled mustard greens. [$]

It’s a schlep to get here from downtown Chiang Mai, but this charmingly refurbished wooden building is one of the best all-around destinations for northern Thai food. Everything is tasty, but it’s a particularly good place to try dishes you might not encounter elsewhere, like jin som mok khai, fermented pork grilled with egg in a banana leaf package, or any of the nam phrik, northern Thai-style dips. [$]