If you happen to get hungry during your trip to Phrae (which of course you will), Khao Soy Che Lek is definitely a place to visit.

Owned and operated by Khun Che Lek, this cozy little restaurant specializes in Khao Soy, a signature dish common throughout Northern Thailand comprising egg noodles, creamy curry, meat and vegetables.

Khao soy gai is one of the most frequently encountered varieties, with gai indicating chicken as the meat used.

Don’t worry if you don’t like chicken though, because like many Thai recipes khao soy is a versatile dish and can easily be varied to include meat balls, pork or beef.

Ordinarily diners will add extra ingredients including raw onion, pickled nappa (cabbage) and chili paste in oil to the dish at the table just prior to eating.

Located on the same road as the police station, Khao Soy Che Lek serves the best khao soy I’ve ever had. As a delicious appetizer I can also highly recommend their barbecued pork sticks, which are supplied with a tangy house-specialty sauce.

Khao soy does not take much time to prepare and is a delicious treat for your taste buds. Ingredients such as pickled nappa and chili paste are not that difficult to find in western countries and are generally available in the Asian section of supermarkets or from Asian grocery stores.

For those interested in sampling a truly traditional Northern Thai dish, below is a recipe for khao soy gai.

While the results will surely tantalize your taste buds, for truly outstanding Khao Soy you’ll need to head to Phrae and visit Khao Soy  Che Lek.

Khao soy gai (Noodles with chicken curry)

Ingredients:

1. Egg noodle (other kinds of noodle can be used)
2. Chicken (pork, beef and meat balls can be used)
3. 1 tablespoon of red curry paste
4. 1/2 cup of coconut milk
5. 1 cup of chicken stock
6. 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic
7. 1 tablespoon curry powder
8. 1 pinch of turmeric powder
9. 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
10. 1 teaspoon lime juice

How to make khao soy

1. Put egg noodle in boiling water until it is soft and strain it.
2. To make the curry, put the coconut milk into a medium sized saucepan on medium-high heat before adding the red curry paste. Stir it until it simmers.
3. Add remaining ingredients except chicken.
4. Wait for a minute before adding chicken and cook until the chicken is well done.
5. Pour the curry on the noodles and add what extra condiments you desire.

Here it is! Can’t read? Never mind. It’s not hard to find.	You can talk to the owner who is also the chef.