Lan Gae - Chiang Saen

Basic, simple Thai food. Very friendly owner doesn't speak English but at the word “je” will produce a nice vegan lunch. A family of well respected cats adds to the friendliness.

Going to this place in a residential area with the old city walls right across the street I was pretty sure it would close but luckily Mae has been in this one for 16 years and isn't about to stop. I've only been to Chiang Saen, certainly a big enough town to have more than one vegan restaurant, for two days and made sure to have both of my lunches here. Also rode by once after dark and it still looked open. With little or nothing on display and a small whiteboard in Thai as the menu, it's best to say you'll eat what's available. She serves fairly simple farewells, with cabbage and mock meat prominently featured, and a filling, healthy meal and a wide selection of snacks never cost more than 40 baht. Small cucumbers can be dipped in a flavorful side sauce with any meal. She is a very patient, mothering and inquisitive lady, your Thai is good if you can fit a few sentences together. On Saturday, her place even became a social gathering place, what great listening and speaking practice, though difficult social distancing in a small space between the elders. You can sit against the wall and watch local squirrels have a meal of fruit that the owner can refill. Even if the city had other choices, a vegan in Chiang Saen would be dismissed for not trying their cuisine and company at least once.

I really loved this place. The couple was very friendly and showed me the dishes they had on offer. The food was nice and only 30THB for 3x dishes. Also a great spot to check out from, all the Buddhist temple ruins dotted around the city.

The owner hardly spoke English but was very friendly and served us several dishes with rice. The food was cold (it seems common in Jay food series like this), and we couldn't choose from the menu or a buffet, which can be a serious problem when you have to avoid certain ingredients. However everything we were served tasted good and it was a lovely experience to eat in such an authentic little restaurant.

Lovely people, food is nice as well. Only a few dishes but taste is good. Not much English spoken, but good people. Do not need many words to explain, just point and eat.