Chiang Mai’s Must-Visit Sunday Market – Bug Fried Feast Challenges Your Taste Buds

Text & Photos /Xiao Sheng


Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s most renowned ancient cities, boasts not only historical sites but also numerous unique markets and night markets to explore. Among Chiang Mai’s night markets, the most famous is the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. However, this area mostly caters to tourists, with vendors selling less distinctive items at higher prices, and bargaining is a must at every stall.

However, Xiao Sheng’s favorite markets in Chiang Mai are the weekend holiday markets that appear only on Saturdays or Sundays. The Saturday market has been introduced before, and this article will focus on Chiang Mai’s largest and most creatively designed Sunday market.


As the name suggests, the Sunday market is only open on Sundays in Chiang Mai. Stalls line Rachadamnoen Rd. within the ancient city, stretching approximately 1.1 kilometers from Tha Phae Gate in the east to Wat Phra Singh in the west.

Even more are tourists from around the world who come specifically for the market. Nearly all visitors to Chiang Mai flock to this Sunday market, packing the small street to capacity and transforming the usually serene ancient city into a bustling nightlife hub.
 

The Chiang Mai Sunday market generally opens around 5 PM daily and continues until after 10 PM, with most stalls closing up by around 11 PM. After all, Chiang Mai’s ancient city isn’t a metropolis like Bangkok, so the market winds down earlier.

On my first visit to the Sunday market, since it starts at 5 PM, I was there until around 6 PM when a solemn musical tune suddenly played. Everyone stood up and turned toward the source of the music. Later, I learned that this solemn tune was the Thai national anthem.

At that moment, everyone had to stop what they were doing, stand at attention, and face the direction of the anthem. To Taiwanese eyes, this might seem like a symbol of authoritarianism (it reminded me of how we had to stand up and sing the national anthem before movies in cinemas as kids, XD). But in Thailand, it’s a display of patriotism.


Originally, there were many street food stalls on both sides of Rachadamnoen Rd. near Tha Phae Gate, but for some reason, I didn’t see them this time. It felt like the scale of the Sunday market has slightly shrunk compared to previous years.

Nowadays, if you’re looking for authentic street food at the Sunday market, head to the open space in the temple at the intersection of Rachadamnoen Rd. and Ratpakinai Rd. The chicken and pork satay there are quite good, especially with the satay sauce. If you find it too rich, pairing it with refreshing cucumber slices balances the flavors nicely.


Chicken drumsticks are another of my favorite treats. The golden-brown fried exterior is appetizing just to look at, and the tender meat, combined with the fragrant fried garlic slices, is simply delightful. The green chili sauce adds a different kick, though I have to be careful not to overdo it—the spiciness can become unbearable.


This local street food reminds me of Taiwan’s oyster omelet, XD—I don’t know why, but that’s always my first impression. This dish is made by mixing some seafood ingredients into the batter, then adding raw bean sprouts before frying. Since the batter isn’t too thick, the result is a crispy texture paired with a hint of seafood flavor—quite a unique snack.


Thai-style drinks are mostly coconut milk-based. Though each vendor offers something slightly different, I always like to try them. The rich coconut milk paired with chewy, smooth ingredients creates a magical flavor you can only really experience in Thailand—I’m quite fond of it.


Mango sticky rice is another must-try dessert in Thailand. Though it seems that in recent years, the portion sizes have gotten smaller while prices remain similar, XD. The combination of sweet Thai mango and coconut milk-infused sticky rice is incredibly indulgent, yet the flavor is undeniably appealing—I always love this dish when I’m in Thailand.


Chiang Mai curry noodles, unique to Northern Thailand, are also available at the Sunday market. However, I haven’t found any particularly delicious ones here yet—the best Chiang Mai curry noodles I’ve had were near Kad Suan Kaew.


Thai-style grilled meat is also an essential part of Thai street food. Marinated and grilled meat fills the air with mouthwatering aromas, attracting crowds of buyers every time.




Strawberries—I haven’t actually eaten strawberries at the Sunday market, but I tried some at a Pai night market because a friend wanted them. However, those strawberries were underwhelming, with a strange mix of sour, sweet, salty, and even spicy flavors. Truly very “Thai-style.” After one bite, I never wanted to try them again. I’m not sure if the Sunday market strawberries are the same, but seeing them still makes me hesitant.
 

Colorful, various-flavored rice crackers are sold at the Sunday market. They’re quite popular, and there are many flavors to try.




However, the most unique stall at the Sunday market has to be the bug fry-up—featuring fried bamboo worms, cicadas, silkworms, drum bugs, grasshoppers, and crickets. You name a fried bug, and they probably have it.

I once asked a friend if people in Northern Thailand really enjoy eating bugs. He said that because these fried insects are high in protein, low in fat, and low in cholesterol, they’re actually quite popular. Some people even eat them raw, freshly caught in the fields, without even frying them first.
 

The most unusual one is this bug. I always thought it wasn’t a cockroach, but locals insisted it was their version of one. Priced at around 7–10 baht each, I didn’t dare try this disgusting thing.

However, my adventurous junior, Xiao Yong, tried it and said the shell is very hard, and the texture is somewhat like eating shrimp paste—which sent chills down my spine just hearing about it. She also warned me not to eat the legs of the fried grasshoppers—they’re huge, and the spines can prick your mouth. She claimed to have mastered the art of eating them, XD.


Foreigners are also curious about these fried bugs, but after trying them, most find them super gross and end up giving them away to passersby. I didn’t find the taste appealing either.


Since I brought my nephew to Chiang Mai, I figured he should try the fried bugs too. Though I couldn’t bring myself to eat them, I thought it’d be good to embrace the local culture. I went for the mildest options: fried bamboo worms and crickets. The bamboo worms actually tasted a bit like soft shrimp, making them the most tolerable.

The crickets were also soft, but if you don’t clean them properly, you might end up with a leg in your mouth—which is seriously unpleasant, XD.

 
Aside from the wide array of street food, the Chiang Mai Sunday market also features many talented street performers. If you enjoy their acts, don’t hesitate to tip them. One performer operated a puppet show using sticks and strings, accompanied by live music from a man playing nearby—an authentically traditional Thai performance.


Another performer played beautiful music by tapping on glasses filled with water—a rare and unique skill.


This band is made up of visually impaired musicians who are far from disabled—one group of four plays different instruments. At the Sunday market, you can always spot two such blind bands. Every time I walk by, I’m moved by their dedication, and I always leave them a little tip as encouragement.


This group performs with special instruments, though I’m not familiar with them and don’t know which country they originated from. But I’ve seen Indigenous Australians playing them in Australia, and they’re also found in Chiang Mai, Thailand—it’s quite rare. They even attract foreigners to join in the fun.


This young girl is wearing traditional ethnic minority clothing while performing a classical dance.


I really love Chiang Mai’s Sunday market because it’s not just about delicious food and unique street performers—there are also countless stalls selling specialty trinkets, many of which are self-designed.

In the vast Sunday market, you won’t find a second one like it (of course, some stalls sell mass-produced items that you can see everywhere, XD). Moreover, these trinkets incorporate personal creativity, have great design sense, and yet still blend traditional Thai elements, which is why I adore them so much.


A ladle used for scooping water—the back of the ladle is painted in super vibrant, eye-catching colors, and it has a distinctly Thai flair.


Especially unique and full of childlike charm.




The Sunday market also has many backpacks with quirky expressions, especially the one shown above—the face on it is just so Q??D.






I remember these little trinkets are keychains, and each character keychain only costs 49 baht. The price is cheap, and they seem to be self-designed by the shopkeeper—very amusing and unique.




Besides the design-style trinkets, folk-style accessories are also commonly seen at the Sunday market, with a wide variety to choose from.




Some of the more unusual items include animal specimens sold by vendors. Though I wonder who would actually buy these specimens, XD. Honestly, there are way more unique items at the Sunday market than what I managed to photograph—but because they’re so distinctive, and many are self-designed by vendors, photos are prohibited at those stalls. So, you’ll just have to visit yourself to experience the special charm of Chiang Mai’s Sunday market.




And as the Loy Krathong Festival approaches, the square in front of the Three Kings Monument displays many special lanterns, somewhat similar to Taiwan’s lantern festivals. During the Sunday market’s operating hours, the crowd of onlookers also swells, packing the square with lively energy.

Chiang Mai’s Sunday market is my favorite market in Chiang Mai. Although sometimes it gets too crowded and takes a while to explore—remember the first time I went? We actually spent seven hours just walking through it (because my friends wanted to check out almost every single stall, XD).

But the items sold at the Sunday market stalls are truly one-of-a-kind, and even if you take a break for a while and come back later, you’ll still discover new and interesting things. That’s exactly why I love visiting the Sunday market so much. If you come to Chiang Mai, exploring the Sunday market is an absolute must.


[Chiang Mai Sunday Market]

Location: Rachadamnoen Rd., Chiang Mai
Business Hours: Every Sunday, 17:00–23:00
Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journeyhttp://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog

Every journey, every trip is a pursuit. Though I’m not entirely sure what I’m searching for, what I ultimately gain is always more than I imagined. And so, my wandering journey will continue, without end.