Eating in Khao Yai
Kirimaya Resort Restaurant
The resort's own restaurant is genuinely excellent — beautifully presented, high quality, and a lovely setting. That said, you will already be dining there during the wedding dinner on Saturday evening, and it is on the pricier side compared to the surrounding area.
One of the best things about Khao Yai is the food. As a region built around farming, the produce here is exceptionally fresh — vegetables, herbs, fruit, and meat all come from the surrounding land, and you taste the difference. The area has a fantastic range of options, from roadside grills to Michelin-recognised restaurants, and you will get very far simply by exploring Google Maps and following your nose. You really cannot go wrong.
Nina's Café Khaoyai
Michelin Bib Gourmand
A wonderful find and one of our personal favourites. Nina's homely restaurant is surrounded by greenery and has two dining areas — a vintage-decorated interior with chandeliers and classic furniture, and a shaded garden outside. The dishes are beautifully seasoned, and many of the vegetables and herbs — including betel leaves, coriander, and basil — are grown on-site. In 2024, Nina's received the Michelin Bib Gourmand award, recognising exceptional quality at great value. Must-tries include the fried pumpkin with salted egg sauce and the deep-fried sea bass with chilli and salt. Reservations are required and pre-ordering is mandatory — book ahead via their Facebook page. Cash only.
BBQ Chicken & Som Tam
ไอ้ส้ม ไก่ย่างวิเชียรบุรี & ส้มตำ
If you have one street food meal in Khao Yai, make it this one. BBQ chicken is a regional speciality here, and this place does it as well as anywhere — perfectly charred, smoky, and served with sticky rice and som tam (green papaya salad) for a shockingly affordable price. It is exactly the kind of place you travel for. Find it on Google Maps by searching the Thai name above.
Homemade Thai Grill & Shabu
เวรีไทยหมูกระทะ แจ่วฮ้อนอีสาน สาขาเขาใหญ่
For a proper Thai hot pot experience. This is an Isaan-style moo kata restaurant — a combination of a domed grill and a surrounding moat of broth, where you cook thinly sliced pork, vegetables, and noodles at your own table. Relaxed, communal, and deeply satisfying. Perfect for a group evening out. Find it on Google Maps by searching the Thai name above.