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Hours
Sun
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Mon
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Tue
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Wed
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Thu
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Fri
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Sat
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travelers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Bar, Barbecue, Seafood, Thai, Healthy
Does this restaurant allow dogs or considered pet friendly?
Details
About
Set on the Ping River, Paak Dang offers a beautiful dining experience in a 2 story Lanna Style Teak Wood house. We serve authentic Thai food that will tickle and tantalise the tastebuds of both the Thai local palate and our friends from all over the world. A lot of thought has been put into our menu offering so that there will always be something for each and everyone that walks through our Red Doors. Paak Dang has been set up with a mission and vision - to provide employment to the under-privileged and at-risk youths from the neighbouring villages. After the pandemic, we have now re-opened and have recently moved to a bigger and better location aiming to "change even more lives!” Open for dinner daily with a serene and picturesque setting on the Ping River. Our biggest accolade was to be awarded the Michelin Plate 2 years running so reservations are highly recommended for the best tables by the river. Come and have an unforgettable dining experience at Paak Dang！
PRICE RANGE
$3.00 – $10.00
CUISINES
Bar, Seafood, Barbecue, Thai, Healthy
Special Diets
Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Validated Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Waterfront, Dog Friendly, Family style, Gift Cards Available
Contribute
4.5
1,395 reviews
Excellent
1,020
Very good
251
Average
81
Poor
26
Terrible
17
JamesKateley
Bangkok115 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
I visited this restaurant last week with my friends. The food, service and ambiance provided a great experience. I also admired the social enterprise of providing job skills for underprivileged people.
However, I did find this restaurant rather expensive compared to similar establishments. For example, a small bowl of Tom Yum was 250 baht, whereas Khualek riverside restaurant, slightly down the river charges 125 baht.. I feel that if this restaurant reduced its prices slightly, they would attract more repeat custom.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
priyagerard
Singapore27 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
Food was soooo yummy. And the staff were friendly with big smiles. There was a live singer which was nice. We will def. visit again when we visit Chiang Mai. The oysters were huge!! And so fresh. Jumbo prawns were slightly higher on the price, but the prawn was huge and juicy so we didnt mind the price. Overall great place to visit.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie M
Chiang Mai580 contributions
Jan 2023 • friends
Our friend took us here for a special occasion. He has eaten here four times and loves the place. We were excited about going and the restaurant did meet our expectations. it is a Michelin Plate rated place and the food was scrumptious. The shrimp cakes were the best we have ever eaten, plump, juicy, flavorful shrimps with a generous tasty coating. They came with a flavorful pomelo salad. Each of us thought " The next time we come, we will EACH get our own instead of sharing!" Anyway, we had the chicken wings, spring rolls, steamed whole fish, scallops and cellophane vermicelli noodles, and we did not get rice. All the food was delicious. They have the sugar free Singha flavored soda waters, which is a bonus when you want zero calories and flavor. They have wine by the glass and beer but we were not drinking alcohol. The owner is friendly and explained the concept of their restaurant. This is explained on the first page of their menu and is an honorable endeavor. You will have to go there to see for yourself, You will not be disappointed. We were too full to order dessert but they looked very tasty too! We cannot wait to go back!
Written January 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Marie, thank you for taking the time to leave us a glowing review and please thank your friend for not forgetting Paak Dang. We are glad you enjoyed our Fresh Home-Made Prawns cakes which are beaten (not made) daily and the rest of our food. Thank you also for supporting our mission of "changing lives" and we hope to see you again soon!
Warmest Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written January 15, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
donliew
Kuala Lumpur271 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
After reading so much about this place, we were super disappointed. Service is good but they certainly need a new Chef. Food was just average for that kind of prices you pay and with a reputation being in MICHELIN Guide’s Point Of View, you expect more. Was told by a local that this restaurant used to be good until the new owners took over. I'm afraid they cannot live up to past reputation.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
klinl
Dear Sir, thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. As you didn’t specify what dishes you ordered it will be hard for us to act on your comments to improve.
For the record and for the benefit of our future guests, there has NOT been any change in ownership so we do not know what your local Thai friend is talking about and therefore no past reputation for us to live up to. Paak Dang has had the same Chef and core kitchen staff since early 2015 (6 years ago) when we took over the restaurant and the accolades we have received over the years including the Michelin Plate late last year is due to this same kitchen.
The accolades we have received have always been attached to our “signature dishes” like our Jumbo Prawns and Live Yellow Curry Crabs to name a few. If you ordered traditional basic dishes like stir-fried morning glory, it will be hard to use this as a basis to judge the standard and skills of our kitchen.
We apologize that we didn’t live up to your expectations and will love to hear more from you. Please feel free to email us at paakdang@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written January 31, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cnxtraveller
Chiang Mai7 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
I have lived in Chiang Mai for 20+ years and I am always looking for interesting and different places to eat. I decided to visit after reading their website and many reviews. I found the restaurant quite easily despite the fact that Google Street View still shows the previous restaurant view and name. Hopefully this will be resolved on the next Google update but meantime it would be useful to see some photos of the current frontage which I would have added had it not been bucketing down with rain when we left.
I parked quite easily outside (it was early evening on a week day) and was greeted on entry by pleasant staff. As it was raining slightly we were offered a nice table close to the river but still under cover. The menus were given and listed an extensive selection of seafood and traditional Thai dishes at reasonable prices for a restaurant of this type. Most of the dishes were 200-300 baht with some signature dishes much more expensive. We drank beer which again was expensive but not for this type of restaurant.
The food was excellent but not exceptional and the service was attentive and professional given the laudable stated intention of employing disadvantaged people.
All in all I was very happy with the meal until it came time to pay. I requested the bill and was somewhat surprised to see an additional 7% tax added to it. Maybe it is stated somewhere on the menu that prices exclude tax but I didn't see it and I consider it sharp practice to show prices that are not the price you have to pay. There is no justification in doing this to my mind. It is not optional - everyone has to pay it.
Surprise number 2 came when I tried to pay with a Visa card only to be told that they would add another 3% to the bill if I paid that way. Luckily I had enough cash to pay so as not to incur this additional charge. So factor in another 10% all in to the prices you see on the menu if you intend to pay by card.
In summary, a nice restaurant in great location with an interesting menu and reasonable quality food. The prices are not outrageous but do factor in the 'hidden' charges.
Written July 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Steve, thank you for taking the time to leave us your thoughts and comments and we greatly appreciate the feedback. We will update the photos on Google as soon as possible so that future patrons can find us easily. We are glad you found our food excellent and were happy with our service. With regards to the VAT and credit card surcharge, it is stated at the bottom of the 1st page of our menu with our Cover Story of "changing lives". Thank you again and we look forward to hosting you again.
Best Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written July 23, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DJNKSingapore
Singapore113 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We just had a wonderful meal at Paak Dang in January 2020. Everything was superb, especially the Miang Kham Goong a traditional thai snack of grilled prawns wrapped with betel nut leaves, and the Giant Jumbo Prawns. I would go back without any hesitation. The ambiance was lovely, the owners friendly and charming and the staff tried really hard. Well done!!
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
klinl
Dear Valued Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a glowing review. Always heartwarming when fellow Singaporeans support us in our mission of “changing lives”. Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you again the next time you are back in Chiang Mai.
Written January 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
markjhiggs
Beijing8 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
Ate here last night and found the food and coconuts to be excellent. We had the crab cakes, minced pork, vegetables, crab curry and seabass. All of the dishes were excellent, service was top notch. It's a lovely spot down by the river. Would we come again? Absolutely!
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
klinl
Hi Mark, thank you for your support and for taking the time to leave us such a glowing review. We are glad you enjoyed dining with us and look forward to hosting you again.
Best Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written March 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael B
Krabi Province123 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
We ate at Paak Dang the other night. It's a lovely , romantic restaurant situated on the Mae Ping just South of Super Hwy. The food was delicious but staff needs some quick training, Our food arrived BEFORE the spoons , forks and plates. We needed to go ask for those. Thank goodness the lady owner/manager came around to ask how things were going. Staff never did ( customary in Thailand ).
Having said that, we will certainly go back. The location is excellent, the food delicious
Written November 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and we sincerely apologize for not being on top of our game. This is our 4th day back in operations after being closed for almost 3 years due to Covid. And we admit that our systems and service are still shaky.
Aside, as a note to all our future diners; Paak Dang is a social enterprise that is committed to “changing the lives of the underprivileged and at risk youths” to give them a chance in gaining employment and to equip them with the life skills that will enhance their lives. As such, many of our staff are untrained and speak little English. Please give us some time to ensure that they will be able to get their service and language skills up to speed.
Thank you for giving us a second chance so that we will be able to ensure that our service will be satisfactory the next time you come back.
Warmest Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written November 17, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
595cwl
42 contributions
Dec 2022 • none
We had grilled giant jumbo river prawns, mussels, steamed fish and stir fried morning glory. Everything was delicious, especially the river prawns, which were fresh, large and succulent. Lovely location by the river, with very good service.
Great food for a worthy cause -- the owners of Paak Dang believe in making a difference and changing lives. They provide employment to less privileged youths from the villages and hill tribes and equip them with life skills.
Written December 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Valued Guest, thank you taking the time to leave us a review. We are glad you enjoyed our food and service and also thank you for supporting our cause of “changing lives”. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Warmest Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written January 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ian e
10 contributions
Jan 2023 • couples
Really enjoyable evening last night. The setting is perfect and the level of service is superb from the moment you walk in. Our food was delicious, the wine, although just the house wine, was very good but it was the people including the owner who made it such a great experience.
Written January 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Valued Guest, thank you taking the time to leave us a review and we are glad you enjoyed dining with us. Enjoy the rest of your trip in Chiang Mai and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Warmest Regards,
Owner
K-Lin Lim
Written January 26, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stephanie L
Singapore5 contributions
Jan 2023 • family
This is the second time I have been to Paak Dang, the first time at the old location. The new location was bigger and better! The service was perfect and the staff were welcoming. Our family of four shared the steamed tilapia, the jumbo prawns, the pineapple fried rice as well and the stir fried cashew chicken. All the dishes were delicious and the owner K personally checked in on us to make sure everything was good. Overall, Paak Dang is a mist visit when in Chiang Mai. From our experience, even Bangkok does not have Thai food of this standard. We're looking forward to coming back the next time we are visiting!!
Written January 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Stephanie, thank your for coming back again and not forgetting us. And thank you for the glowing review. Saying that "even Bangkok does not have Thai food of this standard" is a big honour to us. We hope to see you again the next time you and your family are in town.
Warmest Regards,
K-Lin
Owner
Written February 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KMXsgp
Singapore44 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
Our evening at Paak Dang was lovely from start to end. We chose a nice secluded table by the river.
We ordered cocktails and both the old fashioned and margarita were some of the best cocktails we’ve had! So good we ordered a few more!
The restaurant boasts an extensive menu with all your Thai favourites. The prawn cakes and pomelo salad was amazing. Generous portions as well! We even ordered our favourite fish dish that wasn’t on the menu and it was delicious! It was my partners birthday and it was so thoughtful and kind that we went sent mango with sticky rice with a candle on the house!
I highly recommend Paak Dang and kudos to K-Lin and her team for a worthwhile experience.
Written February 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Valued Guest, thank you for taking the time to leave us such a glowing review and we are glad you had a wonderful time dining with us from start to finish. At Paak Dang, we always do our best to ensure that each and everyone of our diners who walk through our doors leave with not just a full tummy but a big smile on their face!
I trust you enjoyed the rest of your holiday and we look forward to seeing you and your lovely husband again soon!
Warmest Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written February 24, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lynn8859
21 contributions
Apr 2023 • couples
This place is stunning!! A beautiful vibe, relaxed with great service and a lovely view with the sounds of nature and a river view! Myself and my partner visited for our honeymoon and could not have been more pleased! The ethos of this place is fantastic - offering opportunities to people who may need them in the local community while providing top quality food and service at a more than reasonable price. It has been a privilege to visit! The owner came and spoke with us and wished us a happy honeymoon and we had a dessert from them to celebrate! A true hidden gem in chaing mai!! Cannot recommend highly enough! Thank you! Xx
Written April 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Lynn, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and we are honoured you chose Paak Dang to celebrate your honeymoon. Thank you for supporting our mission of "changing lives" and Team Paak Dang will continue to provide the best level of service to all our guests. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday in Chiang Mai and the rest of Thailand. Take care and we hope to see you again soon!
Warmest Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written April 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Steven B
23 contributions
Jan 2023 • couples
“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” Is the mantra here.
K-Lin has not only opened a beautiful location to serve wonderful cuisine, she has also found a place to help the less fortunate kids of the area learn the restaurant trade.
Written January 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Steven, thank you for coming back 2 nights in a row and for taking the time to leave us a review. We are glad you enjoyed dining with us and seeing you and your lovely wife enjoy our food was a delight! More importantly, thank you for supporting our mission of changing lives and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Warmest Regards,
Owner
K-Lin Lim
Written January 26, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
somewheresunny
Manchester1062 contributions
Aug 2023 • family
Whilst on holiday in CM we decided to try this riverside restaurant based on reviews and location. The setting is lovely, impressive entrance and tables overlooking the river. The service was impressive, very attentive and friendly. The food was as lovely as the setting and can’t fault it. Yes, it’s more expensive than the local Thai restaurants, but you get what you pay for. A 3 course meal for three people inc drinks cost 3000 bhat.
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K-Lin Lim
Dear Valued Guest, thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review and we are delighted that you enjoyed both our food and level of service. And thank you for understanding that the prices at Paak Dang are higher as you rightly said "you get what you pay for". At Paak Dang we source for the freshest ingredients and something as simple as freshly squeezed lime versus lime cordial or imported versus locally sourced meats and seafood will greatly change the costing of our dishes. We hope you enjoyed Chiang Mai and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Warmest Regards,
K-Lin Lim
Owner
Written October 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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