Garden of tasty delights

Plenty of new restaurants in Chiang Mai lately, yet somehow familyrun Khun Chern is still a standout after 15 years, not least for its MSGfree vegetarian cuisine.

It's moved a few times, but Khun Chern looks ready to settle on the popular shop¬ping strip that is Nimmanhaeminda Road Soi 17, where it relocated two weeks ago.

Regulars will find a refreshing new look in the Zenin¬spired decor that's prompted an expansion in the name - to Khun Chern Garden. Most of the seating is outdoors in the shade of trees, but there's still air-conditioned dining inside.

If you're dragging a meateater along with you, he'll stop griping as soon as he tries the dishes that use substitutes like mushrooms and bean curd - and sees the price of the lunch buffet, just Bt80.

Lunch can be a feast of salads, noodles and curries. Many special Thai dishes as well as traditional Lanna recipes can be found here including egg curry, khanom jin naam ngeow and nam prik noom.

There's an a la carte menu at dinner, when you shouldn't miss the chance to taste Khun Chern's northernstyle curry, served here with warm brown rice.

With the owners aiming to open up good vegetarian food to all walks of life, the prices for dinner - averaging Bt60 per meal - remain as reason¬able as for lunch. Khun Chern Garden also features counters serving customers with fresh juices, as well as coffee and ice cream.

Vipasai Niyamabha

Special to Daily Xpress