Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup
Mae On District, Mae
Restaurant in Mae, Thailand
The Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup is a no-frills specialist in a hyper-regional Northern Thai dish that rarely makes it onto city menus. Walk-in only, morning hours, best treated as part of a broader Mae On valley excursion. For food-focused travelers wanting genuine Lanna cooking away from Chiang Mai's tourist circuit, it earns the detour.
About Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup
Quick Verdict
Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup is easy to get to and easy to get into; no reservation system, no waitlist, no drama. For travelers making the drive out to Mae On District from Chiang Mai city, the question isn't whether you can get a seat, it's whether the trip is worth the effort. If you're already exploring the Mae On valley or heading toward the Ob Khan National Park area, the answer is yes. If you're making a dedicated round trip from central Chiang Mai just for this, you'll want to calibrate expectations: this is a local specialist, not a destination fine-dining experience.
What You're Getting
The name tells you exactly what this place does. Pig's blood soup; known in Northern Thai as him tang, is a hyper-regional dish that sits at the functional heart of Lanna food culture. The broth is built on pork bones and aromatics, the blood adds a dense, ferrous depth that you either want or you don't, the whole bowl arrives smelling of charred galangal and fresh herbs. This is the kind of cooking that doesn't travel well to city restaurants, which is precisely why places like this exist at the rural edge of Chiang Mai province. The aroma alone signals that you're eating something made from a recipe that hasn't needed updating.
For food-focused travelers, the context matters: Northern Thai cuisine is distinct from the central Thai cooking most international visitors know. Dishes here lean toward bitter, pungent, fermented flavors rather than the sweet-sour-chili balance of Bangkok cooking. Him Tang sits firmly in that tradition. If you've been eating your way through Mae's restaurant scene or working through Sorn in Bangkok and want to understand the regional source material, a stop here provides real context.
Timing and Logistics
Morning visits are the practical choice. Soup kitchens of this type in Northern Thailand typically run from early morning through midday, with the leading stock and the freshest blood early in the service. Come after noon and you risk finding a depleted pot or a closed shutter. The Mae On District sits east of Chiang Mai city, factor in travel time and plan this as a morning excursion rather than a dinner detour. Parking is not a problem. Walk-in seating is the norm.
There is no website, no phone number on record, no booking system to navigate. Turn up, order, eat. For explorers who've already visited PRU in Phuket or AKKEE in Pak Kret and want to fill in the grassroots side of Thai food culture, this is that kind of stop. Check our Mae experiences guide and Mae bars guide if you're building a full day in the valley.
Quick reference: Walk-in only, morning hours recommended, Mae On District east of Chiang Mai city, no booking required.
Planning details
- Location
- Q64X+72V, 1229, On Klang, Mae On District, Chiang Mai 50130, Thailand
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup sits off the beaten track in Mae On's agricultural fringe and feels quietly local rather than staged. The place has no English signage and no curated aesthetic; it operates for residents, not visitors. That context lets older northern-Thai cooking traditions hold sway: preparations here prioritize the whole animal and timeworn methods over contemporary presentation. The overall impression is unpretentious and rooted — an unassuming, classic local stop where the food and familiarity of place set the tone more than décor or trend-driven flourishes.
Best For
This is a spot for people seeking an unvarnished taste of northern-Thai home cooking rather than a polished tourist experience. It suits weekend escape itineraries, local day-trippers and anyone curious about traditional preparations like tom lueat muu. Groups looking for late-night frills or special-event trappings should look elsewhere; the restaurant is best enjoyed as a casual, exploratory outing—arrive ready to eat what the kitchen makes and to treat the meal as a direct line into Mae On's food culture.
Ordering Tips
Order the signature tom lueat muu to understand the place: the description explains pig's blood is coagulated into soft blocks and simmered in a broth that reflects a whole-animal cooking logic. Expect straightforward, no-frills service and a menu that emphasizes local, traditional ingredients rather than tourist-friendly adaptations. Because the venue operates for district residents and lacks English signage, bring any necessary context for non-Thai speakers (a phrase or a photo can help) and come with an appetite for authentic northern-Thai flavors.
Planning details
Location
Q64X+72V, 1229, On Klang, Mae On District, Chiang Mai 50130, Thailand · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Sorn; Southern Thai, ฿฿฿฿
- Baan Tepa; Thai contemporary, ฿฿฿฿
- Côte by Mauro Colagreco; Mediterranean, Modern Cuisine, ฿฿฿฿
- Gaa; Modern Indian, Indian, ฿฿฿฿
- Sühring; German, ฿฿฿฿
Restaurant context
Comparing Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup against the ฿฿฿฿ Bangkok fine-dining tier; Sorn, Baan Tepa, Gaa, Sühring, and Côte by Mauro Colagreco; is genuinely the wrong frame. They operate in entirely different categories. Sorn and Baan Tepa are tasting-menu experiences built for a special occasion, priced accordingly, requiring advance booking. Him Tang is a walk-in soup kitchen where the entire point is eating a single regional dish in its native context. If you want a structured, multi-course Thai experience with wine pairings and a considered room, book Sorn. If you want to understand what Northern Thai cooking actually tastes like at street level, come here instead.
Within Mae and the broader Chiang Mai province, Him Tang occupies a niche that upscale venues simply don't touch. The comparison venues on this list; including the European-leaning Côte by Mauro Colagreco; are Bangkok properties targeting international fine-dining audiences. Him Tang targets locals and food-focused travelers who already know what pig's blood soup is and want the real version. On value, it wins by default: the price point is almost certainly the lowest of any venue in this comparison set, there is zero booking friction. For anyone building a multi-day Chiang Mai food itinerary, the practical move is to include both tiers; a lunch stop here and an evening reservation at a Chiang Mai city specialist. See our full Mae restaurants guide for options across price ranges.
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Unlock the full Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup | No published awards | Easy | |
| Sorn | Southern Thai | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #12026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #12Star Wine Lists 20262026 Black Pearl 1 Diamond2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #12025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #162025 World's 50 Best Restaurants · #17 | Unknown |
| Baan Tepa | Thai contemporary | 2026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #532026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 2 Stars2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #362025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #44We're Smart World Top Restaurants 20252025 Michelin 2 Stars2025 The Best Chef Three Knives | Unknown |
| Côte by Mauro Colagreco | Mediterranean, Modern Cuisine | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #642026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #91Star Wine Lists 20262026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #752025 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #84World's Best Wine Lists 20252025 Michelin 2 Stars | Unknown |
| Gaa | Modern Indian, Indian | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #832026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #952026 Black Pearl 1 Diamond2026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #612025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #65We're Smart World Top Restaurants 2025 | Unknown |
| Sühring | German | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #142026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #182026 Black Pearl 2 Diamond2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars | Unknown |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup?
This is a single-focus, no-reservation spot in Mae On District, Chiang Mai; you show up, you eat, you leave. The dish is him tang, a hyper-regional Northern Thai pig's blood soup that you won't find on most tourist itineraries. Go in the morning; venues of this type in Northern Thailand typically sell out by midday. The address is 1229 On Klang, Mae On District, it's worth confirming hours locally before making the drive.
What should I order at Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup?
The name is the menu: pig's blood soup is what this place does. Him tang is a Northern Thai preparation distinct from central Thai versions, so if you're familiar with one, don't assume the other. Order the soup, arrive early for the best selection, don't expect a written menu with multiple options; this is a specialist operation.
Can I eat at the bar at Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup?
There is no bar setup here; this is a casual Northern Thai soup kitchen in Mae On District, not a restaurant with counter seating in the conventional sense. Seating is informal and communal in style. Come prepared for a functional, no-frills environment rather than a structured dining room.
What are alternatives to Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup in Mae?
For more polished Thai cooking in the broader Chiang Mai region, Baan Tepa (Bangkok) and Sorn (Bangkok) represent the high end of regional Thai cuisine, though both are a long way from Mae On and operate at a completely different price and booking level. For a like-for-like local alternative in the Mae On area, ask locally; this is the kind of spot where word-of-mouth beats any published list.
Is Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup good for a special occasion?
Not in the conventional sense. This is a morning soup kitchen in a rural district of Chiang Mai, not a venue with a private room or occasion-friendly format. If the occasion is 'eating something genuinely regional and hard to find elsewhere,' it earns that designation; but for a birthday dinner or celebration meal, look elsewhere in Chiang Mai city.
Does Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup handle dietary restrictions?
The core product is a pork-based soup, so vegetarian, vegan, or pork-free diets are not accommodated here. There is no documented menu variation on offer. If pig's blood soup is not something you eat, this is not the right venue; it's a specialist spot, not a broad-menu restaurant.
What should I wear to Him Tang Pig's Blood Soup?
Casual clothes are the right call; this is a roadside soup kitchen in Mae On District, anything smarter than a clean t-shirt and comfortable shoes is unnecessary. There is no dress expectation here beyond basic practicality. Given the soup format, wear something you don't mind spilling on.
