Cooking class in Chiang Mai: A unique Thai experience

During our stay in Chiang Mai, we decided to explore the world of Thai cuisine by joining a cooking class. There are a lot of different options, so it is a bit tricky to find the best one. After a bit of google research, we came across Zabb E Lee Cooking School, which had great reviews (literally 5.0 with more than 1000 reviews). It felt like something we could trust, so we signed up and joined the class happening on the next weekend.

Getting Started

We booked a Saturday class, and the experience began with a small bus picking us up right from our accommodation. It was part of a larger route where others were joining one by one, so we needed to make a few short stops along the way. Once everyone was on board, our first stop was attending a local market. At the market, our guide walked us through the vibrant stalls, telling us about the key ingredients used in Thai cooking. We learned about herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables used in the Thai cuisine and interestingly, some of them were plants we never heard about before. The market felt incredibly authentic, and it wasn’t just a tourist spot—you could tell it was a place where locals actually shop. After a short guided tour, we had some free time to stroll around on our own and experience the market a little bit more.

From Chiang Mai to cooking class

After the shopping, we were divided into smaller groups of about 10-12 people, each with a different guide. Before heading to the cooking school, everyone chose their personalised menu. Each person got to pick one starter, one soup, one fried dish, one curry, and a dessert. It was a really nice detail, ensuring that everyone had dishes they were excited to make (and eat!). What’s also worth noting, every choice included at least one vegetarian option! The cooking school was about a 30-40 minute drive from Chiang Mai and when we arrived, we were honestly amazed. The facility was stunning. Imagine a sprawling, natural setting with charming little huts serving as cooking stations. There were small ponds, little streams, hammocks, and winding paths through colourful garden — the whole place felt serene and welcoming. Before starting cooking, we had a chance to roam around the grounds, which was a treat in itself. It’s worth noting that Zabb E Lee offers both morning classes (9am-2pm) and evening classes (4pm-9pm), making it easy to fit into your plans. We didn’t need to bring anything with us—all the tools and ingredients were provided, which made the whole thing super convenient.

The Cooking Experience

As mentioned before, each dish had about three options to choose from. For every meal, we were divided into groups, based on the option we chose. It gave us a chance to interact with the other attendees and made the whole experience more social. It felt like we get to know each other a little bit during just an afternoon. Our cooking teacher was an absolute delight—super friendly, funny, and skilled at guiding us through each step. The casual and cheerful vibe she brought made everything even more enjoyable. There were pre-prepared ingredients for each meal and we were guided step by step along the process. Even though there were multiple groups working at the same time, it felt like everyone was taken care of and knew exactly what to do. After preparing each meal, there was a time for degustation. As you can imagine, five meals is quite a lot and by the second main dish everyone was really full. Luckily the school offered to pack our tasty creations for take-away, so we could enjoy them later. Last important thing to mention – after the class we got an access to all the recipes to be able to recreate them at home. Not only the ones we prepared, but all the meals offered in the class. That was a really pleasant way to conclude the afternoon.

What else you should know

Another great thing about Zabb E Lee is how easy it was to book and communicate with them. They’re super responsive on WhatsApp (you can find their number on their webpage), which made arranging everything super easy. Plus, as we mentioned before, you’re always picked up before the class and dropped off afterward—so no hassle with transportation. The entire experience cost 1,200 baht (about €33), which is a steal considering the quality of the experience and the sheer amount of food we got to cook and eat. Honestly, just the meals alone, probably would have been worth it at that price. If you ever want to attend a cooking class in Chiang Mai, we can’t recommend Zabb E Lee Cooking School enough. From the authentic market visit to the serene cooking facility, and the joy of creating delicious dishes from scratch, it was an amazing experience. Plus, you’ll leave with newfound cooking skills to recreate those incredible Thai flavours at home!  If you want to know more, check out our blog post about digital nomad life in Chiang Mai.