Blackitch Artisan Kitchen

Blackitch Artisan Kitchen – A Creative, Locally-Sourced Experience with Room for Polish Located above a dessert kitchen in Chiang Mai's Nimmanhaemin neighbourhood, Blackitch Artisan Kitchen is an intimate, 16-seat restaurant helmed by Chef Phanuphol "Black" Bulsuwan, a former civil engineer celebrated for his innovative use of hyper-local and foraged Thai ingredients . The restaurant holds a **MICHELIN Plate** distinction in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand, recognized for its creative, seasonally-driven tasting menus that blend Thai and international influences . The Highlights - **Ingredient-Driven Menu**: The restaurant excels at showcasing Northern Thailand's diverse produce. The commitment to local, seasonal ingredients is clear, resulting in a modern Northern Thai cuisine that feels both authentic and inventive . - **Welcoming Management**: The manager provides a warm and welcoming greeting, creating a friendly initial atmosphere. - **Thoughtful Portions and Plating**: Dishes are nicely presented, and the progression of the meal is well-proportioned, leaving you satisfied without being overwhelmed. Areas for Improvement - **Disorganized First Impression**: The entrance and reception area lacks organization, with cluttered tables and no dedicated host. This is surprising for a restaurant of this caliber and creates an unpolished first impression. - **Uneven Service Flow**: While the managers are knowledgeable and passionately explain each dish, the rest of the staff function primarily as food runners. With a complex tasting menu, having more experienced staff to assist with explanations would greatly enhance the dining experience and allow managers to engage more deeply with guests. - **No Standout "Wow" Dish**: Although all dishes were good and well-executed, the menu lacked a single, memorable highlight that truly wowed and left a lasting impression. The Verdict A solid choice for experiencing upscale, inventive Northern Thai cuisine in a casual yet refined setting. While the value proposition may not strongly compel a return visit for you personally, it remains a restaurant you would confidently recommend to friends seeking this specific culinary experience.

A Unique Culinary Journey at Blackitch We didn’t go for the full pairing, but took the sommelier’s suggestion to try orange wine — and it paired beautifully all the way through the meal! The tasting course was crafted with unique local ingredients from across Thailand, north to south, as shown clearly in the menu. It really felt like a food journey through the country. Some dishes were easy to enjoy, while a few were a bit challenging for my taste — especially the one with blue cheese (not my favorite, but interesting!). Desserts were lovely, especially with the refillable tea pairing from the restaurant — a nice touch. The atmosphere was intimate and quiet. We started around 5 PM and finished by 7:30 PM. Considering the experience and creativity, it’s definitely worth trying at least once.

This restaurant was the highlight of my trip to Chiang Mai! Definitely the best meal of the journey, Blackitch Artisan Kitchen’s Regional Thai Essence tasting menu (May edition) features 13 creative courses inspired by the flavors and ingredients from all over Thailand. It reflects the chef’s deep respect and understanding of local produce, with each dish thoughtfully composed. The entire experience breaks away from the usual heavy handed Thai flavors. It still captures the soul of Thai cuisine, but with a delicate, inventive twist that really hit the sweet spot for me. Every ingredient is sourced from organic farms across the country, and I can truly taste the seasons and the land in every bite.

Absolutely fantastic meal, so memorable!!! Loved the featuring of various regional produce from all over Thailand. Excellent flavour combinations, and textures too. Truly an outstanding, gastronomical experience. You must book ahead. There are two seatings a night (and lunch apparently too). There is a 5pm (which we went to as no other spaces were available) and a 7:30/8pm time slot. It’s a 14 course tasting menu for about 3,000 THB $100 USD per person, alcohol and drinks extra. The pineapple basil mocktail with fresh red peppercorns was delicious!! The staff said it was their favourite too! It is a very satisfying tasting menu and we left definitely feeling full, satisfied but not uncomfortable. Some of the dishes were slightly spicy (which we enjoyed) and you were told if it was spicy- I’d say they modify the spice level according to your preferences when booking. Wait staff spoke English and explained each dish. It’s very reasonable for a Michelin recommended restaurant with such excellent food. There is only seating available for 15 people upstairs (not wheelchair accessible) But it was a pleasant area with quite nice decor. Ideal for special night out or to impress clients as it showcases such amazing quality Thai produce.

A journey across Thailand … In one dining. Incredible meal. Stunning presentation. And soooooo tasty. Yum! Got so lucky this trip in Chiang Mai that managed to go twice within a week! The restaurant is incredible and praised highly amidst foodies across the world, Thailand including… so getting the reservations is getting challenging. Incredibly high quality of ingredients, lavishly extensive and ‘just right’ menu. And the wine pairing is unusually good. Coming from England and dining in places like L’Arpège, KOL and The Ledbury, I got used to the fact that Thailand has high tax on wine imports and I usually don’t expect much from wine options/pairings … however this time the wine pairing was just really good. I went for the wine pairing both visits. Also, rather surprisingly the price was really low compare to what I’d normally pay when dining in Thailand with wine pairing. The meal in itself made me feel like my tastebuds went to the Disneyland! Some dishes were so yummy that I had to ask for an additional serving on my second visit, that I have actually slightly regretted as I struggled to finish my meal. Some dishes were really new to me and I wasn’t accustomed to the tastes.. even though I have had meals of various nature across Thailand… so I just went with the flow and eat them anyway… and then my body had this happiness. It’s hard to describe. My tastebuds didn’t know what to do about these new flavours, but my body felt at home, nurtured and somewhat deeply happy. A new level of food experience unlocked for sure! I have been going to this restaurant every time I am in Chiang Mai, pretty much since they’ve opened. Yet I feel this trip round the restaurant truly exceed my expectations. I am very much into Bangkok food scene and particularly favour this year Soma Bangkok, and Ore… I have to say Blackitch Artisan Kitchen is a one of a kind… It’s Thai food yes, yet it’s so innovative and different (a little bit like Ore actually… yet different(!) so don’t expect similarities in food servings)… I feel you want to submit to whatever is given to you, consume it… and allow your body and eyes enjoy the feast on a whole new level. What I particularly liked this time round: no extreme sharp tastes, the food flows beautifully together wine pairing is truly good even for any European fancy dining still extremely affordable (the prices in Thailand have risen sharply and I have to watch my budget this trip) … it’s not CHEAP! please! if you are used to paying 10 Baht for a plate of rice on a street market - this restaurant is not for you. It is fine dining! Just really affordable one. got lucky to eat twice within a week… :) Ohhhhhh and DESERTS! ok, this is a whole another review … maybe next trip/visit … one desert I nicknamed “Christmas came early”… it was so good, I felt like I am opening Christmas presents… Ok, basically you can grasp that I am one very very happy eater/customer of Blackitch Artisan Kitchen. Thank you! ps: I've exceeded the word limit here so shared tips in photos :)

I had an excellent meal at Blackitch in Chiang Mai. The concept behind the restaurant is super cool; it's all about showcasing unique Thai dishes from different regions across the country, and it really delivers. With local ingredients and traditional techniques you can tell every dish has serious thought and craft behind it. You're not just eating dinner; you're getting a regional tour of Thailand through flavor. Service presentation and atmosphere were great. Some of my highlights from the night: • The Phang-Nga fish with ginger jime was incredibly fresh and beautifully plated. Clean, delicate flavors with a nice kick. The slipper lobster totally surprised me. I'm usually not a big lobster fan, but when it's done well-like this-it's a game changer. The Yornfish with wild almond and beetroot cream was rich and balanced. I cleaned the plate. • The stuffed chicken wing was perfectly cooked and looked like a piece of art with each ingredient separated. • The buffalo shank was super tender and flavorful. • The grilled rump of Kholoris beef was also a standout-no photo, though, I was too busy enjoying it. For dessert, the palm sugar mille-feuille and pineapple ice cream were both done excellently-refined without being overcomplicated. My favorite part of the meal. I think with just a bit more intensity in flavor and spice, this place could earn its Michelin star. Honestly, it already has that level of creativity and precision.

Top 5 restaurants on my list and I’ve been many. The ingredients alone are worthy of the 5 star rating and then the chef combined them elegantly. The surprise came in the first course and elevating till the last. My favourite was the carbonara with the earth ball fungi. The desert was also amazing. Very creative.

An absolute sensory explosion for your flavor buds in the backstreets of Nimman! Blackitch is a MUST VISIT if you’re looking for a unique expression of Thai food (and have $ to spare). The chefs specialize in fermentation so many of the sauces, sides and mains build upon the delicious sours and sweets of pickles, ferments and marinades. We had a 14 course degustation in which EVERY dish was an incredible flavor journey across the palate (and across the different regions of Thailand). It’s hard to do the dishes justice in the descriptions, so please just look at the photos - incredible! Final thoughts? Back in the day, you’d buy a record because it had one or two smash hits, and then 10 filler songs. But at Blackitch, every dish is a smash hit, from entrees to the Thai-themed Mille-fuilles! No fillers here, every dish was an exquisite culinary experience. Would give 6 ⭐️ if I could. Amazing!