Juan FRIAS VELATTI
Google
After a less-than-perfect first visit last year, we decided to give Meena Rice a second chance, inspired by Mark Wiens’ YouTube review. While the food has its highlights, our experience left us feeling mixed.
The restaurant is located a bit far from central Chiang Mai, so it’s a good idea to arrange transportation both ways to avoid long waits for a driver. On both visits—once during a busy time and this time arriving before 11:00 AM—the service was consistently slow. It seems the staff lacks coordination or clear procedures for managing tables, which can be frustrating. Additionally, most of the staff do not speak English, so it feels like the restaurant caters more to local clientele.
That said, the atmosphere is undeniably charming, with a jungle-style setup and an old wooden deck that’s perfect for a relaxed meal. The food itself is decent—flavors are tasty, and the exotic raw veggies add a fun touch. The colorful triangle rice is a unique and cute feature, and their herbal drinks are refreshing. However, availability of dishes can be hit or miss, which might leave you adjusting your expectations.
Should we give it a third try? We’re unsure, but it’s worth visiting at least once to enjoy the lovely setting and unique offerings. If they can improve their service, it could become a much more enjoyable experience.