It is not easy to find a good Italian restaurant in Asia. To my amazement I found a very good one in Chiang Mai, it is called Why Not and is located in Nimman area. I visited several times during my time in Chiang Mai at the beginning of 2020.
The visit(s)
The restaurant is located in Soi Nimman 13 (see picture above), but there is an entrance also from Soi Nimman 11 where there is a garden with al fresco dining. The place is usually busy for dinner, but I never had a problem finding a table.
The indoor dining room is modern and comfortable.
What I immediately loved about the restaurant was the display with Italian cheese and cold cuts (and some French and Spanish). That was an amazing selection, including many kinds of cold cuts that have seldom seen outside Italy, like Lardo di Colonnata, Strolghino, Soppressata… And you can order individual items in 30 grams or 100 grams portions.
The beauty above was a selection of coppa d testa (100 grams) and lardo di Colonnata (30 grams).
In my first visit I had their standard cheese and cold cuts platter that was fully satisfying: ham, mortadella, various kinds of salami, three types of cheese and even some olives made this platter suitable for three people. Very good value by the way.
On this occasion I also had another tasty appetizer, sausage with red wine sauce.
I tried many pasta dishes over several visits and they are all excellent and generously sized. In the picture above you can see the “fusillotti piccanti” a type of pasta with spicy sausage.
I finished with a iced-shaken ice cream. This was a bit under my expectations (maybe I picked the wrong flavor, I think there was some misunderstanding), but the other desserts are all great, I recommend the tiramisu and the chocolate mousse.
On another occasion I tried the classic carbonara that was really authentic.
The pappardelle (wide pasta) with duck ragout that I had on another occasion have my recommendation.
And I had a veal scaloppina with ham. This dish was also a bit under my expectations, but something to enjoy as not easy to find outside Italy.
I have been back so many times and always found new delicious dishes. Some home run were found in the “specials” list, for example a pasta with burrata and sausage (picture above) or an oven-cooked codfish. Also their pizza is legit, but it did not impress me.
The check(s)
The first check for what was a massive dinner was 1043 THB (33 USD). Considering just the cheese and cold cut platter, this was good value for money.
A check for a pasta and a “secondo” (meat dish) was 620 THB (around 20 USD). Again, I cannot complain about the check. And you are in Nimman, one of the most expensive areas in Chiang Mai.
Where in Chiang Mai:
14 Nimmanhemin Road. – Soi 13 (also entrance from Soi 11).
Webiste: https://whynotchiangmai.com.