Monday Diner Chiang Mai Review: Korean BBQ & Banchan

Korean Restaurant in Chiang Mai

When you are traveling long-term, there always comes a point when you just crave a hearty, comforting meal from back home. No matter how much I love local Thai street food, sometimes hot weather and long days drain my appetite. That is when I know it is time to recharge with some serious comfort food—and for me, nothing beats Korean BBQ.

During my recent trip to Chiang Mai, I had an intense craving for grilled pork belly (samgyeopsal). I did a quick search and noticed that most Korean places in town are all-you-can-eat buffets. Personally, I tend to avoid buffets because the meat quality can be hit-or-miss. I wanted a proper à la carte experience, which is how I stumbled upon this hidden gem.

Arriving at the entrance, I noticed the sign "Monday Table" written in Korean. The overall vibe of the place was clean, modern, and very welcoming.

Since we arrived for an early dinner, the restaurant was relatively quiet with only one other table occupied. I immediately ordered the pork belly to satisfy my craving.

They also have a really nice outdoor seating area. If we hadn't already settled into our indoor table, I definitely would have considered sitting outside to enjoy the evening breeze. It had a great, laid-back atmosphere.

While waiting for the food, I took some photos around the restaurant. Since it wasn't crowded yet, it was easy to capture the cozy interior details.

Finally, the main event arrived!

We got our pork belly, a beautiful spread of side dishes (banchan), and some marinated pork collar (which we mistakenly ordered thinking it was spare ribs, but it looked great nonetheless).

The initial presentation of the meat and the side dishes was impressive. It definitely felt like we had found a high-quality Korean spot in the heart of Chiang Mai.

While I don't usually eat a ton of side dishes, the tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) here was incredibly addictive. It wasn't necessarily a main-dish style, but as a side, it had this perfect savory, sweet, and spicy kick that kept me reaching for more. Even now, I still think about it! The salad next to it was also surprisingly fresh and delicious.

Now, for the meat itself... it was just okay. Despite the thick cut, the great visual presentation, and the authentic charcoal grill setup, the taste didn't quite live up to my expectations. It tasted like standard imported pork rather than premium Korean BBQ meat.

Even the wet wipes they gave us were super cute!

On the bright side, all the side dishes are refillable. I think we asked for tteokbokki refills three or four times! We also refilled the kimchi to grill it alongside the pork belly, which is a must-do.

For two portions of pork belly, one portion of marinated pork collar, and two bottles of beer, the total bill came out to about ~$26. For a satisfying sit-down meal, it was incredibly reasonable.

One last shot on our way out!

If you are looking for a clean, non-buffet Korean restaurant in Chiang Mai with a great atmosphere and incredible side dishes, Monday Diner is definitely worth a visit. While the BBQ meats were slightly underwhelming, the side dishes and overall experience make it a solid choice. I might not return specifically for the grilled meats, but I would love to try their other Korean comfort dishes next time!