For authentic, good value and delicious food, head to the top floor of the Chiang Mai Airport Plaza. There's an excellent food court where you can get light meals freshly cooked for 30-50 THB ($1-$2) in addition to a range of quality restaurants which are very popular with the locals. Most tourists eat around the night bazaar or downtown but the food is more authentic and it's much better value where the locals eat - at the Airport Plaza.
www.centralplaza.co.th
Pa Daet, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Google map: bit.ly/oh3g2c