Reform Kafé - Vegan Garden Restaurant — Restaurant in Chiang Mai Province

Have you ever had a cafe experience so bad that you sat there and put yourself through an hour and a half of it just so you'd be able to have a story?

To be fair it was kind of a busy Friday night, but how do you explain that I can arrive at 8pm, call staff 3 or 4 times and be completely ignored, and then not even be asked for my drink order until 8:47?

There's a water cooler there, but if you try to get the water the staff tells you it's not for you unless you're staying there. So you sit there and wait until a server decides you're worthy of a drink order.

My food arrived around 9:00 so that was at least a pretty quick turn around once the order went in. My friends' food came around 9:10 and then we were told at 9:15 that the place was closing at 9:30. It was actually a pretty huge portion of rice for the price, which kind of evened out the absolutely tiny bottle of coke I got when I was told they were out of water. Turns out they weren't out of water- they have bottles but when I asked for water I got "Sorry ค่ะ น้ำหมด."

So I order this Coke, but then I see them bringing out bottles of water to other people. "Oh but that's not the free water." I heard a popping sound in the back of my brain. I'm sitting here nearly an hour and I just want something to drink. Maybe they felt like maybe I'm not able to pay for a bottle of water or something.

They didn't add the coke to the bill, but I paid them anyway because-- I don't know. My mom raised me properly or something. I felt so bad for the staff that I even left a tip, even though we'd been ignored for nearly an hour. Just don't go on a friday.

The experience was so incredibly bad that it was somehow fun to see where that adventure would take me next. The service is sometimes very slow in Thailand and customer service isn't a high point, but this was absolutely the worst experience I've had. It's especially confusing because it was so highly recommended and the decoration and construction is a bit more high end and Goodsouls (I'm told they are the same owner) is absolutely amazing with ridiculously good customer service and attention to detail.

I might try again on like a Tuesday or something, but never, ever go here on a Friday.

Edit: I have to edit my review. The response from the cafe is super professional and I'll have to give them another try. The food was good and the atmosphere is relaxing so it wasn't all bad. I saw a few other reviews around the same time I was there that are negative-- it must have been one specific night where the service was just bad. @reform kafe thank you for replying and I'll come try...

Almost perfect—with just a few bumps

The atmosphere here is absolutely lovely. The interior design, filled with greenery and calming touches, made me feel at ease the moment I stepped in. The staff were warm and welcoming—genuine smiles always make a difference.

I ordered the fried mushroom rice, som tam (papaya salad), and Thai lime tea. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful—I finished every bite. That said, I’d come across a few food poisoning reviews beforehand, so I was a little cautious. If I feel fine tomorrow, I’ll take it as a good sign that the food is indeed safe and well-prepared. If not, I’ll be sure to update this review accordingly.

One detail that slightly spoiled the experience: when I went to use the restroom, the women’s stall was occupied, and it turned out the staff member who took my order was inside. She greeted me with a smile on the way out, but I couldn’t help noticing she didn’t wash her hands properly afterward. It may seem minor, but hygiene—especially among food handlers—is crucial. I hope the management takes this seriously and ensures staff have separate, well-maintained facilities.

As for the no-laptop policy, I actually found it quite charming. It encourages mindfulness and being present, which aligns well with the peaceful vibe of the place.

All in all, I enjoyed my meal and the overall experience. With just a bit more attention to hygiene and food safety, this place could be...

This place is Amazing! I can’t say enough on how delicious the food was here. There are gluten free options that are delicious. This place is kinda tucked away, but it’s a definite must to eat here. It’s sweet and has ample space. The service is impeccable:; they were so attentive and patient with us. We ordered a lot of food because we wanted to try multiple things on the menu. We had the garlic rice— to die for. We had the spicy tofu; this was my favorite with the garlic rice. The outside was perfectly crunchy with a soft inside. It was loaded with spices and chili. We also had the papaya salad that was spicy and delicious; if you struggle with spicy be careful because this salad has a spicy punch. We also had to order their massaman curry to taste the difference from the night before, and it was definitely not a let down at all. We topped this off with a mango passion fruit smoothie and the four seasons smoothies that were both the best smoothies we have ever had; they have chunks of yummy fruit inside and a spoon to help scoop it out. I could eat here every night! I do have to say that I wish they had more gluten free options because the food is that tasty, but the options they do have did not let us down the slightest bit. It doesn’t matter if you’re not vegan, this is a must try for anyone who...