Jungle cakes and curries are served on Charin Garden’s wooden terrace.

Tummy rumbling en route to Chiang Rai? You need to stop at Suan Charin

For 20 years people who regularly ply Route 118 between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai have been making Suan Charin an essential stop. The bakery is nuzzled by jungle in Chiang Rai's Mae Suay district.

Charin Garden is a major surprise for first-time visitors. It's got a huge variety of delicious pies and good coffee, served on a wooden terrace overlooking a lovely garden and small creek.

A little cafe that grew in a rose garden, Suan Charin has tripled in size in recent years to accommodate the busloads of Thais and foreigners who come to quench the mid-journey hunger pangs and stroll around the grounds.

Ably catering to their varied demands, the cooks prepare at least 30 different types of pies each day. Among the favourites are blueberry, coconut, lemon supreme and apple, and you can have your pick for Bt35 to Bt45 a slice.

There's a good selection of cakes freshly made every day too. The two immaculate coffee machines that churn out their own wide assortment are worth Bt300,000 apiece - a cup of java is just Bt30.

For something more substantial, there are Thai dishes on the menu ranging from chicken-fried rice for Bt45 to jungle curry, tom yam and stir-fried beef in oyster sauce for Bt100.

Rather quiet at this time of year, Suan Charin's busy season is between October and April, but the hours never change - 7 to 7 daily.

And for two years now there's been a branch on the fourth floor of Airport Plaza in Chiang Mai. It's called Charin Pie, and the food is every bit as delightful.