The local speciality is kuay tiao Sukhothai — a noodle soup with thin rice noodles, sliced pork, ground peanuts, green beans, palm sugar and a strong tamarind sour note. It is best eaten at one of the no-name shops around the morning market in the new town; the shop everyone points you towards is Jay Hae on Jarot Vithithong Road, open from breakfast until early afternoon.
In the new town, the night market opposite Wat Ratchathani has good cheap food from sunset; near the historical park, the little restaurants strung along the road between the park gate and the bus stop are pitched at visitors but the food is honest and inexpensive. For something better, Poo Restaurant in the new town does Belgian and Thai food in a relaxed garden.