Vegetarian and vegan food in Bangkok

Vegetarian and vegan food in Bangkok

1. EatYaowarat and Phahurat

   Chijuya

   Vegetarian Japanese restaurant. Don't be taken aback by all the fish and meat listed on the menu - they're all vegetarian substitutes.

   Daily 11:00-14:30, 17:00-21:30

2. EatKhao San Road

   Ethos

   An institution in the area. Table and floor seating. Excellent Thai and International vegan and vegetarian cuisine. No MSG, preservatives or artificial colours or flavours. Free Wi-Fi. Coffee, healthy drinks. Mouth-watering desserts.

   09:00-22:00 daily·150 baht

3. SeeYaowarat and Phahurat

   Guru Tawan Sikh Temple

   คุรุดวาราศรีคุรุสิงห์สภา Gurudwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha

   Established in 1932, this Sikh temple is the most iconic landmark of Phahurat. It is a white six-storey building with a large golden dome on top, and is the second-largest Sikh temple outside India. This temple is very important for daily life as most Indians in this neighbourhood are Sikhs. The main room is on the fourth floor, and it is possible for non-Sikhs to enter, but they need to take off their shoes and cover their head with an orange cloth. The Sikh community gathers in large numbers on Sundays and during religious festivals. They serve free Indian vegetarian food in the community kitchen on these occasions.

   10:00-18:00 daily·Free

4. SeeYaowarat and Phahurat

   San Jao Sieng Kong

   ศาลเจ้าเซียงกง

   In one of the small sois and particularly difficult to find, this 200-year old riverbank shrine is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in the city. It is guarded by a playful rooftop terracotta dragon. One of the former owners of the shrine made money by collecting taxes on birds nest delicacies. It gets lively during the Vegetarian Festival in October, when Chinese operas and fairground games are staged. It is in the middle of the Sieng Kong Zone, a car spare parts market named after the shrine, and thus could be combined with a visit to it.

   06:00-18:00 daily·Donation requested

5. BuySukhumvit

   Terminal 21

   The curvilinear glass-and-steel façade resembles a 21st-century airport. The basement level has a Caribbean theme and is where you will find the gourmet market, take-away food outlets, market-style food vendors as well as banks and bookstores. The ground floor is named Rome, with international and local fashion labels such as Kipling, Fox, CC:OO, Nike, Jaspal, Adidas and Levi's. Paris on M floor takes you to a faux Champs-Élysées. The 1st to 3rd floors are home to smaller shops by local independent labels. Women's fashion is on the 1st floor (Tokyo) and men's fashion is on the 2nd floor (London). The 3rd floor (Istanbul) is for gifts, jewellery, fashion accessories, toys, beauty products and home décor. San Francisco is on the 4th and 5th floors, with more than 50 restaurants and cafés. If you like food courts, head up to Pier 21 on the 5th floor. This is perhaps one of the best food courts in Bangkok for price, taste and variety: dim sum, grilled seafood (fast food style), Hainanese chicken rice, delicious pad thai, roast duck noodles and vegetarian options. Desserts include mango sticky rice, shaved ice dessert and ice creams. SF Cinema City operates an eight screen cineplex on the 6th floor. Two screens have digital 3D capabilities.

   10:00-22:00 daily

6. EatKhao San Road

   Tham Na Hometaurant

   Many of those that cannot find May Kaidee's 2 stumble across this gem. There's some excellent vegetarian and organic food here that even the most picky meat eater would enjoy. There's a kind of homey and cosy feel with a nice staff. The owner has previously lived in the US, and speaks good English. Try the mushroom curry.

   Mon-Sat 08:00-21:00·100-120 baht

7. EatSilom

   Tien Sin Vegetarian Food

   Great Thai/Chinese inspired vegetarian dishes. About ten different dishes, each cooked fresh every morning. Two mains and rice for 30 baht. You can also try their different imitation meats.

   Daily 08:00-14:00·30 baht

8. SeeYaowarat and Phahurat

   Wat Ga Buang Kim

   Definitely off the tourist trail, this more or less deserted temple shows how local residents practise their religion. The most interesting room is the wonderfully ornamented Boonsamakan Vegetarian Hall, which is home to miniature gold characters reappearing several times in different moods and positions. Around the doorway, at the top of the stairs, you can find finely crafted ceramic figurines drawn from Chinese opera stories. Chinese opera performances are occasionally held at the other building in the temple compound.

   Free

9. DrinkKhao San Road Not mapped

   Black and Milk

   From Farm to Cup

   Excellent specialty coffee and matcha. Open front. Backstreet vibe. Breakfast, but no vegetarian options. Free WiFi.

   Daily: 07:00-17:00

10. EatSilom Not mapped

    Bonita Cafe and Social Club

    An old American-style café with a vegan menu. They also have some raw, gluten-free and sugar-free dishes, and shakes for drinks. Portions are a bit small for the price, but made with fresh ingredients. It is run by friendly owners, in a homey atmosphere, and is already regarded as one of the better vegan restaurants in the area. It's also a social club for gathering. Free Wi-Fi.

    Wed-Mon 09:30-21:30, closed Tue

11. EatRattanakosin Not mapped

    Boram Boran

    Simple restaurant serving Thai dishes. Vegetarian options. Great food. Good coffee. English spoken.

    Daily: 08:00-18:00

12. EatSukhumvit Not mapped

    Broccoli Revolution

    A socially conscious eco-friendly restaurant. Innovative and tasty plant-based cuisine. Smoothie/Cold-pressed juice. Chic and modern interior. Profusion of hanging and climbing plants.

13. EatSukhumvit Not mapped

    Indus

    The food is mainly authentic north Indian with a wide range of spicy Indian tastes. An impressive list of vegetarian dishes is also available, as well as wines from around the world. Its impressive sandstone walls and wood carvings make a great interior. Or go outside, experiencing an amazing world of your own, not even noticing it is right here in downtown Bangkok. It is recommended to make a reservation by phone.

    11:30-14:30, 18:00-23:00 daily·1,000 baht

14. EatKhao San Road Not mapped

    Kem-Kon Khaosan

    Kem-Kon

    Pure vegan. Most dishes contain fake meat and fish. Coffee. Contemporary design. Part of a chain of vegan restaurants. Fast and polite service.

    10AM-11PM

15. EatSukhumvit Not mapped

    Khana Khazana

    Pure Indian vegetarian restaurant with North Indian, South Indian and Gujarati food.

    11:00-00:00 daily·200-500 baht

16. EatSiam Square Not mapped

    MBK Food Court

    You might not expect it, but this is a really good find! Food court "The Fifth", as you might expect, is at the fifth floor, and has been refurbished. It has a couple of "cuisine islands" each featuring an assortment of food from a different country, including Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican and Thai food. Western, Asian, halal and vegetarian dishes from 50 baht up. Paying goes by an electronic card system, and you pay as you leave. The food court at the sixth floor is very cheap with less than 50 baht per serving. It is popular, but noisy, and serves tasty Thai food including some you have probably never heard of before. Payment is by chargeable card you buy first, and then get refunded with the unused amount when you leave.

    10:00-22:00 daily·50 baht

17. EatThonburi Not mapped

    Peanocchio

    Cute restaurant on the second level of the ferry building with a large patio overlooking the river, perfect to watch sunsets. Reasonably priced, very good fusion food, with vegan options. Craft beer available.

    Closed · opens 10 am·100-200 baht

18. EatSiam Square Not mapped

    Pisces

    This simple Thai (and vegetarian) restaurant is popular for breakfast among backpackers who stay at the nearby guest houses. Its interior looks good and is colourful, and the lady who runs it is really nice. Service can be a tad slow.

    08:00-13:00, 17:00-22:30 daily·60 baht

19. EatKhao San Road Not mapped

    Suraya Hostel and Kitchen

    Bright and cozy. Excellent Thai cuisine. Fast and friendly service. Vegan and vegetarian options.

20. DoYaowarat and Phahurat Not mapped

    Vegetarian Festival

    เทศกาลกินเจ

    Ten days long, generally taking place around September-October. Many Thai-Chinese (and increasingly ethnic Thai) come over to Yaowarat during festival time to buy vegetarian products, such as vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients. Most of the action happens around Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (which is also more lively) and in the area around Talat Noi. Look for the yellow flags at the carts denoting their meat-free status. Restaurants also adapt to the tradition, substituting soy-based products for meat, even for traditional Thai dishes like tom yam. The most interesting festival dish is the yellow Hokkien-style noodles that are usually served with vegetables and mushrooms.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bangkok (CC BY-SA 4.0).