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    Home » Articles » Food and Travel

    40 Foods to Try at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in 2017

    7 October, 2017 by Kip Leave a Comment

    NB: the 1560 (2017) festival was toned down in comparison to previous years due to the extended mourning of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the late king of Thailand. In 1561 (2018) the festivities were bigger and bolder than ever. 2019 is expected to be the same.

    I have been attending the vegetarian festival in Thailand since 2010, and in those years have learned much about the styles of food prepared for the festival. In Phuket you will find many of the dishes you will find in Bangkok and central Thailand, but the local cuisine is a regional blend of Southern Thai cuisine and Chinese influenced Thai food. The list below is of foods I have personally seen and/or tried during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, including various regional styles.

    List of 40 foods to try at the phuket vegetarian festival

    And so, without further ado, here are 40 vegan foods you should eat while you're in Phuket for the Tesakan Kin Jay festival. I've included photos where I have them, but a few are missing pictures. Sorry kids.

    Kuay Teow ก๋วยเตี๋ยว – Noodles

    Noodles are a daily item of consumption for me when I'm in Thailand. The noodle repertoire of this country is vast, and below are just a few of those I've tried and loved in Phuket during the annual vegetarian festival. For more information on how to order vegan noodles from a non-vegan noodle soup hawker, check out my guide on how to order vegan noodles in Thailand.

    1. Tom yum noodles

    There’s a shop at the end of Ranong Road, by the Patiphat intersection that does the most outstanding bowl of tom yum. Please note tom yam noodles are not noodles in a bowl of tom yam soup, but rather a style of seasoning where noodles are served in a clear broth mixed with chilli powder, sugar, lime juice, crushed peanuts. You can choose the noodles you want, and some faux meats and fish balls will be chucked in.

    Dtom Yum Noodle Soup

    Tom yum noodle soup in Phuket

    2. Yentafo (เย็นตาโฟ)

    Yentafo is not at all difficult to find along Ranong. This is a bowl of noodles served in a clear broth with a dollop of yentafo sauce, which is made using fermented red bean curd. Think funky sweet and sour sauce, only better. Noodle soup vendors tend to be located at the start of the line of stalls (just after the market and bus stop), with a few at the end by the Patiphat intersection, and most do yentafo. Some are better than others (look for sauce that isn’t flaming red but is rather pinkish orange).

    Vegan Yentafo Noodles in Phuket

    Vegan yen ta fo noodle soup in Phuket

    3. Kanom jeen (ขนมจีน)

    Popular for breakfast, kanom jeen are fermented rice noodles eaten with curry and generous lashings of herbs, vegetables, and pickles. You can spot a kanom jeen vendor by the signature coils or large basket of these thin white noodles alongside large pots (or takeaway bags) of curries. Nam ya is a red curry made with the medicinal-tasting grachai root, and is a unique flavour worth trying. Other potential curries you might see are green and nam phrik, which is a sweeter curry made with peanuts or toasted dried mung beans. It isn’t uncommon to mix nam phrik and nam ya, so don't be afraid to ask if you want to tone down the heat of the nam ya.

    vegan Kanom jeen nam ya in Phuket

    Kanom jeen (fermented rice noodles) with curry and condiments

    4. Pat mama (ผัดมาม่า)

    Mama is probably Thailand’s most famous instant noodle brand, to the point that the name of the brand is now synonymous with instant noodles in general. Pad mama is a fried street food version, and you’ll find it along Ranong and elsewhere during the festival. Cabbage is a common ingredient.

    Pad mama noodles

    Pad mama jay (vegan fried mama noodles)

    Drinks

    Cold drinks in hot climes feel like heaven after a sweaty mill about the market stalls. Many drinks are sugar bombs that are great for balancing extremely spicy food. Beware I have seen some honey-laced teas around. The word for honey in Thai is nam pung (น้ำผึ้ง).

    5. Corn milk

    Corn milk has become popular in recent years, both fresh on the street (sold in plastic bottles) and in cartons in 7-11.

    6. Iced milky coffee and Thai tea

    These are great to turn to for a sugary caffeine hit. Your cup is delivered in a special cup baggie with handles, which will make it easier to balance all the other food you buy in your arms.

    Vegan Thai Iced Coffee

    Iced coffee milk (vegan) in Phuket

    7. Smoothies and fresh juices galore

    This one might seem like a bit of a cop-out because everyone, please, shut the bleeding hell up about liquidised fruit. But the difference is fruit actually tastes good in Thailand, so suck it up. Literally.

    Gac fruit juice in Phuket

    Gac fruit juice

    Kong Wang ของว่าง and Kanom ขนม – Between Meal Snacks and Sweets

    8. Tako ตะโก้ Puddings

    Tako is a double layered dessert with a sweet base and a salty coconut topping, usually sold in a banana leaf box. The base can be made with all sorts of ingredients, from tapioca pearls to starch based puddings mixed with corn, taro, pumpkin, or other complementary foods. I have seen some creative takes on Tako in the last couple of years, including a lady who set up along Thanon Krabi last year (near the intersection with Satun Road). Of these, my favourite were caramel-y with a cocoa rice crispy topping.

    Tako ตะโก้ Puddings during phuket vegetarian festival

    Tako ตะโก้ Puddings (left to right: caramel with cocoa rice krispies, taro, corn, and kanom bpiiak boon, another favourite Thai kanom)


    9. Kanom Piak Boon (ขนมเปียกปูน)

    Also sold by the same family who sells the tako above (see green squares far right of photo above), this is a stirred sweet that isn't as easily found as it once was. It comes in a couple of flavours, including pandan (which is sold here) and burnt coconut (which I've only seen for sale once in Bangkok).


    10. Kanom gee gooi (บนมกีโก๊ย)

    This is a yellow alkaline sweet served with a dark palm sugar syrup. The alkaline water gives it an eggy flavour and yellow colour. In Malaysia it is called Tee Nya Kuih. There's usually a large table of kanom midway up Ranong and this is where you will find this treat.

    Kanom gee gooi บนมกีโก๊ย

    Kanom gee gooi (บนมกีโก๊ย) Chinese Alkaline Sweet


    11. Sao Ping (เซาปิ่ง) or Fried Kanom Pia (ขนมเปี๊ยะสดทอด)

    These are light, flaky stuffed pastries that are griddle fried. Popular fillings include taro, red bean, and mung bean.

    Vegan Sao Ping (เชาปิ่ง) or Fried Kanom Pia (ขนมเปี๊ยะสดทอด) in Phuket Old Town


    12. Khao Mao Tod ข้าวเม่าทอด

    Fried pounded young rice and young coconut balls with banana inside.

    Khao mao tod ข้าวเม่าทอด

    Khao mao tod ข้าวเม่าทอด – fried young rice and coconut balls with banana inside


    13. Kanom Galorjee (กะลอจี๊)

    This is a deep fried flat pancake that is cut after cooking and then coated in sugar, peanut, and sesame seeds.

    Kanom Galorjee thai dessert in phuket town

    Kanom Galorjee (กะลอจี๊) during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival


    14. Kanom Bajang (ขนมบะจ่าง)

    These are Chinese sticky rice dumplings wrapped in dried bamboo leaves with fillings that can be either savoury or sweet. In Mandarin they are called zongzi and in Cantonese they are joong.

    Kanom Bajang Chinese Sticky Rice Dumplings in Banana Leaf

    บะจ่าง Kanom Bajang Sticky Rice Parcel


    15. Giam goi (เกี่ยมโก้ย)

    Giam goi are steamed rice cakes (often with an indentation in the centre) crowned with a spicy savoury topping and a sweet and sour dressing.


    16. Kanom jee jo (ขนมจี้โจ)

    You can find variations on these in many (most?) parts of the country, but in Phuket these stuffed sesame balls are called kanom jee jo (ขนมจี้โจ). Fillings include yellow bean, black bean, or peanut.


    17. Tofu puddings

    Not overly sweet, but make a nice refreshing snack or breakfast, these tofu puddings contain bean curd and flavoured soy milk with some added ingredients (e.g. corn, chunks of agar dessert, taro – all depends on the flavour of the pudding). Coffee and corn are wonderful, as is taro.

    Thai Silken tofu puddings

    Flavoured silken tofu puddings in Phuket during the vegetarian festival


    18. Miang kham

    This is a street snack that seems to be making a resurgence. There are many kinds of miang, but this is the one I've seen most. They are single bite parcels made with coconut, peanuts, fresh lime, sticky tamarind sauce, sesame, and ginger wrapped in cha plu (lolot) leaves.


    19. Gui Chai (กุยช่าย) and Gui Chai Tod (กุยช่ายทอด)

    These are rice flour and tapioca or arrowroot flour dumplings chocka garlic chives. They can be fried or not fried. When they are steamed, the chive mixture is packed inside of dough, so they look different to the fried ones below.

    Gui Chai Tod (กุยช่ายทอด)

    Gui Chai Tod (กุยช่ายทอด)


    20. Roti (โรตี) or pancake with vegan condensed milk

    I didn't see these last year, but the good news is that 7-11 started selling this condensed milk too, so you can stock up and take some home.

    Roti with Vegan Condensed Milk in Phuket

    Vegan pancakes with dairy free condensed milk in Phuket


    21. Kanom Tang Taek (ขนมถังแตก)

    These are thick folded pancakes stuffed with with various fillings including coconut, custard, and peanuts with sugar.

    Vegan Kanom Tang Taek (ขนมถังแตก)

    Vegan Kanom Tang Taek during the Phuket vegetarian festival


    22. Kalamae (กาละแม)

    Kalamae is a sticky rice caramel that comes in various flavours, including durian, coconut, and banana to name a few. I used to buy this by the tonne in Chiang Mai, so was chuffed to see it for sale in Phuket. The vendor is usually off one of the side streets close up toward Patiphat on Ranong.

    Kalamae (กาละแม) Thai Vegan Coconut Caramels

    Kalamae (กาละแม) – coconut caramels


    23. Mixed kanom waan

    Even if I could eat no other Thai food, I would still make my regular trips to Thailand just to eat sweet kanom. You'll often find vendors selling a handful of specialities, much like this woman who sets up on Ranong each morning. Her stall is on the left, in the tunnel space facing the shops, if you're walking up toward Patiphat. Go before 9 or 10am and she might still be there.

    mixed kanom waan ขนมหวาน

    Mixed kanom waan ขนมหวาน


    24. Khao Taen – ข้าวแต๋น

    Imagine rice cakes, only they taste good. These are made with sticky rice that has been packed into a patty, dried, and then fried until fluffy and crispy. They are drizzled with a syrup made from brown cane sugar.

    Khao Taen (ข้าวแต๋น) Thai sweet rice cakes

    Khao Taen (ข้าวแต๋น) Thai rice cakes


    25. Stuff on sticks

    Thailand excels at skewered meats, and make no exception when it's time for the vegetarian festival. You will find many styles of sausages, faux fish balls, mushrooms, and more. They're perfect for snacking on while walking around looking for your next snack. Be sure to try the wee sausages, which are a type of sour Isarn sausage with noodles inside.

    Skewed Vegan Meats during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Skewed vegan meats and mushrooms during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival


    26. Pickled fruits

    Sour green mango, star gooseberries (mayom), sapodilla, jujube, santol, and madan are just some of the pickled fruits you might find. These are great snacks to munch while wandering or with some adult bevvies.

    Thai pickled fruits

    Thai pickled fruits

    Pad (Pat) ผัด– Stir fried

    Try multiple stir fries and order plenty of rice. A solid choice is always pat gaprao (kaprow), which is stir fried something with holy basil. I also love the little fake eggs they have during the festival, even though they taste of nothing. My favourite spot for stir-fry mayhem, and believe me it is mayhem, is on the corner of Ranong and Soi Phutorn. It's a makeshift tent space with a few vendors inside. Push your way in an find a table. Someone will take your order eventually.

    Thai stir fries at the Phuket vegetarian festival

    From left to right in this blurry picture: sator (stink bean) stir fry, Thai morning glory stir fry, pat kaprow

    27. A few stir-fries to try:

    • Stir fries with fake eggs. Not because they taste like eggs (or anything) at all but because they're cute.
    • Pat Gaprao is a solid favourite, always. Always. Most Thai restaurants in the UK screw this up big time and use the wrong kind of basil.
    • Also stir fried sataw, or stink bean (you may see it labelled as Petai elsewhere).
    • Pad pak bung (stir fried Thai morning glory/water spinach)

    28. Vegan O-tao (local specialty in Phuket)

    Chunks of taro, some sprouts, TVP, and tofu are stir fried with a coconut batter with a chilli sauce.

    Vegan O Tao

    Vegan O Tao, specialty Phuket cuisine


    Yam ยำ and Som Tam ส้มตำ – Salads

    You will be sorely disappointed if you order a Thai salad and expect a dressed bowl of lettuce to be delivered. Thai salads are difficult to categorise and pin because they utilise so many types of ingredients. Thai salads tend to be warm or room temperature dishes of vegetables, noodles, meats, or other proteins dressed to be salty, sour, and spicy, sometimes with a hint of sweetness depending on regional variations. These dishes are typically eaten with rice and tend to err on the fiery side. By the way, along with the usual som tam salad, which you should eat a lot of, try to find some fruit and deep fried variations of this popular papaya salad.

    29. Dtao Ka-noon (ตำขนุน)

    Dtao Ka-noon is a Northern lanna paste of pounded jackfruit with tomato and aromatics like kaffir lime leaf and galangal. Onion and garlic would typically be used, but since the jay diet eschews these ingredients, they will be omitted during the festival. It's nice to see some other regional cuisine sneak down south for the festival. Thought I had a picture, but don't. Sorry!


    30. Naem Khao Tod (แหนมข้าวทอด) – crispy rice and vegan sausage salad

    Last year was the first time I spotted this gem, vegan naem khao tod, or curried and fried crispy rice ball salad mixed with fresh ginger, peanuts, fried dried chillies, fresh herbs, and soured vegan faux pork. This variation also even uses mock pig skin, a traditional ingredient in non vegan yam naem khao tod. It is dressed with lime juice, soy sauce, and roasted chilli flakes.

    Naem Khao Tod (แหนมข้าวทอด)

    Fried red curry paste rice ball salad (Naem Khao Tod)


    31. Fish ball ลูกชิ้น salad

    I wish I could find a photo of the salad made from these vegan fish balls, but it's simple to imagine: a bowl of the faux fish balls with a sweet chilli sauce on a bed of lettuce. If you have never tried Thai style meat balls or fish balls, give it a go. The texture is unlike Western comparisons because Thais favour bounciness (if you drop one it will literally bounce) in their ballszzz.

    Vegan Faux Fish Balls

    Vegan fish balls for salads in Phuket


    Neung นึ่ง– Steamed

    You will find tiers of stacked bao and various dumplings on offer. Unfortunately I don't yet know what they are all called in Thai, but they are unmissable (the bao is especially visible in the morning)

    32. Steamed dumplings

    Steamed Dumplings in Phuket


    33. Steamed Buns (Bao)

    Check out this beauty with sweet pandan custard.

    Steamed bun with pandan custard

    Steamed bun (bao) with sweet vegan pandan custard filling


    Foreign Inspired Foods

    34. Vegan sushi

    You can spot this booth by the stacks of stunningly put together sushi, and the crowds and crowds of people rushing to try it. In recent years a few copycats have appeared. Rest assured they are all equally disappointing. But still, it's worth trying a few because no matter what I say you won't be able to resist how beautiful they look. I buy them every year even though I know they won't be good.

    Vegan sushi at the phuket vegetarian festival

    Vegan sushi in Phuket during the vegetarian festival


    35. Takoyaki

    It's unsurprising this Japanese snack has made it to the festival as Thailand has a sizeable Japanese population. They're mainly in Bangkok, but it's not unusual for popular foods to move around the country. Fillings are mushroom, as opposed to traditional squid. Good stuff.

    Vegan Takoyaki

    Vegan takoyaki in Phuket


    36. Onigiri

    You can find vegan onigiri in 7-11 and maybe family mart. Who stocks what changes annually. Grab one the night before and wake up to an easy breakfast.


    37. Tory's Ice cream

    These guys started at the festival a few years ago, with promise of a future shop. Well, that time has come. I don't know if they will still be at the festival, but if you want to visit the Torry's Ice Cream shop you will find several vegan options on offer. The corn milk and durian flavours are excellent. Be aware the Thai dessert flavour is smoked with a beeswax candle.

    Torry's Vegan Ice Cream Phuket

    They made me go back there for this picture


    38. Western baked goods

    These are increasingly popular, especially in convenience stores. But FFS you are in Thailand so don't eat waffles and cake all day. I'm talking to you everybody who lives at a certain waffle haven in the capital. Okay, but some of the 7-11 Western cake things are still awesome. You will find a greater selection in Bangkok than in Phuket though. They also have shiitake mushroom crisps.


    One plate rice dishes

    39. Khao Mok Gai

    Think of this a Thai style chicken biryani. Curried chicken is served on biryani style (although we're looking at Jasmine, not basmati) rice, ideally alongside cucumbers, some crunchy greens, and a spicy green sweet and sour nam jim dipping sauce.

    Khao Mok Gai in Phuket Town

    Khao Mok Gai – Thai Chicken Biryani


    40. Khao man gai

    Typically the chicken laid over the rice would be boiled, not fried like the one below, but you get the idea. This image is actually from a restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima, but the presentation is virtually the same everywhere, so you still know what to look for. It is served with cucumber, a clear broth, and a sauce that is made from ginger, soy sauce, chilies, sugar, vinegar, and fermented soybean paste. Non jay versions use garlic. You will see more people peddling vegan khao man gai than vegan khao mok gai.

    vegan Khao Man Gai (Thai Hainanese chicken rice)

    Vegan Khao Man Gai (Thai Hainanese chicken rice)


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    Name's Kip. Some things about me: vegan, Thai food enthusiast, comfortably chaotic and disorganised, information lover, Londoner, cookbook collector, clumsy AF, rarely takes a serious photo, has never been on a diet. This is not a wellness blog.

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