From time to time folks drop me a note to ask for recommendations on vegan food in Bangkok, ranging from vegan Bangkok restaurant recommendations to general shopping and entertainment suggestions. So, here's a list of my top Bangkok vegan picks, my Bangkok vegan food guide. It's not exhaustive and it's based entirely on my thoughts and opinions at the time of writing (end of 2023). There are also plenty of places I've not tried.
Many apologies if you came here looking for location roundups based on begging for free meals, inclusion of places I've never visited, or general influencer hubris. I don't shill for anyone. I pay for all of my meals.
There is no particular order to the lists (e.g. no ranking from least to most favourite). There's also no priority placed on places with or without photos. Not all places are wholly vegan.
I will try to keep this list updated over time, but in every likelihood I'll forget to update this Bangkok vegan food guide until, like, 2029.
Vegan restaurants & vegan options in Bangkok
Green & Sunny
I've only ordered delivery from this place, but the vegan hard boiled egg is a stunner. Highly recommended. They do run out, so check in advance. I've only tried the sandwich but they sell the eggs individually as well. This is the best vegan hardboiled style egg I've ever tried. The texture of the yolk is surprisingly realistic, from the way I remember it.
Ruyi Vegetarian
A vegan favourite near Hualampong train station. Their poo pad pong gari (stir fried curry crab) is a favourite. Other recommendations: pad sator (stink bean stir fry) and krapor plaa (fish maw soup). They don't cook with garlic so I'd avoid dishes that rely heavily on it, like the moo gaeo manao. This place can be busy even when tables are free. Ask for wait times before ordering if you're in a rush (I've waited for over an hour for food before).
Sutunthip
One of my favourite spots, which I've written about previously, mostly for the lap pet tod (fried duck lap) more than anything else. The menu is massive and they update it semi regularly. Pair Sutunthip with a trip to Icon Siam (a few minutes away by taxi) if you are one of those people who like to torture yourself with malls (only partly joking – you can get decent food in Thai malls).
Bonita Cafe and Social Club
Maintains a fusion of Americana country fantastic and Japanese styles, with accents to indicate how passionate the owner is about running. It's one of the cutest restaurants I've ever visited, and is so home-y. The champon ramen, which you must pre-order with a reservation at least 24 hours in advance, is highly recommended. Also the Japanese curry.
So Vegan
They have a few different branches. There are two categories of what they sell: ready made foods you can point to and they'll plate up with rice (khao gaeng / curry rice style) or foods cooked to order. Everything is good. I particularly recommend the pad gaprao boran and khao moo daeng (pictured). From the curry rice selection grab the fried tofu with cha om if they've got it. If they have a box of naem nuang and/or miang kam made up, grab it for later.
The Rice & Healthy food vegetarian vegan plant based
Located in an old petrol station. They do a lot of classic Thai dishes better than many other places and the value is good. The menu is sizeable and, along with dishes meant to be eaten with rice, noodle soups, and food cooked to order. They have some Isaan dishes as well. Find weekly specials on the Facebook page (linked below) but they are in Thai.
Na Vayla Paplern
This place has the same owners as the above. They run a B&B as well as a restaurant. Open weekends for the public. Menu is mainly pan Asian, but without your usual suspects. The chasu ramen, gaeng som, and vegan omelette with fermented mushroom are recommended, but everything I've tried on the menu is great. And the space is so welcoming, too.
Golden State Vegan
I went here after a Thai friend insisted I put my insistence of eating mostly Thai food to bed for one meal and try this Japanese-California fusion sushi and burger spot. I wanted to dislike it (I am put off of any place that calls itself the "best") but it's legit good. The sushi outweighs the burgers IMO, but then I'd say that of most items weighed against burgers. The tofu satay skewers are ace.
Baan Ying Plant Based
This place is located in The Market Mall, a newcomer in the Bangkok mall game, yet full of mostly shuttered businesses. You might assume nothing could possibly be open, but keep ascending past the ghost floors and you'll find Baan Ying. This is the mostly vegan (there's honey on the menu) location of the Baan Ying chain. My recommendations include the yam pag bung nod moo sap (fried morning glory "salad") and the bai liang tom gati hed daet deow (mushroom soup with dried mushrooms and melinjo leaf.
Arito
This is a Japanese spot with some hints of Thai fusion. I’ve not been to the restaurant but have ordered their zaru udon for delivery and tried their bomb tofu at a market. I'm keen to try their soba with cassia curry (gaeng kee lek).
The Kitchen at Yenakat
Not vegan but has a good vegan selection and specials. Super cute decor and space. Get the gaeng nor mai (Isaan style bamboo shoot curry). I can't wait to go back to try more.
Mensho Tokyo
The vegan tantanmen is the only option and is one of my favourite bowls of ramen out there. The flavour of smoked ground nuts seeps through into the soup over the course of the meal.
Evaime
For hotpot / shabu shabu buffet. 499 baht per person for all you can eat within 90 minutes. They have a big vegan menu to choose from. Great with friends. Ask for the jay menu.
Okay Shabu Shabu
Taiwanese hot pot place. It’s set up bar style, with an individual pot per person. The mushroom stock is sublime. They have a vegan menu. Their house dipping sauce isn’t vegan but they have a separate vegan version. They may put the sauce in front of you as soon as you sit down but you can immediately request the jay version and they will swap. Be sure to ask them to still give you garlic and spring onion.
Sook Sathorn
Sizeable Isaan menu as well as other items. I recommend the gway teow lod, boat noodles, and mushroom tom yum/tom saep.
May Veggie Home
They’re now on their third location a bit further away in Upper Sukhumvit, but it’s the nicest place yet. They’re lovely. The menu combines a variety of East Asian dishes with Western and Thai options and everything I’ve tried over the years has been good. They also recently opened an express branch with a compact menu on Sukhumvit Soi 23.
Talalaks
They're mostly a food court name, but they seem to maintain a proper restaurant or two as well. BUT they constantly close and change location. As of the end of 2023, they have a restaurant in Pathum Wan. The massive som tam platter is fabulous (chut tam tad ชุดตำถาด) I also like the gaeng om and kua kling. Get the sugar palm dessert (it’s very special). No real web presence so link below is an unofficial FB page.
Khao Kaek Kua
It's a 7 minute walk where I usually stay in Bangkok so I have tried the entire menu. You can’t go wrong with anything, but my favourites are the shabobo, numbing noodles, moo daeng ping, and chats with the lovely owner. Delivery is also good.
Na Aroon
Part of a high end hotel and spa. The restaurant has a big vegan menu with especially good salads (yum tua pu and yum som o are recommended). The tom klong soup and nam prik num are also stars. If you're on your own and want a set plate, the som tam/khao niaw/gai yang set is decent.
Chamlong's Asoke / Vegetarian Community in Chatuchak
This food court near Chatuchak market is somehow overlooked by most vegans I know in Bangkok, but it should be on everyone’s radar. There are many vendors, with many options. Exchange cash for tickets at the window (at the shop inside) and use the tickets to buy food. Incredibly good value. The earlier you go, the better (plus it means you can go to Chatuchak afterwards, before it gets too hot) because some things sell out quickly.
Yesterday Tomorrow
This is a vegetarian (with vegan options) Neapolitan style pizza maker offering traditional and Thai fusion toppings. Pictured is pad gapi sator pizza, which features a base of spicy vegan shrimp paste fried with stink beans. Other menu items include Thai classics like khao man gai. They have a location in both Chamlong's Asoke and the Asoke community on Nawamin.
Khao Daeng Gaeng Ron (Vegetarien) ร้านอาหารเจ ข้าวแดงแกงร้อน
This restaurant is in the Santi Asoke community off Nawamin Road. They have two menus: noodle soups and khao gaeng (curry rice). I prefer the latter. If they have it, the pad pet pla duk tod (crispy fish stir fried with red curry paste) is one of the most memorable items I’ve had. The mara tod grop (crispy fried bitter melon) is also recommended. No guarantee they will have these items.
Tammang
This is one of the most special places in Bangkok, in my opinion. The location is a bit far from central, but it's worth the trip to sample true Isan flavours made vegan (it's a vegetarian spot but much of the menu is vegan). They make most of the mock meats by hand and everything is extraordinarily good. Pictured is the gaeng om plaa lai (vegan eel herbal curry). For a full list of everything I tried, look at this caption. Menu is currently Thai only but they are working on an English menu.
Anotai
Prices run on the high end for small portions, so it’s good to go with a group so you can try a few different things. It’s been awhile since I visited, but there’s a seaweed wrapped fried tofu in wasabi mayo that’s divine.
Chijuya
This is a Japanese vegan restaurant that integrates elements of Thai flavours into the menu. For instance the ชิราชิเบนโตะ chirashi bento (recommended) includes various vegan seafoods, katsu and moo yang (pork floss). The yam salmon (pictured, top) uses a lime and chilli heavy salad dressing with heaps of salmon. Also pictured: มูราชาภิซูชิ murachapi sushi filled with crab, carrot, mayo, and ham. It’s rolled in nori and then rice is swapped with mashed taro and sweet potato for the outside.
Demi
Taiwanese spot off Sukhumvit with a separate vegan menu. If you’re a stinky tofu lover you’ll love the stew. It’s the real deal. I don't have any photos, I'm afraid.
Delivery / pre-order only
Most of the places I've listed are on at least one of the major food delivery apps (Grabfood, Lineman, Robinhood, Foodpanda). There are also some places with delivery only businesses, so it's worth checking them out. Grab also doubles as a taxi app, so you should have it anyway.
Burmese Vegan
Run by a lovely woman who dishes out Burmese classics in addition to a few lesser known foods from Myanmar. Her tea leaf salad is a star. She also does a fermented ginger salad that I still dream of and her garlic rice belongs front and centre on any comfort food altar. Sometimes she's available on delivery apps and does market pop ups but it's best to just drop them a line.
Sweets
Lod Chong Bai Tooi ลอดช่องใบเตย
(Chatuchak Market) is my favourite spot for Thai style cendol. Get it with black sticky rice. Thai melon is also an option but not my favourite. Saturday and Sunday only.
บ้านดอกพุด-Baan Dok Pud
cafe/restaurant that specialises in Thai sweets. Try the kanom ko (rice balls filled with caramelised coconut) served in sweet coconut milk. Drinks are good as well.
Dessert stall in Pier 21 food court
In Terminal 21 shopping mall. Their tao tung, or 5 tropical nuts in longan syrup, (number 16 on the menu) is a particularly good version. Candied dried jujube (date), lotus root, gingko, dried longan, and bok gia sen (potato and tapioca starch noodles) with longan syrup.
- Sister Ni's Glazed Taro. Sugar glazed fried taro.
- Nam Dao Huu 南豆腐 in Chinatown sells all sorts of soy based drinks and snacks. It's a small spot, good for a quick sit down. If you're one of those people who whinges about how soy products in the West don't taste like soy, you will adore this place.
Bubble tea, coffee, and drinks
I always ask for normal sweetness, which is more sweet that what would be considered medium sweet by Western standards.
- 5 A.M. does the most glorious soy milk made with coconut water. I can't hype it enough.
- TP Tea (multiple locations). I recommend the tieguanyin with pearls.
- Cha Tra Mue (multiple locations). I recommend either Thai green tea or standard Thai tea.
- KOI Thé (multiple locations). I recommend the grass jelly soy milk, if they have it (it may have been limited edition).
- Kamu Kamu (multiple locations). I generally grab an iced coffee on the go, but they have other options too.
- Tribes Community. Neighbourhood quality coffee spot down Sukhumvit Soi 65.
- Sometimes I Feel. Exceptionally creative drinks list of coffee and non coffee items. I recommend the happy pills cold brew (pandan and bael fruit syrup + cold brew)
- Mama Cafe (multiple locations). I recommend the Pina caf (pineapple coffee that's a bit fizzy and chunky)
- Mikka (multiple locations). Try the black yuzu.
Markets & shopping
There are more markets than any person could count, but here are a few I enjoy
- Tuesday and Thursday market at Srinakharinwirot University. Billed as a flea market, but tonnes of food (both produce and ready to eat) Nice if in area. Vendors have varied over the years I've been visiting this market, but there are always plenty of vegan sweets and sometimes other food vendors. Usually some snacks like fried tofu too. Also lots of other non food bits for sale.
- MongSeng Kitchenware. You can buy some quality kitchenware here for decent prices. They also have some specialist cookware for making specific Thai foods. It's small but fun if you're into kitchen goods. Sells the ever popular and sturdy Zebra brand range of stainless steel kitchenware.
- Joy & Benz is a large kitchenware and ceramics emporium near Chatuchak market. This is one of my favourite shops in town. Cutlery, Thai hot pots, melamine, ceramicware, gadgets, stainless steel, trinkets, specialist items for kanom, knives, and more. For some dishes (e.g. enamelware) you'll need to purchase in sets. Cash only. Bring plenty.
- Chatuchak is a famous, gigantic weekend market (other markets on different days) with thousands of vendors. My favourite section is the book market.
- Santi Asoke community off Nawamin Road. Contains many supermarkets and places to eat. It's pretty out of the way of any tourist hotspots but if you've got the Grab App it's a breeze to get out there. I can easily spend a couple hours browsing around. The link is to the temple inside the complex, but have a wander around sois 44, 46, and 48.
- Chamlong's Asoke supermarket + other shops in the building. This 99% vegan health food shop has all sorts of goodies to pique your interest. There are lots of dried goods you can haul home as souvenirs too. Keep an eye out for fermented mushroom sausages. They'll keep. In the same building as the aforementioned food court.
- 7-11 has branches everywhere and they are not overrated. If it's late and you can't be arsed to cook or go out to eat, head to the freezers, find a vegan meal, pay, and they will heat it up for you. For drinks, I love the milk tea vitamin water, chocolate milk and Thai tea, and Oishi grape tea. Also the bottled soda water. Family Mart also has options, though locations are less plentiful than in past.
- Or Kor Tor is a massive produce and food market. It's very close to Chatuchak (walkable). I usually come here to stock up on dried chillies. It's a good place to take a see local produce in a farmers' market eque atmosphere, though the prices may be higher than any local wet market.
- Chinatown and Little India. If you like wandering and browsing for everything from fabrics to kawaii trinkets to snacks, begin a seemingly endless wander through Phahurat Market. For a more food oriented market, try Itsaranuphap Alley off Yaowarat.
Entertainment
- MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) is a large private museum with some truly impressive works. Most of the museum rightly focuses on displaying Thai art. The heaven and hellscapes are worth the visit alone.
- Thai Labour Museum is a small museum but in my opinion well worth a visit. A lot of the signs are in English as well as Thai and it's a more honest history than you will find at many of the flashier museums. Most people would probably spend 30-45 minutes here, but if you're a leftist and/or history nerd then a bit longer. There's a small room dedicated to Chit Phumisak too.
- Ruean Sabai on Sukhumvit Soi 23 is hands down my favourite massage spot I've come across in all my years visiting Thailand. They will listen to requests (e.g. if you say soft, they will massage softly), staff don't use their phones while working, and everyone is nice.
I hope you found my Bangkok vegan food guide helpful. If there's a restaurant you love that I've left out, or somewhere you think I should check out next time I'm in town, please do leave a comment. I'm mainly interested in Thai (and other East Asian) spots and not so keen on the trendy hi-so (upper class) spots.