How to Find and Order Delicious Vegan Food in Bangkok in 2024
Last updated on January 24th, 2024
If you’re a vegan planning a trip to Bangkok, you’re in for quite the trip. While Bangkok may be renowned for its ‘shocking’ street food and traditional dishes, the city doesn’t shy away when it comes to plant-based options. So, keep reading because I’m going to talk about how to find and order vegan food in Bangkok without missing out on the vibrant Thai food culture that truly makes this city.
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Is Bangkok Vegan Friendly?
Absolutely! Bangkok has always been a good place for vegan food but in recent years vegan-friendly restaurants and street food stalls are popping up everywhere! From traditional Thai dishes with vegan twists to international vegan cuisine, you’ll find a wide range of options to suit whatever mood you’re in.
Fun Vegan-Friendly Things to do in Bangkok:
If you’re looking to explore some vegan delights, there’s this great tour I stumbled upon called – Bangkok Best of Thai Vegan. It’s a journey through the city’s vegan food scene. You’ll get to try a variety of Thai vegan dishes that are honestly out of this world, while walking through some of the coolest neighbourhoods, so it’s like a little adventure wrapped up with some delicious food.
Vegan/Vegetarian Thai Cooking Class – May Kaidee Cooking Class Tour – Viator
So for anyone wanting to feel the culture and learn some Thai cooking, I’ve got just the thing. It’s the May Kaidee Cooking Class. You learn how to create vegan versions of some classic Thai dishes, and the best bit – it’s all veggie. Soups, curries, and stir-fries, all bursting with flavour – plus, you get to eat what you make, so it’s a win-win! We even got to dress up in traditional Thai clothes and take photos when we went.
Floating and Railway Market Tour – Bangkok Damnoen Saduak Market and Maeklong Railway Market Tour – Get Your Guide
Ever heard of a market on railway tracks? Yeah, it’s a thing in Bangkok! This tour is to the Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Railway Markets. It’s like a peek into the everyday life of the locals. The railway market is such a unique experience – you’ve got trains passing through while sellers swiftly move their goods away from the tracks. And Damnoen Saduak is this vibrant floating market where you can glide through canals, checking out the stalls. Sadly, not all the food is vegan but there are some tasty treats to be found.
What Are the Most Vegan-Friendly Areas in Bangkok?
Head to Khao San Road and you’ll find several of the best vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants nearby. May Kaidee, Ethos and Mango are just a few steps away. Sukhumvit is another great area when it comes to finding vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants in Bangkok. Sukhumvit has quite a high concentration of vegan-friendly places.
But I have no doubt that you’ll be able to find vegan food, no matter what part of the city you find yourself in.
Where to Look: Areas with yoga and meditation centres or retreats often have a strong presence of vegan-friendly restaurants. You can also use the power of Google. It’s obvious, I know, but some people forget that you can simply search for “Vegan food in [wherever you are],” and if you see a cluster of results, you’ve found a vegan-friendly neighbourhood.
Sometimes it’s nice not to choose where to go right away, just take a walk around these areas, and you’re likely to stumble upon menus with plenty of vegan options. And you may end up with an even more authentic experience.
How to Find Vegan Food in Bangkok?
Online Resources
- Happy Cow: This popular app and website is a travelling vegan’s best friend, it provides a list of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, complete with user reviews and ratings.
- TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor is a reliable resource for finding vegan options, especially if you’re looking for reviews and recommendations from fellow travellers. It’s also great to find places that sell both vegan a non-vegan food.
- Google It: A simple Google search with keywords like “vegan food in Bangkok” can help you find vegan-friendly spots that haven’t yet made it to the other platforms.
Walk the Streets
Exploring Bangkok’s streets can be a heck of an experience. You’ll come across all sorts, including shops, restaurants and street markets. Many street sellers offer vegan options, and it’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local food scene, it will come with some challenges, but that’s the part you’ll remember when looking back on your experience in Bangkok. It’s all about the memories.
Ask Locals and Other Travelers
Don’t be afraid to strike up conversations with locals or fellow travellers. They can give wonderful recommendations and insider tips on where to find the best vegan food in the city.
What Are Must-Try Vegan Dishes in Bangkok?
- Pad Thai – from a night market: A classic Thai noodle dish made with tofu, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce.
- Green Curry: A fragrant and spicy green curry with coconut milk, tofu, and vegetables.
- Som Tum: A refreshing green papaya salad often made vegan by leaving out the fish sauce.
- Tom Yum Soup: A spicy and sour soup that can also be made vegan by excluding shrimp or fish sauce.
- Massaman Curry: A rich and creamy curry with potatoes, tofu, and peanuts.
Please remember that none of these dishes are vegan in their original form but in vegan-friendly restaurants, you’ll find plant-based versions.
There are some traditional dishes you just can’t miss out on when visiting Bangkok. But the problem vegans often face is that they can’t easily find vegan versions of the most popular local dishes.
But don’t worry, I’ve done all the hard work, of eating lots of delicious Thai food, and now I’m going to share the best places for vegan Thai food in Bangkok in 2024:
The Best Spots For Vegan-Friendly Traditional Thai Dishes:
- Vegan Pad Thai in Bangkok in 2024 – May Veggie Home
- Vegan Mango Sticky Rice in Bangkok in 2024 – Jeng Noodle Thai Food & Vegetarian
- Vegan Red Curry in Bangkok in 2024 – May Kaidee
- Vegan Massaman Curry in Bangkok in 2024 – Ethos
- Vegan Tom Yum in Bangkok in 2024 – May Kaidee
- Vegan Khao Soi in Bangkok in 2024 – Khun Churn in White
- Vegan Green Curry in Bangkok in 2024 – Veganerie Concept – Benjasiri Park
How to Order Vegan Food in Bangkok?
Keep an eye out for the Thai word “เจ” (pronounced “jay” or “jae”). It doesn’t guarantee that everything will be vegan but it shows an understanding of vegan, vegetarian, or plant-based diets.
You can use the following words and phrases to order vegan food in Bangkok:
- I am vegan: ฉันทานเจค่ะ (Chan taan jay ka)
- I don’t eat meat: ฉันไม่ทานเนื้อสัตว์ค่ะ (Chan mai taan nuea satwa ka)
- I don’t eat: ฉันไม่กิน (Chan mai gin)
- Meat: เนื้อ (Nuea)
- Chicken: ไก่ (Gai)
- Eggs: ไข่ (Khai)
- Fish: ปลา (Pla)
- Fish Sauce: น้ำปลา (Nam pla)
- Shrimp: กุ้ง (Goong)
- Milk: น้ำนม (Nam nom)
- Honey: น้ำผึ้ง (Nam phueng)
Take a screenshot of this or print it out so you always have it available.
If you want to engage more with locals, you can use Google Translate to learn and practice these phrases or use it to actually do the speaking for you.
Can I Find Vegan Street Food in Bangkok?
Yes, you can! Bangkok’s street food scene offers a wide variety of vegan options. While exploring the city’s bustling streets, keep an eye out for stalls offering vegan dishes such as fresh fruit, fried noodles, grilled corn, crispy tofu and vegetable spring rolls.
Is There Vegan-Friendly Accommodation in Bangkok?
Absolutely! Many hotels and guesthouses in Bangkok now offer vegan-friendly options for breakfast and other meals. When booking your accommodation, it’s always best to get in touch and ask them about their vegan options.
In conclusion, Bangkok is a vegan-friendly destination that welcomes plant-based eaters with open arms. With these tips and ideas, you can easily find and order delicious vegan food while immersing yourself in the vibrant Thai culture. So, pack your appetite and go exploring.
Take a look at some of my other tips on travelling as a vegan on my Vegan Food on Tour page.
Don’t want to miss a thing while in Bangkok? Check out the posts I’ve written about the best vegan versions of traditional dishes in Bangkok in 2024:
- The Four Best Spots for Vegan Pad Thai in Bangkok in 2024
- The 3 Best Spots for Vegan Mango Sticky Rice in Bangkok in 2024
- The 5 Best Spots for Vegan Red Curry in Bangkok in 2024
- The Best Spots for Vegan Massaman Curry in Bangkok in 2024
- The Best Four Spots for Vegan Tom Yum in Bangkok in 2024
- The Four Best Spots for Vegan Khao Soi in Bangkok in 2024
- The Three Best Spots for Vegan Green Curry in Bangkok in 2024
Meet the Author
Meet Sinead O’Carroll: Vegan explorer, sustainability advocate and the founder of The Wondering Wandering Vegan. Embracing veganism since 2018 and vegetarianism since 2005, Sinead is armed with a Vegan Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle qualification, and is on a mission to share her passion for cruelty-free living.
With a taste for adventure and a heart for eco-conscious choices, she’s here to prove that vegans never miss out on flavour, fun or style. Join her in enjoying the delights of a vegan-friendly world! 🌱✈️🌍
Want to know more? Check out Sinead’s About page here.
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