Vegan Food in Thailand

Thailand turned out to be one of the easiest countries of my entire trip for eating vegan.

Whether I was in Bangkok, the mountains in the north, or on the islands in the south, I rarely struggled to find great plant-based food. In fact, there were days when choosing where to eat felt much harder than finding something vegan.

From traditional Thai dishes to comfort food, specialty coffee, and decadent desserts, Thailand delivered on every front.

Bangkok

KemKon

Without a doubt one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. I went more than once, since it was close to my hostel, but honestly could have eaten there every day.

I tried the Pad Thai, pho, fried tofu fish sticks, Ceasar salad, and a mock tuna croissant sandwich, and every single dish was excellent. The food was creative, beautifully presented, and the service was incredibly warm and welcoming.

Mello Vegan

A great spot for vegan comfort food. I had an amazing burger here that definitely hit the spot after a busy day of sightseeing.

Bark’n Brew Café

I stopped here after visiting the Dragon Temple, and it ended up being one of those unexpectedly lovely travel moments. Excellent oat milk latte, a cozy atmosphere, and two adorable resident dogs made it very difficult to leave.

Veganerie (Grand Palace)

Thailand’s most famous vegan chain absolutely lived up to the hype. The Mac and Cheese was delicious, but the real star was the chocolate mousse cake. One of those desserts that you think about long after you’ve left.

Chiang Mai

Rad Rabbit Vegan Pizzeria

An excellent fully vegan restaurant serving both Thai and Western dishes. I ordered a wrap, bacon aglio e olio, and tiramisu, and everything was fantastic. Definitely worth visiting if you’re in Chiang Mai and I guess I will have to come back eventually to try their pizza.

Vegan Society Restaurant

This is where I had one of my favorite local meals in Thailand. The Khao Soi was rich, comforting, and full of flavor, and naturally I couldn’t leave without ordering mango sticky rice for dessert.

Sweet Home Coffee

A tiny, very cute café with excellent coffee. The mango sticky rice here was one of the best I had in Thailand. Plus, the girls working there are so sweet.

Pure Vegan Heaven

This place became a bit of a recurring theme throughout my trip through the country. In Chiang Mai, I ordered the guacamole quesadilla, which was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I was craving that day.

Pai

Free Bird Café

One of my favorite cafés in Pai. I had a Thai omelette over rice, broccoli chedd’r bites, a Snickers bar, and a bagel. Everything was delicious, and the café itself had a lovely, relaxed atmosphere that perfectly matched Pai’s vibe.

Janym

Probably the most instagrammable café I visited in Pai. It was admittedly a bit pretentious and on the pricier side, but the avocado toast with plant-based ‘poached egg’ and coffee were excellent, so I can’t complain much.

Khaotha Coffee

Fantastic coffee and a unique atmosphere. One of those places where it’s easy to linger longer than planned. And you get to watch some turtles and a funky interior whilst sipping your coffee.

Koh Samui

At Samui Restaurant

A simple local restaurant with the loveliest staff where I enjoyed tofu with veggies and rice. Sometimes simple meals are exactly what you need.

Rob Aun Vegan

This place felt like eating in someone’s backyard, because in many ways, it basically was. The place was officially closed but the owner still made me a dish and the Pad Thai was incredible tasty and made this one of my favorite local finds on the island. Grumpy cat included ;)

The Coffee Collective

Excellent specialty coffee, amazing avocado toast, and delicious mango chia pudding. A perfect breakfast spot.

Annie Eatery

I loved coming here. Great breakfast/brunch spot. The tofu scramble was great, and naturally I couldn’t resist another vegan dessert.

Pure Vegan Heaven

This time I ordered papaya salad which was delicious but very spicy. Consider yourself warned. Staff might have laughed at (or with) me.

Koh Phangan

Pure Vegan Heaven

The tofu tacos were excellent and made for a perfect lunch stop during my day trip to the island.

Dots Coffee

Another great coffee stop with excellent coffee and a relaxed atmosphere.

Vintage Burgers

A fantastic vegan burger and exactly the kind of comfort food you sometimes crave while traveling.

Phuket (Karon Beach)

Soul Vegan Café

This quickly became my go-to spot in Phuket. I returned multiple times for coffee, smoothie bowls, avocado toast, tofu scramble, and chia pudding. Everything was consistently excellent. They were very sweet in handed out free dessert in the days leading up to Christmas.

Tandoori House

While not fully vegan, this Indian restaurant had plenty of vegan-friendly options.

I had chana masala, saffron rice, samosas and dal and it ended up being one of my favorite meals in Phuket. Sometimes all you need is Indian food.

Final Thoughts

Thailand was easily one of the most vegan-friendly countries I visited in Asia. Whether you’re looking for traditional Thai dishes, healthy brunch cafés, specialty coffee, or indulgent comfort food, you’ll have no shortage of options.

Honestly, if you’re vegan and considering Thailand, don’t worry about the food.

You’ll eat very, very well ;)