Three ways to eat vegan in Bangkok
| Option | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow-flag jay stalls | Chinatown (Yaowarat), very visible during the vegetarian festival | 100% plant-based Buddhist food, often very cheap; garlic and onion are sometimes left out |
| Vegan restaurants | Broccoli Revolution (Thong Lo, Sukhumvit), May Veggie Home (several addresses) | English menus; Broccoli Revolution is busy at weekends |
| "Adapted" Thai dishes | Everywhere | Ask for no fish sauce, no oyster sauce, no egg |
We do not publish prices: they differ from one area to another.
Useful Thai phrases
"Gin jay" (I eat jay, so no meat, egg or dairy), "mai sai nam pla" (no fish sauce), "mai sai kai" (no egg), "mai sai nam man hoi" (no oyster sauce). Curry pastes and broths can contain shrimp paste: ask.
A 100% vegan food tour
The Vegan Thai Food Tour of Bangkok lasts about 3.5 hours, starts at Ekkamai BTS and ends at Phrom Phong, with no animal products. One to avoid as a vegan: the Backstreets food tour with 15 tastings, whose listing says it is not suitable for vegetarians and vegans. To learn Thai cooking, see Thai cooking classes in Bangkok and tell the school when you book.
Going further
The Bangkok vegetarian festival fills Yaowarat with yellow flags every autumn. For the rest of the table: street food in Bangkok and eating in Sukhumvit.
FAQ
Is Bangkok easy for vegans?
Yes, thanks to jay food and vegan restaurants, as long as you refuse fish and oyster sauce.
What does the yellow flag mean?
It marks a stall or restaurant serving jay food, with no meat or fish.
Is pad thai vegan?
Not by default: it often contains egg, fish sauce and dried shrimp. Ask for a jay version or one without those ingredients.
