We had really enjoyed our time in Northern Thailand, so we were really excited to be going back to this great country: this time to check out its famous capital city, Bangkok! We were really enchanted by this city: it is so modern and feels futuristic, whilst still in many ways being very traditional, with the incredible palaces and temple complexes sitting side by side with the city's skyscrapers. There really is so much to love about Bangkok: there's so much to do, so much to see (we are big fans of Terminal 21 Shopping Mall in particular!), and so much to eat!
Eating Vegan in Bangkok
"I'd love to visit Thailand just for the street food and the energy of a city like Bangkok." – Bobby Flay
Of course, you'll never be spoilt for choice when it comes to vegan food in Bangkok. There was plenty to choose from (although maybe slightly less than we would have expected in the capital) so there is no way that we could list everything here. Instead we've focused on explaining the places we were able to visit in detail, to help you out if you're visiting the Thai capital. Read our blog, then watch our full video at the bottom of the page - we'll keep adding to this list every time we visit Bangkok, and we'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments too!
1st: Veganerie Soul
Siam Paragon: GC9, 991 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Veganerie actually have eight spots throughout Bangkok: the one that we chose to visit was Veganerie Soul, located in the bottom of Siam Paragon. We knew we absolutely had to try this place when we were in Bangkok, and suffice to say we were not disappointed! Veganerie claim to be Bangkok's first 100% vegan bakery, and they offer a wide range of totally plant-based meals, desserts and bakes.
We found it so difficult to choose what we wanted from their extensive menu of Thai and western classics; ultimately we chose the things that we had really been missing during this trip. For me this was a carbonara; for Mike, a quesadilla with guacamole. The carbonara was so delicious: honestly, this is the stuff that dreams are made of. The portion was good though maybe a little on the small side by western standards (but for me this just meant room for dessert!) The sauce was creamy and the pasta well cooked with a little bit of bite. But the crowning glory was the bacon substitute which was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. Mike's quesadilla was similarly impressive: the wrap was toasted crisp, and the insides were delicious, he loved every second of eating this quesadilla. Mike's big highlight here was the guacamole and pineapple salsa pairing, which made for an incredible taste and texture experience. Honestly, this was fantastic: we wished we could have come back and eaten it all over again!
We really couldn't leave Veganerie without trying their desserts: just looking at their photos in the menu made our mouths water! My choice, the death by chocolate sundae, was so good - my goodness, it was everything I had been missing on this trip, and I feel sure that I was the most excited vegan ever to try it. It was delicious with so many different textures and flavours: it felt like everything chocolatey that they could put into it, they did! But wow, this sundae was dense. I was heartbroken to only be able to finish half of it! If I came back I would make sure I was extra hungry so that I could hopefully finish a main and a dessert! Mike chose a sundae too: for him, the v-brownie sundae. He also struggled to finish this massive pudding after his main course! The brownie was a little dry and very dense, but this was balanced by the vegan cream, which was the tastiest bit but very filling! The dark chocolate ice cream was flavoursome and very rich. While I was obsessed with my dessert, Mike found that the the dessert was a little much for him; he concluded that he should maybe have gone for something a little less rich! However, the thing that he really remembers Veganerie Soul for was his main, which was absolutely to die for!
Now, all of this comes at a cost of course, and Veganerie Soul was definitely the most expensive place we ate at in Bangkok. Usually this would cost a restaurant a place or two in our rankings, but Veganerie's food was so incredibly impressive and delicious that it was the standout winner even with a high price point. Because it cost a lot, it's not necessarily a place that we would visit every day, but it is definitely worth being our top treat meal in the city. My carbonara cost ฿260 (approx. £6.18, €7.02 or $7.63) while Mike's quesadilla with guacamole came in at ฿210 (approx. £4.99, €5.67 or $6.16). In addition, we absolutely had to sample their legendary desserts: I went for the death by chocolate sundae which set me back ฿195 (approx. £4.63, €5.26 or $5.72), while Mike's v-brownie sundae was ฿170 (approx. £4.04, €4.59 or $4.99). So it's not a cheap meal, but it is nonetheless incredible!
2nd: Krua Boon Thai
104, Soi pramote 3, thanon mahesak, next to ASPIRA GEMS CENTRE SILOM, BANGKOK
If you've been keeping up with our blogs you'll know Krua Boon as the restaurant that we went to to try Thailand's world-famous national dish, Pad Thai. This friendly vegetarian restaurant can make all their dishes vegan upon request, and they even offer a delivery service too!
The Pad Thai itself was incredible, exactly what we had hoped for! I had held off having a Pad Thai in Thailand until this one, and it was well worth the wait! Because this Pad Thai is designed to be vegan (rather than just asking for a dish to be adapted to be plant-based at a street stall), all of the flavours had been really well thought through. The egg had been replaced with tofu to make sure that the authentic texture was still in place; traditional Pad Thai gets a lot of its flavour from shrimp paste and fish sauce, and this completely vegan version had clearly been adapted with a close attention to detail to maintain that classic salty, spicy and slightly sweet flavour. As is traditional, a slice of lime and a helping of peanuts were served on the side, and this was the most generous portion of peanuts that we've ever seen! Overall this was a really tasty dish, and I would absolutely try some more things from Krua Boon next time we're in town!
Another great thing about Krua Boon Thai was the price: these meals were the cheapest on this list, really reasonable at ฿69 (approx. £1.64, €1.86 or $2.02) per portion of Pad Thai. The restaurant service was really quick too, and it's great that they can make their dishes vegan - just make sure that you request it if you don't want the vegetarian version! For authentic food that is entirely plant-based, Krua Boon is your place to go!
3rd: Began Vegan
1-73 Soi Tha Suphan, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Began Vegan is a tranquil and cute vegan cafe and bakery situated between Wat Pho (home of the reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun (just across the river). Their menu is completely plant based and offers a range of lunch dishes, some vegetable and some mock-meat based.
I chose the Spicy Corn soup, which was a little sweet for my taste, but was wholesome and filled me up for an afternoon of checking out some of Bangkok's most famous sights. I loved the breadsticks, which were glazed with a light layer of oil and served in a cute little cardboard box. Mike chose the Pad Ga Prao, a Thai dish that was new to us. We loved how they had used our favourite, omni meat, to replace the pork that is traditionally part of the recipe; this sauce also contained tofu and vegetables. The dome of rice, which was made of layers of different colours, made this dish look really unmistakeable and appealing, what a nice presentational touch!
Service at Began Vegan is quick, due to the quirky little button you're given when you take a table: you can buzz to order and to pay the bill. The staff are friendly and helpful, and we loved the story of the owner's grandfather helping her to realise her vegan cafe dreams as she showed a real passion for making innovative plant-based meals and bakes. The food at Began Vegan was a little more on the expensive side, with my soup costing ฿129 (approx. £3.07, €3.48 or $3.79), while Mike's Pad Ga Prao was ฿139 (approx. £3.30, €3.75 or $4.08). The food here tasted fairly standard but the presentation was everything: and you can't beat that location for vegan food while you're sightseeing!
Where is your favourite place to get plant-based food in Bangkok? Are there any new places or old favourites that we've missed? Leave us a comment to let us know (and others who might be visiting too!)
Recommendations
This section contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of our links, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Where should I stay?
Bangkok is a massive city with loads of accommodation options to suit all budgets, so it can be pretty hard to choose!
For a friendly, clean, and minimalist hostel not too far from the action, The Companion Hostel is a solid choice offering both private and dorm rooms, depending on your preference.
If you'd rather a hotel, The Mulberry is located on Khaosan Road, the famous heart of the backpacking world. Their rooms have modern decoration with traditional Thai touches; it also has an outdoor pool!
Tours & Experiences
One of the best things we did in Bangkok was our trip to the Royal Grand Palace and Temples: the architecture is incredible and the gold buddha is a once in a lifetime thing to see! I couldn't believe quite how long he is, and the intricate detail you can see all the way around. All these are included in this popular tour, as well as an air-conditioned minivan and local guide - really convenient if you don't have much time in Bangkok, or don't want to walk between sights in the heat.
If this isn't for you, or you'd prefer to see more of the Bangkok, why not check out some of the top rated Viator trips below!
Comments