Last Updated on 06/12/2024
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Guide to Being Vegetarian in Thailand
Is it easy being vegetarian in Thailand?
I’ve been living in Thailand for around 8 years and vegetarian for 6 of them. If you’re wondering is vegetarian food available in Thailand, you’re not alone. Many vegans and vegetarian travellers have this concern before they arrive. The good news is that Thailand has a range of options for vegetarians, though it may take some effort to find them, especially outside tourist areas.
Being vegetarian in Thailand is easy in big cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Tourist islands like Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao make it easy to find vegan restaurants as well as areas like Phuket and Krabi which have tons of vegetarian restaurants in Thailand. It is very easy to find international food that is vegetarian and most Thai restaurants will do vegetarian versions, although you may need to ask and specify exactly what you want and don’t want.
However, in smaller places and more rural areas, it can be a bit more challenging to be vegetarian in Thailand. Local Thai markets involve a lot of meat and seafood and many dishes are usually made with fish sauce, oyster sauce or shrimp paste. If eating vegetarian food at a Thai market, you can usually ask for vegetable fried rice or tofu pad thai even though these may not be advertised or on the menu.
Communicating that you are vegetarian in Thailand
It’s useful to learn a few key phrases in Thai to communicate your vegetarian food requirements:
‘Jay’ is the word for vegan in Thai and will mean it doesn’t have any animal products.
‘Mang-sa-willa’ is the word for vegetarian. It is common for servers to ask you if ‘egg’ is okay which can be confusing as the word for egg is ‘kai’ and chicken is ‘gai’!
Is it easy being vegan in Thailand?
When it comes to eating vegan in Thailand, it is possible but you may need to specify no egg. Dairy is not so common in Thailand so this usually isn’t an issue if you are eating Thai local dishes. However, if shopping for soy milk be aware that many add cow’s milk powder into them so you have to read the ingredients carefully.
When shopping in 711 or supermarkets there is a yellow symbol for ‘vegan’ so you can be assured that this is a vegan product in Thailand.
One of the best ways for how to eat vegetarian in Thailand is to stick with simple dishes that are naturally meat-free or can be easily modified. If you ask for vegetarian food it may be that the restaurant or market stall SAY they do not have any…however, if you ask for vegetarian pad thai or vegetable fried rice they will often be able to make it. To make sure they do not use fish sauce you can say ‘mai sai nam bplaa ka/kap’.
Finding vegan restaurants in Thailand
There are various vegan restaurants in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai and in popular tourist destinations. As usual, vegan restaurants do tend to be more expensive than other restaurants but absolutely delicious, often using organic fruit and vegetables and it’s great to support these vegan restaurants financially. Mock meat has become more popular in Thailand lately and you can find vegan restaurants in Thailand that offer these fake meat substitutes including big brand names like Beyond Meat.
Vegan Festival in Thailand
The best time to be vegetarian or vegan in Thailand is for the annual vegan festival. It is usually around October time but changes as it follows the lunar year cycle. Across Thailand there will be festivals to celebrate and the vast majority of street stalls become vegan for 10 days, with the yellow and red symbol above used as a flag to symbolise the stall is vegan. Some of the best street food I’ve ever had has been during this festival!
Ultimately, whether you’re a vegetarian or vegan, Thailand has options although they may take a little effort to find and a bit of explaining in Thai! Come to Thailand and enjoy the amazing cuisine that Thailand has to offer while staying true to your dietary preferences.
Animal Lover?
Check out ethical elephant sanctuaries, whale watching trips and pink dolphin tours and the best national parks for wildlife and nature.
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