Eating in Bangkok must be simple, in spite of everything there may be a lot to select from — boat noodles, pad Thai, phat kaphrao, and as a lot mango sticky rice as your abdomen can take. But is it simple for a vegetarian?
By the time I arrived in Bangkok and checked into my hostel, it was lunchtime. The cheese toastie from 7/11 was not going to reduce it. I had heard in regards to the lack of vegetarian choices and whereas it did scare me, I had achieved my analysis.
I’m a powerful believer that each tradition on this planet has historically vegan or vegetarian dishes on their menu as a result of it’s not financially possible to eat meat day-after-day. With that hope, I set out on the streets of Bangkok, armed with my little guide of notes and a world Internet pack loaded on my telephone. I bought intel from fellow backpackers who have been lounging within the frequent space a couple of small Thai curry spot proper by the close by pharmacy.
Jasmine Siam Kitchen in Ratchathewi
| Photo Credit:
Sangita Rajan
Jasmine Siam Kitchen in Ratchathewi was pretty simple to spot. My coronary heart was set on the tofu Thai inexperienced curry with sticky rice, and perhaps a beer. I settled at a desk by the window and positioned my order with the sweet-looking Thai aunty who confirmed twice to make sure that I actually wished tofu and never hen. A small plate full of sliced mangoes was set in entrance of me, and I checked out it with starry eyes. Mangoes in November?
After inhaling them in report time, I waited patiently for the primary course, pretending to learn my guide. A big bowl of pale inexperienced Thai curry with greens and tofu was introduced to me together with a plate of sticky rice and a few salad. The perfume of jasmine rice, together with the kaffir lime and lemongrass within the curry, made my abdomen rumble. Needless to say, I wiped the bowl clear in quarter-hour.
Chao Phraya river
| Photo Credit:
Sangita Rajan
While I wished to discover a variety of hyper-local vegetarian meals, I used to be additionally a vacationer in a brand new nation. Convenience was key. Walking down slim alleyways behind the BTS stations to seek for some spot I had discovered on Google Maps was not handy, particularly after I was making my way through all the department stores of Bangkok.
In Siam Paragon, the chaotic and huge meals courtroom on the bottom ground was iconic. I first had to discover a place to sit (want me luck), after which made a beeline to Thipsamai for his or her legendary pad Thai. They had a tofu model loaded with peanuts and a sticky candy and bitter sauce that hit all the best spots. I additionally bought some veggie spring rolls and a watermelon juice to beat the warmth. Thipsamai is a series with areas everywhere in the metropolis, so it wins the comfort jackpot.
Pad Thai at Thipsamai
| Photo Credit:
Sangita Rajan
Bangkok is a metropolis of contrasts and extravagance, and no journey is full with out a fancy rooftop eating expertise. It was a troublesome job to select from the quite a few rooftop eating spots, after which I discovered Le Du Kaan. Led by Thai Michelin-star Chef Thitid Ton, Le Du Kaan has many issues on the menu for vegans and vegetarians, and none of them felt like a comfort prize.
I began the meal with the tom saap hed, a spicy and bitter mushroom soup, which was refreshing and lightweight. For the appetiser, I went for the grilled pumpkin in mushroom sauce, fuk thong yang, which was a candy and savoury delight, and the cauliflower steak served with a Thai coriander chimichurri. For the primary course, their signature tackle conventional pad Thai got here with a spicy tamarind sauce, numerous tofu, peanuts, and bean sprouts. Their in depth cocktail and mocktail menu has some hidden gems with domestically brewed spirits, which paired completely with the 360-degree views from the 56th ground.
Tom Saap Hed at Le Du Kaan
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
While out sightseeing, I made a cease on the well-known Ok Panich for the Michelin Guide-approved mango sticky rice. For lunch, I headed to Phed Mark in Sukhumvit for the vegetarian pad kar pao. My go-to dinner repair after a protracted day of being out and about was ordering in from the domestically well-known meals supply app, Grab. I picked up a drink from the closest 7/11 and scrolled through the eating places, fastidiously studying the descriptions after turning on translations within the settings. My high order was a mushroom cheeseburger from Shake Shack, or only a easy fried rice from an area joint.
Mushroom cheese burger at Shake Shack
| Photo Credit:
Sangita Rajan
I had put aside the final day within the metropolis to trip the ferry alongside the Chao Phraya river. There are a number of vacationer spots to discover alongside the river, so I bought on the hop-on-hop-off tourism boat. I began on the Grand Palace, moved alongside to Wat Pho, the flower market, and made a cease at Bangkok’s well-known Chinatown.
The Song Wat street close to Chinatown is thought for road artwork and structure, and it made for an incredible noon cocktail cease. Barbon, a craft beer and cocktail bar overlooking the river, was an incredible possibility. For a light-weight lunch, I headed to the well-known Gu Long Bao. They serve a plant-based pork bao together with taro, sesame, and candy bao buns.
Menu unfold at Siam Tea Room
| Photo Credit:
Sangita Rajan
After spending some extra time in Chinatown and taking footage of the gorgeous streets and buildings, I bought again on the ferry and headed to the Asiatique The Riverfront. I took my time exploring the huge open mall, rode the ferris wheel, checked out the classic ship stationed on the riverfront, and went to the Mystery Mansion haunted home tour. As the solar started to set, I headed to the Siam Tea Room to get pleasure from a efficiency of cultural Thai dance. They have an intensive vegetarian menu with spring rolls, dumplings, Thai curries, and extra native specialities.
As I watched the dancers transfer gracefully beneath the nice and cozy lights of the Siam Tea Room, full from one more satisfying meal, I realised how misplaced my preliminary worries had been. Bangkok had not simply fed me — it had overwhelmed me, delighted me, and jogged my memory that journey all the time finds a way.
This author was in Bangkok on the invitation of Marriott International
Published – April 07, 2025 05:08 pm IST
