Vegetarian and vegan food in Thailand: Traditions, tips and must-try specialties
- InFusion
- Sep 17
- 5 min read
Vegetarian and vegan food in Thailand: an overview
Thailand does not have a vegetarian tradition as strong as India, China or Japan. Yet, for vegetarian and vegan travellers, the country has become a must-visit destination. Thanks to the year-round abundance of vegetables, the central role of tofu, the culinary creativity around eggs, and the flexibility of Thai cooks, eating without meat or fish is both simple and enjoyable.
Every year, Thailand even celebrates the Vegetarian Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors. But beyond this major event, Thai cuisine offers countless opportunities to eat vegetarian or vegan daily, from street food stalls to specialized restaurants.
The Vegetarian Festival: a national celebration
The Vegetarian Festival is celebrated nationwide, with Phuket being the most spectacular center. For nine days in October (based on the Chinese lunar calendar), restaurants and street food stalls display yellow flags with the inscription “เจ” (jeh), a sign that dishes follow a strictly vegan diet.
This “jeh” regime excludes not only animal products, but also garlic and onion, considered impure. It is a unique moment to discover dishes prepared especially for the occasion: vegetarian dim sum, fried snacks, curries without fish sauce or shrimp paste, and many other recipes that are only available during this time of the year. Tasting these specialties during the festival is an experience in itself, distinct from everyday Thai cuisine.
Eating habits, vegetarian and vegan cuisine in Thailand
Theravada Buddhism, the majority religion in Thailand, does not require vegetarianism. Contrary to a common belief, Thai monks are not vegetarians. However, local food habits naturally highlight plant-based ingredients.
Key characteristics of Thai vegetarian cuisine:
Very little dairy: no tradition of butter or cheese, only a few yogurts introduced recently.
Plenty of eggs: simple or stuffed omelette, quail eggs as snacks, skewered eggs, scrambled eggs in Pad Thai or fried rice.
Tofu as a universal ingredient: present in curries, stir-fries, or even fried snacks.
Use of a wide range of vegetables: morning glory, Chinese kale, broccoli, taro, sweet potato, pumpkin, and more.
Red beans and bean pastes: used in steamed buns (salapao) and also in many desserts and snacks.
Even without lentils or chickpeas, Thailand offers a very rich and satisfying plant-based variety.
Traveling in Thailand as a vegetarian or vegan
One of Thailand’s great advantages is that everything is cooked to order, using fresh ingredients. This means dishes can easily be adapted to your dietary preferences. Thai people value service, and it is natural for them to adjust a recipe if you ask for a version without animal products.
Practical tips:
Watch out for sauces: many dishes contain fish sauce and/or oyster sauce. Ask to replace them with soy sauce and/or mushroom sauce.
Vegan fish sauce exists, made from seaweed to recreate an ocean flavour. It is rare in traditional restaurants but can be found in vegan places – or bring your own.
Use the word “jeh” (เจ): showing this word written in Thai is the easiest way to ask for a strictly vegan meal.
City vs. countryside: in big cities and tourist spots, you’ll easily find vegetarian and vegan restaurants. In rural areas, order stir-fried vegetables or fried rice.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes you must try
Thai breakfast
In Bangkok, street stalls serving stuffed omelettes are everywhere. The concept is simple: you choose your vegetables and herbs, and the omelette is cooked in front of you. This is a tasty, popular, and inexpensive vegetarian option. You’ll also find rice soups (khao tom), often served with a soft-boiled egg, perfect to start the day. Don’t miss the incredible variety of Thai dim sum, available in specialized restaurants.
Street food
Fried or fresh rolls and curry puffs are handmade and time-consuming to prepare. Enjoying them as street food is a special treat. Quail egg snacks are also common, cooked in different ways and served in small portions.
Cooked dishes
Vegetable curries with tofu are widely available in neighbourhood restaurants, street food stalls, and shopping mall food courts. Simple yet flavourful, they make excellent vegan meals.
Supermarkets and convenience stores
In 7-Eleven and similar shops, you can easily find soy yogurts and vegan meat substitutes (salami, nuggets, etc.). Convenient when traveling or in places where vegan food is harder to find.
Why Thailand is a paradise for vegetarians and vegans
Ten years ago, vegan restaurants were rare in Thailand. Today, they can be found in every major city, with an increasingly diverse offer. While some menus are influenced by Western cuisine, the Thai vegan scene has expanded significantly.
Some destinations have even become vegan havens:
Koh Phangan, where veganism first grew within yoga communities, now offering a wide variety of restaurants. Many serve Western or Middle Eastern food, but the island remains a reference for vegan travellers.
Bangkok and Chiang Mai, now home to many vegan restaurants serving both Thai and international food.
The movement keeps growing, making Thailand one of the most welcoming Asian countries for vegetarian and vegan diets.
Learn to Cook Thai Vegetarian and Vegan Food
Eating these dishes is one thing. But to relive the experience at home, the best way is to learn how to recreate authentic Thai flavours in vegetarian and vegan versions.
A cooking class teaches you how to replace fish sauce, shrimp paste, or oyster sauce with plant-based alternatives without losing the unique Thai taste. This step-by-step approach gives you the tools to cook like a Thai, with your own ingredients, and bring the emotions of your trip back home.
At InFusion Cooking Classes Koh Samui, we offer more than 60 naturally vegan dishes and know how to adapt many more, whether in our 3-hour, 5-hour, professional training, or long-term courses for the DTV visa. And if you can’t join us, our Vegan Thai Recipes Ebook lets you discover these flavours and learn how to cook them from home.
Looking for a good vegetarian or vegan restaurant?
We regularly travel around Thailand to discover new dishes, test restaurants, including vegetarian and vegan ones, and broaden our knowledge. If you’re visiting Thailand and looking for great vegan or vegetarian places to eat, feel free to contact us. Whether you’re in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, or in a more remote area, we’ll be happy to share our recommendations.
What’s Next?
In an upcoming article, we’ll publish a vegan survival guide to Thailand, designed for those who are very strict about avoiding animal products. You’ll find practical tips on ordering at restaurants, decoding Thai menus, and navigating less touristy regions. If you’d like to learn more about how to adapt Thai recipes in a vegan way, check out our earlier article "Easy Thai cooking for vegans".
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