Best places to eat during Vegetarian Festival in Bangkok

Yaowarat is the place to go for all kinds of vegetarian street food in Bangkok year round, but especially at this time. From morning to early night, try comfort food like kuay chap (flat noodles in a rich broth) or plant-based fish maw soup to begin your jay journey. For those with a sweet tooth, enjoy snacks like fried taro, kalorchi (rice dumplings with black and white sesame seeds, sugar and crusted peanuts) or Chinese fried buns called patongo. For a festive experience, don’t miss the lion dance and Chinese goddess parade that happens every day of the festival.

Yaowarat Rd, 8am-9pm. 

A long-running Chinese restaurant for more than 120 years, this fourth-generation eatery presents original Teochew-style dishes at their best. Start your vegetarian festival with claypot tofu (B300), hoi jo (crispy tofu skin rolls with mushroom, B200) and baked Chinese olive with rice (B300). There’s much more to experience here and their festive menu is one to try.

Forget about animal products because this restaurant focuses on complete vegan menus with no milk and eggs. Inspired by traditional Chinese vegan dishes, you can enjoy fusion cuisine like tofu satay wrap (baked tortilla wrap with tofu strip and creamy peanut sauce, B195) or tempura udon (noodle soup with fried mushroom with seaweed, B210). Easy to get to from BTS Phrom Phong station, this is a good spot for any meal, from breakfast to dinner.

35/2 Methi Niwet Soi, Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei. 02-258-8489. Open Daily 9.30am-10pm 

Starting off as a place making food to present to monks or for charity, it has turned into a vegan restaurant on Charoen Nakorn Soi 35. Many of their plant-based meat dishes might attract comfort food lovers with their non-vegan looks. Let Chinese classics like fried tofu (B50) and deep-fried spring rolls (B65) be an intro for your meal. For a vegan twist, try fried rice with basil leaves and vegan pork (B65). It offers a way to enjoy “meat” during this festive period.

1022/34 Charoen Nakhon Soi 36, Bang Lamphu Lang. 02-862-4238. Open Daily 9.30am-9pm

This fusion vegan restaurant gives you more choices during this festival. While Chinese-origine lo mein noodles (B220) represents a traditional dish, you can order BR gaeng som (thai sour curry, B220) or broccoli barley tabbouleh salad (B220) as a fresh new option at this plant-based eatery. Just a short walk from BTS Thong Lor station, it is a place to enjoy vegan food in the trendy neighbourhood.

899 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea. 095-251-9799. Open Daily 8am-9pm

“Meat” lovers can enjoy many dishes from this homemade vegan cafe. Focusing on plant-based meat, fried vegetarian chicken with lime mayonnaise (B149) and pad kaprow moo (fried plant-based mince meat with holy basil, B139) might encourage non-vegans to try them. Don’t forget the vegan cupcakes for dessert, which taste as good as the real ones.

738 Sukhumvit Soi 101, Bang Chak. 097-247-6925. Open Daily 10am-9pm during Vegetarian Festival (Tue-Sun 10am-9pm. Closed Mon)

Gathering more than 300 vegan restaurants from all over Thailand at The Mall’s four branches in Bangkok. The Tha Phra, Bang Kapi, Bang Khae or Ngam Wongwan stores present vegan classics from restaurants like Tang Jai Yoo, Je Ngor and Pu Curry Puff at the event. Other restaurants such as Armathaam and Kem Kon are also offering their version of modern vegan dishes during these 10 days.

The Mall Lifestore Tha Phra, Bang Kapi, Bang Khae and Ngam Wongwan. Oct 3-10. Open Daily 10am-9pm

Serving selected Jay (Chinese vegan) dishes for the first half of this month, this restaurant integrates local festive menus with a cultural dining experience near BTS National Stadium station. Start your meal with mar hor (sweet grilled Phuket pineapple with caramelised macadamia nuts and palm sugar, B250) or pla tao hu yarng (grilled, pressed shiitake tofu in spicy herbal dressing, B250). For those craving spiciness from main dishes, gaeng kua ped jay (grilled plant-based proteins marinated in seven spices with a southern Thai curry, B350) is an exciting option during this cultural celebration. 
6/1 Kasem San Soi 2, Wang Mai. Oct 1-15. 061-421-8951. Open Daily 11.30am-4.30pm & 6pm-11pm