Neil Aronson Chiang Mai could be called the capital of Asia to eat vegetarian and vegan. The selection of food on offer matched with Thailand’s cheap prices means that you can eat out every day and not break the bank. We know there is amazing Thai food, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Fusion, and everything else you could want. But many visitors who eat vegetarian and vegan are worried about where to eat. Not to worry Chiang Mai is loaded with amazing places.
Here is our guide of the very best of the best spots to find some cruelty-free, (mostly) healthy, but more importantly, delicious food. Thai, Western, Chinese, Mexican, Middle East, Japanese, you name it – Chiang Mai has it.
To be transparent, I eat lots of meat, and so I am not a vegetarian diet expert. But I still love these places, and they are also highly recommended by those who know.
For those wanting to eat Vegan, you can see the red and yellow ‘เจ’ (vegan) sign around literally every corner of the city. This Thai word is pronounced ‘jay’, so if you hear it, you’re one step closer to that plate of delectable vegan goodness. If you’re at a standard Thai restaurant, you may want make an extra effort to make sure your food is vegan, because like anywhere in the world, there can be misunderstandings about the subject. Here’s what to say:
“ไม่ใส่…” “Mai Sai…” = Don’t add…
“ไข่” “Kài” = egg
“นม” “Nom” = milk
“เนื้อสัตว์” “Neúua sàt” = meat
“เจไหม” “Jay mǎi” = is this vegan?
“มังสวิรัติไหม” “mang sà wí rát mǎi” = is this vegetarian?
Our Top Choices:
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Trip.com is another excellent source to book hotels, flights, rental cars and more.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Free Bird Cafe
This place is home to the most delicious smoothie bowls and khao soi in all of Chiang Mai, and their entire menu is vegan. They also do an authentic Burmese tea leaf salad. The exterior of the restaurant is covered in art, painted by Alex Face, a renowned street artist from Bangkok.
Not only does this place have great quality vegetarian food, but all the proceeds from the café go towards the connecting Thai Freedom House, which is an education center for refugees from Burma and other minority peoples of Thailand. Website: http://thaifreedomhouse.org/
Sirimankalajarn Soi 9
Open 9am – 9pm (closed Mondays)
Tel. 081 028 5383
Goodsouls Kitchen
Another totally vegan menu, Goodsouls had my heart after the first visit. The mushroom steak had a scarily realistic appearance, and went remarkably well with their homemade chips and vegan mayonnaise.
If you’re going for breakfast, I’d suggest the pancakes. Goodsouls’ eclectic selection of coffees and cakes sets them apart from the other vegan restaurants around town. The restaurant is spacious and is a great place to get some work done. One thing I would say is make sure you stock up on mosquito spray before visiting… the mozzies seem to like this place, and sadly they don’t follow a vegan diet.
52/2 Singharat Road
Open 7am – 10pm
Hummus
This is the place to go eat Vegetarian Mediterranean in Chiang Mai. If you like middle eastern food this restaurant is very tasty, and vegetarian. Located close to Tha Phae gate, but hidden down an alley. The pitas are amazing. I had lunch there three days in a row recently which is pretty amazing for someone who is not vegetarian.
The Salad Concept
The Salad Concept is also a healthy option for vegetarian and vegan options. With two locations, one in Nimman and one in the old city.
V-Secret
At first, tourist-oriented Ploen Rudee Market seems like an unlikely place to find vegan cuisine, but it’s home to one of Chiang Mai’s best vegan stalls, V-Secret. Cooked in front of you, this tiny restaurant serves up some surprising combinations.
Choose two dishes for 100B or three dishes for 140B for a well-rounded meal featuring an explosion of flavors and textures. What’s available changes daily but always draws on traditional Myanmar, Thai, Laotian or Balinese dishes, with added vegan style.
The meals come on a wooden tray lined with a fresh banana leaf and hollowed-out cucumbers acting as sauce cups. Everything is made to order by the owner and one assistant, so be patient…you won’t regret it and can’t beat the price!
+66 87 312 0570
Alchemy Vegan
Cafe making a variety of food and drinks including pita wraps, panini sandwiches, salads, smoothie bowls, and churros as well as a serving gelato and a large selection of cakes. Has extensive drinks menu, and uses imported almond, soy and oat milks.
72 Thippanet Rd, Hai Ya
Open 10am – 10pm
I’m Your Vegan
Located in trendy Nimman is a healthy concept specializing in Bowls, such as the following protein bowl. From their website ‘We’re on a mission to serve undeniably delicious, fast food dishes made from plant-based ingredients for health-conscious foodies like you. So don’t be shy, we’ve got a yummy menu for you to try’.
29 Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 17, Suthep.
Pure Vegan Heaven
This place is infamous for their ‘mexican bowl’. It’s so good that I would fly across the world just to taste it again. They also do a delicious cocoa and peanut butter acai bowl.
175 Moo 5, Rampoeng Road, T. Suthep
Open 9am – 9pm (closed Wednesdays)
Amrita Garden
Amrita Garden is a vegan Japanese fusion restaurant. If you’re into your health, they serve a different macrobiotic lunch every day, and have kombucha stocked up in the fridge. They have all kinds of homemade vegan cheese, but if you want to try it, go early as they usually sell out around lunchtime.
The vegan lasagna made with courgetti is like comfort food, but healthy. The garden is idyllic and the staff are always smiling, especially the owner Makiko. They hold workshops on how to make vegan cheese, vegan brownies and even vegan Japanese macrobiotic food art. It’s a really wholesome place.
They were recently closed and moving, check before going.
2/1 Soi 5 Samlan Road, T. Phra Sing
Open 11.30 am- 9pm (closed Tuesdays)
Wrap Master
This burrito place in the basement of Maya mall will blow your mind. It’s not vegan, but has a massive selection of vegan burritos, or you can build your own. The portions are huge, but you can also get a ‘burrito bowl’. Like most restaurants in Chiang Mai, they only have avocados during avocado season, which runs from July to December. They are about 5 times the size of Western avocados, and definitely worth the 6 month wait.
Rosy Cheeks
Rosy Cheeks is a small but mighty Asian fusion restaurant. It is not a vegetarian restaurant, although they have a number of exquisite vegan options. These include a Burmese tea leaf salad, a Phoritto (Vietnamese Pho noodles inside a burrito), and an avocado pizza. Highly recommended.
Soi Ban Ling Ha 3, T. Suthep
Open 11.30am – 3pm and 5 – 9pm
Sababa Chiang Mai
For a while, Sababa held the number 1 spot on TripAdvisor for restaurants in Chiang Mai. The restaurant is basic and they don’t try to be fancy, but their falafel and hummus is unmatched. Great vegetarian options, but also bring your non-vegetarian friends. Close to Tha Phae gate.
33/10 Charoen Prathet Road
Open 11 – 10.30pm
More vegetarian restaurants recommended include: Reform Kafé, Pun Pun Organic Café and Anchan Vegetarian Restaurant.
For more on visiting Chiang Mai, check out our updated Ultimate Guide.
