How to eat vegetarian in Thailand

Whether you are a vegan/vegetarian, or just a person who likes to eat veggies, Thailand is a great place for you! While you may recognize Thai dishes as chicken this or pork that, actually most Thai dishes begin as a base of veggies and rice or noodles, then the choice of meat is added. With this awareness, and the knowledge of how to order properly, you can easily find delicious meals filled with veggie goodness.

Veggies galore at the Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok

Now if you are very strict with not eating meat, it may be more difficult, but in Thailand, they say mai bpen rai, which basically means no worries. Don't worry about what was cooking in the wok before your dish, just enjoy the freshly cooked rainbow of deliciousness on the plate in front of you. Obviously if you have religious reasons or allergies, do inquire, but if you're just a normal person, relax.

If you are traveling in areas of Thailand with many tourists, such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or on the islands, many people will also speak English. Just to be prepared, and polite, you will also want to learn how to say a few Thai phrases. As relates to being a vegetarian, I learned the phrase gin jay. This is the equivalent to something like “I eat vegan.” If you, like me, don’t mind eggs in your fried rice, you can add, kai ok, or “eggs okay.” Here are some of my favorite veggie-friendly Thai dishes!

A pretty sunset from the small town where I lived, Wang Nam Yen

When I lived in Thailand for a year, in a small city near the border with Cambodia, I ate out almost every day at the two restaurants near my house. More often than not, I had khao pad, or fried rice. It was delicious, and they will always be the gold standards of fried rice for me. My heart warms thinking of the memories and the kind people who served us their home-cooked food almost everyday.

Of course, I must talk about pad thai. This is a wonderful dish, served with noodles and veggies in a peanut sauce. In Thailand, you will always find on the table different spices and seasonings so that you can customize the dish to your liking, whether that means adding sugar or spicy red pepper.

The ever-present and all-important seasonings; spicy or sweet it’s up to you!

One of my favorite dishes is pad see ew, which instead of the thin noodles of pad thai, are flat noodles which soak up all the delicious distinctive sauce. If you would only like an assortment of veggies you can order pad pak. I love vegetables, and when I first received a platter of an unidentified green plant, I was surprised to learn it was morning glory! Morning glory is delicious, and with some white rice can be a meal itself or a plate to be shared. You can order it as pad pak boong, or if you see it in a market, you can always just point and smile.

One thing I learned fast in Thailand is that the food can be very spicy. In fact, my co-teacher at the school I worked at was once making the delicious som tum, or papaya salad. I watched her shred the papaya with a large knife without hesitation, a practiced gesture learned by years of cooking. Into the large clay jar went limes, tomatoes, crab, garlic, and chilis to be ground with a large pestle. She said to me that I couldn’t eat it - it would burn my mouth! From then on, she very sweetly prepared the som tum with only one chili and no seafood, served a bowl to me, then added the other ingredients and finished the recipe for the rest of her co-workers. Over time, my affinity to spice has increased, and now I love spicy food! However, be sure to ask for mai pet, or not spicy, if you do not have the tolerance. If you want to be brave, you can say pet nit noi, which means “a little spicy.”

Tom yum soup, soul food!

It was very warm most of the year I lived in Thailand, however there was about a week when the temperature when down to 70°F (about 21°C). During this cold spell, my co-workers and I enjoyed tom yum, the delicious soup that is Thai comfort food. This soup is full of spices and veggies that warm your heart. Especially if you are feeling under the weather, you can feel your body healing as you sip it. Another soup I love is coconut curry with mushrooms!

Speaking of coconut, nothing is better when in Thailand than to drink fresh coconut water. I thought I didn’t like coconut water (or any type of coconut!) until I moved to Thailand and tried the real thing. Fresh and refreshing, you can easily drink multiple coconuts at a time. I also enjoy the popular Thai iced milk tea, which is delicious, and also saves you if you eat something a little too spicy!

Fresh coconut to cool down after eating spicy coconut curry…see the chili?!

Be sure to save room for dessert! Besides the myriad of fresh fruits Thailand has to offer, many of which you may have never seen before, Thailand has many delicious desserts. My favorite is coconut ice cream, which is traditionally served in a hot-dog bun with condensed milk, peanuts, and dried beans on top. Another favorite treat of mine is mango with sticky rice. Thailand has so many desserts made with ingredients like coconut and custard, you will not lack for choice.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of the vegetarian options Thai food has to offer, just a few of my favorites. Living in Thailand expanded my culinary horizons significantly, and I am so grateful to all my Thai friends, co-workers, and the chefs who opened their hearts, homes, and kitchens to me over the years. I can’t wait to return, eat some of my favorite dishes, and try new ones along the way.

Note: The header image is of the Siam Orchid Center, which is located next to Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok.