Vegetarian Food in Thailand — Complete Guide in 2025

Thailand may seem like a difficult place for vegetarians due to the popularity of meat and seafood in Thai cuisine. However, it's actually relatively easy to find vegetarian food in Thailand, especially if you know what to look for and how to order. In this article, we'll tell you about vegetarian Thai dishes, where to find them, how to order, and share tips for vegetarians and vegans.

Vegetarian Thai Dishes

Pad Thai with Tofu

Pad Thai can easily be made vegetarian by replacing meat with tofu. The dish is prepared with egg, tofu, bean sprouts, and tamarind sauce.

How to order: "Pad Thai Tofu" or "Pad Thai, mai sai neua, sai tofu"

Green Curry with Tofu

Green Curry can be prepared with tofu instead of meat. Coconut milk and curry paste create a rich flavor even without meat.

How to order: "Green Curry Tofu" or "Green Curry, mai sai neua, sai tofu"

Tom Kha with Tofu

Tom Kha is a soup with coconut milk that can be prepared with tofu or mushrooms instead of chicken.

How to order: "Tom Kha Tofu" or "Tom Kha, mai sai gai, sai tofu"

Massaman Curry with Tofu

Massaman Curry can be prepared with tofu or vegetables. The dish has a rich flavor thanks to spices and coconut milk.

How to order: "Massaman Curry Tofu" or "Massaman Curry, mai sai neua, sai tofu"

Som Tam (without Dried Shrimp)

Som Tam is a papaya salad that can be prepared without dried shrimp. The dish will be vegetarian if you ask without shrimp.

How to order: "Som Tam, mai sai kung" or "Som Tam Jay"

Mango Sticky Rice

Mango Sticky Rice is a dessert that is completely vegetarian. The dish consists of sweet sticky rice, fresh mango, and coconut milk.

Khao Pad with Vegetables

Khao Pad can be prepared with vegetables instead of meat. The dish is prepared with egg and vegetables.

How to order: "Khao Pad Pak" or "Khao Pad, mai sai neua, sai pak"

Phrases for Ordering Vegetarian Food

Basic Phrases

• "Jay" — Vegetarian (Buddhist vegetarianism, without meat, fish, eggs, and some vegetables)
• "Mai sai neua" — Without meat
• "Mai sai gai" — Without chicken
• "Mai sai goong" — Without shrimp
• "Sai tofu" — With tofu
• "Sai pak" — With vegetables

Ordering Examples

• "Pad Thai, mai sai neua, sai tofu" — Pad Thai without meat, with tofu
• "Green Curry, mai sai gai, sai tofu" — Green Curry without chicken, with tofu
• "Tom Kha, mai sai gai, sai tofu" — Tom Kha without chicken, with tofu

Where to Find Vegetarian Food

Vegetarian Restaurants

In tourist areas such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, you can find specialized vegetarian restaurants. These restaurants offer completely vegetarian menus.

Best areas:

• Bangkok — Siam area, Khao San
• Phuket — Patong, old town
• Chiang Mai — old town, Nimman area

Regular Restaurants

Many regular restaurants can adapt dishes by replacing meat with tofu or vegetables. Just ask for "sai tofu" (with tofu) or "mai sai neua" (without meat).

Street Stalls

Street stalls can also prepare vegetarian dishes if you ask. Stalls with Pad Thai and Green Curry are especially popular, which can be easily adapted.

Buddhist Vegetarian Restaurants

In Thailand, there are Buddhist vegetarian restaurants (Jay) that offer food without meat, fish, eggs, and some vegetables (onions, garlic). These restaurants are especially popular during the vegetarian festival.

Tips for Vegetarians

Learn Basic Phrases

Learning a few basic phrases will help you order vegetarian food. Phrases "mai sai neua" (without meat) and "sai tofu" (with tofu) are especially useful.

Use Translation Apps

Translation apps can help you explain your preferences. However, basic phrases work better.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask

Most restaurants are ready to adapt dishes to your preferences. Don't be afraid to ask, even if you don't know Thai.

Use FoodSensAI

Use FoodSensAI — our bot will help you find the best places for vegetarian food near you, taking into account your preferences.

Check Ingredients

Some dishes may contain hidden animal ingredients such as fish sauce or shrimp paste. Ask "mai sai nam pla" (without fish sauce) if you're vegan.

Vegan Dishes

What You Need to Know

Vegans need to be especially careful, as many Thai dishes contain:

• Fish sauce (nam pla)
• Shrimp paste
• Eggs
• Dairy products (rarely, but found)

How to Order Vegan Food

• "Mai sai nam pla" — Without fish sauce
• "Mai sai kapi" — Without shrimp paste
• "Mai sai kai" — Without egg
• "Jay" — Buddhist vegetarianism (without meat, fish, eggs)

Popular Vegetarian Dishes

Pad Thai Tofu

Pad Thai with tofu is one of the most popular vegetarian dishes. The dish is prepared with egg, tofu, and vegetables.

Green Curry Tofu

Green Curry with tofu is an aromatic dish with coconut milk and green curry paste.

Tom Kha Tofu

Tom Kha with tofu is a creamy soup with coconut milk and Thai spices.

Som Tam (without Shrimp)

Som Tam without dried shrimp is a spicy salad of green papaya with tomatoes and peanuts.

Mango Sticky Rice

Mango Sticky Rice is a sweet dessert of sticky rice, mango, and coconut milk.

Conclusion

Thailand offers many options for vegetarians, from adapted Thai dishes to specialized vegetarian restaurants. Use basic phrases such as "mai sai neua" (without meat) and "sai tofu" (with tofu), and don't be afraid to ask. Most restaurants are ready to adapt dishes to your preferences. Use our recommendations as a starting point, but don't be afraid to explore on your own — the best discoveries are often made by accident! Use FoodSensAI to find the best places for vegetarian food near you!