The vegetarian scene in the northern city of Chiang Mai is a thriving one. Visitors cannot stroll far in this quaint city before stumbling upon yet another meat-free venue. Whether you are a vegetarian, the strictest of vegans, or a carnivore trying to implement Meatless Mondays, here are https://bombaysandwichco.com/ presenting the best vegetarian restaurants in Chiang Mai.
Free Bird Cafe
Free Bird Cafe is a venue with a cause – one that feeds your belly, heart, and mind. This social enterprise cafe came to be in 2009, and all of the profits go towards supporting language and art learning centres for refugees from Burma at the Thai Freedom House. The cafe began with the hopes of bringing financial support to the learning centre for refugees from Myanmar and the ethnic people of Thailand, all the while serving up delicious, 100 percent vegan cuisine.
The cafe is a social enterprise in every aspect. Every ingredient used in the dishes here are top quality and were ethically, responsibility, and thoughtfully sourced. Profits from the Pre-Loved Shop at the back of the cafe further aid their projects. Feel free to donate any household item including cookery, dishes, towels, bedding, clothing, and more when you visit. The entire menu is served all day long, including their delicious breakfast. Favourite dishes include their Burmese chickpea salad (฿95), the cacao smoothie bowl (฿250), and their delicious desserts, like the homemade vegan gluten-free brownie (฿100). Free Bird Cafe’s drink menu includes coffee, tea, milkshakes, smoothies, and more.
Location: 116 Maneenopparat Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 81 028 5383
Hours: Closed on Sundays and Mondays | Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Sri Chiang Yeun House
If Free Bird Cafe is full and you are unlikely to get a seat anytime soon, then walk on over to Sri Chiang Yeun House. Though seemingly less trendy (as it was quite empty when we ventured here) the seating area certainly trumps Free Bird Cafe’s for the simple fact that there is more of it. The furniture is all made of dark wood and black and blue ironwork, with floor-to-ceiling paneled doors allowing for light to shine in on diners. The meals here are strictly meat-free, with small, photo indicators of which dishes are vegan and which ones are vegetarian, as well.
The menu includes Thai and Western appetizers, salads, fried dishes, noodles, rice dishes, soups, roti, steak, desserts, and more. They are also serving up coffee, tea, and juices. Food starts at ฿69 and favorites include the stir-fried mushroom with chili and basil leaves (฿99), stir-fried sweet and sour (฿99), and the mixed spicy herb rice (฿119). The restaurant doubles as a hotel.
Location: 138/5,6,7, Amphoe Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 53 214 624
Aum Vegetarian
If you are on the hunt for the best vegetarian cheap eats in Chiang Mai, Aum Vegetarian is one restaurant serving up delicious food that won’t drain your wallet. The venue came to be in 1982 and has been impressing meat-free diners since its conception. The restaurant is tucked away a quiet soi (street) and looks like a house rather than an eatery, but don’t let its inconspicuous exterior fool you: this venue has some of the best vegetarian food in town. The menu indicates which dishes are vegan and which ones are vegetarian, and none of the dishes feature MSG. Diners love the signature maki rolls, which feature everything from avocado to pumpkin.
Location: 1/4 Suriyawong Road Haiya, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 53 278 315
Hours: Daily from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Khun Kae’s Juice Bar
Drink your way to happiness at Khun Kae’s Juice Bar. This tiny shop is serving up arguably the freshest juice in the city, and visitors can watch as their fresh glass of fruits and veggies is blended right before their eyes. This almost vegan shop (except for bee pollen) has a number of tropical and tasty favorites to choose from, including the chocolate smoothie bowl (฿80). In addition to being delicious, Khun Kae’s Juice Bar is also one of the healthiest vegetarian restaurants on our list. If you are still not sold, then the prices here will surely entice even the most broke of backpackers to visit, with juices starting at less than $1. You can also get shots filled with healthy goodness, like the sunflower sprout shot for only ฿30.
Location: Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 84 378 3738
Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Taste From Heaven
Taste From Heaven is a vegan and vegetarian restaurant featuring delicious, home-cooked food that does not contain MSG, chemicals, or preservatives. Every single dish on the menu can be made vegan, as the chef is happy to substitute or omit ingredients in any meal. Phayungchit Khidhen (aka Nan) is the owner. She originally opened a vegan restaurant in 2003 in Australia before moving to Chiang Mai and opening Taste From Heaven in 2008. The restaurant was moved to its current location in 2014.
Be sure to add s faux meat options to your meal, like the vegan sausage (฿40 each) or rashers of vegan bacon (฿30 for two). Western dishes include burgers, a vegan hotdog, sandwiches, pasta, and even a chicken wrap. There are also light meals and appetizers, soups, salads, curries, stir-fries, rice and noodles, and last but not least, desserts. Vegan ice cream and a vegan chocolate brownie will certainly appeal to all meat-free diners with a sweet tooth, while those hoping for something a bit more healthy may instead opt for a fresh-pressed juice or kombucha.
Location: 34/1 Ratmakka Road (opposite Ratmakka Soi 1), Amphoe Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 091 859 8920
Hours: Daily from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Dada Kafe
Found a stone’s throw away from Taste From Heaven is Dada Kafe. The restaurant features an extensive array of Thai and Western dishes that all have two things in common: the delicious taste and lack of meat. The restaurant is so proud of their food, in fact, that we were not allowed to even take photographs of the menu in fear that we would steal their recipes! Alas, be prepared to find fresh juices and more when you dine here. We recommend trying the vegetarian Khao Soi, a popular dish in Northern Thailand that is made with rice or egg noodles and coconut milk. Dried noodles are added to the top making for an interesting combination of both texture and flavor.
Location: 20/1 Ratmakka Rd, Phra Singh, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 53 449 718
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. | Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 8:45 p.m. | Sundays from 9 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.
Bee Vegan
Located a short drive from the city center but worth the commute is Bee Vegan. This restaurant is essentially a handful of tables tucked inside what seems to be an old garage. The walls have since been painted white and a few wicker-rimmed lights were hung from the ceiling. What this restaurant lacks in decor or ambiance, if you will, it makes up for in price and delicious vegan food. The menu does not feature a single photograph, so customers have to use their imagination when picturing what it is each dish on the extensive menu looks like. Fret not, as each one is delicious!
Visitors will find appetizers, salads, stir-frys, deep-fried items, noodles, soups, curries, spicy and sour salads, and more. Be sure to try one of their shakes and smoothies, with everything from detox to anti-cancer drinks available for as little as ฿40 (about $1). To order, you have to grab the blue paper from the main counter and write down the letter and number of what it is you want, as the staff hardly speaks a word of English. The staff actually got my order incorrect, but my meal was delicious all the same, so no complaints here. Grab a vegan banana cupcake or cookie to-go, as well.
Location: 19, 1 Suthep Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 96 795 7704
Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. (kitchen closes at 8:45 p.m.)
Amrita Garden
Arguably the quaintest restaurant on our list is Amrita Garden. This vegan restaurant is sneaking ingredients like soy into their yogurt and homemade tofu mayonnaise onto their vegan burger. Reset your body with their probiotic lunch set menu or instead indulge in their delicious bolognese with organic rice pasta (our favorite dish). This restaurant is king of the vegan sweets, as well, with everything from vegan cupcakes to vegan mango cheesecake to indulge in that are only about $1. The restaurant also doubles as a hotel.
Location: 2/1 Soi 5, Samlan Road, T. Phrasing, A Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 90 321 2857
Hours: Closed Tuesdays | Wednesdays to Mondays from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Anchan Vegetarian
With a slogan like, “vegetarian food so delicious, you won’t miss the meat,” everyone attempting to give up their carnivorous ways need to check out Anchan Vegetarian. There are only a handful of tables, so be sure to avoid any peak dining hours if you want a seat. The restaurant only takes up a floor of a building and features an open-air dining style, with the entirety of one wall opening up to the city. The menu is written up on a chalkboard behind diners and changes depending on what vegetables are in season. The large portion sizes of every dish are matched with surprisingly affordable prices, and no diner will leave without a swollen (and happy) belly.
Location: Nimmana Haeminda Between Lane 6 – Lane 10, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 83 581 1689
Hours: Daily from 11:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m.
Da’s Home Bakery
Da’s Home Bakery’s selection of vegan treats is simply mind-blowing. Better yet, the restaurant also serves up an array of baked goods that is simply heaven for those vegans who normally avoid treats like these because of the added egg and dairy products. Da’s Home Bakery also has breakfast, muesli, egg dishes, avocado dishes, sandwiches, French toast, porridge and oatmeal, pancakes, and your usual selection of fresh coffee and tea on their menu. There are also healthy and fruit shakes, 100 percent fresh fruit juice, and herbal teas to choose from.
There is a section of the menu dedicated to homemade bread, muesli, and yogurt dishes. The peanut butter chocolate balls are to die for, and they are only ฿25 each. The cinnamon roll (฿40) is also a great sweet go-to. Be sure to ask the owner to heat it up for you! We recommend the tofu and avocado sandwich with mustard dressing (฿90) or any one of the pancakes featuring everything from apple and cinnamon to chocolate and cashew nuts.
Location: 11/4 Soi 6 Moon Muang Road, Muang Chiangmai Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 081 980 2588
Hours: Daily from 6:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. (kitchen closes at 6 p.m.)
Reform Kafe
Nestled inside the Green Tiger House accommodation option is Reform Kafe. It is conveniently located near the popular North Gate of the city and is serving up an array of delicious vegan cuisine. The quality food is matched by the equally inviting dining area, with green foliage hanging throughout. All of the dishes are MSG free and made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
The menu features starters, salads, soups, curries, fried noodles, noodle soups, stir-fries, rice dishes, fries, raw items, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and desserts. Pair any one of these with an organic coffee, tea, lassi, or fresh juice. Feel great after indulging in a healthy drink, whether it be kombucha (฿80) or fermented kefir beverage. Favorite dishes include the fried mushroom sandwich (฿100) and the pumpkin soup with curry (฿100).
Location: 1/4 Sripoom Road Lane 7, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 93 182 8299
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. | Sundays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Goodsouls Kitchen
Goodsouls Kitchen is a huge hit amongst vegan diners with a sweet tooth. This restaurant is the sister business of Reform Kafe, and it certainly lives up to its high standards. The vegan restaurant has some interesting finds on its extensive menu, with dishes featuring things like homemade vegan cashew nut cream sauce and ice cream made with coconut milk.
Speaking of desserts, this is arguably the best spot in the city to frequent if you are wanting something sweet. In addition to ice cream, visitors will find vegan mango and passion fruit cheesecake (raw), carrot cake, chocolate brownies, and more on the menu. Vegan desserts that are both so convincing and delicious are certainly hard to find in Thailand, but not anymore thanks to Goodsouls. The restaurant is also serving up interesting faux meat options like their steaks made mushrooms, beetroot, chickpeas, and more.
Location: 52/2 Singharat Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 88 819 9669
Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.
J Station Vegetarian Restaurant
Do not let its exterior fool you: J Station Vegetarian Restaurant is serving up some of the best meat-free dishes in town. This eatery is basically just a hole in the wall but it offers loads of Thai vegetarian food. It is found near the North Gate. When you visit, simply point and choose which dishes you want to try. Fill up on a plate of tasty finds for only a few bucks or less. This buffet-style dining restaurant is also serving up loads of fresh fruit.
Location: 248/3 Sahasriphun Place, Maneenopparat Rd, Amphoe Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 87 577 7788
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.