Photo: Broccoli Quinoa Burger from Broccoli Revolution
By Taylor Gale, VRG Intern
Having lived in Bangkok, Thailand for five months I learned tips and tricks on how to remain vegan while living abroad. It was not as hard as you think. Due to the Eastern cooking style, tofu was an option at almost every restaurant I entered into. Thankfully, there are also fresh fruit and vegetable markets at almost every corner you turn. The options for vegans were there, but the trickiest part of it all when ordering meals in restaurants was to make sure that they were completely up to the standards of being vegan.
Typically, it is not the main ingredients which make the meal not vegan, but it was the sauces and broths used in traditional Thai cooking which made it a problem. Fish sauce and chicken or beef broth is found in numerous Thai meals.
During my study abroad, I was lucky enough to have a Thai mentor, Auntie Sam. She taught me a few phrases to indicate that I was vegan for when I ordered food. The word “jay” (เจ) represents veganism. In order to be on the safe side of ordering, I also suggest to say that you do not eat fish sauce (chan/pom mai ghan nam pla) or egg (chan/pom mai ghin kai).
While in Bangkok, I ate at numerous vegan and vegetarian restaurants. One of my favorite vegan spots was, Broccoli Revolution (https://www.facebook.com/broccolirevolution) , which is located on Sukhumvit road. The restaurant is located within a chic area and the ambiance is very hipster. Plants were hung everywhere, everything was painted white or bright colors, they serve juice and organic wines, and every item on their menu is vegan! I highly recommend the Broccoli Quinoa Charcoal Burger; it is a packed plate full of delicious flavors. I went to Broccoli Revolution frequently with my non-vegan friends and every single one of them said that the burger was one of the best burgers they have ever tasted. The prices are very reasonable and the items on the menu are perfect if you like to order a bunch of plates to share with others!
Another favorite of mine is Mango Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant and Art Gallery (https://www.facebook.com/MANGO-Vegetarian-Vegan-Reastaurant-and-Art-Gallery-821759707838666/), which is located off of Khao San Road. Their menu is expansive, so there are a lot of options for those who are picky. The workers were always super friendly and always had a smile on their face. An added bonus is that the shop owner’s cat wanders around the restaurant, playfully walking past the guests or sleeping on the cushions.
Khun Ta J Food Vegan Stall (https://www.instagram.com/khunta_jfood/) is another great place that caters towards vegans. As soon as I began looking over the options, the owner asked if I was vegan and began to give me recommendations on what to order. The stall is in the middle of a food market on the ground level of Gateway mall beside Ekkami station. You are able to order rice with one, two, or three toppings. The toppings changed a bit each time I went, but no matter what I ordered, the food was always fantastic! This is a great option when you need something fast and convenient!
For a more pricey and sophisticated meal, I suggest dining at the Veganerie (https://www.veganerie.co.th/menu/). Their vegan golden spring-rolls were to die for, as well as the Hawaiian veggie teriyaki burger! They serve up a diverse selection of desserts and plant powered smoothies. Although they opened up in 2016, the team has already expanded to having four locations. The Veganerie’s philosophy of food and acceptance of all dietary restrictions mixed with their creative and passion exploding recipes creates a welcoming environment for all types of people!
While adventuring and trying all of these restaurants I found other outlets of food, which met my vegan dietary needs. As I mentioned earlier, on almost every corner you turn in Bangkok there are fruit and vegetable stands. While they may carry fruits and vegetables that Westerners are accustomed to having, such as pineapples and mangoes, they also carry Eastern types of food, such as durian and rambutan. I highly suggest trying rambutan, which has a somewhat deceiving outer appearance due to its spikes and vibrant pink color, but on the inside it is a sweet fruit that is perfect for the hot weather in Thailand. What I do not suggest is buying a whole durian. While it is a popular Asian fruit, the smell and taste is so pungent, somewhat similar to a dirty locker room. As a foreigner I suggest tasting a durian flavored ice cream, that way you still get to experience the taste of durian but are not overwhelmed with the smell and amount of durian. The best part about these fruit stands is that everything you buy is packaged conveniently so that travelers and walkers are able to eat on the go. Although the fruit is packaged in a small plastic bag with a wooden stick, which is personally disturbing due to the environmental impact of plastic consumption, the packaging allows vegans and all others to have ample access to fresh and nutrient dense foods.
While in the U.S. we have convenient stores, such as Seven-11, WaWa, or Royal Farms, Thailand has a similar shop set up called Family Mart. It was at Family Mart and local grocery stores I was able to buy vegan snacks, which I carried with me whenever I knew I would be traveling to another country or just walking around all day. I bought oats to make overnight oats and tons and tons of packaged nuts and dried fruit. Dehydrated mango and seaweed snacks were a great snack, which was available pretty much at any convenient store.
When traveling in Thailand, I suggest to use the HappyCow app (https://www.happycow.net), which can be downloaded on your phone or computer. This app/ website is a great way to find fully vegan, vegan friendly, vegetarian, nut-free, etc. restaurants. You type in your location and specify what are your dietary restrictions and it will direct you with a multitude of places to choose from. It saved me many many times when there were language barriers between myself and the locals!