Vegetarian Restaurants In Chiangmai

[fr11]

I would like to know a few vegetarian restaurants in Chiangmai. Any suggestions ?

[p1p]

Khun Churn, Niemenhamen Soi 7, (I think) - (Look for signs to "Chiang Mai Petcare Center. Same Soi.)

Second branch near the Railway Station.

Great lunchtime buffet.

Note:- The Siam Commercial Bank on Rachdamnoen Road often has A4 free listings of veggie restaurants just outside near the Money Exchange window.

[cutethaigirl]

Chiangmai Vergetarian Society just b4 the gas station when coming from airport plaza towards the moat. On the left.

Up Suthep Rd on the left. Big yellow sign after Wat Suan Dok

[meadish_sweetball]

Slightly milder and more Westernized veggie food, very cheap: Bai Porn restaurant.

Going north on Moon Muang Rd. (along the inner side of the moat) past Somphet market, turn the corner, now going west. Take the first soi to your left.

Bai Porn is the first restaurant on your left in this soi.

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The best veggie food I have had personally is at Khun Churn, just as p1p suggested.

The best value for your money is at the Chiang Mai Vegetarian Society, as cutethaigirl suggested.

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There are a multitude of others as well. There used to be a free vegetarian restaurant map floating around Chiang Mai, but I am not sure if they still make it.

[chanchao]

Funnliy enough I just started a vegetarian restaurant map of Chiang Mai yesterday. Besides these restaurants mentioned, there are MANY Buddhist-vegan (Jay) restaurants scattered around town, most are very cheap. I just can't think of them all to put on the map..

Here's some info on these vegetarian restaurants and how to recognize them: http://chanchao.fotopages.com/?entry=67431

I don't think the vegetarian center mentioned above is so hot.. Yet I posted something about it anyway: http://chanchao.fotopages.com/?entry=132896

Then Khun Churn moved not too long ago. This was about the old location, the new one is much nicer:

http://chanchao.fotopages.com/?entry=74916

Also note that many other restaurants have vegetarian sections on the menu, or you can instruct them to make vegetarian variants by substituting mushrooms or tofu etc for meat.

I recently wrote this, for some other purpose:

--

Vegetarian hints Some vegetarians come back from Thailand raving about the wonderful variety of veggie food, others seem to struggle to find something to eat.. The vegetarian options and suggestions included on this menu should at the very least prevent you from joining the latter group. You need to decide for yourself how strict a vegetarian you want to be. If this is very strict then you should make it a point to seek out the Thai Buddhist vegan restaurants, called “Jay” restaurants. At these places, absolutely no animal products are used, also no dairy and even some organic ingredients are banned for jay-food, like garlic and onions. But it IS very good food and very varied!! Look for restaurants with the (usually) red and yellow sign for jay food, pictured here on the right. Or you can be less strict and choose not to worry about soups/borth made with animal bones, and not worry about food that is salted using fish sauce (nam plaa).. Some useful lines are below in the food safety & allergies section.

--

Cheers,

Chanchao

[p1p]

Then Khun Churn moved not too long ago. This was about the old location, the new one is much nicer:

http://chanchao.fotopages.com/?entry=74916

Note: The directions in my earlier post are for the new site of Khun Churn. Enter the soi from Niemenhemin and Kh C'. is the first house/restaurant on the left.

It is my children's favourite restaurant. (After my own, of course!)

[ChiangMaiThai]

True there is a lot of veggie food here, but little of it is of the sort that I want. I can think of many many mexican and italian dishes that just aren't done here. And things like gardenburgers, Boboli crusts, good cheese and other high quality veggie food just aren't in the supermarkets. Most of the veggie food is based on thai meat dishes. ok for some, but doesn't quite do it for me.

[cutethaigirl]

True there is a lot of veggie food here, but little of it is of the sort that I want. I can think of many many mexican and italian dishes that just aren't done here. And things like gardenburgers, Boboli crusts, good cheese and other high quality veggie food just aren't in the supermarkets. Most of the veggie food is based on thai meat dishes. ok for some, but doesn't quite do it for me.

Might be something to do with the fact that this country is called Thailand and people on average spend 20 bahts on a meal Vegetarian not 300+???

Go live in Italy and Mexico and there is an awful lot less Thai food than there is here

[sabaijai]

True there is a lot of veggie food here, but little of it is of the sort that I want. I can think of many many mexican and italian dishes that just aren't done here. And things like gardenburgers, Boboli crusts, good cheese and other high quality veggie food just aren't in the supermarkets. Most of the veggie food is based on thai meat dishes. ok for some, but doesn't quite do it for me.

Might be something to do with the fact that this country is called Thailand and people on average spend 20 bahts on a meal Vegetarian not 300+???

Go live in Italy and Mexico and there is an awful lot less Thai food than there is here

... and most Thai vegetarians are actually vegan, not ovo-lactarian, so wouldn't touch cheese or eggs.

[sabaijai]

There used to be a free vegetarian restaurant map floating around Chiang Mai, but I am not sure if they still make it.

That would be the work of Chiang Mai resident David Freyer, who also helped start Monk Chat at Wat Suandok. He still does the map, updates it every year or so I believe.

[chanchao]

Google is my friend... :

http://www.chiangmainews.com/dining/mapveget.php

He missed a couple though. (And admittedly listed many more that I didn't know about)

Cheers,

Chanchao

[ChiangMaiThai]

True there is a lot of veggie food here, but little of it is of the sort that I want. I can think of many many mexican and italian dishes that just aren't done here. And things like gardenburgers, Boboli crusts, good cheese and other high quality veggie food just aren't in the supermarkets. Most of the veggie food is based on thai meat dishes. ok for some, but doesn't quite do it for me.

Might be something to do with the fact that this country is called Thailand and people on average spend 20 bahts on a meal Vegetarian not 300+???

Go live in Italy and Mexico and there is an awful lot less Thai food than there is here

I would be more than happy to spend 300 baht on a quality meal. There is a market. I don't know where you eat, but ever been to Fuji? its full of THAIS from THAILAND eating JAPANESE food spending well over 500 BAHT a head. The attitude isn't needed.

[cutethaigirl]

CMT

Never been to Fuji but again that is not relevant to Chiangmai.

Maybe you could import some of the meals you talk about if there is a market?

Attitude?? That is your thinking.

I just said there is less Thai food in Mexico if you go live there??

[ChiangMaiThai]

CMT

Never been to Fuji but again that is not relevant to Chiangmai.

Maybe you could import some of the meals you talk about if there is a market?

Attitude?? That is your thinking.

I just said there is less Thai food in Mexico if you go live there??

You brought to my attention that this place I'm living in is called Thailand. That's attitude.

Go to Fuji. Its in CHIANG MAI. Therefore, IT IS RELEVANT TO CHIANG MAI. A meal for four of non-Thai food will run 1500-3000 baht. It is completley crowded every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You have to wait 20-30 minutes to get a table.

So this remark that food in Thailand costs 20 baht and I should go live in another country is just ridiculous. I don't know where you eat, but plenty of Thais have money and good food is one of the things they buy.

I'm not interested in the food importing business, but I do insist that there is a market.

[chanchao]

Go to Kitamond. Same price as Fuji, but quieter, on the river, no waits, great service and most of all: Not a horrid department store mall-setting.

(http://chanchao.fotopages.com/?entry=145139)

I admit this was off topic as Japanese restaurants normally aren't big on vegetarian food.. Pass me the whale please.

Cheers,

Chanchao

[chanchao]

Sorry 'bout that.. Anyway, back on topic: ChiangMaiThai was saying that Thais obviously don't mind spending big on food, looking at the fancy and/or trendy restaurants all over town.

My opinion though is that Thais who eat vegetarian are de-facto-divorced middle aged female teachers & government workers who drive old Toyota Corollas and don't spend more than 30 baht on a meal. Next step is they become nuns.

Sorry for the stereotype, I know I shouldn't but it keeps things lively.

Point was that vegetarian food does not have a lot of standing; it's not trendy. Even the 25-30 baht at Mata Restaurant people find expensive "considering there's no meat in it."

Have you looked at the menu at The House by the way? I can't remember myself but this sounds like a place that could so some very nice upmarket vegetarian food if they wanted to. Maybe email them and ask. ([email protected]).

Cheers,

Chanchao

[chanchao]

Darn that reminds me... I just made a reservation there but forgot that one of my guests is vegetarian. I'll email and report back.

[ChiangMaiThai]

Yeah, I agree that that is the current image of vegetarian food here. But if you go to Khun Chern's 60 baht lunch buffet, you'll see lots of hi-so types. Not sure why...

[cutethaigirl]

You brought to my attention that this place I'm living in is called Thailand. That's attitude.

Go to Fuji. Its in CHIANG MAI. Therefore, IT IS RELEVANT TO CHIANG MAI. A meal for four of non-Thai food will run 1500-3000 baht. It is completley crowded every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You have to wait 20-30 minutes to get a table.

Mr CMT

Apologies in part.

Attitude as i said is your thinking probably because i guess you are American.

The apology part>>

Fuji i took as a place in Japan:-(( Really.

I did not know that CM has such expensive food but are Japanese restaurant classed as vegetarian?

Can recommend the Japanese near Nang Nual. Family of four eating there will get change from 1000B and be really full up.

[ChiangMaiThai]

You brought to my attention that this place I'm living in is called Thailand. That's attitude.

Go to Fuji. Its in CHIANG MAI. Therefore, IT IS RELEVANT TO CHIANG MAI. A meal for four of non-Thai food will run 1500-3000 baht. It is completley crowded every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You have to wait 20-30 minutes to get a table.

Mr CMT

Apologies in part.

Attitude as i said is your thinking probably because i guess you are American.

The apology part>>

Fuji i took as a place in Japan:-(( Really.

I did not know that CM has such expensive food but are Japanese restaurant classed as vegetarian?

Can recommend the Japanese near Nang Nual. Family of four eating there will get change from 1000B and be really full up.

You're just a bit annoying. That's all. The point about Fuji is that plenty of Thai people will spend big money for good food. It doesn't have to be a vegetarian restaruant. It can start with a few quality veggie dishes on a regular menu.

I am American. Kind of. Haven't been there for a long time and don't care for it at all.

Go to Fuji. its good.

[cutethaigirl]

You're just a bit annoying. That's all. The point about Fuji is that plenty of Thai people will spend big money for good food. It doesn't have to be a vegetarian restaruant. It can start with a few quality veggie dishes on a regular menu.

I am American. Kind of. Haven't been there for a long time and don't care for it at all.

Go to Fuji. its good.

A BIT? well that is ok as long as it is not a lot!

I recommended Chiangmai Vegetarian Society and agree with Chanchao. The only way i will be going to Fuji, in Japan ot Chiangmai:-) is if someone else is paying.

[ChiangMaiThai]

You're just a bit annoying. That's all. The point about Fuji is that plenty of Thai people will spend big money for good food. It doesn't have to be a vegetarian restaruant. It can start with a few quality veggie dishes on a regular menu.

I am American. Kind of. Haven't been there for a long time and don't care for it at all.

Go to Fuji. its good.

A BIT? well that is ok as long as it is not a lot!

I recommended Chiangmai Vegetarian Society and agree with Chanchao. The only way i will be going to Fuji, in Japan ot Chiangmai:-) is if someone else is paying.

Yeah, just a bit. Fuji is very tasty, but hard on the wallet...

[sabaijai]

Then Khun Churn moved not too long ago. This was about the old location, the new one is much nicer:

http://chanchao.fotopages.com/?entry=74916

Nice one.

Note that there are at least three other buffet style veg restos in CM, incl Sabaingboon Jay (#10 on David F's map); the 80B vegetarian buffet at Gap's House from 7pm to 9pm nightly; and Vihara Liangsan, on Thanon Chang Khlan near the defunct old Season shopping center. At the latter you spoon whatever you want onto your plate, then weigh it on a scale and pay per 100 grams. I haven't been to the latter in quite a while though - maybe a year? - so not absolutely sure it's still in operation. The veg at Gap's House is good.

One favourite I hit frequently is Suandok Vegetarian, just west of the entrance to Wat Suandok, very tasty and cheap.

I think my least favourite of all the veg restos I've tried is the Indian Restaurant Vegetarian Food on Soi 9 Moon Muang. When it first opened many years ago I thought it was pretty decent but they don't seem to be making much effort these days -- all the dishes taste the same, more or less. CM is still lacking a good Indian place.

I've never called them, but there's a Vegetarian Chiang Mai Club at 0 5322 2571 that supposedly disperses info on vegie restos and vegetarian dogma in general.

[Lordfoul]

Yeah, just a bit. Fuji is very tasty, but hard on the wallet...

I kind of disagree with that statement.

When my Girlfriend and I go to Fuji (The restaurant ) we spend Between 500B - 600B total .. while that is quite a bit more than we would spend on a Thai meal it is only slightly more than we would spend at the Japanese buffet at Nong Nuan. The food at Fuji is far better and for that money I always leave full.. so I would concider it a much better value.

/SM

[sabaijai]

Off topic again, on japanese restos: I prefer Zen (Airport Plaza) to Fuji, as the menu is more creative, the flavours agree more with my palate and the decor shows more taste. However in the case of both restaurants, the Bangkok branches tend to be noticeably better than the Chiang Mai ones. The best branch of Zen I've eaten at has been the one on the 4th floor of Siam Center in BKK.