Best Vegetarian Restaurants In Cm?

[keo]

Although I'm not a vegetarian, I do enjoy eating vegetarian food. I frequent Pun Pun in Wat Suandok, which has the best pad thai in CM in my opinion. I also like one of the vegetarian restaurants a little further up Suthep road (towards CMU) which does excellent kao soy.

What other vege restaurants should I check out?

All suggestions welcome!

Thanks

[bridge]

Blue Diamond has great vegetarian food.

[NancyL]

Taste from Heaven on Thapae Rd. Their som tam is almost an entire meal since they use fried tofu cubes to replace the traditional smelly dried shrimp that I always refuse in som tam. Other great dishes include pumpkin curry, pad thai, spicy Thai (my husband's favorite) and northern Thai curry (my favorite). We're not especially fond of deep-fat fried dishes, but do like the fried spring rolls and samoas at Taste from Heaven. Their cooking school is great and introduced me to some new techniques. They don't do a market vist like the tourist cooking schools, so they can pack a lot of learning into a 1/2 day class. I know my way around a Thai market and don't want to stand around while tourists take pictures of something I see everyday, so the Taste from Heaven cooking school was great for me. I may go again once the weather cools since the students get to select the menu and I haven't learned how to make everything on their menu.

http://www.taste4heaven.com/index.php

Edited May 31, 2011 by NancyL

[Yelly]

If you don't mind food stalls and like cheap food (15-25 baht a meal), I can point you in the right direction. Sit-down places like Taste for Heaven and Blue Diamond are nice, but sometimes I don't want to pay that much.

Best veggie khao soy, hands down is at a spot on Intra Warorot right smack dab in the old city. Walking away from Wat Phra Singh toward Jha Ban, it'll be on your right side. Big yellow banner with red writing in Thai and English. "THAI VEGETARIAN FOOD" They have lots of trays with different curries, etc - all served with yummy brown rice, but just walk up to the counter and ask for Khao Soy. It's incredible.

Another one near there. Go south on Phra Pok Klao. It's on the left, similar banner to the other spot. This place is "cleaner" but it's not as good, imho. Same prices, really, and a HUGE dining area. I like the back dining room for some peace and quiet. If you don't speak Thai, just point and order

[keo]

Thanks - I'll check them both out!

[ricklev]

http://www.happycow.net/asia/thailand/chiang_mai/

Google Happy Cow Chiang Mai

Lists all of all the vegetarian places in Chiang Mai.

Best town in Asia for vegetarians! Lived there a couple of years and it was great having several Farang food veggie places and dishes in addition to all the Thai food.

I always enjoyed the veggie burger at Ohm and the Khao Rad place in the Central Airport food court.

Edited May 31, 2011 by ricklev

[RogerL]

The judgement of "best" is usually at best a subjective decision.

The D Lite Food and Bakery across from Immigration Office is now

vegetarian only.

[chiangmaiexpat]

I second the recommendation for "Taste from Heaven" on Thapae road. Best vegetarian food I had in Chiang Mai, and I had plenty of vegetarian food, since I eat it every day. If parking wasn't such a hassle I would go there more often. Another very good one is "Nasi Jumpru" in Faham/Maejo road (http://www.chiangmaichimes.com/restaurants/nasi-jumpru-restaurant-chiang-mai.html) located approx. 300m north of Rimping. That one is more in the fine dining category.

Cheers, CMX

[keo]

Thanks for all the replies!

[elektrified]

I second the recommendation for "Taste from Heaven" on Thapae road. Best vegetarian food I had in Chiang Mai, and I had plenty of vegetarian food, since I eat it every day. If parking wasn't such a hassle I would go there more often. Another very good one is "Nasi Jumpru" in Faham/Maejo road (http://www.chiangmaichimes.com/restaurants/nasi-jumpru-restaurant-chiang-mai.html) located approx. 300m north of Rimping. That one is more in the fine dining category.

Cheers, CMX

Since when is Nasi Jumpru vegetarian? I used to go there often as it is within walking distance from my house. I have not been on about 6 months but it was not vegetarian before. Has something changed?

[Drew Aitch]

There are a number of so called 'organic' vegetarian restaurants dotted around the city too for those that prefer to indulge in more naturally grown produce. Having said that, there's an outbreak of E-coli in Western Europe at the moment which has made many seriously ill and killed a number of others. Can you believe the killer crop is an organically grown cucumber Heck, and we've been lead to believe all these years that its the non-organic crops that are damaging to our health

If it can happen in Europe, it can happen anywhere I guess

An outbreak of E-coli contamination in organic cucumbers has sickened 1,200 people and killed 14. Scores of victims have lost all kidney function as a result of the infection with many forced to use dialysis.

Aitch

[cm das]

Best veggie khao soy, hands down is at a spot on Intra Warorot right smack dab in the old city. Walking away from Wat Phra Singh toward Jha Ban, it'll be on your right side. Big yellow banner with red writing in Thai and English. "THAI VEGETARIAN FOOD" They have lots of trays with different curries, etc - all served with yummy brown rice, but just walk up to the counter and ask for Khao Soy. It's incredible.

Another vote for this spot. Their khao soy is the best I've had (we're talking veggie here). They also make a great pad krapow. I've eaten at this place for years & never been disappointed, except when they're out of something I want or if the food has cooled off too much. But if you consider value for money, I say it's definitely the best in Chiang Mai.

[Ulysses G.]

"Walking away from Wat Phra Singh toward Jha Ban, it'll be on your right side."

Would that be walk down walking street towards Pratu Thapae? I have never heard of Jha Ban.

[naammanow]

Indeed, directions are a bit off and yes, also a great koaw soy fan. Please try to put us on the right rack!

[Nienke]

There are a number of so called 'organic' vegetarian restaurants dotted around the city too for those that prefer to indulge in more naturally grown produce. Having said that, there's an outbreak of E-coli in Western Europe at the moment which has made many seriously ill and killed a number of others. Can you believe the killer crop is an organically grown cucumber Heck, and we've been lead to believe all these years that its the non-organic crops that are damaging to our health

If it can happen in Europe, it can happen anywhere I guess

An outbreak of E-coli contamination in organic cucumbers has sickened 1,200 people and killed 14. Scores of victims have lost all kidney function as a result of the infection with many forced to use dialysis.

Aitch

Hhhm, this outbreak of E. coli through an organically grown crop does come at a very convenient time, doesn't it? Just after the EU has implemented a new directive that bans much of the herbal medicines, and more to come on all alternative medicines, organically grown crops, etc. according the Codex alimentaris.

It's not the first time that harmful viruses and bacteria have been spread on purpose under the people. I don't say that's the case here, but I won't be surprised if it turns out to be like that.

Edited June 1, 2011 by Nienke

[pendragon]

Very useful - thank you

[cm das]

"Walking away from Wat Phra Singh toward Jha Ban, it'll be on your right side."

Would that be walk down walking street towards Pratu Thapae? I have never heard of Jha Ban.

Indeed, directions are a bit off and yes, also a great koaw soy fan. Please try to put us on the right rack!

I don't get the Jha Ban reference either, but anyway here's how to find this place. If you're standing at the main gate of Wat Phra Singh, head up Sihnarat Road towards the old Siam TV. At the traffic light on the very first corner turn right. Go about 100 meters and the Thai Vegetarian Food place is on the right. If you reach the Amphur office on the left you've gone a bit too far. Oh, and there is (or used to be) another vegetarian place on the left on this same stretch of road. That one is so-so, but look for the place on the right. Hope that helps.

[DaamNaam]

Pun Pun at Wat Suan Dok. Great food, great prices. Indian curry with wholewheat roti is my favorite. They have a great selection of detox / herbal drinks too.

[Yelly]

The "X" is the good kao soy place. Notice that Jha Ban is the road to the right of the "x."

I also included a red arrow to show the direction of the other vegetarian place. I noticed while eating today that the banners out front are all in Thai, but there is some writing on the window that says "Vegetarian Food" or something like that in white. The banners, I believe there are three, are yellow. Where the arrow is on the map, it's about two more blocks down on the same side of the street. Their kao soy is also very good and contains more "fake meats."

[Asmerom]

Congratulations on the excellence of your directions.As concise,simple and accurate as they were in your original post ,this map, with added pointers, is exemplary.I'm moved to comment because i'ts so unusual to find such satisfying precision on this forum and I'm awarding you 10/10 for your efforts.

[OriginalPoster]

There are a number of so called 'organic' vegetarian restaurants dotted around the city too for those that prefer to indulge in more naturally grown produce. Having said that, there's an outbreak of E-coli in Western Europe at the moment which has made many seriously ill and killed a number of others. Can you believe the killer crop is an organically grown cucumber Heck, and we've been lead to believe all these years that its the non-organic crops that are damaging to our health

If it can happen in Europe, it can happen anywhere I guess

An outbreak of E-coli contamination in organic cucumbers has sickened 1,200 people and killed 14. Scores of victims have lost all kidney function as a result of the infection with many forced to use dialysis.

Aitch

Hhhm, this outbreak of E. coli through an organically grown crop does come at a very convenient time, doesn't it? Just after the EU has implemented a new directive that bans much of the herbal medicines, and more to come on all alternative medicines, organically grown crops, etc. according the Codex alimentaris.

It's not the first time that harmful viruses and bacteria have been spread on purpose under the people. I don't say that's the case here, but I won't be surprised if it turns out to be like that.

I agree with you. The Illuminati is really is really starting to piss me off.

[Ulysses G.]

The "X" is the good kao soy place. Notice that Jha Ban is the road to the right of the "x."

I also included a red arrow to show the direction of the other vegetarian place. I noticed while eating today that the banners out front are all in Thai, but there is some writing on the window that says "Vegetarian Food" or something like that in white. The banners, I believe there are three, are yellow. Where the arrow is on the map, it's about two more blocks down on the same side of the street. Their kao soy is also very good and contains more "fake meats."

I am not 100% sure, but I think that this is my favorite vegetarian restaurant that I do not usually talk about on TV, because I can not figure out how to explain where it is.

I have never had Koa Soi there, but they have really good Jup Chai and some other tasty dishes. Avoid the spring rolls though as they are terrible IMHO.

Edited June 2, 2011 by Ulysses G.

[Yelly]

<br />

<br /><img src="http://i.imgur.com/voqOQ.jpg" /><br /><br />The "X" is the good kao soy place. Notice that Jha Ban is the road to the right of the "x." <br /><br />I also included a red arrow to show the direction of the other vegetarian place. I noticed while eating today that the banners out front are all in Thai, but there is some writing on the window that says "Vegetarian Food" or something like that in white. The banners, I believe there are three, are yellow. Where the arrow is on the map, it's about two more blocks down on the same side of the street. Their kao soy is also very good and contains more "fake meats."<br />

<br /><br /><br />I am not 100% sure, but I think that this is my favorite vegetarian restaurant that I do not usually talk about on TV, because I can not figure out how to explain where it is. <br />I have never had <i>Koa Soi</i> there, but they have really good<i> Jup Chai</i> and some other tasty dishes. Avoid the spring rolls though as they are terrible IMHO.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Good to know about the spring rolls. I never want food that fried at lunchtime, but I always consider taking a few for the road for later.

[Ulysses G.]

The shell of the springroll is slightly sweet.

I am not a big fan of A Taste of Heaven, but when cooked 100% correctly (which they are not most of the time) their springrolls are really excellent. However, usually they are similar to pretty much everywhere else and just OK.

[Yelly]

<br />The shell of the springroll is slightly sweet. <img src='http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/bah.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <br />I am not a big fan of A Taste of Heaven, but when cooked 100% correctly (which they are not most of the time) their springrolls are really excellent. However, usually they are similar to pretty much everywhere else and just OK.<br />

I took the Taste of Heaven cooking course a little over a year ago. I learned to make the spring rolls and I have the recipe!

[keo]

Tried the place on Intra Wororot yesterday, or at least I think I did! It certainly looks like the same location on the map, but the place I went to had an English banner.

Kao Soy was finished when I got there at 3pm, so I had some potato masaman curry and rice instead. The rice wasn't brown rice though, which was kind of what I was expecting. Took 4 other dishes and two bags of rice home for dinner, for a grand total of 95 Baht. Great value, great food!

Thanks again for the heads up!

[Ulysses G.]

They serve white rice from next door if they run out of brown rice late in the day. They have brown rice most of the time.

[thaiatheart]

Last time I was there (in Dec 08) there was a really good vegetarian restaurant near the CM zoo - it was on the right just before you got to the zoo. I wish I knew the name of it. They had something there I've never seen before (and certainly can't find in the US) - it looked like beef, but was not made of gluten or soy, it is mushroom! Really good jerky texture and so yummy!! Here's a pic of it along with some veggie fish balls:

[keo]

Finally tried the kao soy at the place on Intra Wororot the other day. Have to say it was rather disappointing! I'll stick with my vege kao soy place on Suthep in future - far, far superior taste in my opinion.