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In this blogpost I present unique and healthier restaurant options in Bangkok (Thailand). This’ll help not to fall down the cliff of Thailand’s dirty and chemical-laden street-food. But instead try and improve your health and wellbeing while traveling. Also sample some of the most interesting regional cuisine in the world.
Bangkok’s Thai Food is famous worldwide for the unique spicy flavors. The health-food movement hasn’t taken root in Thailand as much as in Europe and the West. Thus, as explained below, it’s still mostly foreigners visiting Bangkok’s health restaurants.
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Mai Kaidee
Mai Kaidee is a famous veg joint near Khaosan district of Bangkok. They do have a secret meat menu as well, apart from the Vegan/Vegetarian menu. Plus, there’s a cooking school attached to the restaurant.
What I like about Mai Kaidee is they seem to keep their meals free from MSG. Plus, they’re sufficiently health-aware to add brown rice to meals, instead of the nutrition-depleted white rice everywhere else.
Mai admits that her clients are mostly foreigners. The local Thai population seems too addicted to white rice. A few years ago, The Thai King explained to the Thai people that Brown rice is healthier than white rice. But old habits die hard for the Thai People. Furthermore, Mai Kaidee avoids white sugar in the meals. Which is also great to see.
If you’re eating from the vegetarian menu, be warned they add tofu to many of the meals, without pre-warning. Tell them upfront “no tofu”, if you’re also not into this processed vegan junk-food.
If you’re a meat-eater like myself, you can add chicken or prawns to the veg menu items instead of tofu. Along with the food, the mango smoothie (100% pure mango) is good. There’s no green smoothie culture in Thailand. Payments are in cash only.
I did Mai Kaidee’s 2 hour cooking course – its good value for money, as it includes 4 small plates of food (Tom Yum soup, green curry, and Pad Thai, plus mango sticky rice dessert). Why not grab a physical copy of Mai Kaidee’s Vegetarian Thai Cookbook on Amazon Here. Apart from doing the cooking course, I also tried the Thai Jungle Soup – great if you like spicy food.
Mango Vegetarian
If there is one health restaurant that really stands out in the backpacker area, Khaosan, it is Mango Vegetarian. It’s a very popular small health restaurant, open every day from breakfast until dinner, except Wednesdays. Every health nut passing through Khaosan will likely eat here (as they’re listed on the HappyCow health restaurant app as well).
They make great effort with meal presentation. While adding local ingredients like Gingko nuts, lotus root, combined with the usual broccoli, cauliflower, corn or carrot. They have only a few seats available, thus during peak hour you sometimes have to wait outside for 10 to 15 minutes on the sidewalk. Try to visit during off-peak hours, e.g. 6pm instead of 7pm. Or 4pm instead of 1pm.
They also have healthy vegetable juices e.g. carrot and beetroot. Most important is the juices are freshly pressed. No additives. No sugar nor chemical nonsense. Plus, of course a few smoothies including a green smoothie, but it’s not available every day.
In a world where mainstream NPC’s eat junk daily. It’s a refreshing restaurant to check out while you’re in Bangkok. Small warning: There is also some trashy vegan junkfood on their menu. Such as the “pulled mushroom” hamburger and chips. This contrasts to the extremely healthy and massive salad bowl options. Thus, pick carefully, and you’ll have an amazing meal. If you choose the salad bowl, be sure to come hungry! Impressive food, anyway.
Some meals are obvious from the description that it’s simply e.g. a few boring half-assed vegan dumplings. And I don’t recommend those. So study the description carefully before ordering and you won’t be disappointed.
Their kombucha is too sweet. You’d have to thin it out with water. Rather grab a coconut water or veg juice along with your meal.
Momo Samsen
Momo Samsen serves Thai, Nepalese and Burmese food in the Khaosan area. Samsen street is full of hostels and hotels for travelers who want to be near Khaosan, without being directly in the party areas.
Momo Samsen introduces interesting Burmese cuisine such as the Tea Leaf Salad to foreign travelers. This is an unique vegan salad made with fermented green tea leaves.
There are many similar food joints in Bangkok. But Momo Samsen stood out as there are usually tourists sitting outside at their tables. And in an English blogpost, its better to mention traveler or expat-friendly restaurants. They only accept cash payments (no cards).
Their Thai menu is nothing special. All local restaurants feel obligated to also serve Thai food. As a result they don’t specialize, and give mediocre Thai food experience. If you serve 70 plates of food, you’re not gonna do all of them equally well. But the Tea Leaf Burmese Salad, plus Indian option like Cauliflower and Peas Masala was good.
Shoshana
Shoshana is a Middle-Eastern restaurant close to Khaosan Road. I became mistrustful of the chemicals-heavy Thai street-food when I visited Patong, so I had a few good late-night meals at Shoshana. This includes e.g. falafel with humus, salad and tahini, shawarma or tomato-based Shakshuka.
Shoshana’s food looked clean, and it’s healthy if you include a side-salad.. Plus they’re open late at night. The street-food was the only other late-night option. So if you’re hungry late-at-night in Khaosan, up to around 11pm, Shoshana is a good option.
Their Thai Food Menu is nothing special. They once again simply broaden their menu, but their speciality is the Middle-Eastern food. Replace the chicken below with falafel, for a vegan meal.
Veganerie
This is a popular health chain in Bangkok with an innovative healthy menu. Typical of Vegan joints they also have their tofu / soy obsession, which I don’t like as a carnivore. But there’s also “non-soy” better options to boost the immune system.
I specifically visited their location in the nightlife street: Sukhumvit 11. But I visited during daytime. You can’t go wrong grabbing a meal at Veganerie. It’s not cheap, but still less expensive than similar food in Western Europe.
For example, try the kale salad – a massive plate of Kale. Or the almond and mushroom balls with zucchini noodles and tomato sauce. Good options for lunch in Bangkok without the risk of destroying your health.
Drinks, like the smoothies, are definitely on the expensive side – which is typical of Bangkok’s upmarket health restaurants and shops. But enjoy the food and bring some bottled water along if you don’t feel like spending too much.
Unlike the other vegan restaurants in the area, they don’t automatically include 10% tip on the bill. Instead, they simply have a tip box at the counter if you feel like dropping a few coins or notes in.
PhedMark
PhedMark isn’t specifically a health restaurant. But it’s one of the more interesting budget restaurant options in Bangkok. It’s a very popular joint founded by famous youtuber Mark Wiens, an American married to a Thai girl. “Phed” means spicy in Thai. While the word “Mark” is related to a Thai word for “Very Much”.
On 4 January 2023, their first open day after their New Year’s Break, I visited at 3pm, I waited 35 minutes for the food to arrive due to the long queue. The second time around I visited 5pm and it was much quieter.
The restaurant is based around one specific Thai dish: Pad Krapow. There are a few modifications such as the unique types of meat to choose from, including seafood, buffalo, vegan “meat” (mushroom/tofu). Plus, Duck eggs are served instead of chicken. It tastes creamier than chicken eggs.
The first time, I opted for Thai Buffalo meat at medium spicy level number 3. #1 = not spicy at all, while #5 = extremely spicy.
Spicy level #3 was already the most spicy food I’ve ever eaten in a restaurant. Chilli is a Thai cultural thing.
Nevertheless, it tasted pretty good. I didn’t want to spoil the expensive buffalo meat with overkill of chillies.
Second time around I ate pork meat at #4 spicy level. The main difference between #3 and #4 is that #4’s chili burns in your mouth for a further 20 minutes after leaving the restaurant. Buffalo definitely is by far a better meat option than the pork, but it’s also more expensive. If I ever drop by Mark’s joint again, I’ll try #5 chilli.
It’s great to see Wiens reviving two legendary foods from the previous century, buffalo meat and duck eggs. These two foods fell into unpopularity in recent decades, simply because chicken eggs and beef became easier to mass produce and have more mass appeal. But I agree that buffalo and duck eggs is a superior taste experience.
There is a bowl of fish sauce at the counter which you can add to your meal if it feels a little “dry”. This is simply a drier version of Pad Krapow than you may find in other Thai restaurants. Still tastes quite good either way.
Madame Musur
Located in Khaosan Area, there’s two restaurants next to eachother. Separated by a small barricade. But it’s basically the same business. So it doesn’t matter which one you go to.
I don’t even like Madame Musur that much. Their Thai Food is average. But there’s a few things in there favor:
- It’s located in a great pedestrian street Ram Buttri, to go for a relaxed stroll in Khaosan neighborhood.
- They do cater for different diets including vegan, vegetarian and also mainstream food.
- Even if the food is so-so, its still fun to sample all the local Thai dishes when you are in Thailand. For example, I tried their Green Papaya Salad, which was mediocre but it wasn’t expensive. Plus, Thailand’s “national food” Pad Krapao with prawns instead of meat – also extremely mediocre.
- This is another one of those late night options, where you simply wanna avoid dirty streetfood. In that case, Madame Musur will do. Their kitchen closes at 11pm. There’s comfortable seating and good ambiance.
- It’s also a place to meet with friends or for a date, as it’s outside of the deafening and irritating noise of Khaosan Road. Ram Buttri street has a good Authentic Thailand Ambience.
I would go back if I’m hungry again late at night. But in the daytime, there are definitely better restaurants.
Broccoli Revolution
Broccoli Revolution is a vegan restaurant chain in central Bangkok. Yeah there’s some broccoli in their food but its only a so-so menu, due to all the soy, tempeh and tofu in everything.
Healthy green smoothies, smoothie bowls and green juice are available, but it isn’t cheap. The branch I visited is on the top floor of a very upmarket mall, with designer clothes and jewellery.
Spending money proactively on a healthy diet will help save medical expenses down the line. It’s an investment into your health. In Bangkok, it’s true you can eat street-food which costs almost nothing. But at the same time you’re likely to get sick from that food. This is why restaurants like Broccoli Revolution are a solid option for tourists in Bangkok.
Mango vegan is better than Broccoli Revolution. But if you’re not in Khaosan neighborhood, Broccoli is a good choice if you also believe in the slogan “You are what you eat”.
There’s obviously some broccoli in their menu options, but this joint is definitely not limited to only broccoli. It’s recommended for hardcore vegans. Not really for meat-eaters.
Viking Korean BBQ Buffet
Viking is a great restaurant choice in Korean Town at Sukhumvit Road. There are other restaurants in the Korean square as well, but Viking definitely looked like the best option. I was hungry and looking for a buffet specifically. Their speciality is pork. But there’s a little chicken and squid as well.
After 3pm the price was around 459 Bhat for 1 person. But its 359 per person if you are more than 1. While around noon the price was 399 Baht for 1 person, or 299 Baht if you are 2+.
Eat till you can’t eat anymore. It’s a fascinating display of Korean food. There’s different types of Kimchi to eat along with your pork. You self-prepare the meat on your table, as every table has a small “stove”. Add some spicy Korean sauce. Plus ready-made options, e.g. seaweed soup, pumpkin soup, pork & kimchi, Squid and kimchi, Sweet and sour chicken, dumplings, and so on.
Korean Bibimpap is another popular type of Korean food – great to try out, rice in the bottom, kimchi on top with korean sauce. And it’s also included in the buffet price. You really won’t leave this place hungry, at all. Free water, and ice tea is provided, but other drinks you gotta pay for.
End off the meal with sliced pineapple and watermelon. Remember to bring a friend for the price discount!
On my last day, I had the option of either going back to The Vegan Table, where I had a good meal the previous day, or to get the great buffet of Viking a second time. I chose Viking because my flight was later in the day, and I dislike airplane food. Buffet is the most solid option if you want to make sure you won’t be hungry afterwards.
They don’t give you a Western knife and fork. Only a pair of chopsticks, a spoon for the soup, and scissors to cut the grilled meat. It’s smart for these two reasons: (a) You tend to eat slower with chopsticks. Thus, perhaps you’ll be more mindful of not over-eating and over-indulging in their buffet. (b) It’s very beneficial for cultural immersion to eat like the Koreans do with chopsticks.
It’s not the highest quality meat – rather average and not free range. Pork meat is in general much cheaper in Bangkok than beef. Thus it’s understandable that the meat options are 90% only pork. Though its still really good value for money all ‘n all.
Ponn Cafe
Ponn Cafe has a few branches around the city, I went to their branch in the 4th floor of Terminal 21 Asok Shopping center. The food is a notch above the Thai food of Khaosan’s backpacker neighborhood. And probably 2 notches above the food in Patong / Phuket.
Ponn is a clean upmarket restaurant with prices similar to the mediocre Thai joints of Khaosan and the surrounding areas. Yet they go the extra mile to make the food more interesting, tasteful and well-presented.
The crab meat plates are a great option. Thai crab meat is really chunky and tastes very nice. But it is more expensive compared to e.g. chicken or pork.
The Tomyum tasted like all other tomyum. While the cashew nuts and chicken plate below includes some rare Gingko nuts. A Thai ingredient you won’t find anywhere other than Asia.. If you eat too many gingko nuts on the same day, you may get poisoning symptoms. However, from one plate of food, there seems to be no risk.
It’s not a health restaurant. But an interesting option for upmarket Thai Food – still at an affordable price to most travelers. Plus, you’re really not likely to get food poisoning as you may with some street food vendors.
Carrots Bistro
Despite still being in central Bangkok, Carrots Bistro is a little out of the way. If you take the central MRT train, it takes another 25 minutes extra on foot. Taxi will be quicker.
It’s also an opportunity to check out Thong Lo street and neighborhood. It’s not touristic, rather an area for wealthy locals and businessmen.
Carrots is in a hidden away in a side-street here, next to a luxury hotel. They’ve got a vegan menu. Decently priced smoothies. Green smoothies which is hard to find in Bangkok. It’s definitely not a Thai concept to blend banana and spinach. In Thailand, the local Thais simply stick to 1 ingredient in the smoothie, e.g. Banana, mango, or pineapple.
Carrots has a great expansive menu. It’s pricey but also not the worst vegan prices in Bangkok. Its another good place to boost your health and nutrition, as opposed to the other dirty streetfood and mainstream junkfood options. Service charge of 10% is added to the meal.
The Vegan Table
The Vegan table looked like the most expensive vegan restaurant in Bangkok. However, it’s still much cheaper than the most expensive meat restaurant. My main criticism is the soy/tofu-heavy menu. Same as the above photo, you’ll notice falafel in my photo again below. Falafel is simply a great soy-free vegan option.
Vegan Table is a very upmarket restaurant in an upmarket location: The Sukhumvit 11 nightlife area. No surprise, it was mostly foreigners in the restaurant when I dropped by. It’s a good menu, but expensive by Thai standards.
Vegan Table focuses a lot on great meal presentation. Portions don’t seem small, which is important especially if you’re a man with bigger appetite than a 55kg vegan girl. So it’s not like a fine dining experience where you get a tiny amount of food for a large price. Plus, my sampling of their menu – falafel mezze in below photo – tasted great.
If you’re a meat-eater and you only look at the menu, you won’t be impressed. But sitting there and seeing the plates of the other patrons arriving, will strongly peek your interest in their food.
The vegan Hamburger menu looked decent except I’d steer far away from “Beyond Meat” vegan junk-food. On the ingredient label it includes canola oil and 17 other ingredients. Meanwhile, free-range organic meat has only one time-tested ingredient.
Conclusion – Bangkok Healthy Restaurants
Bangkok is the city in Thailand where it’s easiest to find Westernized healthy restaurants. Trashy Thai food can be a nightmare in towns like Patong Beach (Phuket).
I met Germans in Bangkok who explained all the Thai street-food vendors would’ve been shut down in Germany – due to lack of cleanliness and food safety standards. Luckily, Bangkok has great healthy and clean food, whether Thai or not. This is proven by this small sampling of 12 independently reviewed restaurants above.
Bangkok is a fascinating city, where most tourists only spend 1 or 2 days. But there’s definitely some fun and interesting layers to peel for a deep-dive into Thai culture, if you spend 2+ weeks in Bangkok, as I’ve done in January 2023.
Have you been to Bangkok and which healthier, interesting or better restaurants do you recommend? Comment below with tips, questions or suggestions!
Map of Bangkok Healthy Restaurants mentioned: