Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Chiang Mai
As soon as you arrive in Chiang Mai you realise how much food is available here. Street sellers, sprawling markets, high-end restaurants, luxurious coffee shops. This place has it all.
But how do you know which of the multitudes is actually good? Well, we eat out a lot so we have a reasonable opinion to share.
I (Tania) am vegetarian and Kieron is not so we eat at a mixture of vegetarian places and omnivorous restaurants that serve good vegetarian options.
Chiang Mai is one of the easiest places in South East Asia that we’ve found to eat vegetarian, whether that’s at vegan restaurants or those that still serve meat.
A mecca for Buddhists, hippies, digital nomads and people seeking alternative lifestyles, Chiang Mai has a rich history which is reflected in its food culture.
Here are our favourite places in Chiang Mai to get vegetarian food.
Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Chiang Mai
Shewe - Best for a Special Occasion
We wanted to eat lunch by the River Ping but found most of the restaurants closed. So we looked for a vegetarian place nearby and headed away from the city.
I wasn’t expecting much, just the usual noodles and rice with a few vegetables and tofu.
But we arrived to discover Shewe in a beautiful old original building, housing a boutique hotel, spa and restaurant. The staff we friendly and greeted us as we parked our bike, guiding us into the restaurant.
Rather than just the usual rice and noodles, the menu contains a vast variety of dishes.
Yes, there are the standard options, but we went for Stir Fried Kale and Crispy Vegan Pork, Mushroom Cakes and the Banana Blossom Salad.
The pork is made from seitan which we haven’t had in a while so it made a delightful texture change. The mushroom cakes were deep-fried mixed mushrooms with a spicy sauce, always a favourite. The salad was a little spicy but it had a sweetness to it as well.
I’d highly recommend all these dishes and a few more if you can fit them in. This is one restaurant that I will definitely be going back to.
Everest 8848 - Best for Non-Thai/Non-European Food
This was another restaurant we didn’t plan to go to.
We were visiting Wat Umong in the evening and looked for something nearby. It’s a short drive to Everest 8848 but we’re so glad we navigated the traffic.
I’ve never eaten Nepalese food before, but I presumed it was going to be spicy. I was not wrong.
I ordered the Aloo Chana with Roti and Kieron had the Pork Curry with Rice and Achar. We also got a Mango Smoothie each as these were such a bargain at 40THB ($1.30USD) plus I was still mildly concerned about the spice level.
I was right to be concerned.
My curry was filled with potatoes and beans, just at the edge of my comfort level and absolutely delicious. I love eating beans, but they’re not always that common here in South East Asia, so it made a nice change.
Kie couldn’t do to extra spicy achar but his curry was just as delicious.
By Hand Pizza - Best Pizza
Some days you just crave something that isn’t rice or noodles. And the perfect option for those meals is pizza.
But not just any pizza. A sourdough base, cooked carefully in a wood-fired brick oven.
Say hello to By Hand Pizza.
We went for the Green Veggie pizza. Although I wouldn’t usually choose a non-tomato sauce base, this sounded too good. Pesto, eggplant, olives and mozzarella topped with ricotta once it came out of the oven. Absolutely perfect.
Also, since they seemed to have perfected the art of fermenting sourdough, they’ve also started making their own fermented drinks. A refreshing kombucha pairs perfectly with the sour bite of the pizza.
Eggplant Khao Soi from Sunday Walking Street Market - Best Market Stall
If you come to Northern Thailand, you have to try Khao Soi. It’s a curry dish that features egg noodles in the broth as well as crispy ones piled on top. So you have these great textures to switch between.
As a vegetarian, plenty of places do serve this with tofu. But my favourite version of this dish so far has to be one I stumbled across at the Sunday Walking Street Market.
Their stall is set up outside Wat Si Koet alongside a bunch of other vendors and a small collection of tables.
What set this apart for me was the fact that they used eggplant. Well-cooked, melt-in-your-mouth, eggplant.
Oh, and they also had some meat versions available too. Spicy, but not burn your mouth spicy.
Nun’s Restaurant - Best Northern Thai Food
On our very first night in Chiang Mai, we wandered down alleyways to get to know the place. One of the first places we noticed was Nun’s Restaurant.
It’s tiny, I think there are maybe six tables inside, and there was a queue outside. Always a good sign.
We walked past several more times in the next few weeks and it was always filled to the brim. So I was pretty excited that we booked accommodation that happened to be across the road from it.
To be brutally honest, the service is a little hit-and-miss. They’re not going out of their way to make you feel welcome but I don’t mind a side of sassiness with my dinner.
The thing I loved most here was the Khao Soi. First, rather than just tofu swimming around in the curry, there are actual vegetables. Travelling around South East Asia can mean very few vegetables actually get consumed, so this was a nice surprise.
Second, the giant pile of crispy noodles they give you on top. I love these and can’t get enough of them.
Akha Coffee - Best Coffee
I love all kinds of coffee. Cheap street coffee, coffee with sweetened condensed milk, black coffee I make at home. But the kind I like best is one that looks like a cocktail.
Akha Ama nailed the brief here. If I was visiting Chiang Mai on holiday, this is definitely the sort of place I’d be drinking coffee every day.
Tien Sieng - Best Cheap Lunch
One of my favourite discoveries since coming to South East Asia is the vegan Buddhist restaurants. The food is cheap and delicious plus they do a variety of proteins rather than just some bland tofu at an omnivorous restaurant.
Tien Sieng is fronted by a group of smiling women that will dish up from the buffet or you can order from the menu.
They also have a whole supermarket out the back where you can buy fake meats, teas and other treats. The ginger biscuits are a delight.
I braved the 30-minute walk in the midday sun to get this delicious food many times. Complimentary water is provided too, so you don’t have to worry about plastic bottles.
Final Note
One thing we found with Chiang Mai is that vegan doesn’t mean the same thing here. I. have ordered vegan food and had it arrive with a fried egg on top. So if you’re after vegan food, make sure you specify no egg. Or have a note on your phone, written in Thai that clearly explains what you do and don’t eat.
One of the best apps I’ve found for finding hidden vegetarian or vegan gems has to be HappyCow. I’d love to connect with you over there.
Did we miss any of your favourite Chiang Mai restaurants here? Let us know in the comments.
