Quick answer
Bangkok is one of the easiest Asian cities for Indian vegetarians. Head to Pahurat (Little India) or Sukhumvit Soi 11 to 20 for Indian meals, Silom for South Indian food near the Mariamman temple, and Chinatown's yellow-flagged jay stalls for Thai vegan dishes without onion or garlic. Mall food courts also have vegetarian counters. Always ask for no fish sauce.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Jay noodle soup (kuay teow jay)
Clear vegetable broth with rice noodles, tofu and mushrooms at Chinatown's jay shops. No onion or garlic.
Jay stir-fries and mock meats
Gluten and soy 'meats' in Thai sauces, served by weight at jay buffets. Check that the sauce is jay before ordering.
Green curry jay
Made with a shrimp-free curry paste at vegetarian restaurants. Ordinary stalls use shrimp paste.
Pad Thai
Order it with tofu and no egg, fish sauce or dried shrimp. Famous street versions are made with shrimp, so ask at vegetarian places.
Boat noodles (kuay teow reua)
Rich, dark broth often thickened with pig's blood. No vegetarian version at regular stalls.
Khao man gai
Hainanese-style chicken rice, sold at every food court. Easy to mistake for plain rice from a distance.
Kanom krok
Small coconut-rice pancakes from a dimpled pan. Vegetarian, but often topped with spring onion; ask for plain ones.
Chole bhature and samosas, Pahurat
Punjabi food in Little India near the Sikh Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha, which also serves langar.
Dosa, idli and thalis, Silom
South Indian vegetarian restaurants and sweet shops around the Sri Maha Mariamman temple on Silom Road.
Mango sticky rice
Best from December to May, when Thai mangoes are in season. Vegetarian and usually Jain-friendly.
Coconut ice cream
Served in a coconut shell with toppings at Chatuchak and Chinatown. Egg-free at most stalls.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gin jay | I eat jay food: no meat, fish, egg, dairy, onion or garlic. |
| Mai sai nam pla | No fish sauce. |
| Mai sai kapi | No shrimp paste. |
| Mai sai kai | No egg. |
| Mai phet | Not spicy. |
Where can you find Indian food in Bangkok?
Almost everywhere tourists stay. The main clusters:
| Area | What you will find |
|---|---|
| Pahurat (Little India) | Punjabi dhabas, sweet shops, spice and fabric markets, the Sikh Gurdwara |
| Sukhumvit Soi 11–20 | North and South Indian restaurants, several pure vegetarian |
| Pratunam | Budget Indian eateries near the wholesale markets |
| Silom | South Indian vegetarian food near the Sri Maha Mariamman temple |
| Riverside and ICONSIAM | Indian restaurants in the mall and on dinner cruises |
The Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha in Pahurat serves langar to visitors; cover your head, remove your shoes and help with washing up if you can.
How do you eat Thai food as a vegetarian?
Look for the jay sign, the Thai character เจ in red on a yellow flag. Jay food is vegan and excludes onion and garlic, which suits most Jain travellers, though it may include root vegetables. Yaowarat (Chinatown) has the highest concentration of jay shops, and during the October Vegetarian Festival the whole street fills with jay stalls.
At ordinary restaurants, assume fish sauce and shrimp paste are in curries, soups and salads. Fried rice, tofu stir-fries and morning glory are easy to adapt if you ask for no fish sauce and no oyster sauce.
What about malls and food courts?
Bangkok's mall food courts are a reliable, cheap option. Terminal 21, MBK, CentralWorld and ICONSIAM all have Indian or vegetarian counters, and you can see the food before you order. A full meal costs about 60–150 baht (₹160–400).
Safari World and Chao Phraya dinner cruises booked through Indian operators usually include an Indian vegetarian buffet. Confirm this when booking, especially for Jain meals.
Which Thai dishes should you skip?
Boat noodles (blood-thickened broth), khao man gai (chicken rice) and most clear soups at street stalls are not adaptable. Order these at jay restaurants instead.
For the wider country, read our Thailand food guide. Plan your days with things to do in Bangkok and the 3-day Bangkok itinerary, choose a base near Indian food with where to stay in Bangkok, and check the Thailand visa guide before flying.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Little India in Bangkok?
Can Jain travellers eat comfortably in Bangkok?
Is street food in Bangkok vegetarian-friendly?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
