Pai Restaurants: Where to Eat Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly Food

Mad Monkey is dedicated to a lot of things. Everything that we do, we do with passion, which is why we passionately ate our way through Pai to find vegetarians and vegans alike the best of meat-free finds in this Northern Thai city. With meat-free venues practically in every nook and cranny of Pai, you will find it easy to eat your way through the city without breaking your diet. Get ready to dig into the good stuff as we unveil a complete guide to the best Pai restaurants that serve vegetarian and vegan food!
 
 

Witching Well

Enjoy throwback tunes while taking in all the cool decor at Witching Well. This venue has everything from hanging witches to pumpkin paraphernalia adorning its interior. You’ll find yourself moving to the beat as you chow down on some pretty delicious dishes here, many of which are vegan and vegetarian-friendly. You will find breakfast, starters, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, mains, and a whole load of beverages. Your carnivorous friends will definitely want to make a stop here as it is one of the top-rated restaurants in the city but fret not, as there are plenty of options for you to indulge in, as well.
 

Carrot on the Moon

Carrot on the Moon is a restaurant and hostel duo that is found just outside of the Pai city center. In addition to serving up tea and coffee (with dairy-free milk alternatives), this restaurant also has a few vegetarian and vegan options that will delight those on this diet. Vegetarians can indulge in desserts like their delicious banana cheesecake and vegans can take advantage of menu items including their acai bowl, which is only ฿100 (about $3). The best time to visit is during the avocado season, which is when Carrot on the Moon serves up delicious smoothie bowls, drinks, and avocado toast!
 

Bom Bowls

For some of the healthiest and animal-free menu items in town, be sure to check out Bom Bowls. This venue has all the makings of a great restaurant, from affordable prices to delicious menu items. The restaurant is famous for its smoothie bowls, with rare finds on the menu like their signature acai bowl (฿120). Bom Bowls also offers juice cleanses starting at ฿250 per day as well as detoxifying shots, like their anti-aging one starting at ฿40. You can also join a drop-in yoga class and enjoy a delicious smoothie bowl for a discounted price of ฿280 (about $8.40).

Chew Xin Jai Vegan Food

Do you love Chinese food? Are you also abiding by an animal product-free diet? Then Chew Zin Jai Vegan Food is the venue to frequent. The meals here provide you with all the flavor of meat without the meat, as there are plenty of faux options on the menu, including duck, pork, and chicken. All are made of soy or plant-based items, so you can feel good about being a “carnivore” for once. Entire meals start out at as little as a $1, making it one of the cheapest vegan restaurants in town, as well.
 

Fat Cat

Fat Cat is an organic restaurant serving up vegan and vegetarian menu options only. The menu changes with the season, so you know you are the getting the freshest of ingredients and dishes no matter what time of the year it is. They farm in a sustainable way in hopes of giving back to the next generation, with all of the meals being incredibly healthy, as well. Be on the lookout for Fat Cat’s homemade bread, kombucha, herbal drinks, and vegan treats, like their chocolate vegan brownie (฿50). Most of the ingredients are grown from their very own garden or sourced from local farmers. 

Red Bike Kitchen & Espresso Bar

You can easily spot this cute cafe by the red bicycle posted up on the roof. Red Bike specializes in bagels and other Western breakfast dishes you might be missing from home. Top your bagel with jam, honey, avocado, peanut butter, or a flavored cream cheese, including jalepeño, garlic herb, wasabi, and cinnamon-walnut and raisin. If you want something a bit heartier, you can get a bagel sandwich with tomato, basil with mozzarella, or cream cheese with vegetables. Bring your carnivore friends and they can pile on the bacon or smoked salmon — the options are endless!
 

Boomelicious Cafe

Vegan coffee lovers, rejoice! There is one cafe in town offering soy milk as an alternative to dairy: Boomelicous Cafe. There are plenty of vegetarian options on this quaint cafe’s menu, as well, including their coveted warm cinnamon porridge with fruit salad. Try any one of their egg combinations or, for those of you with an appetite, the big veggie breakkie is also delicious and only (฿200). In addition to breakfasts, they also have salads, veggie sandwiches, wraps, and even a veggie burger made with roasted vegetables shallow fried in tempura, stacked with roasted pineapple, green sweet chili sauce and served with sweet potato crisps.

Earth Tone

Earth Tone Cafe and Health Shop is one of the healthiest and cruelty-free of restaurants in town. It is serving up delicious vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and raw menu items as well as desserts. Check out their probiotics, from kombucha to kefir or instead indulge in their homemade vegan ice cream. Diners are first bombarded with a wide array of mango dishes, including vegan mango ice cream. Keep turning the many pages and find delightful meat-free finds, including breakfast items, dips and rolls, salads, sandwiches, pasta, rice dishes, and more. The best things about this restaurant are the plethora of vegan desserts it is serving up, with vegan brownies, banana bread, cheesecake, and more for vegans to choose from.

Big’s Little Cafe

Big’s Little Cafe is exactly as it sounds: a little cafe packed with menu items with big flavor and taste. Though there are plenty of meat items on the menu, vegetarians will be delighted to see that many of the breakfast and lunch dishes here are tailored just for them (basically). The veggie burger (฿65) was certainly the most popular meat-free item on the menu, while the egg baguette (฿80) and cheesy jacket potatoes (฿55) came in a close second. You can also mix and match your favorite early morning meal with things like mushrooms, hash browns, and more. Vegans really cannot order anything except a black coffee, but the vibe is cool and you might as well join that vegetarian friend of yours for the atmosphere.
 

Pens’ Kitchen

Pens’ Kitchen is found just around the corner from Pai Walking Street. With only a few table and chairs to choose from, be sure to get here early before each one fills up with eager diners. The menu at Pens’ Kitchen features mainly Thai dishes, but what makes this restaurant both vegan and vegetarian-friendly is that the staff here is happy to exchange things like chicken and pork with tofu or another type of vegetable, really. Larb moo, one of the most famous of Thai dishes, literally translates to pork salad, yet Pens’ Kitchen was able to make it a vegan one made of firm tofu.
 

Art in Chai

From vegan desserts to smoothie bowls, Art in Chai checks all the boxes of what makes a great vegetarian venue. This restaurant is found smack dab in the middle of the city and certainly rocks one of the coolest of decors out of all the restaurants on our list. The restaurant opened in 2008 and has been favorited amongst meat-free diners ever since, and it’s no wonder with it’s extensive and delicious menu. Enjoy the food, Indian-inspired atmosphere, live music, or their open-mic nights when you come to visit! Be sure to check their website for more information on events happenings at this cool cafe and restaurant.
 

Dessert at Sawasdee Yoga

While there are plenty of reasons to visit Sawasdee Yoga, whether it be to unleash your inner yogi or enjoy its riverside location! This venue just gave visitors one more reason to visit: their vegan desserts. All of their tasty treats are not always in stock as they are freshly made, so be sure to get here a bit before closing to ensure you can try one of their animal product-free desserts. They are only ฿30, as well!
 

Vegetarian Food and Vegan Desserts on Walking Street

Walking Street is a hodgepodge of food and souvenir vendors coming together every night of the week along Pai’s busiest of roads. Beginning at about 5 p.m., this road goes from being lively to abuzz with street food carts serving up everything from avocado toast to the country’s most coveted dish: pad Thai. Walking Street is a great choice for hungry visitors to the city, and there are plenty of options for vegan and vegetarian diners, as well. 

Om Garden Cafe

If you want to escape to a peaceful oasis in the center of Pai, head to Om Garden Cafe. Surrounded by lush greenery, this open-air spot will be your favorite place to order a healthy dish and read a book or get some work done. Their extensive menu has something for everyone; try the eggplant sandwich, cauliflower burger, or penne pumpkin pesto pasta — all are sure to please you! Afterward, indulge in a delicious piece of carrot cake while relaxing in the garden.
 

Helpful Thai Phrases

Here are just a few phrases that will ensure you do not get meat in your order while dining in Thailand!

More Information About Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly Pai Restaurants

Did you love this article about where to get vegetarian-friendly food in Pai? Do you want even more information about the best restaurants and more? Then check out these articles we have rounded up for your reading (dining) pleasure!

• Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Pai for Happy Cow
• Vegan and vegetarian food in Thailand – Pai for Heart of a Vagabond
• Vegan Food: Pai for Vegan Backpacking

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