When I arrived in Bangkok with the challenge of surviving 72 hours on vegetarian street food alone, I had no idea what to anticipate. Thailand is renowned for its pungent flavors, colorful
markets, and sizzling street-side woks, but would a vegetarian like me be able to find enough to fill both my belly and my heart? Spoiler alert: not only did I discover a rich diversity of
meat-free meals, but I also gained a whole new appreciation for the culinary creativity of the country.
Prior to embarking on my culinary journey, I booked some cultural performances and temple visits through Siam
Tickets to organize around the city. It was an excellent means of scheduling my meals between sites. From Chinatown to Chatuchak Market, I navigated steaming stalls, scented alleys, and
bustling food carts — all serving up amazing vegetarian fare.
Here's the lowdown on my 72-hour veggie street food binge in Bangkok — these were the highlights of what I ate and where to get them.
Day 1: Satisfying Starts in Yaowarat (Chinatown)
Pad Thai
📍 T&K Seafood area, Chinatown
Pad Thai is the most popular Thai dish outside Thailand, but I set out searching for its vegetarian variant, called Pad Thai Jay. The preparation consists of flat rice noodles stir-fried with
tofu, bean sprouts, tamarind sauce, crushed peanuts, and banana blossoms on occasion. Light, sour, and filling — it was just the right way to begin my street food adventure.
Kanom Krok (Coconut-Rice Pancakes)
📍 Street cart near Odeon Circle, Yaowarat
These bite-sized pieces of coconut are created using a batter of coconut milk and rice flour and seared in a hot griddle until crunchy on the outside and runny on the inside. Green onions, sweet
corn, or pumpkin are usually sprinkled on top. These bite-sized treats are the perfect sweet-salty snack.
Day 2: Markets, Parks, and a Lot of Tofu
Som Tum Jay
📍 Chatuchak Weekend Market (Section 2)
Couldn’t leave Thailand without eating their famous Papaya salad! Typically prepared using fish sauce and dried shrimp, Som Tum may be adapted vegetarian if you request it. At Chatuchak, one of
the vendors cheerfully prepared a version using soy sauce instead. The shredded green papaya, garlic, chilies, lime, and tomatoes blended into a spicy, crunchy salad that woke me up more
effectively than any coffee.
Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce
📍 Outside Lumpini Park, evening vendors
Grilled skewers of marinated tofu accompanied by a rich, nutty peanut sauce — this was definitely one of the most satisfying street foods I had. The smokiness of the grill and the creaminess of
the sauce complemented each other perfectly. Throw in some cucumber relish on the side, and you have yourself a meal.
Roti with Banana and Sweetened Condensed Milk
📍 Silom Road, evening food carts
Although most roti sellers include eggs in the dough, I was able to find an eggless one. Seeing the vendor stretching the dough, frying it to a golden crunch, and then covering it with bananas
and drizzling with sweet milk was entertainment in itself. The outcome? Crunchy edges, gooey middle, and a sugar high I didn't regret.
Day 3: Hidden Gems and Sweet Endings
Khao Niao Mamuang (Mango Sticky Rice)
📍 Wang Lang Market
Is it even a trip to Thailand if you've never had mango sticky rice? Sliced mangoes perfectly ripe, placed over glutinous coconut milk-soaked rice, then finished with crispy mung beans — this
treat is both rich and refreshing. It's also naturally vegetarian, so it's one of the simplest go-to foods.
Jay Fai’s Vegetable Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao Jay)
📍 Near Democracy Monument (not at her main Michelin-starred restaurant) While renowned for her crab omelets, Jay Fai has small side stalls offering cheap options. I encountered a vendor applying
her recipe technique to prepare drunken noodles with tofu, holy basil, chilies, and vegetables. Spicy and potent, it was the type of heat that gets your nose running — but in the best possible
way.
Tao Hoo Song Kreung (Mixed Tofu Soup)
📍 Victory Monument Food Stalls
This simple bowl contained various tofu textures — fried, soft, and fermented — served in a transparent herbal soup with glass noodles and fresh greens. Subtle but soothing, this meal reminded me
of family home cooking and was a pleasant respite from two days of pungent spices.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Food Trip
Confining myself to vegetarian street food in Bangkok for 72 hours was much more than an experiment with diet — it was a cultural experience. Food allowed me to engage with the locals, learn the
subtleties of ingredients, and discover a part of Bangkok that's easy to overlook if you eat at restaurants or hotel buffets. From spicy salads to creamy desserts and sizzling skewers, the city
taught me that vegetarian food here is not an afterthought — it's a celebration of flavors in its own right.
thailand Travel Tips
Are you ready to fly to Thailand? Here are some quick booking links and resources that I use myself for travel planning. These websites will help you to get started with your
Thailand itinerary!
Cheap Flights to Thailand
Skyscanner is my favorite search engine for finding cheap flights to
Thailand, from anywhere in the world. I always start my flight search here!
Find a Place to stay in Thailand
Hostels, hotels and resorts: Agoda is excellent if you're looking for
hotels from budget to luxury! It's one of the largest hotel booking websites in the world. Plenty of options to book now and pay later, or even pay at the hotel. Risk-free booking, many with
free cancellation. My other go to is Booking.com.
Homestays and Housesits: For a more authentic and local experience I recommend Homestay.com, a website where you can find places to stay with locals for such a great
price. Personally, I'm obsessed with Trusted Housesitters, where you get to stay completely for free in exchange for pet care. Find out more in my article on How to Become a House Sitter and Never Pay for Accommodation.
Fun Tours and Activities in Thailand
Get your
Guide has plenty of fun activities in Thailand, such as island hopping, hiking tours and city sightseeing trips. There is plenty of choices to keep yourself entertained!
Klook is similar than the one above, but offers
additional options such as airport transfers, SIM cards, and food & dining experiences. It' a great way to meet other travelers while exploring a new place!
eSIM - Stay connected with Internet
Get an eSIM before you go and have Internet available from the second you arrive! I highly recommend Roamless or JetPac - they're both highly ranked, inexpensive
and reliable.
Travel Insurance
Never go adventuring without travel insurance! Here's a list of some of the highest ranked and Best Travel Insurances for Digital Nomads and Long-Term Travelers, starting from $33/month!
Do I need a Visa for Thailand?
Travelers from most countries are allowed to enter Thailand visa-free, for a period of 30 -60 days. You can check on iVisa whether you need a visa and how long you are permitted to stay.
More Blog Posts about Thailand
10 Unusual Things to do in Bangkok - Tips from a Local
I Ate Only Street Food in Bangkok for 72 Hours – These Were the Best
Dishes
Koh Samui: Best Beaches, Places To Stay And Things To Do
For Adventure, Fun And Relaxation
Top Yoga Retreats in Phuket, Thailand
The Ultimate Guide To Phuket: Things To Do, Extraordinary
Adventures + Places To Stay
Fabulous Hotels with Panoramic Rooftop Bars in Bangkok
Best Health and Wellness Retreats in Thailand
The Sathorn Unique Building - Exploration of an Abandoned Skyscraper
in Bangkok
3 Unique & Quirky Places to Stay in Bangkok (all under $50 a night!)
Best Party Hostels in Bangkok - Where to meet other travelers and
make new friends
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About the Author:
Sabrina Iovino started JustOneWayTicket.com in 2012. She's half German, half Italian and has traveled to 75+ countries around the globe. She
feels weird to write about herself in the third person, so she'll switch now. Let's restart:
Hi, I'm Sab! This is my blog and I write about the things I love. Mostly.
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