Chelsey Crafts: VEGAN EATS IN KHAO LAK, THAILAND

Jai Restaurant Bungalow

It can be tricky to find great vegan eats in Khao Lak, Thailand, so I've tried and tested most of the local vegan fare to bring you this list of the best.

In July 2015 my family and I escaped the Australian Winter and travelled to Thailand for three weeks. The last week of our trip was spent beachside in Khao Lak, Thailand. While Thailand is abundant in some of the world's best fresh produce most Thai dishes include fish sauce, shrimp, egg or other nasties. Luckily most places in Khao Lak will happily cater to most dietary requirements. It can be hard work researching then requesting vegan eats in foreign countries so I've put together this little list to help travelling foodies out. I've also included a message at the bottom of this post written in Thai for when you really get stuck.

JAI RESTAURANT BUNGALOW

Jai Restaurant is an open air, relaxed, Thai restaurant on the main road through Khao Lak. The service is friendly and accommodating for dietary requirements and the vibe is laid-back and charming thanks to the fairy light strewn interior and the open air layout that allows the breeze to flow through.

SMILE

By far the most popular restaurant in Khao Lak, Smile is a French restaurant located on the main road (Petchkasem Road) and dinner reservations are a must. The menu is a mix of Western and Asian cuisine and staff are eager to meet dietary requirements, so don't be afraid to ask. Fresh, seasonal produce is sourced locally and menu specials change accordingly.

THE SANDS BY KHATATHANI HOTEL

The Sands by Khatahani, Khao Lak offers a buffet breakfast and dinner as well as an a-la-carte menu in The Floating Market or a fine dining experience at Talay Restaurant on the beach. Although hotel dining is usually double the price of local eats you are guaranteed a clean and delicious meal with great service. The staff at The Sands are friendly and easily accommodate most dietary requirements.

BANG NIANG MARKETS

Open Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays this mid-sized market is full of fresh produce, street food, souvenirs and cheap clothing and accessories. There is a Mojito stand at Bangniang Markets that makes a killing shaking and serving fresh, delicious Mojitos. I would go so far as to say they were the best Mojitos I've ever tasted. The Bangniang Markets also hosts a great variety of food stalls from fresh produce to cooked meals to cocktail stands. Open Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays - read more about the Bangniang Markets below.

CONVENIENCE

The convenience stores in Khao Lak, like any other convenience store in the world, are easily found, a little pricey and open later than other local stores. There are 7-Elevens, locally owned convenience stores and most hotels have their own small convenience store too. Most vegans are used to scouring the ingredient list of packaging to check that products are vegan and the same applies here although the Thai packaging and text can lengthen the process. Below is a list of convenient snacks to keep you going.
- Dried/dehydrated/fresh fruit
- Dried/dehydrated vegetables
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Drinks: Juice, soy milk, bottled water, sparkling water, alcohol.

STREET FOOD

The street vendors in Khao Lak come out at night. The most popular vendor sells crepes, both savoury and sweet, not far from Smile Restaurant on the main road by Nang Thong Beach (Petchkasem Road). I went to this stall a few times for the mango and sticky rice and every time it was sold out!

Dinner at the Phuket Weekend Markets

NEARBY

Phuket Weekend Markets

A couple of hours could easily be spent wandering and gathering from the food stalls at the Phuket Weekend Markets alone. As well as fresh produce the market is a great place to grab freshly prepared snacks, meals, dessert and cocktails. For dinner I bee-lined for the busiest food stall filled with locals. Upon entry you choose your base (peanut sauce, curry, soy, meats,etc) then you join one of the communal tables and top your meal with veggies, spices and other additions from large platters placed on each table. Other vegan treats at these markets included cups of corn kernels, stir fried noodle dishes, fried finger food and mango with sticky rice.

Lunch at Koh Panyi

Day tours of James Bond Island include a lunch-time feast at the Muslim gyspy village on Koh Panyi. Let your tour guide know of your dietary requirements and they will happily provide. I was the only vegan on tour and was given all three platters below! The onion rings, the sweet and sour pineapple, cucumber and tomato and the fried cabbage, carrot and greens fried in soy sauce were more than enough to share with the whole table who also had access to the lunch buffet.

Lunch at Koh Panyi (on a James Bond Island Day Tour)

Overview

Vibe | Laid back, fresh, friendly

Must Try | Mojitos at Bangniang Markets and fresh fruit

While I was in Thailand I always attempted to speak with chefs and waitresses when ordering. If the language barrier arose this little note saved my life. Hopefully it can help you on your travels too. Thank you so much to Shannon from SVC for sharing the original script.

Translation

"Hello, We are vegans. We do not eat any animal products. Please do not put any honey, cow's milk, fish sauce, eggs, cheese, butter, gelatine, yoghurt from cow's milk, coconut sugar and soy milk.

Please note that if any ingredient in the food has a mother or a face we cannot eat it :). Thank you"

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