This year's Jay Fest has officially arrived in Chinatown. As of last night (Oct 20), the Chinese festival dedicated to vegan food free from any pungent herbs like garlic kicked off around Yaowarat. 

That means that the kitchen which stands outside Hokkien Chow Sue Kong shrine each year is currently doling out its usual lineup of tasty Jay dishes—all for free. 

Hokkien Chow Sue Kong

Working in the open kitchen next to the shrine, Chinese cooks stir enormous vats of traditional Jay dishes: cabbage fried and then boiled in shiitake broth; braised peanuts; bitter gourd and pickled vegetable soup. Pull up a chair at one of the tables and tuck into a vegan feast.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Jay Fest without a sugar high from all sorts of Chinese goodies. Head to the stalls to fill up on red bean and pandan cakes or sweet sesame pastries (B8/piece).

The ultimate sweet treat, though, has to be the candied peanut tuptub. Set up right outside the open kitchen, Nguan Haseng Bakery (from Chan Road in Sathorn) sells some of the best we’ve ever had (B25/stick, B100/bag).

This year's Jay Fest lasts through Oct 28.