Jay Fest returns this Oct 20-28, when many street-food stalls around Bangkok serve only vegan dishes free from pungent vegetables like garlic and onion.Some of our favorite restaurants are getting in on the vegan action with limited-edition special dishes too. Here are the top five dishes we're most looking forward to this year.
1. The Goma-Soya Cold Brew at Roots Coffee Roaster
Put down your full-fat frappe and head over to The Commons to try this month’s cold brew creation. Delicious and nutritious, the Goma-Soya combines coffee and soy milk with aromatic sesame and coconut nectar caramel, all topped off with a piece of crunchy caramelized beancurd.
M/F, The Commons, Thonglor Soi 17, 097-059-4517. Open Mon-Thu 8am-8pm; Fri-Sun 8am-9pm
2. The Shiitake Yentafo at Ouan Yentafo
Every year during Jay Festival, the Dinsor Road shop-house whips up a rich vegan yentafo with a shiitake-based broth and fried taro toppings (B50-60).
41 Trok Nawa, Dinsor Rd., 02-222-9701. Open daily 9am-9pm (closed last Sunday of the month)
3. The Tofu Massaman Curry at The Local
Occupying one of Sukhumvit’s oldest buildings, this fine-dining Thai establishment cooks up vegan-friendly, Thai-flavored dishes. As well as the deliciously fragrant spicy salad with seablite (B220), try the rich massaman curry, featuring tofu instead of meat (B220).
32-32/1 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-664-0664. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11:30pm. BTS Asoke or MRT Sukhumvit
Fried taro in Talad Noi
4. The Jay Market at Talad Noi
Honestly, this area is one of the reasons we eagerly await the festival every year. Hidden down a long alley near Chow Sue Kong Shrine, this secret Jay food market sets up especially for the festival. From Puek Tord Prik Khee Noo's fried taro (B20) to Lao Pae’s tubtab (crushed peanut candy, B150 for 5 pieces), it has it all. Just be prepared for long queues as dishes are cooked to order.
Wanit Soi 2, Songwat Rd. Open daily 9am-8pm
5. The Sow Ping near Chit Sia Ma shrine
During Jay Fest last year, we commuted here almost every night just for the sow ping (fried dumplings, B15) stall, where addictively yummy, aromatic dumplings bursting with taro and beancurd are tossed in hot oil. Get there before 8pm or they run out.
Maitri Chit Rd., 097-213-7785 (Sao ping stall), Open 11am-9pm
6. The Soya Nana Pancakes at Kay’s Boutique
Kay’s Boutique Breakfast dishes out elegant morning meals like vegan truffle olio spaghetti (B190) with sauteed mushrooms and hot dried chili. Or go sweet with some fluffy Soya Nana Pancakes (B150) alongside iced coconut matcha (B125) or hot matcha latte with almond milk (B105).
116/55-57 Rangnam Rd., 02-245-6138. Wed-Sun 6:30am-4pm; Mon 6:30am-4pm; Tue 6:30am-noon. BTS Victory Monument