STRANGER IN BANGKOK | A blog about foreigner bringing up his family in Bangkok: October 2016

Thailand has a 9-day Vegetarian Festival every year which is celebrated at a grand scale nationwide, but outside the festival, delicious vegetarian food is alarmingly-elusive. However, if you look closely, there are more than enough restaurants that actually have permanent vegetarian offerings, which taste pretty impressive, and this is coming from someone who is not turning vegetarian anytime soon.

My list only includes places which I have personally tried before, and will continue to expand as I discover more places.

1. Little Bao Bangkok [Closed]

Newly opened at 72 Courtyard, Little Bao Bangkok is Little Bao’s first foray outside Hong Kong, and certainly one of the city’s most anticipated openings in 2016. Commonly known as a place for hipster groups to share tasty bites over creative cocktails, Little Bao unexpectedly serves some delicious vegetarian plates. The Sloppy Chan Bao is a tasty mess of Shiitake tempeh, pickled Daikon and truffle mayonnaise, and once you start on their signature ice cream baos, it is not possible to stop at 1.

One is not enough!

2. S&P Restaurant

One of the most established restaurant chains in Bangkok, many forget that S&P restaurants actually have a solid permanent selection of vegetarian dishes, more than good enough to grace this list, especially with their accessibility across the whole Kingdom. I like their black olive fried rice, holy basil fried Japanese mushroom and stewed vegetables with shiitake mushrooms, which really defies logic. How can such a tasty stew be made purely from vegetables?

3. Misoya Ramen

Bangkok Life Hacks: Vegetarian Food. Misoya serves a vegetarian ramen with soup as robust as any vegetarian soup can ever get. My father-in-law slurped up every drop. #bangkoklifehacks #vegetarian #vegan #ramen #vegetarianramen #misoya #misoyaramen #ramenporn #foodporn #instaramen #foodstagram #strangerinbangkok

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jul 10, 2016 at 8:33pm PDT

Misoya Ramen Bangkok is part of a massive ramen empire that spans from Japan to North and South America. Taking advantage of their special Miso blends infused into every bowl, Misoya is able to come up with perhaps the most unforgettable vegetarian ramen ever, complete with a good mix of greens and silky-smooth fried Japanese tofu. Even the non-vegetarian customer will slurp up every drop.

4. Broccoli Revolution

The only 100% vegetarian restaurant on the list, Broccoli Revolution looks and sounds like the THE vegetarian restaurant to go to in town, with high ceilings and hanging plants giving it the modern hipster feel. Its cold-press juice bar has some incredibly delicious concoctions, while the coffee (Roots), cakes (Veganerie Concept) and ice-cream (Farm-to-Table Café) are sourced from the perfect local suppliers.

The famous signature burger.

The charcoal broccoli-quinoa burger looks a dream for instagrammers looking to impress with a #healthyeating hashtag. Broccoli Revolution is certainly worth a visit for the health-conscious, even though I still feel that their food can and should taste even better.

5. Greyhound Cafe

Saving the best for last, I am directing you to Greyhound Café for a dose of delightful vegetarian dining. The folks at Greyhound are the true pioneers of fashion and style in Thailand, their food is no different.

Bangkok Life Hacks: Vegetarian Food Aside of the annual Vegetarian Festival, when an astounding array of vegetarian food lines the streets for the best part of 10 days, it is not that difficult to find solid vegetarian food on a normal day as long as you keep your eyes open. A good example is the pretty extensive vegetarian menu at Greyhound. This vegetarian lasagna salad is outstanding. #greyhound #vegetarianlasagna #lasagna #lasagnasalad #vegetarian #bangkoklifehacks #yummyinbangkok #strangerinbangkok #latergram #foodporn #instafood #foodstagram #greyhoundcafe

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jan 8, 2016 at 11:26pm PST

Their huge selection of vegetarian favorites range from vegetarian phad thai to international flavors like lasagna salad and grilled vegetables with pesto sauce. I confess that I frequently order their vegetarian dishes as our mains as they are just so good.

Have a go and let me know what you think!

Dear Ellie

Sometimes I look at you marvel at how much you have grown within the space of a year.

From the bald, serious-looking baby to the endearing, independent, humorous little girl you have become, God's blessings have been more than abundant.

You walk without wanting Daddy to hold your hand, you sometimes even eat alone by yourself without our assistance. It's amazing how much you look like your brother while being the complete opposite.

Still, you are Daddy's little precious baby girl. I only just started putting you to bed, and finally got to experience the intimacy of you crawling up onto my chest in the middle of the night, something I enjoyed with Noah since his first day home. I am thankful it's not too late for me to properly feel every little bit of baby left in you.

Finally, I would like you to know that while I am writing this, Thailand, the land you are born in, is deep in mourning, because their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away barely a week ago. Daddy and Mummy are wearing black everyday to grieve with our friends around us.

We must never forget that without this beautiful land and its people, meticulously nurtured by the late King for the best part of 7 decades, we will not enjoy what we have right now.

I hope you will grow up remembering this, and understand the late King's undying spirit as a guiding light in your life, that is, in His own words, "to do what I think is useful for the people, and that is all".

I am proud that you were born in Thailand during His reign.

Meanwhile, it's also important to recall your small little party at Devilish, our neighbourhood restaurant and remember everyone who came to bless you, plus the ones who made it all possible.