Day 4 Vegetarian Thai Food: Durian, Stir Fried Noodles, Tropical Fruit Buffet

If you’re joining us for the first time, we’re attempting to eat vegetarian Thai food for the entire month of July 2011 in order to raise money for charity. Follow us for everyday blog updates and read more about the cause here.

Thai Fruit Buffet
Thailand is a paradise for tropical fruit lovers, and I consider fruit to be one of the best things to eat – even when I’m not vegetarian!

Thai Durian

Passion Fruit
Breakfast
I steered from the normal routine of oatmeal on Day 4 (this being the American Independence Day), and decided to just go fruit crazy. Here are the prices of the fruit I got in the market today:
- Mangosteen – 20 THB per kilo (bought 2 kilos)
- Pineapple – 20 THB
- Durian – 60 THB per kilo
- Watermelon – 10 THB
- Bunch of Bananas – 30 THB
- Passion Fruit – 40 THB per kilo (Note: Very rare at markets in Thailand, but a guy happens to sell passion fruit right by my apartment, Bangpakok Market).

Kuay Teow Sen Mee Leung Jay

Khao Pad Jay

Pad Proteen Prik Pao
Lunch
I will write a review soon of this restaurant that I ate ate at for lunch, but it’s basically a strictly “Jay” Chinese family that lives and operates a tiny vegetarian restaurant right near my apartment, Bangpakok Market.
- Kuay Teow Sen Mee Leung Jay – Sen mee yellow stir fried noodles (NO egg in the noodles, he told me) with a few pieces of tofu and bean sprouts. I really liked how he sprinkled sesame seeds and black pepper on top – really made for a nice touch – no one uses those spices too much with normal Thai food.
- Khao Pad Jay – A great plate of stir fried brown rice. To be honest, I’m not really sure why it was pink, but whatever it was, it was delicious!
- Pad Proteen Prik Pao – I’ll admit, I was a little scared of this dish at first. I’m hesitant when something looks like meat, but isn’t. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was. It was little chunks of soy protein and tofu stir fried up with string beans in a “prik pao” burnt chili paste. Again, I love the way the cook added some toasted sesame seeds to the top – very nice flavor addition.
Price – Each dish is 30 THB

More Durian
Dinner
You won’t believe it, but I continued to nurse on that fruit from breakfast and I also went out and purchased 2 more durians. Indeed on this 4th of July it was a Durian Invasion!
Day 4 of Vegetarian Food, and still feeling great!
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Sarah
12 years ago
So glad to read about veggie meals in Bangkok. I’ve tried a number of places myself, but am excited at the prospect of good pictures and reviews to look through. That said, if I have to choose between a delicious veggie restaurant and soft, stinky durian, I will choose durian every time. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Dwight Turner
12 years ago
Sarah, it’s glad to connect with another durian lover! Thanks for your support. Do you have any particular place you loved or hated? Let us know. We’re halfway through the month and are starting to feel like we won’t be able to cover everything Bangkok has to offer. So we want to go to the best ones and we hope the posts we have coming will be especially helpful.
Sarah
12 years ago
I have a few suggestions.
Khun Churn is a step up from the usual jay places:
http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=17488
Any of the SPA foods branches are yummy, but only if you like soy protein/fake meat.
http://www.spa-foods.com/restaurant.htm
I’m vegan, so I get pretty excited by an all vegan restaurant like Herwin’s. They focus on Western-style food like burgers and pizza. Check them out, with the caveat that Herwin’s may be less exciting to a non-vegan :)
http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=20723
There’s a big veggie buffet in the 7th Day Adventist Hospital. I imagine it might be similar to Asoke near JJ:
http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=3585
Lastly, south Indian is always a wise choice:
http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=25570
Dwight Turner
12 years ago
Thanks Sarah! I recognize most of these names from the research we’ve been doing and hope to get to most of them. I hope you’re in our facebook group, we’re starting an invite soon for our all you can eat vegetarian on the 30th (hosted by the Bangkok Raw Meetup). You should come join if you’re available.
Sarah
12 years ago
I would love to come, but I’m out in Chanthaburi teaching, Next time I’m in BKK though I might hit you up (if you’re not sick of veggie food by then!). At the very least, we can share a durian :)