I have to preface this post (I don’t, but I will) by saying that I love Thai food. If you ask me what my favorite cuisine is (outside of my mother’s and grandmothers’ Punjabi food), it’s Thai food. If you ask me what I want to eat on my birthday, it’s Thai food. Thai food is always a good idea. It’s comforting, seasoned well, spicy, full of good protein and veggies, and so easily vegan-friendly. You truly can’t go wrong.
I never have trouble with vegan food options when I eat at Thai restaurants with family and friends, and I gravitate towards it when I can’t figure out what I want to eat. I’ve spent a lot of time finding the best vegan Thai food in New Jersey, and I’ve come up with an initial list (that will hopefully continue to expand as I try new places). And while there aren’t any vegan Thai Restaurants, there are a plethora of diverse options to choose from.
Check out a few options for vegan Thai food in New Jersey:
Thai Basil (Piscataway)
I’ve had this one on my list for a while. Thai Basil is a vegetarian Thai restaurant, so not quite vegan but close. They are a family-owned restaurant located in a strip mall sandwiched between other restaurants and shops. You might not even notice it at all. While they’re only vegetarian, it seems most of their menu is vegan-friendly as is or can be modified to be so. The wait staff is knowledgeable and can also let you know which ones contain onion and garlic. They have a wide variety of soups, salads, entrees, curries, and desserts, and while I wish I could have ordered everything off of their vegan menu, I had the sweet and sour “chicken”, which includes battered soy protein with red peppers, pineapples, carrots, and onion. They’re open six days a week with varying hours, and are closed on Mondays.
Rice Factory (Milltown)
I grew up going to the Rice Factory, because we’ve always lived close by. I even enjoyed my 30th birthday dinner there! They’re a friendly staff, always willing to accommodate large groups and different dietary restrictions. They’re one of my favorites. While they don’t have a dedicated vegan menu or designated vegan options, they work with you. I never remember to take photos, but we’ve enjoyed so many of their dishes over the years, including the vegetable Thai spring rolls, fried tofu, red curry with vegetables, pad Thai, and drunken noodles. Everything we’ve had, I’ve loved. You can’t go wrong!
Absolute Thai (Monroe Township)
I don’t go out of my way to order food from Absolute Thai, but they are a convenient option, and their food is delicious. We do order them on occasion for family dinners. However, they don’t have a variety of vegetarian options, and certainly not ones that are also vegan-friendly. I’ve had pad Thai from here before, but I can’t promise that it’s vegan, and the mixed vegetables are also vegan-friendly.
Nara Thai (Freehold)
We went to a nice family dinner at Nara Thai, formerly Pokok, a while ago, just the four of us, and we really enjoyed it. It’s an unsuspecting restaurant, but the decor is great, and we sat in a cushioned booth that was covered overhead. The atmosphere was really great. Their menu is pretty vegan-friendly, and though we skipped the appetizers, the entrees were phenomenal. We had the Nara Thai noodles and the Panang curry, both delicious. I can’t speak for any of the non-veg items, but my brother LOVED his chicken dish. It was excellent all-around and great for groups with both vegans and non-vegans.
Bangkok Bistro (Manalapan)
Bangkok Bistro is another local favorite located right along Rt. 9. We haven’t dined in here, but we did order takeout. Their online menu is clearly labeled, but for anything that isn’t, you have to specify that they shouldn’t use egg or fish sauce in the vegetarian-friendly dishes. They have a variety of classic Thai dishes, with something for everyone. I remember having the pad see ew and red curry with vegetables, both classics, both delicious. Everyone enjoyed what they ate, and it definitely would have been better fresh.
Naamo Thai (Monroe Township)
Another local favorite, we go to Naamo Thai for special occasions (or not-so-special occasions) all the time. Their food is excellent, and while nothing on the menu is explicitly vegan-friendly, some of their dishes can be made vegan and gluten-free. There is an extra charge for that modification. We’ve had the fried tofu, spring rolls, drunken noodles, and red curry. Most of their dishes, however, cannot be made vegan-friendly. You should ask your waiter/waitress when you’re there for specific options.
Phattra Thai (Metuchen)
I had Phattra Thai for the first time when I got lunch with a friend earlier this year, and loved it deeply. The food was bold, clean, and so flavorful. While their menu doesn’t specify food restrictions, many of their vegetarian options are also vegan. Their veggie green curry with tofu and fresh veggies was excellent. I was slurping it up like soup, but I wish I had asked them to make it spicier. I hope to go back soon to try all of their vegan-friendly dishes. It was fairly packed when we went on a Saturday afternoon, so it’s a local favorite too.
Thai Food Addict (Helmetta)
My brother loves this place, and he orders from it constantly whenever we want something quick and easy. Thai Food Addict is great value for the money, though I wish they had brown rice as an option (so I would order it more often). I do love that their menu clearly labels which items can be made vegan upon request, and there are a lot of options. In fact, I think most of their menu can be made vegan upon request. I tend to stick with spring rolls and veggie pad Thai (with tofu and without egg). They’re closed on Mondays, as most Thai places in the area are. It’s also BYOB!
Pad Thai Restaurant (Highland Park)
My family and I tried this place last fall, and it was a true hole-in-the-wall gem in Highland Park. Pad Thai Restaurant is almost as old as I am, and has a quiet, unspoken charm. The food was pretty decent, and we enjoyed it. All of their vegetarian dishes include tofu, and I can’t remember what I got, but it was spicy and delicious. They’re also closed on Mondays, and you will have to find street parking. I don’t know how quickly I would return here, but if you’re in the area, I would definitely recommend stopping by.
Kuay Tiew (Somerville)
I went to Kuay Tiew in Somerville a few years ago, because it was central for my friends when we had other friends visiting the area from Canada. The restaurant had a great vibe and atmosphere, even on a weekday, and it was packed. I shouldn’t have put this last on my list, but it’s truly a gem of a restaurant, and the food was even better. If I remember correctly, each of us ordered pad Thai (a classic for good reason, obviously), and we all enjoyed it. Definitely get there well before closing time, so you don’t have to rush. They’re open seven days a week and can even host events.
Other places with vegan-friendly options:
- Siam Smiles (Matawan)
- Jinsoy
- Thai Thai Cuisine (Old Bridge and Edison)
- Thai Lanna (Somerset)
- Amazing Thai (Princeton)
- Thai Thai (Brownville/Edison)
- Truly Thai
- Lil Thai Pin (Princeton)
- Red Basil (Rutherford)
- Kai Yang (Montclair)
- Basil Indian & Thai Grill (Montclair)
- 9 Thai Cuisine (Newark)
- Nahm (Madison)
- Tum Thai (Kenilworth)
- Lamoon’s Thai Restaurant (Clifton)
- Red Basil (Rutherford)
- Proud Thai Cookery (Berkeley Heights)
Overall, Thai food is incredibly vegan-friendly, and I’m still incredibly jealous of my younger brother, who took a trip with 15 of his closest friends to Thailand a couple of years back. One day!
If I missed your favorite spot for vegan Thai food in New Jersey, let me know in the comments below. I’d love to check it out!
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