The Vegetarian Festival Returns: A Celebration of Plant-Based Innovation
The annual Vegetarian Festival is set to return this year, marking its ninth lunar month with a 10-day celebration from October 21 to 29. This event has become a significant cultural and culinary milestone, showcasing the growing diversity and vibrancy of vegetarian options. As more consumers embrace veganism for health, ethical, or environmental reasons, the market for plant-based foods continues to expand.
According to recent data from the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy, Thailand’s plant-based food market has reached 45 billion baht and is projected to grow by 10%, reaching 49.5 billion baht by the end of 2025. This growth reflects a broader shift in consumer preferences towards healthier and more sustainable eating habits.
During the festival, participants are encouraged to practice purity both internally and externally. This includes avoiding meat, all meat-derived products, and five pungent vegetables such as garlic, onions, chives, rakkyo (elephant garlic), and tobacco.
To celebrate the Vegetarian Festival and the expanding vegan market, several leading hotels across Thailand have curated unique plant-based experiences. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
Centara Hotel and Resorts
Centara Hotels and Resorts are embracing the spirit of veganism globally. Their chefs are presenting creative vegan Thai dishes not only during the festival but throughout the year across properties in Thailand, the Maldives, Japan, and Dubai.
At Suan Bua in Centara Grand at CentralPlaza Lardprao, the “Food as Medicine” philosophy is reflected in dishes that revive rare Thai herbs in vegan form. Dishes like tofu herbal spring rolls, wrapped with Japanese mint, holy basil, and pak plaw, highlight natural healing properties. Another standout is kaeng liang nop gao, a royal-inspired vegetable soup combining nine seasonal vegetables.
In Hua Hin, Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas features wolffia green curry, a fresh take on the national favorite enriched with wolffia, the world’s smallest edible plant. At Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, the signature mee hoon gaeng tao hoo replaces crab with tofu in a southern Thai curry vermicelli.
Even traditional street foods are included. Guests can enjoy healthy vegan pad Thai at Centara Life Bangkok Phra Nakhon, while Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya offers a quinoa rice noodle salad with roasted chilli-tomato salsa, grilled king oyster mushrooms, and tofu nuggets.
Must-try: Tofu herbal spring rolls at Suan Bua.
Centara Grand at CentralWorld
From October 21 to 29, Ventisi Restaurant serves specially curated vegetarian à la carte dishes. Highlights include deep-fried taro spring rolls, spicy mixed mushroom salad, and coconut milk and galangal soup with vegetables. These dishes are served alongside Ventisi’s regular fare from its Italian and Thai live cooking stations, as well as an extensive international buffet selection.
Must-try: Deep-fried taro spring rolls.
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
Front Room, the signature Thai restaurant at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, celebrates the Vegetarian Festival with an à la carte menu available for both lunch and dinner. The menu showcases plant-based interpretations of Thai dishes, including yam dok mai moo krob, kanom jeeb and salapao, tao hoo song kruang, pad kana Hong Kong sauce hed, panang tao hoo klong ngae, and kanom kho gluay sai tua.
InterContinental Bangkok
Award-winning Summer Palace restaurant at InterContinental Bangkok recently announced a Special Vegetarian Menu under the helm of executive Chinese chef Shui Wing Yau. The menu includes dishes like bean curd caramel and cucumber with chilli sauce salad, double-boiled bamboo pith and yellow ear mushroom soup, stir-fried vegetarian pig’s ear with Chinese yam and black bean sauce, and braised eggplant with vegetarian sea cucumber served in a clay pot.
Must-try: Braised eggplant with vegetarian sea cucumber served in a clay pot.
Holiday Inn Bangkok
Holiday Inn Bangkok joins the celebration with a special Kin Jay menu at Ginger. The menu includes appetizers like deep-fried sweetcorn fritters with red chilli curry paste and Thai spicy bean curd with roasted rice. Main course recommendations include green curry with bean curd, vegetables, and basil, and a piquant dish of stir-fried bean curd with ginger and black mushroom jelly.
Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel
Fei Ya, the culinary team at Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, transforms classic vegetarian cuisine into an elevated dining experience. Highlights include braised bean curd with black mushrooms and Sichuan pickles, wok-tossed silk gourd with black ear mushrooms and goji berries, braised eggplant with aromatic soybean paste, and silken bean curd soup with dried seaweed.
Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15
Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok offers a vegan/vegetarian brunch buffet every second and fourth Saturday of the month until December 31. During the Vegetarian Festival, the hotel serves a 3-course set menu and à la carte selections, including spicy grilled tofu and glass noodle salad, crispy mushrooms with sweet chilli sauce, and stir-fried tempeh with chilli and hot basil.
Must-try: Stir-fried tempeh with chilli and hot basil.
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
Erawan Tea Room invites diners to celebrate the Vegetarian Festival with a curated selection of authentic Thai vegetarian dishes, including spicy glass noodle salad, steamed spring rolls with tofu and vegetables, and deep-fried tofu with red curry sauce.
Must-try: Deep-fried tofu with red curry sauce.
Dusit Princess Srinakarin Bangkok
Mayflower Restaurant at Dusit Princess Srinakarin Bangkok offers dishes curated from premium ingredients, including sautéed Japanese tofu with mixed vegetables in soy sauce, steamed vegetarian cabbage rolls in brown sauce, three-style vegetarian soup, and stir-fried vegetarian pork with sweet and sour sauce.
Must-try: Steamed vegetarian cabbage rolls in brown sauce.
Mandarin Hotel Bangkok
Krua Luang Restaurant curates a special set menu with selections including deep-fried spring rolls, baked Chinese black olive with rice, and stir-fried longevity noodles, complemented by a refreshing beverage.
Must-try: Baked Chinese black olive with rice.
Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Pattaya
Panorama restaurant at Royal Cliff Beach Pattaya curates eight special menus for the Vegetarian Festival, available from October 19 to 28. Options include riceberry risotto with green peas, fiery bean casserole, homemade Chinese scissor-cut noodles, and baked bell peppers.
Must-try: Homemade Chinese scissor-cut noodles.
Rosewood Bangkok
Three restaurants at Rosewood Bangkok prepare vegetarian delights for customers practising culinary purity this year. G and O Café brings farm-to-table dining to life with organic, locally sourced ingredients. Lakorn celebrates Thailand’s four culinary regions, and Nan Bei showcases flavors from both northern and southern China.
Must-try: Caprese avocado toast.
Novotel Bangkok Impact
The Square celebrates the Vegetarian Festival with special dishes including vegetarian “patties steak,” vegetarian stir-fried rice noodle, tortellini quinoa and spinach, and fried katsu (plant-based). Meanwhile, 145F Grill and Bar also serves five cheese ravioli and fried katsu (plant-based) during the festival.
Must-try: Vegetarian “patties steak.”
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok
Stock.Room at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok offers its signature Sea+Land buffet with a selection of special plant-based dishes created exclusively for the Vegetarian Festival. Seasonal plant-based creations are incorporated into Stock.Room’s usual line-up, including Kin Jay-inspired salads, soups, pastas, and Thai specialities.
