Classic Thai food is renowned world over, yet rarely does one find it presented in such an innovative way as at Paste. Paste Bangkok is the brainchild of Australian award winning chef Jason Bailey and his Thai partner Bongkoch "Bee" Satongun, who received acclaim for their Thai restaurants in Australia and have now relocated to Bangkok, bringing creative and healthy food with them. Bailey now focuses on the business end and projects for Paste, while Satongun runs the kitchen, focusing on original Thai flavors and textures, with ingredients sourced fresh from the grower and best markets in the country. Traditional Thai food is done here with beautiful creative twists and a total attention to taste combinations enough to wow the most discerning diner. Try the exquisite Andaman lobster with crispy fish skin or the watermelon and ground salmon with betel leaves and shallots, both are heavenly. The restaurant used to have a branch over on Sukhumvit 49, but has relocated to the posh Gaysorn Plaza, bringing some refined truly refined dining to Bangkok's most elegant shopping plaza.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For fine Thai food using super healthy ingredients, Paste succeeds
Dave's expert tip: Paste is located on the third floor of the Gaysorn Plaza. Take the direct entrance into Gaysorn from the Chidlom BTS skytrain station. Reservations are essential.
Bo.lan makes almost every "Best" list when it comes to outstanding Thai food. Recently relocated to Sukhumvit Soi 53 near trendy Thong Lor, the restaurant prides itself on using bio diversified local products, works closely with local farmers, and is big on giving back to the community. In fact, the restaurant has set out to achieve a zero carbon footprint status in the next few years, doing heavy duty recycling as well as filtering and serving their own bottled water. The restaurant specializes in tasting menus that run upwards of 1800 baht, and feature a rotation of classic Thai favorites from Penang curry to free range duck salad and much more. There are also lunch courses served, either set or a la carte, which are of good value and a great introduction to the artistic cuisine served up here.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For being committed to a zero carbon footprint health conscious spot, Bo.lan is super.
Dave's expert tip: It is always crowded here and reservations are a must.
May Kaidee's started as a backpackers vegetarian cafe, serving the masses on Khao San Road, and has grown over the years to now have three branches in Bangkok, one in Chiang Mai, and there are even plans for a New York establishment, which is where the owner lives for part of the year. Food here has been modified a bit to fit the foreign palate, and in sticking with healthy options, the restaurant uses no MSG, nor even fish sauce, instead replacing it with soy sauce. The menu features over 50 dishes created by May Kaidee, all of them vegetarian or vegan. May Kaidee's is also immensely popular for its cooking school as well as for its cookbooks and apps devoted to healthy Thai cooking.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For cheap vegetarian fare along with cooking classes, May Kaidee's is renowned.
Dave's expert tip: There are several branches of May Kaidee to choose from, but the main one is on Tanao Road, behind the Burger King at the end of Khao San Road.
There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options available at Khun Churn, which is originally from Chiang Mai. True to their roots, the owners still dish out a few northern Thai dishes, albeit without meat, such as nam prik noom chili dip. Another great feature about Khun Churn is that it doesn't go for fake meats or protein substitutes like many vegetarian restaurants, but instead just sticks to fresh vegetables. The restaurant also serves brown rice instead of white, and substitutes non dairy cereal cream for coconut milk in all the curries. The larb northeastern spicy salads are also well recommended, and like all other dishes, meatless. This easily accessed spot is a great vegetarian spot for those on Sukhumvit.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For great vegetarian food without fake meat substitutes, Khun Churn is a winner.
Dave's expert tip: From the BTS Skytrain Ekkamai station, take exit 2 which takes you directly in to Mediplex building.
Ariyasom Villas is noted for being a beautiful traditional small boutique hotel, hidden away at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 1. What many don't know is that this elegant and charming residence is also home to one of Bangkok's best healthy Thai restaurants. The stylish Na Aroon specializes in Thai cuisine made without meat. The food is mostly vegetarian, although those in demand of protein will find seafood on the menu. The restaurant uses organic produce, and does not use MSG, food coloring or preservatives. Menu winners include Massaman curry with tofu, potatoes, shallots and peanuts or the yam tua ploo, spicy and sour wing bean salad. The restaurant also does set menus, organic salads, and even a fair bit of western offerings as well.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For great vegetarian Thai cuisine with organic ingredients, Na Aroon is excellent.
Dave's expert tip: To get here take the BTS Skytrain to Ploenchit, walk over to Sukhumvit Soi 1, and then down to the end of the alley, where the villa is tucked in on the left. Reservations are advisable as Na Aroon is small.
Despite its rather out of the way location, this small restaurant is very popular on the healthy food front. The owner is a Cordon Bleu-trained cook and the menu features all organic and vegetarian standouts. Much of the produce actually comes from the owner's own veggie garden. There are some great tofu options on the menu; the fried Japanese tofu with a lemongrass dressing, and the larb tofu, copying a traditional Isaan northeastern spicy salad with plenty of mint, lime, and toasted rice powder, but made with tofu instead of meat. In addition to the Thai dishes, Anotai also does organic salads, pastas and herbal juices, and the restaurant even runs a cooking school, holds flower arrangement courses, and yoga sessions as well.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For organic vegetarian dining options, Anotai satisfies on all fronts.
Dave's expert tip: To get here, take the MRT Metro to Rama 9 station and then a taxi over to the restaurant which is by the Rama IX Hospital.
While there are plenty of restaurants in Bangkok with healthy cuisine, Rasayana Retreat takes the meaning to a whole new level. This holistic health center specializes in rejuvenation programs (indeed Rasayana means "rejuvenate" in Sanskrit) and its Raw Foods Cafe offers some unique fare, from organic meals to wheatgrass juice, and delicious tonics and enzyme drinks. Menu items include Thai pasta, where the noodles are made from strips of coconut flesh and zucchini, and eggplant lasagna, made with marinated eggplant, zucchini, marinara, and avocado sauce. You can even get a raw burger here, made from sunflower seeds, olive oil, shoyu, flaxseeds, mushroom, onion, garlic, and celery, There are also plenty of salads, soups, and healthy desserts on the menu as well.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For raw food, Rasayana is a one and only in Bangkok.
Dave's expert tip: Remember that the cafe is only open until 8pm. To get here, take the BTS Skytrain to Phrom Phong, and then a taxi up soi 39.
This ultra healthy organic cafe and juice bar does brekkie, as the name implies, but also a lot more. They are actually open throughout the day, and do a range of all day breakfasts, sandwiches, and then superfood bowls and quinoa specials for those who really want something healthy. The Spirulina Bowl comes with passion fruit, bananas, and spirulina, blended with fresh raspberries, mango, bee pollen, and chia seeds, while breakfast items include avocado toast and baked eggs with chorizo. If you need your Thai food fix, try a quinoa krapao, where chicken breast is served with holy basil over quinoa. Brekkie also does a range of organic teas and fine coffees, and it's an intimate spot to chill at, with white walls and soft lighting.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For healthy all day breakfasts and superfood bowls, Brekkie will fill you up.
Dave's expert tip: The nearest BTS station is Phrom Phong, and you'll need a taxi or motorcycle taxi from there, as it is a long walk up the soi.
If you've grown weary of street eats and fast food and are craving something really healthy, the team behind Absolute Yoga run this venture that doubles both as a delivery service and a small sit down restaurant offering uber-healthy meals that feature superfoods like quinoa, chia seeds, wakame, spirulina, and goji berries in many of their freshly made dishes. Chicken here is hormone-free, bakery products use organic spelt flour, and the charming eatery has wonderful lunch specials like salmon risotto or green curry quinoa that are low in cholesterol and calories, but high in nutrients. The menu includes over 200 dishes, with a couple of new ones added each week, and you can get them to deliver to you anywhere in Bangkok, making this one great option for the health conscious.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For superfoods, organic, and total health, it's hard to top Absolute Fit Food.
Dave's expert tip: Take the BTS skytrain to Chidlom and walk south down Langsuan to find the Portico Building on your left. Absolute Fit Food is upstairs.
Dressed is an American salad cafe franchise now firmly entrenched in the Bangkok healthy eating scene. There are five branches to choose from in downtown Bangkok, with this location in the Mercury Ville mall accessed directly from the Chidlom skytrain station being the most central and convenient. The focus here is on artisanal sandwiches, like mango chutney with turkey or chili lime chicken panini, and plenty of other mouthwatering creations. The other big draw here are the salads, and the restaurant aims to please the health conscious crowd by letting diners create their own wraps, sandwiches, and salads, thus controlling their caloric intake. You can go for a Detox Antioxidant, which includes spinach, roast beets, and a blueberry pomegranate vinaigrette, or else make your own, selecting from a massive array of superfoods, proteins, and vegetables. The chic menu also includes a large selection of healthy smoothies, soups, and crepes and cakes to indulge in for dessert after you've convinced yourself with your healthy mains.
Recommended for Restaurants with Healthy Menus because: For creating your own healthy sandwiches and salads, Dressed Thailand is the way to go.
Dave's expert tip: Take the BTS skytrain to Chidlom and walk into the Mercury Ville Mall just off the exit.