Top Vegan Street Food in Southeast Asia

15 August 2025

Southeast Asia is a paradise for street food lovers, and vegans are no exception. From Singapore's Michelin-recognised restaurants to Thailand's temple food stalls and Vietnam's Buddhist kitchens, the region offers an extraordinary range of plant-based street food. Here is our guide to the best vegan street food across Southeast Asia.

Singapore: A Vegan Street Food Powerhouse

Singapore punches well above its weight when it comes to vegan food. The city-state's hawker centres are legendary, and plant-based options are growing rapidly.

Whole Earth Restaurant is the standout. This Peranakan and Thai restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and serves entirely vegetarian food, with most dishes being vegan or easily adapted. Their rendang mushroom and Penang-style curry are exceptional. It is located on Chip Bee Gardens in Holland Village, and booking ahead is recommended.

Beyond Whole Earth, Singapore's hawker centres offer gems like vegetarian bee hoon, carrot cake (actually made from radish), popiah (spring rolls), and roti prata without egg. Head to the hawker stalls at Maxwell Food Centre or Chinatown Complex, where you will find dedicated vegetarian stalls serving Buddhist-style dishes for just a few dollars.

Thailand: The Land of Jay Food

Thailand is one of the easiest countries in Asia for vegans, thanks to the widespread availability of jay food (เจ). Look for the distinctive yellow and red signs displaying the Thai character เจ, and you know the food is vegan.

Bangkok's Chinatown (Yaowarat) is a goldmine for vegan street food. During the annual Vegetarian Festival in October, the entire area transforms with hundreds of jay food stalls. But even outside the festival, you will find stalls selling pad thai jay, green curry with tofu, som tam without dried shrimp, and sticky rice with mango.

In Chiang Mai, the Sunday Night Market on Ratchadamnoen Road has several vegan-friendly vendors selling spring rolls, grilled corn, papaya salad, and fresh fruit shakes. The old city also has a cluster of dedicated vegan restaurants near Tha Phae Gate.

Indonesia: Tempeh Territory

Indonesia is the birthplace of tempeh, and it remains one of the best places in the world to eat it. In Java, street vendors sell tempe goreng (fried tempeh) for a few cents, and it is spectacularly good — golden, crispy, and nutty.

Gado-gado is another Indonesian classic that is naturally vegan (without the shrimp crackers). This salad of blanched vegetables, tofu, tempeh, and rice cakes is drenched in a thick, spicy peanut sauce. You will find it everywhere from Jakarta's street carts to Bali's beach warungs.

Bali deserves special mention. Ubud in particular has become a global hub for plant-based eating, with cafes and restaurants serving everything from raw food bowls to tempeh satay. The Ubud Market is a great place to grab fresh tropical fruit and snacks.

Vietnam: Buddhist Kitchen Traditions

Vietnam has a deeply rooted Buddhist vegetarian tradition, and the food that comes from it is extraordinary. Look for restaurants and stalls with the word chay (vegetarian/vegan) in their name.

Ho Chi Minh City is the epicentre. The city's District 3 and District 10 are packed with chay restaurants serving pho chay (vegan pho), banh mi chay (vegan baguette sandwiches), com chay (vegan rice plates), and bun chay (vegan noodle bowls). The mock meats used in Vietnamese vegetarian cooking are some of the most convincing you will find anywhere — made from wheat gluten, soy, and mushrooms.

In Hanoi, head to the area around the Old Quarter for vegan pho and fresh spring rolls. The twice-monthly vegetarian days (the 1st and 15th of each lunar month) see an explosion of chay food across the city.

Malaysia: Nasi Lemak and Beyond

Malaysia's food scene is heavily influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines, all of which have strong vegetarian traditions. In Kuala Lumpur, the Brickfields area (Little India) is packed with banana leaf restaurants serving incredible vegetarian thalis. Georgetown in Penang is another hotspot, with hawker stalls offering char kway teow without egg, vegetable curry mee, and rojak (fruit and vegetable salad with a tangy sauce).

Vegan nasi lemak — coconut rice with sambal, peanuts, and cucumber — is increasingly easy to find, especially at dedicated vegetarian stalls.

Tips for Vegan Street Food in Southeast Asia

• Download HappyCow: The app is essential for finding vegan food across the region.
• Learn the local words: Jay in Thailand, chay in Vietnam, sayur in Indonesia. A few words go a long way.
• Watch out for hidden ingredients: Fish sauce, shrimp paste, and oyster sauce are common in Southeast Asian cooking. Always ask.
• Eat at temples: Many Buddhist temples across the region serve free or donation-based vegan meals.
• Hit the markets early: The best street food is often found in morning markets, where vendors sell fresh, plant-based dishes for breakfast.

Southeast Asia is one of the most exciting regions in the world for vegan food. The combination of ancient plant-based traditions, affordable prices, and incredible flavours makes it a must-visit for any vegan traveller. For more tips, read our guide to ordering vegan food in Thailand and our overview of plant-based Asian food.