5 Best Khao Soi in Bangkok: Vegetarian and Vegan Bowls by Budget

Featured image: Iudexvivorum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer: best khao soi in Bangkok at a glance

Our pick for a cheap vegetarian bowl is Khun Churn near Ekkamai BTS. For a fully vegan bowl, we'd choose Goodsouls. For an upscale vegan bowl in Phrom Phong, go to Vistro. Prices below are 2022 listings that show the spread, from ฿50 at Bamboo Garden to ฿260 at Vistro, so expect today's menus to differ.

What makes a great bowl of khao soi

A good bowl has a rich, creamy yellow curry broth, egg noodles underneath and a fistful of crispy fried noodles on top. It arrives with a garnish plate of pickled greens, onion, chili and lime. Chiang Mai is the dish's home turf, and it is reported to descend from the Burmese dish on no khao swe. Bangkok cooks sometimes make a milder "city-style" version, with extra coconut milk and no masala. Treat that as a reported tendency, not a rule. Chicken (gai) is the classic topping, with beef (neua) and pork (moo) as common alternatives. We have kept this list to bowls we can name with confidence, which skews vegetarian and vegan. For meat versions, browse the MICHELIN Guide Thailand listings and read recent reviews.

5 Best Khao Soi Bowls in Bangkok, Grouped by Diet

We start with the vegetarian pick, then move through the vegan options to the jae street stall. Prices are 2022 listings, so check the current menu when you arrive.

1. Khun Churn (vegetarian, near Ekkamai BTS)

Khun Churn began in Chiang Mai and has moved between several Bangkok locations over the years. A 2022 review placed it back near its original spot by Ekkamai BTS. It earns the top slot for value, with a vegetarian bowl listed at ฿90.

Order it if you want a meat-free khao soi without paying restaurant prices. Skip it if you are vegan. The bowl is vegetarian, not vegan, so ask about egg noodles and curry paste before you commit.

2. Goodsouls (vegan, Northern Thai Noodle Soup)

Goodsouls is a small chain that also started in Chiang Mai. Its menu calls the dish "Northern Thai Noodle Soup", so look for that name rather than "khao soi". The whole menu is vegan, which removes the hidden-ingredient guesswork about egg noodles and shrimp-paste curry.

A 2022 listing put the bowl at ฿180, noticeably above Khun Churn. Pick it if you want a vegan bowl and room to try other creative Thai dishes. Skip it on a tight budget, and check which branch is closest to you.

3. May Veggie Home (vegan, gluten-free)

May Veggie Home serves a vegan khao soi made with rice noodles instead of wheat noodles. That makes it the only gluten-free option on our list. Bowls were listed at ฿130 in 2022, which sits between the cheap and upscale ends.

Ask about the crispy topping noodles, because they may still be wheat-based. Skip it if you want the classic egg-noodle chew, since rice noodles change the texture.

4. Vistro (vegan, Phrom Phong)

Vistro sits in upscale Phrom Phong and charges accordingly: ฿260 in a 2022 listing, the highest on this list. Reviewers described a recipe that the kitchen kept tweaking after opening. It suits a sit-down lunch where you want a polished vegan bowl and a calm room.

Pair it with a stroll around Phrom Phong if you are already shopping there. Skip it if you are chasing a street-stall price or a quick standing meal.

5. Bamboo Garden (jae vegan street stall, Ari)

Bamboo Garden is a classic jae stall in Ari, with most dishes pre-made from trays and a few made to order, including khao soi. Jae food follows extra rules beyond "no meat": no garlic and no onion. A 2022 listing put the bowl at ฿50, the cheapest here.

It is hard to find, and a 2021 attempt to visit failed, possibly because of covid-era closures. Go if you are already in Ari and have time to spare. Skip it on a tight itinerary or if you want the usual garlic-and-shallot punch.

How to choose: by budget, diet and neighborhood

Use this quick guide to match a bowl to your day. For a wider soup crawl, pair khao soi with Bangkok boat noodles on another day.

• Tightest budget
  • Bamboo Garden in Ari, then Khun Churn near Ekkamai BTS.
• Strictly vegan
  • Goodsouls, May Veggie Home or Vistro. Jae food at Bamboo Garden is also vegan.
• Gluten-free
  • May Veggie Home uses rice noodles. Ask about the fried topping first.
• One stop, upscale area
  • Vistro in Phrom Phong.

How to order and eat khao soi

Taste the broth before you add anything. Then squeeze in lime to cut the richness, and add pickled greens for acid and chili for heat. Stir the crispy noodles into the bowl gradually so some stay crunchy. Vegans should say no egg and no shrimp paste before ordering, since both are common hidden ingredients. Looking for another chicken dish afterwards? Our guide to Bangkok chicken rice covers it.

Practical tips and mistakes to avoid

Closures are common. Krua Kon Dee, a Bang Kapi shop once known for city-style khao soi gai, is no longer open. Check a venue's current listing for hours and location before you go. Bamboo Garden in particular can be hard to spot. Build in extra time for lunch crowds, and carry cash for street stalls. Want a lighter soup the next day? Try tom yum in Bangkok.