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8 Top Thai Restaurants in Singapore, for Vegetarians & Vegans

March 15, 2019

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Arguably one of the most popular cuisines around the world, Thai food has a huge fan base paralleled by few others. A delightful mélange of flavours makes it as loved as it is. Singapore has a mind-boggling array of Thai restaurants that will keep even the critics happy. Vegetarians and vegans need not worry either, there are many Thai restaurants in Singapore that offer a decent selection of veg delights. Here is our pick of 8 of the Top Thai Restaurants in Singapore, for Vegetarians and Vegans including both mid-range and fine-dining Thai choices.

Jim Thompson

(Phad Pak Ruem Mitr: Image Credit: Jim Thompson FB page)

When you’re talking about the best Thai restraunts in Singapore, Jim Thompson’s name has to be right there among the top ones. An excellent Thai restaurant with a dedicated vegetarian following, and definitely one of our favourites! To start with, its always hard to choose between the Tom Yam Pak or the slightly-sweetish Tom Kha Pak (S$20++) with a creamy coconut-galangal base. A meal here must always always have a salad – take your pick from Yam Somo (Pomelo Salad), Yam Ma-Moung (Green Mango Salad) or Som Tdam (Green Papaya Salad) and you can’t go wrong.

Other favourites here include Phad Thai Noodles (S$22++) and Gaeng Phed Thompson (Red Curry with textured soy-mushroom protein, grapes, pineapples, tomatoes and Thai eggplants). The Tau-Hu Phad Priew Wan (Stir-fried tofu and vegetables in a sweet and sour sauce) is also a winner, although on 1 or 2 occasions, it was a wee bit too sweet. Wind up the meal with the mandatory Khao Niow Ma-Moung (Fragrant yellow mango with sticky rice kissed with sweet, rich coconut milk) or go for something different and healthier like Som-Chun – a mix of fresh oranges topped with lychees, shredded raw mango, sliced ginger, toasted coconut and roasted peanuts, served in ginger syrup. Read Vegetarian Thai Fine Dining at Jim Thompson, Singapore: Review.

Jim Thompson: 45 Minden Road, Dempsey Rd, Singapore 248817 P: +65 6475 6088. Website.

Sabai Fine Thai on the Bay

Mango Sticky Rice (Image Credit: Sabai Thai’s website)

A Thai restaurant with awesome food and great views, Sabai Fine Thai on the Bay focuses on the finest ingredients. Sabai offers a grand vegetarian a-la-carte menu as well as a Vegetarian Set Menu (S$70++) and Weekly Set Lunch with veg options (S$32.50++ for 2 courses, S$36.50++ for 3 courses).

The Tawd Mun Kaopote (deep-fried sweet corn cakes) makes for a good start here, and for mains, try the Panang Tao Huu (deep-fried beancurd topped with panang curry), Kao Op Sapparod (fried rice with deep-fried bean curd, pineapple, carrots, curry powder and cashew nuts) or Guay Tiew Gaprao (stir-fried spicy noodles with deep-fried bean curd, chilli, fresh peppercorns and holy basil leaves).

Sabai Thai: 70 Collyer Quay, #01-02 Customs House, Singapore 049323. P: +65 6535 3718-9. Website.

Patara

An elegant fine-dining Thai restaurant that has been around for almost two decades, Patara’s vegetarian menu offers a range of appetisers, salads, salads, mains and desserts. Some veg dishes to try here include Soup Phak (clear broth with mixed vegetables), Porpia Jay (assortment of crispy spring rolls with Thai herbs, taro and ginkgo fillings), and Kaffir Corn Fritters. Patara also offers an array of vegetarian mains like Tofu Ob Mor Din Jay (baked tofu and vegetables in a clay pot with ginger and spring onions), Gang Kiew Wan Hed (Green Curry) and Gang Dang Phak (Red Curry).

To wind up your meal, venture beyond Mango Sticky Rice and get adventurous with Durian Sticky Rice or Chocolate Lava with chilli chocolate. Patara’s luscious A La Carte Buffet (S$38++) has vegetarian options too.

Patara: Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, #03-14, Singapore 247933. P: 6737 0818. Website.

Thanying Restaurant

Thanying, Thai restaurant, Singapore, EatRoamLive, Mains

(Thanying – Gorning on the mains)

Located in the chic city hotel Amara Singapore, Thanying Restaurant is about authentic royal Thai food served in a traditionally decorated space. Each Thai Chef at Thanying has his/her own area of specialty, trained in the tradition of Thai court cuisine. As a part of the royal Thai tradition of pampering guests, all dishes are served in bite sized portions.

Thanying is also big on veg fare, with their vegetarian menu offering close to 30 dishes. Try vegetarian delights like the Tawd Mun Kaopod (S$18++, Deep-fried sweet corn cakes, served with cucumber and sweet sauce), Keow Wahn Ma-Kua-Yaao (Brinjal with thick green curry) and Phad Graprao Tao Hoo (S$20++, Stir-fried beancurd with hot basil leaf, chilli and green peppercorn). Check out Royal Thai Vegetarian & Vegan Dining at Thanying, Singapore here.

Thanying Restaurant: 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539. P: +65 6222 4688. Website.

Bali Thai

We’re not saying this is the best veg Thai food in town, but Bali Thai has a dedicated vegetarian menu with quite decent vegetarian options. Besides, Bali Thai has multiple locations around town, which makes it one of the more accessible Thai choices when you’re just out and about and Thai cravings set in.

Not just vegetarians, Bali Thai also serves Buddhist Vegetarians, with garlic and onion free options available on request. Some of our favourite orders here include the vegetarian versions of the Green Curry, Tom Yum soup and the Papaya Salad. Kids will probably love the Thai Black Olive Rice, which is non-spicy and doesn’t have any strong flavours that might not appeal to fussy eaters. They can tone down the spicy-levels on request. We once forgot to request for medium-spicy and couldn’t manage more than two bites of the fiery Papaya Salad.

Bali Thai: Check out their multiple locations at http://www.balithai.com.sg/stores/

Ginger Thai

Asparagus with Mushrooms, Bali Thai, Vegetarian, EatRoamLive

(Pencil Asparagus with Assorted Mushrooms – Image Credit: Ginger Thai’s FB page)

Ginger Thai dishes up authentic Thai food in an open airy space at Cuppage Terrace. The portions are generous and the usual Thai favourites vie for your attention here alonside an array of unusual dishes as well. There is a dedicated vegetarian menu with a lot of variety. Choose from Pomelo Salad, Tom Yum Coconut Soup, Veg Tomyum Stick Noodles, Masamman Veg Curry, Stir Fry Thai Kang Kong and much more. They also have a weekday Set Lunch Menus (S$18++ to S$24++) with vegetarian options.

Ginger Thai: 37/39, Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace, Singapore 229460. P: +6567345682 / 90116000 / 83427367. Website.

Royal Thai Vegetarian & Vegan Dining at Thanying, Singapore

December 8, 2017

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Vegetarian Friendly Factor –
Vegan Friendly Factor –
Family Friendly Factor –

Thai food has always been comfort food for me. The subtle flavours of lemon grass and other condiments, the sweetness of coconut milk and the light yet flavourful array of dishes have always made sure I am tummy and mind happy. However, this also makes me extremely picky and selective about Thai restaurants and quite critical when it comes to reviews as well.

Thanying is a restaurant that I have always heard a lot about. So, when the opportunity came by to meet with the team at Thanying, I jumped at it. The restaurant is known for its royal experience – be it the ambience, the attentive staff or the unique yet natively Thai spread. The unique selling point also happens to be a full-fledged vegetarian menu with over 30 dishes that can be tweaked to suit the vegetarian/vegan (please check with the staff onsite for specific variations) tastebud. The executive chef was mentored by a chef from the royal kitchen in the Bangkok palace and hence the regal charm isn’t a surprise.

Regal Charm

The location is perfect; right in the heart of the CBD and in the very popular Amara hotel complex, accessibility to the restaurant is easy and doesn’t require too much planning. During our visit on a weekday afternoon, the restaurant was packed with corporate groups for team lunches.Thanying also has private rooms that you can book for special occasions and larger groups or corporate lunches. Thanying wants to make your dining experience royal, hence the regal ambience including the choice of furniture, lighting and the arrangement and the cutlery. The attentive traditionally dressed staff are also extremely knowledgeable about the dishes and engage in polite conversation as they serve you.

Also Read: Top places for Vegetarian, Vegan and Raw Food in Singapore
Also Read: Mainstream Fine Dining Restaurants in Singapore for Vegetarians

Refreshing Start

We began our meal with a refreshing Lime and Mint Cooler and got talking to Pei Ling from the corporate communications team. It was refreshing to see the restaurant’s drive to increase the focus and attention to vegetarian and vegan customer base.

The Veg Corn fritters are quite a treat

The appetizers arrived and I was quite surprised to see more than the usual spring rolls as part of the vegetarian menu. We decided to get experimental and tried the Taw Mun Kaoppod (S$18) i.e. corn fritters. These sweet and slightly spicy corn cakes are a vegetarian substitute for the traditional Thai fish cakes. Crisp on the exterior and soft and chewy on the inside and flavoured with lime leaves these fritters are quite a treat.

Crispy Rice Crackers with a delicately flavoured creamy coconut sauce

The Khao Tang Na Tang (S$18) are crispy rice crackers served with a creamy coconut sauce flavoured with a hint of ginger, garlic and tamarind. The delicately flavoured sauce made for a very exotic dip for these simple yet tasty rice crackers, they dissappeared in no time.

Veg Tom Yam Soup

Next came the Tom Yam Soup which was the perfect blend of vegetables with the lemongrass and the spices in a sweet, tangy and spicy balance of flavours, and all this on a rainy afternoon made it a treat for the palate. The cute little soup pots that it was served in added to the charm.

Also Read:11 Local Vegetarian Foods to Try in Singapore
Also Read:Get your Vegetarian Mexican food Fix at Margarita’s

And now, the Mains…

Gorging on the mains

For the main course, we had the Keow Wahn Ma-Kua-Yao (S$18) – thick green Thai curry. What set this curry apart was the roasted eggplant over which the thick curry was served, so far, I’d been used to my curry flavoured with vegetables and tofu. However, this dish did take me by surprise and I was soon reaching out for a second helping. As good as the curry was, the surprise element on the menu was even better – Phad Ghaproa Tao Hoo – fried bean curd balls which left me pondering as to how they executed what seemed like an impossible task. The bean curd balls were crisp and yet, hollow and light on the inside and absorbed the flavours of the stir fried basil, chilli and green pepper corn. This is a combination of very simple ingredients, still the amalgamation of these flavours in just the right proportion made this a sumptuous treat.

Pad Thai Noodles

The vegetarian Pad Thai that accompanied our mains was cooked to perfection; just right, not too chewy nor too soft, with all the right flavours sweet, tangy and the crunch of the peanuts and cashews, this was clearly the winner from amongst my main course.

Indulging the Sweet Tooth

The Buffet Dessert Counter

Beautifully carved fresh fruit

Wherever you’re seated inside the restaurant, you can’t miss the beautifully done up and inviting dessert counter, which had been beckoning me since the beginning of the meal. Finally, we headed over and helped ourselves to some fresh fruit and some Thai sweet treats from the Buffet Dessert (S$9/pax). My favourite dessert there was the Glutinous Water Chestnut. We also enjoyed fresh fruit the Thai way, i.e. dipped into brown sugar.

The mandatory Glutinous Rice with Mango

We ended our meal with the ‘mandatory’ Khao Neow Mamuang aka Glutinous Rice with Mango – delicious and a safe vegan bet. Yum yum yum all the way!

Overall, the experience at Thanying was excellent. It had all the elements for a perfect meal, be it a corporate or a family outing. Great food, warm hospitality and the uniquely Thai food did transport me to the laid-back vibe of Thailand while I was there. As I stepped out onto the buzzing streets of Singapore, I looked back and smiled at what was a delightful lunch and an interesting exploration of the cuisine that I love so much. Khao bun kha Thanying, and I will be back soon.

Thanying Restaurant: 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, #02-00 Amara Hotel, 088539. P: +65 6222 4688

Long Chim, Singapore: Taste the Flavours of Vegetarian Thai Street Food – Dining Review (CLOSED)

November 24, 2017

At Long Chim, Singapore, internationally acclaimed, award-winning Australian chef David Thompson invites you to ‘come and taste‘ his rendition of Thai street food, in a sleek, casual setting. Incidentally, ‘come and taste’ is what the words Long Chim translate to. Known for his culinary expertise in Thai cuisine, Thompson offers a carefully crafted menu at Long Chim, that combines traditional street food with contemporary flavours.

My first visit was a couple of months ago and we absolutely loved the food and the ambience. No wonder it features among our top picks for vegetarian thai food in Singapore. *Most of the dishes we tried seemed to be vegan. But if you’re vegan, do remember to check with the restaurant on particular dishes. On 5th September, the restaurant is hosting a special vegetarian/vegan dinner for the plant-easters.

The Ambience at Long Chim

The cool vibe starts at the entrace

And continues in the dining area

The interiors are seriously quite cool, with Thai street art and graffiti adorning the entrance walls and interiors, and Thai trinkets spread through the space. The concept of roadside eateries is further emulated in the open kitchen where the food is prepared right in front of you.

Also, worth mentioning are the comfy chairs, which are actually good enough to lean back in and enjoy your meal for a couple of hours. I know no one ever talks about the chairs in a restaurant, but they should. Most of them are built as if their sole purpose is to chase diners out of the restaurant. But that’s definitely not the case here!

Also Read: Specially Curated 4-Course Vegetarian / Vegan Thai Dinner & Drinks at Long Chim by David Thompson (5th September 2018): Sign up now!

What a Meal!

Love Thai food but you still haven’t been to Long Chim? If you’ve been worried about the price tag that automatically comes with celebrity food, put your worries to rest. Surprisingly (and thankfully) not so at Long Chim. The great food comes at very affordable prices with the Vegetarian Weekend Brunch Menu at a very reasonable S$49++. Add to this the great food, the afore-mentioned vibrant interiors and the friendly service, and no wonder the restaurant was abuzz at weekday lunch hour when we visited.

Long Chim also offer a Vegetarian Set Menu (S$69++) for weekdays, but we went for a few vegetarian dishes off the regular a-la-carte menu. Here’s a round-up of all that we had.

Chive Cakes Dark Soy Garlic Chillies

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

We started our meal with the Chive Cakes (S$15) and the Vegetarian Spring Rolls (S$13). The chive cakes tasted unexpectedly good, with a crispy exterior and soft on the inside. The dark soy garlic, chillies and coriander make the dish quite flavourful. Definitely a big hit! The deep-fried Spring Rolls tasted good too dipped into the accompanying sweet and spicy sauce that adds a nice tang to the mildly spiced rolls. Alongside the appetisers, I sipped on a Thai Iced Tea (w/o milk) which was quite refreshing – strong and not too sweet, just the way I like it.

Rice Noodles with Chinese Broccoli

Silken Bean Curd with Shitake Mushrooms and loaded with Chives

After the appetisers, we proceeded to try a few mains. The Rice Noodles with Chinese Broccoli (S$22) were quite good – mildly spicy and with a robust flavour of soy sauce. Crushed peanuts and a fried garlic garnish add a nice crunch to the dish. I requested mine without the soy egg and so can you. We had the Silken Bean Curd accompany our noodles. The stir-fried dish of tofu and shitake mushrooms is loaded with chives and is extremely flavourful. A big hit again!

Aromatic Vegetable Curry with tomatoes, cauliflower and shallots

What’s Thai food without some nice, hot curry? Happy to see something besides red and green curries on the menu, we went with the Aromatic Vegetable Curry (with tomatoes, cauliflower and shallots, S$26), which came with rice and Achar (pickled cucumber and onion in water flavoured with sugar and vinegar). The curry was quite different than the usual red and green counterparts – spicy but also sweet. I personally would have preferred it to be less sweet but hubby absolutely loved it, precisely because of the sweet and spicy taste.

Also Read: Specially Curated 4-Course Vegetarian / Vegan Thai Dinner & Drinks at Long Chim by David Thompson (5th September 2018): Sign up now!

Sinful Desserts at Long Chim

For dessert, we blundered and ordered the Banana Roti (S$12) and Rin’s Thai Tea Ice Cream (S$14). Thankfully, the blunder wasn’t about the taste but the quantity. We hadn’t realised that the desserts are meant for sharing – the portions were huge.

Rin’s Thai Tea Ice Cream topped with ribbons of young coconut and pistachiosNo seriously, 4 of me couldn’t have finished the Thai Tea Ice-cream, as good as it was. And it was quite good, with ribbons of young coconut and pistachios thrown on top. They also have a Durian Ice-Cream which I might, just might, give a try to next time; no promises though.

Banana Roti drizzled with sugar and condensed milk. Sinful!

The star dessert though was the Banana Roti. Again, a big portion good enough to be shared by 2-3. This is a roti prata stuffed with bananas, fried to a crisp and drizzled with sugar and condensed milk. The roti was perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside, with a warm, soft, aromatic filling. Sinful! And highly recommended!

So, you don’t have to wait till your next visit to Bangkok if you’re hankering for some great authentic Thai food. Try David Thompson’s tantalising renditions instead and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Long Chim: Level 2 dining, L02-02, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018955. P: +65 66887299

9 Mainstream Restaurants for Vegetarian & Vegan Fine Dining in Singapore

September 1, 2017

Vegetarian & Vegan Fine Dining Singapore

Seeking an exceptional veg-friendly restaurant for date night? Here are 9 of the best, where vegans and vegetarians won’t need to play second fiddle to the meat-eaters. From Chinese to Indian to Modern cuisines, these 9 mainstream restaurants cater wonderfully to the plant-eaters. Yes, all of these restaurants offer meat, but they’ve made sure that the herbivores are also well catered to and often spoilt for choice, with the plethora of veg choices they offer. So here’s a list of 9 of our favourite mainstream restaurants for vegan & vegetarian fine dining in Singapore (in no particular order).

We have not included the Michelin Star restaurants in this list as they deserved a list of their own at 10 Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Singapore with Indulgent Vegetarian Menus.

Shahi Maharani

Cuisine: North-Indian | Great for Vegetarians & Vegans

Shahi Maharani’s Veg Sizzler (Image credit: Shahi Maharani)

Shahi translates to Royal, and everything from the food to the décor here screams regal splendour. Churning out distinctive and authentic North-Indian cuisine for 20 years, Shahi Maharani offers a royally vegetarian fine dining experience. The menu has extensive vegetarian options and several dishes can be effortlessly and seamlessly customized to be vegan. Start with Bhindi Pakoda – okra fried in chickpea flour batter or Papdi Chaat (S$16) – a crispy flour biscuit topped with spiced potatoes and smothered in chutneys. Do try the Impossible™ Shammi Kebab – delicious, crispy on the outside, soft and flavour-packed on the inside. The top pick here though would have to be the Subzi Sizzler (S$34) – creamy melt-in-your-mouth vegetable kebabs that are generously topped with a delightful gravy. Read: A Royal Veg(etari)an Indian Feast at Shahi Maharani.

Shahi Maharani: 252 North Bridge Road #03–21B Raffles City Shopping Centre Singapore 179103. P: +65 6235 8840 | Website

Empress

Cuisine: Chinese | Great for Vegetarians & Vegans

Empress Sweet & Sour OmniMeat Balls (Image credit: Empress)

With around 30% of its menu being plant-based, Empress caters exceptionally to the herbivores. Located in the iconic Asian Civilisations Museum, Empress offers the perfect juxtaposition of traditional Chinese food in a contemporary dining room, to be enjoyed in a vibrant & iconic setting by the Singapore River. Empress delivers traditional cuisine, friendly service and a vibrant atmosphere, with fabulous and innovative food. Some of the veg top-sellers here include Pan-Fried Impossible™ Gyoza (S$7.80), Sichuan Impossible™ Meat & Mapo Tofu in Hotpot (S$20) and Sweet & Sour Omnipork Balls.

Empress: 1 Empress Place, #01-03, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore 179555. P: +65 6776 0777 | Website

Jade

Cuisine: Chinese | Great for Vegetarians & Vegans

Pan-fried Fresh Chinese Yam with Omnipork Vegan Meat Omelette Served and Stewed Beancurd

Jade is one of the distinctive restaurants at Fullerton Hotel, offering authentic Chinese cuisine of exceptional quality. ‘Taste the Future‘ is a carefully curated plant-based five-course menu (S$68) that showcases the versatility of vegan dishes without compromising on flavour. In place of meat, the menu features Omnipork, a blend of plant-based protein from pea, non-GMO soy, shiitake mushroom and rice.

While the entire menu is great, the show-stopper is Pan-fried Fresh Chinese Yam with Omnipork Vegan Meat Omelette Served and Stewed Beancurd. Also a favourite with us is the Classic Vegetarian Trio, which features Caramelised Omnipork Vegan Meat Stuffed with Pickled Apple, Plum-flavoured Cherry Tomato with Sesame Dressing and Steamed Vegetarian Dumpling. A complete lowdown on the menu and dishes at Taste the Future with Jade’s Plant-Based Chinese Menu.

Jade: The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178. P: +65 6877 8911/8912 | Website

Artemis Grill & Sky Bar

Cuisine: Mediterranean | Great for Vegetarians & Vegans

Artemis Vegetarian Risotto Singapore Vegan Fine Dining

Parsley Spelt “Risotto” with Verjus Pickled Onions and Périgord Truffle Dressing

A contemporary Mediterranean-inspired rooftop bar and restaurant located in the CBD, Artemis Grill & Sky Bar offers panoramic views of Marina Bay skyline from the 40^th floor. Expect fresh food with the finest seasonal ingredients crafted and prepared in sync with the spirit of the restaurant’s Mediterranean inspiration. The menu caters for most dietary requirements be it vegetarians, pescatarians, gluten-sensitive or low-carb’ers.

The Vegan Menu is downright impressive, featuring all things green and Mediterranean, from the commonplace Tabbouleh Salad (S$22) and Quinoa Falafel, to the not-so-common Celery Root “Tartare” and Stuffed Piquillo Pepper (Brown Rice, Spiced Zucchini & Eggplant, Arugula Pesto). The a-la-carte menu also offers a plethora of vegetarian dishes and the Executive Set Lunch (two course and three course for S$45 and S$52 respectively) has at least 1 veg option for each course.

Artemis Grill & Sky Bar: 138 Market Street, CapitaGreen Rooftop (Level 40), Singapore 048946. P: +65 6635 8677 | Website

Yantra

Cuisine: Indian | Great for Vegetarians & Vegans

The first fine dining Indian restaurant in Singapore to offer a 5-Course Vegan Indian Menu (S$68), Yantra offers north-Indian fare that is rich in flavours. While this is a meal that is difficult to find fault with, highlights include Yantra’s signature tangy and spicy Quinoa Chaat, Tandoori Broccoli and Bhatti Avocado. The star of the show though is Asparagus Methi Chestnut, a delightful dish that puts forth an unexpected combination of ingredients. Do note that they prefer 48 hours’ notice for the Vegan Menu. View the full menu at Experience Singapore’s First Indian Vegan Menu at Yantra.

Yantra: 163 Tanglin Road, #01-28/33 Tanglin Mall, Singapore 247933. P: +65 6836 3088

Jim Thompson Thai Restaurant & Wine Bar

Cuisine: Traditional & Contemporay Thai | Great for Vegetarians & Vegans

Jim Thompson redefines Thai dining with its mix of traditional and contemporary food, with an exclusive Vegetarian Menu that also offers several vegan dishes. That added to their stunning location in a heritage bungalow, with stunning architecture and dazzling interiors, makes for a wonderful vegetarian fine dining experience. Start with a soup, you can’t go wrong with either Tom Yam Pak or Tom Kha Pak. The salads are all excellent, our favourite being Yam Somo aka Pomelo Salad. Our top picks for mains would be Phad Thai, Green Curry and Red Curry. More at Unbeatable Veg(etari)an Thai Dining at Jim Thompson Singapore.

Jim Thompson: 45 Minden Road, Dempsey Rd, Singapore 248817 P: +65 6475 6088

KOMA

Cuisine: Japanese | Great for Vegetarians & Vegans

KOMA offers a modern interpretation of Japanese cuisine, presenting a next level dining experience amidst a dramatic and unique setting. Some of the popular veg options here are Maki – 7 Treasure Vegetable (S$16, avocado, cucumber, asparagus, kanpyo, yama gobo, shiso, soy paper), Blistered Shishito Peppers and the Okra Myoga Roll (okra, myoga, barley miso). They also offer various Vegetable Tempura like Asparagus, Japanese Sweet Potato, Japanese Onion etc.

Koma: The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-67, Singapore 018972. P: +65 6688 8690 | Website

Tippling Club

Cuisine: Modern | Great for Vegetarians

Vegetarian Fine Dining (Vegetarian Food Blog Singapore)

(Image credit: Tippling Club’s Facebook Page)

Chef-Owner Ryan Clift offers modern gastronomy that is fun, playful and fresh. Spanning three shophouse units in Tanjong Pagar, Tippling Club has won awards for its innovative, ultra-progressive cuisine and cocktails. Clift offers a Classic Menu (S$150 without pairing, S$255 with pairing) that features unique dishes such as Shin Jyagaimo New Potato (jerusalem artichoke, tonburi), Vichyssoise (milk braised parsley root) and Celeriac Lasagne (salt baked, shiro miso, salsa verde). The Gourmand menu (S$245 without pairing, S$405 with pairing) offers additional star dishes like the Faux Foie Gras Cheesecake (Iranian pistachio, mandarin, yoghurt) and a selection of Sweet Treats.

Tippling Club: 38 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore. P: +65 6475 2217 | Website

Otto Ristorante

Cuisine: Italian | Great for Vegetarians

The colours of Italy! Risotto with Italian tomato, Burrata cheese and sweet basil scented olive oil

Otto Ristorante offers authentic Italian food in a sophisticated ambience. The a-la-carte menu features a few vegetarian dishes and Otto’s Vegetarian Degustation Menu (S$98) is a veg foodie’s dream come true with much loved dishes like Tortelli alla Parmigiana di Melanzane con Spuma di Burrata e Pomodorini Confit (Eggplant parmigiana tortelli with burrata espuma and confit tomato). Dessert is a Venetian iced meringue cake with warm chocolate soup, pistachio heart. From taste to presentation, everything at Otto is superb.

Otto: 32 Maxwell Road, #01-02/03 Maxwell Chambers, Singapore 069115. P: +65 6227 6819 | Website

Jim Thompson, Singapore – Thai Restaurant for Vegetarian Fine Dining

August 27, 2017

Jim Thompson Vegetarian & Vegan Dining Review

There are Thai restaurants, and then there is “The” Thai Restaurant. For me, Jim Thompson, Singapore falls in the latter category. The food here is amazing, I’ve loved almost everything I’ve had here. They have an exclusive vegetarian menu, that also offers a myriad of delectable vegan Thai delicacies. Perhaps it’s the assortment of spices and the profusion of flavours. Perhaps it’s the contrasting textures and the delicate aromas. Or perhaps its all of that added on to the plethora of veggies they use in every dish. Whatever it is, the restaurant finds favour with many vegetarians and vegans, and for us, it falls among our pick of The 8 best Thai Restaurants in Singapore for Vegetarian and Vegans.

Jim Thompson’s Location & Ambience

Jim Thompson Thai restaurant is situated in Dempsey Hill, in a heritage bungalow, with stunning architecture and dazzling interiors. The interiors are decorated with contemporary Thai arts and crafts, and hand loomed Thai silk furnishings. There is also an outdoor wooden deck with a water feature, for a memorable al-fresco dining experience. The service is quite good and there are often traditional dance performances in the evenings.

Start with Drinks

(Image credit: Jim Thompson’s FB page)

The wine list is extensive, and they have a wide selection of cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages including traditional Siamese herbal drinks. Start with an off-beat drink that you likely won’t get elsewhere; like the Siam Sunray (S$26). Aptly called “Thailand in a Glass”, the Siam Sunray hints at delicate flavours of Thai spices like lemongrass, ginger, kaffir lime and even red chilli. Must try! The Thompson Mojito (S$26), prepared with lemongrass infused vodka is also worth a try.

Vegetarian Food Selection at Jim Thompson

The Vegetarian Menu at Jim Thompson is vast and offers the widest selection of veg dishes that I’ve ever seen in a Thai restaurant. What’s even better is that most of the dishes on the vegetarian menu are vegan. The food here is an appealing mix of traditional and contemporary, and they can accommodate spice-preferences. By default, the food usually isn’t too spicy (which works in my favour) but if you have a fiery palette, let them know so they can adjust spice levels accordingly.

For me, starting a Thai meal with a soup and salad is a must. But boy, if I had a dollar for every time I had to send back the salad at a Thai restaurant, I would have, well, around 25 dollars by now. And don’t even get me started on the soups. Mostly, I can clearly smell or taste the fish sauce/oyster sauce, despite their saying it is sans seafood. Yes, I am that sensitive to any hint of meat or seafood that I can smell it from a mile away.

As far as the soups at Jim Thompson go, vegetarians can’t go wrong with either Tom Yam or Tom Kha Pak (S$20). While the Tom Yam has a spicy tomato and galangal base, the creamy looking Tom Kha Pak has a coconut-galangal base and is slightly sweet-ish. Both the soups are flavoured with mixed vegetables, lemongrass and chillies, and both are excellent.

The salads are all excellent too and it’s hard to choose a clear winner, we usually rotate the mango, pomelo and papaya salads on our visits. Yam Som O (S$20) aka Pomelo Salad is simply perfect for my taste buds. Fresh pomelo, tossed with fried garlic and shallots and dressed with roasted peanuts, roasted coconut and a sweet chilli dressing, results in a dish that pleases greatly with its melange of flavours. Green Mango Salad and Green Papaya Salad both delight the palette as well.

A popular veg appetiser here is Thod Man Khao-Phod (S$20) – are deep-fried corn cakes served with a sweet chilli dip – which didn’t find much favour with me. In fact, I found them to be quite average.

Musamman curry with potatoes, onions and peanuts

Moving on to the mains, my top picks would be Phad Thai Noodles (S$22) – among the best I’ve had; Gaeng Khew (Green Curry, S$22) and Gaeng Phed (Red Curry). I have tried the Gaeng Mussaman (S$20), which is Musamman curry with potatoes, onions and peanuts but it didn’t wow me so I stick with the green and red curries.

From the vegetable-dishes, I quite like the Tau-Hu Phad Priew Wan (S$20) which is a dish of stir-fried tofu and vegetables in a sweet and sour sauce (just on one occasion, I found it to a bit too sweet). You can also go for the simple yet tasty Phad Broccoli or choose from one of the many other vegetable-dishes they serve.

The Mango Sticky Rice is scrumptious and repeatedly finds its way onto our table post-dinner. If you want to try something different, go for Som-Chun (S$12) – a mix of fresh oranges topped with lychees, shredded raw mango, sliced ginger, toasted coconut and roasted peanuts, served in ginger syrup – tasty, healthier and different from any dessert I’ve ever had.

All in all, Jim Thompson ranks pretty highly on my list of favourites. It’s a great place to go with friends or for a business dinner, but it’s best for date night. If you haven’t been here yet, definitely make a reservation soon. Happy Dining!

And if you’re looking for more options for vegetarian Thai dining, here is our list of some of the Top Thai Restaurants in Singapore for Vegetarians.

Jim Thompson: 45 Minden Road, Dempsey Rd, Singapore 248817 P: +65 6475 6088. Website

Category: Thai