Social enterprise restaurant est. 2009 serving healthy, vegan food. Menu is based on Shan, Burmese, Thai, and western breakfast dishes. Operates a zero waste kitchen working with local organic farmers. Makes almond and coconut milk for coffee and tea. Smoothie bowls, juices, and milkshakes are on offer as well as cakes, pies, brownies, and ice cream. Ingredients are listed for each dish. In the same compound is My Best Life CNX and a charity thrift store. Air-con room inside & outside dog-friendly seating. Computer use allowed and has power outlets. Note that whilst the cafe is vegan, items with beeswax are sold on the premises. Previously at 116 Maneenoparat Rd. Open Tue 9:00am-5:00pm, Wed-Thu 9:00am-8:00pm, Fri 9:00am-10:00pm, Sat 9:00am-8:00pm, Sun 9:00am-5:00pm. Closed Mon.
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14 Sirimankalajarn Soi 9, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50300
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Last update on 12 Dec 2025 by LilacHippy
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182 Reviews
First Review by eatyourveggies
PatrikBird
Points +1559
food is alright. the place as a whole, amazing - Edit
I’d give it 4 stars for the the food I had: “kao soi classic” (which had very little in common with all other kao soi I had throughout Chiang Mai, but still yummy).
Read moreThe place as a whole is definitely worth another star considering the zero waste stuff, thrift shop and the fact that it’s non profit café/social justice space.
Pros: vibes and vegan sweets, thrift shop , some zero waste stuff
Cons: food is not as crazy good, still yum
Guest
moopliss
Points +60
Amazing atmosphere and delicious vegan meals🐥 - Edit
Not only are the all the dishes vegan and delicious, but you'll also fall in love with the atmosphere🐦
Read moreThey have a second hand store that you shop at while waiting for food, community lunch gatherings to be part of, and great wi-fi to do some work👨💻
Pros: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options are all vegan, Community gatherings, Second hand shopping
Guest
CharlesJackson
Points +39
Try the tea leaf salad - Edit
Just off Niman Road lies this eco-warrior palace that not only offers amazing vegan food, but supports various social causes too. Bit pricy, but certainly worth a visit.
Read moreGuest
PlantParadigmPodcast
Points +540
Eco friendly!! - Edit
This cafe is a circular economy. They have a second hand shop, they encourage you to bring your jars and bottles to refill, take away treats in paper. The pancakes and latte was good.
Read moreGuest
CristianLuque
Points +49
Very nice place - Edit
😍😍 Good food, nice envoirment!
Read moreGuest
SoiBoi
Points +283
Highly recommend this place. Smoothie bowls were exceptional! - Edit
Great food, friendly staff and fairly priced for what you get. It costs more than regular Thai food but you’re paying for quality food targeted at westerners (menu is all in english).
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-06-23
Pros: Lots of vegan options, Donations go to a good cause, Beautiful presentation and great flavour
Guest
MarkStratton
Points +363
Shan Nirvana - Edit
As if a 10 tonne block of tofu fell on my head and i woke up in vegan nirvana, this relaxed cooperative has an extensive and delicious full plant based menu. Supporting educational needs of Burmese migrants, I had all day breakfast shan chickpea tofu scramble and a banana lassi. Delicious. Noodle dishes, smoothie bowls, brownies, salads and savoury bowls, of Burmese inspiration. If i had enough days on my trip I'd work my way through the lot.
Read morePros: Huge choice, Relaxed setting with ethical goods for sale, Inexpensive
Cons: No alcohol for evening meal
Guest
AlixCoe
Points +71
Amazing - Edit
Loved this place so much. Great selection of different foods for a good price as well as a lot of other things going on, such as clothing store and books.
Read moreWill definitely be visiting again next time I'm in Thailand!
Pros: spacious, delicious, friendly
Guest
DaH
Points +391
Cool concept and real tasty - Edit
A really cool concept with the second hand clothing next to it and the little store. A place where you can meet other people (if there were more without covid) and a great variety of vegan options which are really delicious. The price is quite high for the size of the portions, but it also goes to a good cause, so that's fine ;)
Read morePros: Many vegan options, Tasty, Cool concept with the other stores
Cons: Pricy but for a good cause
Guest
InccWarin
Points +34
Amazing 100% Vegan food, Super-friendly staffs, and Lovely atmosphere. - Edit
Amazingly lovely 100% vegan foods (also some Shan foods!) which will, for sure, be loved by both vegans and non-vegs. Free Bird offers a great atmosphere to enjoy your breakfast and lunches. Their staffs are super friendly and very welcoming as well 😊 This place is a must!
Read morePros: Environmental-friendly, Charity, Great dishes!
Guest
shurup
Points +212
Inspiring and yummy - Edit
This place is an outstanding project, an inspiring example we all need on this planet! We were impressed by the whole idea and the way of supporting Burmese people here as well as great environment-friendly approach in the shop and of course the food itself. We've tried Khao Soi, samosas, and chickpea salad - liked all of them! Actually, we liked every little detail in this place and would always recommend it to anyone as one of the best vegan spots of the city. Huge gratitude & only the best wishes to everyone involved in Free Bird Cafe and its satellite projects.
Read morePros: Amazing charity project, Environmently conscious, Great food
Guest
SergioCasal
Points +329
Best vegan in Chiang Mai - Edit
It is a great initiative. It is not only about serving all vegan food, but also about improve the opportunities of the community. Apart from the restaurant, they have a second handed shop, a zero waste little shop and they use the money for social purposes. And the food is by all means awesome. You definitely have to go there if you are in Chiang Mai.
Read morePros: Great food, Social initiative, Zero waste
Cons: It is a little bit far from the city centre
Guest
RonaldinhoEdmondaõ
Points +706
Nice spin on Pad Thai, cheese broccoli bites were good, underwhelming Mac and cheese - Edit
I had the rainbow pad Thai which was a good portion, filling, tasty and fresh. There were some additions to the standard pad thia which I liked. Broccoli, beetroot, pumpkin. Good value.
Read moreThe Mac and cheese which was the same price as the pad Thai but half the size, was not impressive. It wasn't very flavourful, cheesey, creamy or interesting. Mac and cheese is a dish I would personally always order with apprehension since going vegan, because since the focus and main flavour is the cheese, vegan cheese usually doesn't quite make the grade in terms of flavour or texture when it is centre stage. As an additional flavour among another main flavours I find vegan cheese to usually be a delight. This one was my partners choice...
The broccoli cheese bites were pretty good, maybe not as amazing as I was expecting having read and heard some rave reviews. But they were tasty enough.
I love the concept here, a zero waste restaurant and shop. They also help with local community charity. My experience of the food was that it was expensive and unremarkable, having said that perhaps we didn't order the best things for us. The smoothie bowls look very good but again the price tag put me off. I think all the ingredients are organic, and if so the prices are fair. But for my budget it is expensive.
Pros: Zero waste, Charity
Cons: Expensive, Mac and cheese wasn't great
Guest
ScottWhitston
Points +270
More than just food - Edit
Free Bird is a great little place, not only for food but a zero-waste shop and second hand clothes and books. Often have events on during the week (check Facebook). Food it good but nothing special.
Read morePros: Great initiative
Cons: Food can be a bit average
Guest
Mimozella
Points +436
eat for a good cause - Edit
this is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Chiang Mai!
Read morethe menu has lots of different options, but it's not too overwhelming! the pictures on the menu definitely help make the decision easier!
all ingredients are fresh and organic, you can definitely taste this. you can tell that the owner put lots of love and thoughts in creating the meals and drinks. every item has a little something that makes it so special, for example if you don't want just a regular latte, you can order a lavender latte! so yummy!
my absolute favorites are the muddy-mint-matcha, the tealeave salad and the sundae ice cream!!
the staff and the owner are super welcoming, attentive and very helpful. the space is quite big with lots of comfy seats inside and outside.
there are mo laptops allowed, which is so refreshing! no DN that are occupying the tables for hours.
the venu is decorates with lots of art, flowers and crystals which creates a great energy where you want to sit with your friends for hours and chat and eat and drink or read a book.
the prices are pretty good, considering everythjng is fresh and organic!
Guest
JeyDawg
Points +67
(Updated) Those Brocolli Cheddar Bites Tho! - Edit
2020 UPDATE
Read moreWent here with my wife recently after having such a bias against this place for like a year, remembering it as being overpriced and not that great of food.
Mind. Change.
Still on the pricey side. But the food we just had was amazing.
Got the vegan broccoli cheddar bites, khao soi, and a chocomocha. Chocomocha (for the real name) was really good. The kao soi was good. The broccoli cheddar bites... I'm in love! Wow, so good.
Portion sizes were also totally on point, just right.
.....
2018
Food is decent but it's way overpriced and the portions are way too small. I know a lot of people love this place but I think it's more the vibe and status symbol than the actual food being delicious and worth it. Don't get me wrong. I'll pay big bucks for good vegan food. But it needs to fill me up and I better enjoy the food. If the prices were significantly lower then I would order more because of the small portions. Either that or the portions should be about double to justify the price.
Also this place claims to be vegan but has products with honey, both food and materially in their store (wax paper if I recall).
Pros: Delicious food
Cons: Kinda high priced compared to other places in town, Small portion sizes, depending on the dish , Not all vegan. They have honey products.
Guest
JadeC
Points +311
Best Vibe! - Edit
This place is amazing! A little more pricy than some places, sure, but it goes to a great cause. Free Bird also has a charity shop and a sustainable shop connected to it.
Read moreBest vegan Thai tea here made with almond milk. Huge portions (I couldn't finish the pancake, so big!!) and really lovely staff, one of whom is American so no worries about a language barrier here.
Pros: Huge portions, Thai tea, Sustainable, charity shop connected, lovely staff
Cons: A little expensive , No computer use
Guest
gempon
Points +892
Nice - Edit
Enjoyed a smoothie here after donating some clothes and browsing the charity shop. It's a brilliant cause as 100% of their profits go towards supporting refugees. The food and drinks were like triple the price of most places in Thailand but it's all going towards a positive cause. Worth a visit for a mooch around the shop.
Read moreGuest
ValentinDonev
Points +406
Really good cafe and cause - Edit
We keep coming to this place every day since we are still in Chiang Mai. The food is incredibly delicious . Highly recommended😍
Read morePros: Vegan , Nice atmosphere, Delicious food
Guest
LisaLöwenherz
Points +572
Great place with a great concept - Edit
I love this place.
Read moreThey have great food and also a zero waste shop inside the building.
The people who work in the restaurant are from Myanmar and get trained in the restaurant. It's a really great concept
Guest
Cazzaro0
Points +188
Presentation is Key - Edit
It is a little overpriced therefore if you’re a traveler like myself, you couldn’t eat here everyday (unless money isn’t a concern).. but I still am willing to give it a 5 star because for what this amazing team do; they deserve to set their prices as they do.
Read moreThe food is great, and tasty! Great menu selection, I struggled to chose what I wanted, as I wanted everything! The coffee was SO good.. they have a great selection of cakes and deserts. Give them a follow on facebook to check out their latest..
Pros: So many options , Tasty food , Friendly staff
Guest
Vilmaata
Points +175
Small portions and overpriced. - Edit
Very overpriced for the position size. Nothing special.
Read morePros: Good cause though.
Cons: Experience
Guest
YairFridman
Points +71
Great atmosphere and good salad - Edit
Lovely place with great atmosphere and important mission.
Read moreThe Burmese tea salad is simply wonderful, the chick pea tofu dish was not up to the same standard. Very nice staff. Also have a small health products shop and a small second hand store to check out while you wait for your food.
Pros: Great atmosphere, food was ready in short time, good cause
Cons: a bit pricey (but for a good cause so it's fine)
Guest
evoontoast
Points +1809
Hit or Miss for a hefty price, but for a great cause! - Edit
Love the cause and purpose of the restaurant first up - but I gotta say the food is hit or miss. I’ve come here many times and sometimes the food is BOMB, other times, very disappointing (esp. for the price tag.)
Read moreI’ll keep it simple, best things I’ve eaten;
- Banana sesame tots (seriously, for the love of deep fried goodness)
- Burmese Tea Leaf Salad
- Shan Noodle Salad
- Samosas
Okay;
- Pumpkin Salad (just like a traditional Som Tum, but just made with shredded pumpkin, not so worth)
- Matcha Smoothie
- Granola Bar
- Khao Soi
- Brownie
- Papaya, spirulina, and lime smoothie (could barely taste the papaya)
The worst;
- Chickpea curry (watery and boring)
- Rainbow Pad Thai (flavourless and bland)
Guest
SD83
Points +258
Chilled - Edit
Good good , perfect to place to chill for a afternoon
Read morePros: So many options , Salad sampler
Cons: Repeating same music daily , Expensive
Guest
joedenney
Points +299
A restaurant/store with an honorable purpose. 💚🌎☀️ - Edit
I had the Khao soi, it was flavoriffic! Loved the vibe and the people. I will definitely be back. Thank you for sharing your love and happiness through your food and your message.
Read moreGuest
kyaterin
Points +69
Somewhat Tasty and a Little Pricey - Edit
Tried the potato hash and tea leaf salad - both delicious, however my partner ordered the khao soi, this was a little bland and expensive for the portion size. Great ethos and vibe, unknowingly visited while a community event was on and it was very very busy!
Read morePros: Lovely place, our food experience was hit/miss
Cons: Costly
Guest
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