Vegan-friendly
Thai
Western
Buffet
Take-out
Air-conditioned restaurant in Khao Sarn Road area making mostly Thai cuisine with a few western ones. Mostly raw. Offers an evening all-you-can-eat buffet. It's closed as of June 2017. Only Tanao location is still open.
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Last update on 09 Jun 2017 by eric
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42 Reviews
First Review by Lek
lotustummy
Points +1184
ok - but Jenny's on Soi 4 (0r 3?) was better - Edit
May Kaidee's is an institution BUT feels more like a business than a friendly veg restaurant. Yes the food is good BUT we got the pitch for cooking lessons twice
Read moreour suggestion? Walk a little further down Samsen to soi 4 or 3 (we cant remember sorry) and eat at Jenny's - its cheaper and friendlier. Its not pure veg but their extensive menu for veg foods is wonderful! try the massaman curry and the som tam! yum
Pros: good veg food
Cons: buffet offers several nights a week, too many pitches for expensive classes, busy
Guest
Flogs
Points +725
Yummy - Edit
We loved this place, they have some new additions on the menu raw pad Thai and raw pesto pasta. Also had new noodle salad, all were delicious.
Read moreThey also do a cooking course and have a buffet on a Saturday night which is 150 baht at their sister restaurant.
Pros: Good clean food
Guest
MermanManly
Points +1418
Good food - Edit
I was happy to find this small place. Shame I didn't make it to the bigger one. Mango (also nearby) was also good.
Read moreGuest
veganvirtues
Points +2765
Mai Khaidee's behind Khaosan - Edit
I dined here for lunch today. I came here two years ago and May's other eatery on Samsen. This is a gem. May has sinced open an eatery in New York and one in Phnom Phen Cambodia. All the same style.
Read moreI had a mango smoothie, fried rice with vegetables and cashews. A plate of braised Thai aubergines, tofu and shitake. All delicious bill came to 220baht (34.8 baht to the $1) so was around $7. The pancakes does have eggs and honey. She also uses yoghurt (lassie). She combines her ethnic background Issan so many curry dishes. All range from 50-100 baht. Menu is large si check this Thai gem out. She does cooking classes during the week. Raw or Vegan the chefs all go to the markets to buy their fresh produce. Got two Happy Cows stickers. One for Samsen.
Pros: Not 100% vegan. and uses eggs and yoghurt., Great place to dine, All staff speak English
Cons: Tell staff your vegan as the pancakes has honey.
Guest
JoeMoseley
Points +24
OMG - Edit
Such flavour. Very food. Wow.
Read moreGuest
Ruderies16
Points +349
Tasty food - Edit
This is a really nice place off the busier main streets and there is a good range of choices - salads, soups, appetisers, mains, and desserts, as well as delicious juices and smoothies. The fresh spring rolls wrapped in rice noodles were particularly delicious! The main reason I'm writing this review, however, is to recommend the app that May Kaidee has produced, which is a fantastic resource for your travels around Thailand if you don't speak Thai. I've already used it to explain to people what I can't eat and it's great because it has written as well as audio translations and it really sorts out the fish sauce issue, which is often a danger here. A fantastic resource which I'd highly recommend!
Read morePros: Great range of choices, Delicious smoothies/juices, Amazing app
Guest
Angelaaa
Points +100
Best vegan restaurants - Edit
I am a pilot so I travel a lot. Out of all the places I have traveled to, Thailand is by far the best. One of the reasons Thailand is my favorite country is because of this restaurant! every single meal I had was the best I've ever had. The tom Kha soup , pad Thai, fried rice , are definitely my favorites. I unfortunately didn't have time to take a cooking class so I will have to return soon to eat at may Kaidees.
Read morePros: Friendly staff , Speaks some English , Amazing food
Guest
Mellifluoust
Points +783
Tasty Thai food - Edit
This location is small and casual. The menu isn't huge, but the food is good and moderately priced - 80 for a curry, 20 for rice, etc. The Massuman curry is delicious.
Read moreGuest
monark26
Points +39
Delicious! Loved it - Edit
We had lunch at May Kaidees and it was very good. We shared the spring rolls (peanut sauce is to die for), duo dish, pumpkin hummus, all of which was enough for two people. We finished with a mango sticky rice which was easily the best we've had in Thailand!
Read morePros: Clean, Prompt service
Cons: Expensive compared to other options
Guest
Salster
Points +59
quick breakfast - Edit
We went for a quick breakfast. The food is great! We had a fresh mango shake and a fresh fruit. It's really really good.
Read moreGuest
SebastienBruggeman
Points +78
Average vegetarian food - Edit
This restaurant has basic interior and average service. Pricing is reasonable (2 main dishes and a drink for 300 baht). The food is good but there is nothing special or remarkable about it.
Read morePros: Fully Vegetarian and vegan options
Cons: Not very exciting menu, Quality of the food is average
Guest
LilacHippy
Points +12366
Excellent Food - Edit
The menu and food here is amazing. Almost everything is vegan. They have a Saturday night all you can eat buffet. They also have raw dishes such as Pad Thai or Pasta Pesto which taste so good. All of the dishes here taste amazing. They also sell beer. It is in a quieter location just away from the madness of Khao Sahn road.
Read moreGuest
Anniegracexx
Points +106
Best in bangkok :) - Edit
We visited May kaidees twice on our visit through bangkok. The menu is bursting with exciting Thai dishes!
Read moreI had the stir fried pumpkin and tofu.... WOW! Portion size was just right and tasted so fragrant! Also we returned for there buffet on the Saturday evening....Was able to try all sorts of dishes all for an affordable price.....HEAVENLY!
Pros: good atmosphere , friendly staff, good portions
Cons: pumpkin humous...... wasn't humous!?!
Guest
kezia
Points +913
A firm favourite of mine, for over 10 years. - Edit
I've Been coming to May kaidees restaurants in Bangkok since my first ever visit to Thailand in 2001. So as a genuine fan of her restaurants. I'm going to be brutally honest about what i'm about to say.
Read moreMay's has always been a firm favourite of mine, hence returning year after year and taking part in, May's vegetarian cooking class and purchasing her cookery products, curry pastes etc.
Over the years as May has been busy with new projects including bringing a May Kaidee restaurant to the U.S.A. I've seen her less and less of her at her Bangkok restaurants. I have to be honest, I've noticed that the standard of service has gone down. We had breakfast at May's on our first day in Bangkok. We were early so asked to come back at 9.00am when they opened. So we did, and ordered strait away as we've been so many times before, I know the menu well.
It took 35 minutes to make one pancake and bring over two cups of tea. We were the only customers in the restaurant, but there were a great deal of staff. I remember we went there last year for breakfast at May's other restaurant, May was there and let us in early and made sure we were served promptly. I think when she's is not there, standards slip.
For our evening meal, we returned to the restaurant again. I had ordered deep fried tofu for my starter and vegan pad Thai for my main. After 30 minutes my pad Thai came, I presumed they had forgotten my starter. As I finished my main, the tofu suddenly arrived!
All this said, I think May's vegetarian food is the best I've tasted in Thailand and I look forward too many more meals there. It's just sad to think that such fantastic veggie business could louse such a good reputation from lack of service and efficiency.
However, i'm saying this in hope that things will improve. I love the food and speak highly of it where ever I go, and i look forward to eating at her restaurants again and again when in Thailand. So basically May Kaidee Samsen Rd, comes highly recommended by me!!
Pros: Good selection of food, Location, Lots of Vegan options!!
Cons: Bad service recently
Guest
jeroenkusters
Points +704
Good good, but nothing special - Edit
Food tastes good, but not special. Not spicy at all, even when you order very spicy like Thai people like.
Read morePros: Staff, Big menu
Cons: Thai food for farang
Guest
Elgofino
Points +20
Thai Raw Food - Edit
Eat 2 raw meals pad thai and pesto pasta. Big portions, not so much flavor, good service.
Read morePros: Service, Portion Size, Price
Cons: Flavorless
Guest
heliorodrigues
Points +179
amazing little place, many options and cool vibe - Edit
we been two times to this place and can only say positive things about the food.. really tasty and special recipes made with much love. many options on the menu and staff is quite friendly and helpful. would definitely recommend it to anyone
Read morePros: many options, excellent food, family atmosphere
Cons: not so big portions, a little bit expensive
Guest
nielsgeybels
Points +61
Little vegetarian heaven in Bangkok - Edit
Probably the best vegetarian food I had in Bangkok, some of the best Asian cuisine I've ever eaten. Definitely go there when you're in Bangkok, it's worth it!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Creative dishes, Very friendly and helpful
Guest
Dom123
Points +33
nice restaurant - Edit
Nice vegetarian restaurant with large menu. Good and freh taste. The springrolls are not fried and filled with raw salads.
Read moreA bit cheaper than other "tourist-restaurants".
Small portions (normal for thailand). Normal friendly staff.
Pros: freshness, vegetarian only, cheaper than other tourist-restaurants
Cons: small portions
Guest
MirenBro
Points +35
May Kaidee..number 1 in bangkok - Edit
Visited numerous times in October 2013 and January 2014. The food at May Kaidee is delicious, with a wide variety of dishes to boot. The location is great for backpackers very close to Khao San Road. Would strongly recommend the spring rolls (the peanut sauce accompanying it is delicious) but frankly everything on the menu was made to perfection.
Read morePros: Variety, Delicious, Excellent Service
Guest
Gudrun
Points +4891
Vegan food at its best - Thai style - Edit
I came to Thailand for a round trip with just a very few days to spend in Bangkok. As usually I had a printout from "Happy Cow" with me and I planned to visit several vegetarian restaurants in Bangkok.
Read moreMay Kaidee's on Samsen Rd. was the first place on my list since it was closest to my hotel. I went there right after arrival, so quite tired.
The first thing I noticed was the warmth and friendliness of the staff which seemed genuine.
Everything on the menu looked great but about nothing was familiar to me. I was told it was all vegan which made it even better for me (they do serve milk with coffee on request, though) - but difficult to choose!
I asked for a recommendation. The staff member I talked to gave quite some explanations and inquired about my spice level which in the end we both defined as "medium" (for a Thai person, a European would rather call it "hot"). I am not 100% sure what the dish I had was called, but I think it was the Tom Kah soup. It did not only taste great (with the right spice level for me!) , but it had some energizing effect on me, due to all the fresh ingredients and spices I believe.
Well, I was hooked and did not make it to any other restaurant on my list, just went back to May Kaidee's as often as I could to try more of their food. And everything was just wonderful.
On my last day I bough a couple of souvenirs: their own cookbook and some of their teas and spices and curry mixes. Just a pity I could not make it to their cooking school - but I'll be back, some day!
Pros: great food, wonderful staff
Cons: no cons at all!
Guest
m@earthville
Points +9488
From good to great - Edit
May Kaidee's has become a travelers' institution in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and for good reason. I've never had anything i didn't like at May Kaidee's, and some of the dishes are especially great, especially when May herself is present.
Read moreMy favorites are the "Zinger" juice (very refreshing) and the curries (which are among the most authentically Thai of her offerings, and can be spiced according to your preference).
Tip: If you're dining alone and want to try more than one or two items, ask for a "buffet" meal, by which they mean a tasting menu with several dishes. I had one recently for only 150B, which is fantastic value.
I prefer this location to the one in the alley off Khao San Rd.
Pros: Tasty vegan Thai cuisine, Reasonable prices for the quality
Guest
EcoWarrior
Points +166
This very place serves the best food in Thailand - Edit
I am vegan for 15 years and know Thailand quite a bit: I state that May Kaidee's on Thanon Samsen is the best affordable vegan restaurant I've ever been.
Read moreTheir vegan pad thai, for instance, is truly a marvel; it was better than on their Tanao location.
The service was great too (Feb-March 2013): the waiter, a young man, was always very friendly and spoke english well.
I can't support the comments saying the portions are small, the food mundane or the service perfectible: we went to this restaurant a few times during our trip and there we've got the largest portions of all our trip, the best service (besides the "31" in Krabi), and by far the tastiest food.
All in all the best value for money, hands down.
Pros: Marvelous food, Friendly staff, Good portions
Cons: Not spicy (or authentic) enough
Guest
AmericanPhil
Points +232
mae queen - Edit
One of the best thai food restaurants worldwide. its very clean and the food is always made fresh. the buffet on the weekends is great as well and you will leave fuller than you can possibly imagine. they have free wifi and the setting is very relaxed. on the other hand, it is not very 'authentic'. if you are looking for an authentic thai experience this is not the place to go. the only people who eat here are smelly, hippy tourists with backpacks. if youre vegan, try the thai iced tea with coconut milk. ask for it! :) the cooking class is great too, if you are visiting and want a fun time!
Read morePros: great vegan food, english widely spoken, very clean environment
Cons: not authentic
Guest
dumsterdave
Points +143
Good food/small portions - Edit
The food here was very tasty and I have returned a few times to try other things. I thought the vegan sushi was rather nice.
Read moreAs for he haw mok(spelled right?), well, it was very tasty, but it came in a bowl that you would normally server to a 5 year old. The food was gone in about 5 bites. Looking around at other tables made me realise that may kaydee is more about quality than quantity. All the portions are tiny. I recommend you go a little bit farther down and eat at ethos which is a bit more expensive but at least you'll walk away with a full stomach. The staff are really friendly and are always smiling, but its too bad they can barely speak english. It was difficult to ask what ingredients were in the food
Pros: everything looks so good, friendly smiles, tasty
Cons: not very cozy, small portions, poor english
Guest
Eric_
Points +729
I don't understand the hype - Edit
This was the first vegetarian restaurant I tried in Bangkok, and I was disappointed. Understood later that vegetarian food in Thailand simply isn't as good as in other Asian countries, but still, after reading so many happy comments about this place, I was surprised in a negative way. Nothing special.
Read morePros: Wifi, Easy to find
Cons: Boring food
eric
Hi Eric, what did you order? It also can vary depending if May is in the kitchen or not. I've always found the food to be very exceptional when she's there.
Read moreGuest
Nikki1801
Points +963
A decent meal - Edit
May was there doing a cooking class and roped us all into dancing, it was great fun! :)
Read moreThe food was good & lots of choice (although I must confess I preferred the food in Chiang Mai- sorry!)
I love the fact they do brown rice, hard to find in Asia!
Decent portions and a fair price.
Pros: friendly, good menu
Guest
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