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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.
42 Reviews
First Review by Lek
dan&mia
Points +760
Good food and comfortable - Edit
We enjoyed a tasty lunch.
Read moreGuest
ANiMaLnz
Points +33
Thai vegan cuisine at it's best - Edit
Located on a noisy thoroughfare a short distance from the tourist centre of Koh San Road, May Kaidee's has become somewhat of an institution in Bangkok. And with good reason. Upon arrival we were greeted by the warm smiles of the restaurant's friendly wait staff who were more than happy to tailor dishes to suit our taste preferences. But ordering just one from the double-sided, A3-sized menu posed a serious challenge, one that was almost certain to result in food envy! Our meals arrived in timely fashion and we were pleasantly surprised to discover that they were every bit as amazing as they looked on the menu, and tasted even better! And at around THB90 per dish were also highly affordable. Unfortunately we will have moved on by Saturday so will miss the weekly buffet, but imagine it's well worth a look. There's also a cooking school for anyone who fancies trying their hand in the kitchen. So if you're looking for a healthy and affordable dining alternative while in Bangkok, don't go past May Kaidee's!
Read moreGuest
dcchris
Points +162
Not as good as before - Edit
Well people always say "You should have been here 10 years ago" all the time. But in this case I started going to the original May Kadee's when she first opened and was hands on every day. Before the great expansion and business ventures and I must say my last few visits a few months ago after a 5 year absence were disappointing. The dishes are smaller, prices higher, service spotty in both locations I ate at. As well they seem to have opened a seafood restaurant down the soi which isn't exactly in the vegetarian ethos imo. I am happy that business is so good and all as May is very nice but unfortunately the most important aspects of dining were not there for me. They do have a good corner on the Banglaphu market as there don't seem to be many other reasonably priced pure veg places around at nighttime. In daytime you can eat for half the price at a traditional thai veg place.
Read morePros: healthy cuisine, tasty food, good location
Cons: smokers, small portions, expensive
Guest
sbszine
Points +250
Excellent - Edit
Some of the best Thai food I've ever tasted, with good sized portions too. The pad thai was particularly good, and the penang curry was great too.
Read moreService is odd: I had to specifically request a plate and cutlery, and fill in the waiter's pad with my order! I also got the hard sell for the cooking classes (which do look good). Anyway, the service is a minor nitpick that doesn't really detract from the place.
Update: I came back in 2011 and tried the cooking classes, and they were fabulous and are highly recommended.
Updated from previous review on Saturday July 24, 2010
Pros: Food!
Cons: Service
Guest
jort38
Points +42
Experiences - Edit
My (Thai) friends and myself made an appointment here to have dinner. As I have read in another review, it is indeed a bit hard to find, especially as they are renovating the front building. So now you have to find the alley that connects to the temporary dining location.
Read moreIndeed you write down your order yourself. This is not unusual in Thai restaurants.
Food was excellent. The owner even performed some Thai dances during our meal.
Pros: Price, location, entertainment
Cons: hard to find
Guest
choogirl
Points +807
Fantastic thai vegan cooking course - Edit
I went here in Feb 2011 to do the cooking course. It was fantastic. We prepared 14 dishes in about 3 hours. All the dishes were vegan except the pad thai (which traditionally has an egg, but I left this out). It was so much food that I ended up taking half of it away with me to eat later.
Read moreMay is a beautiful person who is very passionate about vegetarianism. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in thai cooking. I also recommend her cook book which you can buy there.
The only issue I had was finding this place. I had a terrible cab driver who had no clue where to go. I'd been in Bangkok one day and it was me who got us there in the end.
Pros: value, variety
Cons: hard to find
Guest
bignameactress
Points +80
The best vegetarian chain ever. - Edit
I ate at both locations many times in Feb of 2006 and it was a true delight.
Read moreMemorable sticky rice with mango and banana. Was never disappointed in the food and would return in a second.
I also stayed in a guest room for a few nights. I really liked the accommodation in that it seemed to be a very authentic thai experience. However, I wouldn't recommend staying there- based on my belief that my particular room had bed bugs. (Corner bedroom) (All of the typical signs- wooden bed frame, many little spots of blood on the sheets and walls.) Perhaps they have taken care of this problem in the last 5 years. This wouldn't deter me from partaking in their wonderful vegetarian fare, though.
Her cooking course was memorable, delightful, and very educational! I loved that we started by going to the grocery store/market and were sent home with all of the recipes. I also took pictures of the ingredients so that I could more easily find them at home. She sang during the lesson and taught us her special May Kaidee song. So much fun! Amazing value at $20USD for 3 hours and a ton of delicious food. I have since cooked her recipes many times since returning home!
Pros: Great cooking course, Fantastic food, Very friendly staff
may_kaidee_team
bignameactress,
Read moreWe apologize for your experience at our guest house. We strive to offer a much better service than you were provided.
We had our building inspected and fortunately we do *not* have bedbugs, however we do have a termite problem. It's possible that you saw evidence of termites that in fact had eaten some of the wooden bed frame.
We've started to plan a complete renovation of the guest house, and expect to finish the project later this year - free of termites!... while offering higher quality accommodation overall.
We would like to offer you a free room at our guest house once the renovation is finished, on your next visit to Bangkok. Let us know.
Finally, thank you for separating your opinion of the guest house experience from the experience with our restaurants and cooking school.
- The May Kaidee Team
Guest
Ianthewander
Points +237
Yum Yum - Edit
Been there many times in 2010. Hope to go again. My review, see above. Tasty, varied, fun atmosphere.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Monday March 07, 2011.
Saturday night buffet for not very much (~150b, I forget exact figure), cheap.
Pros: taste, variety.
Guest
kool_kitchen
Points +875
Inexpensive hearty fare - Edit
Originator of vegetarianism in Thailand, Mai Kaidee offers hearty, healthy stuff in a restaurant that could use some creature comforts and a lick of paint. It's all pretty standard- the carrot salad and the deep-fried seaweed with peanut sauce are highlights. The staff are all very friendly and you can't complain about the prices.
Read morePros: Inexpensive, Friendly, Decent food
Cons: Not very comfortable
Guest
eric
Points +21350
No Fish Sauce Used - Edit
Just back from May's and it's as good as ever! I love her curries and everything she does. It does vary a bit between locations, but overall, always good. She was recently working on starting a US location but is now back and in charge of everything in her Bangkok locations. Her cooking classes are amazing and also recommended.
Read moreMay Kaidee NEVER uses fish sauce in any of her cooking. Probably "Piscesylph" just saw mock / "faux" fish sauce bottles with pictures of fish on it. If you're in Bangkok, definitely swing by and give her food a try- see for yourself!
Updated from previous review on Tuesday September 06, 2005
Pros: Excellent Food, No MSG, All Vegetarian
Guest
lavanya
Points +80
Thai Food - Edit
Food in this little restaurant is cool with Thai style. I tried their Sotam (Thai Salad) yummy yummy if you are fans of spicy! I enjoyed it very much and will surely come back again.
Read morep/s: But they do use garlic and onion. Please inform the kitchen if your diet is without G&O!
Pros: Healthy food, Fair price
Cons: Not that easy to locate
Guest
batski
Points +34
Friendly staff - Edit
This restaurant is located on a somewhat busy street, so it is a good thing that it is totally indoors with a front wall of glass (most restaurants in Thailand don't have a front wall/are open to the street).
Read moreI was at this place twice to pick up some take-away. The staff is very friendly and speak fairly good English. They have a variety of vegan choices on the menu. The food is fairly good. I actually prefer this place to the other May Kaidee's.
Pros: Friendly staff, Good English
Guest
reikidevi
Points +15
May Kaidee's - Edit
We have been coming to May Kaidees for years... can't remember when, but since 90's. We find it a refreshing oasis for food. Last year we took the cooking class and it was marvelous...I suggest the 9 am one as you go to the market and shop with her, she's a hoot.
Read moreMay is coming to New York in America and we hope to bring her to Colorado Springs this summer....
The staff at both places are terrific and frendly.
The buffet on Sat is our highlight... all for 99B which is $3. And free Thai Dancing demonstrations.. It's become quite the gathering place.
Deffinately put this in your computer and plan on enjoying it all-here.
We are currently renting a room for a month and have settled in well.
Thailand is a great place for vegetarian food. It's all over the street, food choices all over.
We were in China town the other day and asked about where to each vegetarian. It was written in thai. As we were in the heart of a crowded market, we were directed down an alley and lo and behold, there was a pure vegetarian tiny open air food stall... what good food and for less than $5 we both ate a huge lunch...yummy! Now we will see what Cambodia and Vietnam have for us... India is no problem, so we know we are fine there.
By the way, Bangkok has tons of indian restaurants as well. A vegetarian need never go hungry in this City... we love it!
Sharon & Ravi
Thanks May Kaidee for your inspiration and dedication and to the whole family who make it all possible.
Pros: excellent food, healthy cuisine, good value
Guest
JohnnySensible
Points +7566
May Kaidee for a HappyCow HappyLife - Edit
"May Kaidee II" on Samsen Rd. - a sanctuary - this is where I love to stay whenever I am in Bangkok for a few days.
Read moreTo me it is "simply wonderful" & an amazing bargain both for the accomodation & for the superb food / drinks.
Home grown brown rice which is truly organic - carefully selected fresh produce - a good % of which comes from small growers who do not use chemical fertilizers / insecticides.
Great cooking by the team of May's aunties, cousins, nephews & nieces.
I still have to join one of May's singing & dancing half-day cooking classes.
The "Satay" which I loved back in the 90's has dropped off the menu but is still available by special request!
Guest
Lek
Points +59
Good Times at May Kaidee's - Edit
We took the cooking class and ate here almost every time we were in the area. Such a crazy good time. The food is amazing (can't get enough of those banana coconut shakes). The cooking class was completely worth the investment, as we now make delicious food back home. Sap! Sap! (tasty, tasty)
Read morePros: Menu is nicely laid out, Staff and May Kaidee so friendly, food delicious and well priced
Cons: Simply not enough tables - its that good
Guest
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