Vegan
Thai
Delivery
Take-out
Asian
Catering
Fully vegan Thai restaurant offering a range of dishes that can be made with tofu, vegan duck, chicken and more. Reported being fully vegan as of March 2023. Open Tue-Sun 11:00am-9:00pm.
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203 Main St, Middletown, Connecticut, USA, 06457
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 27 Sep 2023 by Heatherly47
Update business info -
Added by alee2120 on 15 Jul 2020
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32 Reviews
First Review by alee2120
mark m braunstein
Points +454
a vast banquet of wholesome veggie dishes - Edit
Formerly a conventionally carnivorous Thai restaurant that, like all Thai-American restaurants, served fish sauce in nearly all of its dishes, in March of 2023 its newest owner and vegan chef converted the restaurant to veganism. Its new name, Aroy Thai Garden (note the singular), similar to its former name, Thai Gardens (note the plural), causes needless confusion. In the past, customers have posted their reviews for one under the acct of the other.
Read moreConfused? So have been other customers. Yesterday was my 5th visit here. On my 3rd visit, I witnessed an interesting scene. Two married couples walked in and sat down. Upon the waiter’s arrival he asked them if they knew that this was now a Vegan restaurant. They said they did not know. Without any discussion among themselves, they all got up and walked out. The V word still strikes fear in the hearts of omnivores.
Another puzzle. The entrées on its online menu offer 4 kinds of rice, none brown, yet brown rice is listed online as a side dish and in person as a 5th choice. Brown rice acts as my gold standard for a restaurant’s nutritional merits, a test that Aroy passes, but with confusion.
While mock meats predominate and fried foods abound, the menu is so extensive and varied that much still is offered with an array of wholesome vegetables as main courses. All the dishes of all veggies that I have tried were all well prepared.
It is puzzling to be treated to two all-vegan restaurants both in the middle of Middletown and both on Main Street. Can both survive competition vying for such a specialized clientele? An odd business climate. Odd, too, is that both are closed on the same day.
Vegans such as I who shun fried foods and mock meats formerly were confronted with conflicting choices. Dine up the street at all-vegan ION or at Aroy where a vast banquet of new and exciting dishes of wholesome veggies awaits my sampling. I emphasis, formerly a conflict. In the past year, the nutritional standards at ION have plummeted precipitously. ION’s chickpea cutlet first was adulterated with devitalized wheat gluten, then dropped from the menu. While still on its menu, its mushroom burger has lost any taste of mushroom as it, too, has been adulterated with leathery wheat gluten. And its former whole wheat bun has been downgraded into white flour. Tremendous steps backward. Fortunately, Aroy has saved the day for me in keeping Middletown a vegan destination town.
Pros: an extensive menu of various veggies, the beautiful decor of its spacious interior, the accommodating wait staff
Guest
kimgaud
Points +22
Excellent food - Edit
Food was amazing, and service was excellent
Read moreGuest
Monkeyboy112771
Points +60
Yummy - Edit
Big portions and a lot of flavor.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-03-11
Guest
Amyladedada1
Points +528
A must! - Edit
I’ve been meaning to go to Aroy for a while and I’m so good I did. Everything was delicious. I can’t wait to go back.
Read morePros: Wonderful staff, Delicious food
Guest
theveganwitch13
Points +679
Amazing Thai Food! - Edit
Omg the menu is huge and there are so many delicious options! I have been several times and it's in my top fav restaurants in Connecticut! It's absolutely magical! I can't wait to go again!
Read morePros: So many options, Everything is delicious , Choice of spice level for everything
AroyThaiGarden
Awwwww. Thank you so much for taking your time to write very beautiful reviews this is mean the world to me 🙏🏻🥰🥹
Read moreGuest
Stacie99
Points +515
New Year’s Eve Dinner - Edit
We had such a wonderful experience and can’t wait to make a return trip!
Read moreThe food was rich and delicious and the waitstaff were extremely nice.
We didn’t realize it is currently byob until they get their liquor license but there is a store right next door to grab what you need and Aroy’s provides glasses.
It was very fun going to an all vegan establishment with this many options. Especially when they had so many different protein options that were fun to add to your dishes.
We started w crab rangoons, they made me moan ;), and steamed dumplings which were also delicious.
I had the Tom Yum with noodles with ‘shrimp’ at a level three spice. That ended up being just a hint of spice, not what I would consider hot. It was really really good.
My husband got Khao Soi with ’duck’ that he also really enjoyed but his spice level was a three and was very spicy.
Overall, we both agreed that going back it would be hard to even try new dishes because we still want to eat what we already had! It was very fun going to an all vegan establishment with this many options. Especially when they had so many different protein options that were fun to add to your dishes.
Pros: food , Staff
AroyThaiGarden
Awwwwww wow. Thank you so much for taking time to write very beautiful reviews 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰🥰😍😍🥹🥹🥹
Read moreGuest
greengrub
Points +143
Top Vegan Restaurant in Connecticut - Edit
Especially if you like Thai food this restaurant is simply amazing!!! Great food and a lovely owner who takes care of her customers. I highly recommend.
Read morePros: Thai food that is most amazing , Cozy restaurant great for dates , Made to order so fresh and made the way you like i
Cons: Can be busy so order ahead or just prepare to wait, Well worth the wait
AroyThaiGarden
Awwwww. Thank you soooo much for taking time for write very beautiful reviews 🙏🏻🥰
Read moreGuest
AmandaJean
Points +701
So Wonderful - Edit
Unfortunately I have only had the pleasure of ordering take out from Aroy Thai Gardens once but I can rave about them just from that experience and I hope to have a chance to dine in soon! Everything was delicious and the portions were generous! I was the most blown away by the "pork belly" and the vegan "duck". and the owner is constantly supporting other vegan businesses on Facebook which I love to see!
Read more12/26/23 Just updating to say we finally had a chance to dine in on Christmas Eve and everything was lovely! Great service, clean restaurant and of course, excellent food!
Updated from previous review on 2023-10-11
Pros: Extensive Menu, Online Ordering, All Vegan
Cons: Too far away from my house!
AroyThaiGarden
Omg. Thank you soooo much for taking very important time to review this is mean a lot to me I’m going to do ship the food soon maybe I have a chance to ship my food to you 🥰🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
KaitlinRuggiero
Points +127
incredible!! - Edit
i’ve been wanting to come here since the owner first announced the opening on the vegans of ct facebook page and i’m SO glad i finally did! i love that they confirmed we knew the restaurant was fully vegan when we walked in, hopefully it avoids any issues from people who don’t want to eat vegan. we ordered the veggie tempura to start. i love tempura so was very excited for a vegan version. the tempura itself and the dipping sauce were delicious! i ordered the drunken noodles with vegan chicken, and my fiancé ordered the green curry with chicken. both were also amazing! we both got the three spice level, i thought it was perfect, it was a bit too spicy for him. for dessert we got the banana wontons with caramel dipping sauce. INCREDIBLE. i can’t wait to come back. 5 stars from my non vegan fiancé as well!
Read moreAroyThaiGarden
Awwwww omg so happy to reading your review. 🥹🥹🥹🥰🥰🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻. I’m appreciate you for taking time for writing very beautiful reviews. Thank you so much for coming and sharing and supporting 🙏🏻🥹🥰🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
CRadz
Points +20
Excellent food - Edit
We tried a wide variety of items and they were all excellent. Don’t overlook dessert; the dumplings were delicious.
Read moreAroyThaiGarden
Awwwww omg. Thank you soooo much for taking your time for writing very beautiful reviews 🥹🥹🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Read moreGuest
Herbievore310
Points +261
10/10, 5 Stars, MUST TRY - Edit
I was so excited when my husband said he was taking me here for dinner because I’ve been following them on Instagram! There were soooo many options and we went with two appetizer and split a main dish. We had their vegan chicken and vegan beef and everything was so amazing. I can’t think of anything that would ever come close. The flavors, the presentation, the sauces! It is going to be VERY hard to not eat here like 6 days a week haha! The price wasn’t bad either. Kind staff.
Read moreAroyThaiGarden
Awwww. Thank you so much. Love that you enjoyed the food 🥰🥹🙏🏻. Thank you so much for taking time for writing the Awesome review. 🥰🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
kashmir_stg
Points +394
Amazing Thai food with friendly atmosphere - Edit
Aroy Thai Gardens is simply amazing. The food is authentic and flavorful. The owner, Lapat is so friendly, accommodating and giving. Anything you don’t like or want differently, they will take back and make right…but there is no need to ask as the food is fantastic. We had cream cheese wonton, tofu pockets, curry puffs, pineapple fried rice, Tom yum soup. Then we were given complimentary things to try and Thai iced tea. Everything was so good and very generous portions. We will definitely be regulars here. So excited to have amazing vegan Thai close to our house!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-10-02
Pros: 100% vegan, Friendly owner and staff, Good prices and portions
AroyThaiGarden
Awwwww. Thank you soooo much. Very nice to meet you guys. 🥰🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
JeffLawrence
Points +133
So good - Edit
Stopped for takeout on the way back from Delaware this past weekend and got a couple of meals. Thier vegan meats have a lovely texture and that seasoning is right on point. The blue in the dumplings we got was striking and attractive to the eye and great tasting to boot.
Read moreThe spice levels run lower than I'd expect-- the medium was closer to mild in my opinion. Not a bad thing, but a thing to know when ordering if you're into capsaicin. I'd definitely up to the 'hot' level, though I'll cop to being a little wary of 'Thai hot' none the less.
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much 🥰🙏🏻 we trying to low the spice level because many people complain that too much so now we try to give the spice on the side for whoever love spicy for make sure everyone can enjoy the food. If you want more spice next time please let me know 🥰😍🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
kaypaw
Points +81
MUST VISIT - Edit
The food here was spectacular! I can’t wait to go back. I got the basil fried rice with vegan chicken, fresh dumplings, mango spring rolls, and crab rangoon! For dessert we had mango and durian ice cream with caramel sauce! Everything was so tasty and the menu is Fully Vegan!
Read morePros: Fully Vegan Menu , Authentic Thai Food , Big Menu
AroyThaiGarden
Awwwwww 🥹🥹🥹🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰🥰🥰. Thank you so much for beautiful reviews. So happy that you enjoyed the food 🥰🙏🏻🥹
Read moreGuest
kai36
Points +154
Favorite Restaurant on the Face of the Earth (and it keeps getting better) - Edit
This will be a lengthy review because this place deserves it. I love this restaurant so much that the month before I left for university, I drove over an hour to get here multiple times because I knew I wouldn't have food this good until I got back.
Read moreHaving been 5 or 6 times, here's my rundown:
Things I'd get again (and again, and again), in order:
- crab rangoons
- curry puffs
- cream cheese wontons
- satay beef skewers (out of stock at the time of this review, but I'm told they'll be back)
- pork belly
- tom yum, with or without soup
- bbq vegan pork with sticky rice
- khao soi
- teriyaki duck
You'll notice this list is mostly appetizers. I recommend ordering a ton of appetizers and splitting an entree.
Not really for me:
- chive sticks
- larb
- ginger with vegan fish (tasted too much like fish for me. not a bad thing if you like fish lol)
I also can't recommend the bingsu enough. If you've had bingsu before, you won't be let down. If you haven't had it before, it's a very soft shaved ice (similar to snow), with homemade fruit syrups/sweetened condensed milk/other toppings depending on the flavor you order. I prefer the fruit flavors (mango was the best) over the tea/chocolate flavors because it balances the sweetness better. I've gotten this every time I went since she started making it.
Never had issues with the service and the chef is so kind. When there's not a rush, she comes out and talks to customers about the food, shares ingredient/cooking tips, and explains the dishes. Many of the unique ingredients are imported directly from Thailand. She's constantly trying new things, adapting to food trends, and experimenting to develop the restaurant and its menu. I have so much respect for her as both a creative and a chef.
Because there are sooo many dishes, and many of them are new or in a trial stage, you may get something that you don't love, which is why I like to order a ton of different things. You're bound to fall in love with something. This isn't the type of place to get one entree each and never come back.
If you live within driving distance of Aroy Thai Gardens, I envy you. It's the first place I'm going when I get back from Japan!
Note: for up to date info, follow them on facebook! You'll know all the secrets
Pros: Incredible appetizers, bingsu!!!, the owner
Cons: changing menu means your favs might be sold out
AroyThaiGarden
Awww omg. Thank you so much for very nice review. This is touching my heart 🥹🥹😍😍🙏🏻🥰🥰🥰💚💚🌱🌱
Read moreGuest
jenzak45
Points +26
Room for Improvement - Edit
I have been here two times. The owner is a delight and the staff is friendly. I was very happy to finally eat some dumplings, etc. for a change and having a 100% vegan spot is a gem. I thought the food was tasty and the entree portions decent.
Read moreI think there is some room for improvement though on consistency of service/quality. The first time we had a completely new waitress, which was fine. Things were missed, like giving appetizer plates, etc. No one was monitoring her to see that she was doing things correctly. The second time we received food appetizers that were cold on the inside. Finally, on both occasions, the women's room was just gross and that makes customers wonder what else is gross.
Overall, I am not deterred from eating here as I know it is new and kinks need to be worked out.
Pros: Friendly staff
Cons: cleanliness of bathrooms, inconsistent service
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for everything. If you got everything that still cold inside please let us know we will make a new one and I’ll let my staff know and fix it. 🥰🙏🏻. Thank you so much for your support 🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
TallulasMom
Points +206
Great Thai Food - Edit
After moving back from California, I didn’t think I’d find a fully vegan Thai restaurant back in CT. Now there is Aroy Thai! From the Thai Ice Tea, the pad Thai, and the delicious dessert, I was more than pleased. I will definitely be returning to try out their extensive menu.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-09-09
Pros: All vegan , Good pricing
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for your review so happy to know that you like it 🥰🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
KIL1989NYC
Points +45
Ok Thai food - Edit
I really want to leave 5 stars. I got take away tonight and the people there were super lovely but I really didn’t enjoy the food; the Thai teas were super flavorless and watered down. The pad Thai is inedible. All I’m tasting is burnt sauce and tons of salt. The Tom kha is not that great either and has way too many scallions and weird ratios of tofu and vegetables to the broth. The dumplings and fresh rolls were ok but not mind blowing or anything that special.
Read moreI really suggest working on your recipes - I want to come back and try other things but super disappointed that mostly everything was not that great.
Pros: Nice people , Nice ambience
Cons: The food wasn’t great , Hours aren’t accurate on website , Expensive for what it is
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for the review 🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
DustinSchriffert
Points +123
Entirely vegan Thai restaurant made of love - Edit
The menu is varied and everything is delicious. Really, you can't go wrong. If you're craving Thai food or want to try something new, Aroy Thai Gardens fills a perfect void that Connecticut was missing.
Read moreThe owner clearly has a passion for her craft and veganism. It makes supporting this business even more worthwhile. My wife, daughter, and I come up from Fairfield to eat here because it's just so darn good. Worth the drive from anywhere in the state.
Pros: Flavor, Large menu, Owner's passion
Cons: Staff are hit-or-miss with knowledge and service
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for very beautiful review 🥰🙏🏻
Read moreGuest
AmyStancuna
Points +78
I’m in love with this place! - Edit
I found Aroy Thai Garden in Middletown on instagram and knew I needed to visit this 100% vegan Thai restaurant. I finally made it there today. What a treat! It did not disappoint. You must go and give this place a try but prepare to be stuffed! They also serve lunch specials for $10 each. I will be going back to try more things & try to leave room for some bingsu dessert!
Read morePros: The owner was so warm & kind., Food came out hot and quickly, Large portions for dinners & appetizers
Cons: Metered Parking
harjog90
They have free parking around the back
Read moreAroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for your review 🥰🙏🏻😍
Read moreGuest
veronicajones
Points +305
Yum! - Edit
I’ve been eager to try this new vegan Thai place in Middletown and I was not disappointed! Standouts were the fresh dumplings, the beef laarb, and the shaved ice sundae, but everything we got was delicious! Will be back to sample more!
Read moreAroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for your review 🥰😍😍
Read moreGuest
Debolino
Points +101
Fantastic!! - Edit
Had dinner with friends. We ordered 6 dishes plus a bingsu, and every item was really great. The chef came to talk to us and was so welcoming and appreciative. Highly recommended!
Read morePros: Everything delicious , All vegan, Extensive menu
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you soooo much for taking your time for review. 🥰🥹🙏🏻😍😍😍
Read moreGuest
vegonugs
Points +1610
very good & lots of options! - Edit
Great place with great food and very friendly staff! not sure why some comments on this place are so negative… people need to get over themselves ❤️ i enjoyed my time here and will be back😉
Read moreAroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for very beautiful review 🥰🙏🏻😍
Read moreGuest
Fellowtravelers
Points +43
Excellent food and service - Edit
We were so happy to find this place and super happy to hear it was all plant based! We very much enjoyed our food (our orders were perfect) and we will be back to try some of the other dishes soon.
Read moreAroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for your review 🥰🙏🏻😍
Read moreGuest
E1yza
Points +226
Loved everything! - Edit
Super beautiful restaurant. My mom and i loved everything we tried. Our favorites were the blue dumplings and this a tempura vegetable stir fry (I forget the name). The pork belly was good flavor, but not as meaty as we expected, but we enjoyed trying it. The green curry portion was massive!
Read moreSecond time was even better!!! The Pork wontons are amazing. The tom yum noodles w chickn was my favorite, it’s unlike anything i’ve ever had before! The chicken on its own was a little chewy, but great in the dish. the duck was amazing and i prefer the red curry over the green curry! The mango sticky rice and Roti desserts were the perfect level of sweetness. The roti is a fried bread stuffed with banana and the coconut sauce is delicious. Also loved the Thai Iced Tea, i haven’t had a vegan one in years!! It was the best meal ever. The owner came out and she was so sweet, she gave me a hug!
Updated from previous review on 2023-05-18
AroyThaiGarden
Awwwwwww. 🥹🥹🥹🥹. That so so so beautiful reviews. Thank you sooo much 🙏🏻🥹🥰
Read moreGuest
Lilbrusselssprout
Points +227
We devoured the leftovers! - Edit
Two family members went here and ordered way more food than they needed (it was hard to avoid being that the menu is so enticing) - when they brought home the leftovers, the two of us at home devoured them. I will submit another review once I go intothe restaurant, but in the meantime, suffice it to say that they LOVED it - they talked about all the appetizers they had including the dumpling appetizer with the cream cheese. I have seen the menu so I know how extensive it is. One of the dishes they brought home was called "Tom Yom Noodles" and it was phenomenal. Apparently, it originally had a bit of broth in it but the noodles had absorbed the broth by the time we got it and it was incredible. I would like to know how it's made because it seemed creamy, as if it had a bit of cashew cream in it... not sure... all I know is that after their recommendation and since tasting the leftovers, I'll definitely be going soon. Will submit a second review then!
Read morePros: All vegan, extensive menu, Excellent flavors
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much for your review and supporting 🥰🙏🏻😍
Read moreGuest
wondering1
Points +19
hoping it will get better - Edit
I hate to bash a new restaurant, especially one that's vegan, but we traveled an hour to eat here today & were really looking forward to it. The menu is huge, but that seems to be one of their problems. They'd be better off paring the menu down to 12 things that they can do well. Since the menu is ambitious, we thought it would be good to order some things you don't typically see as vegan at a Thai restaurant. I had the vegan ginger fish I think was marinated tofu w/nori on the edges. It wasn't bad, but the 4 pieces of tofu fish were very thin & were a bit dried out on top. They were swimming in a sea of very, (very!) salty ginger sauce that wasn't very gingery & not at all flavorful. There were very few vegetables to go along -just some carrots & thinly sliced onions in a small pile in the middle. Some green & red vegetables would have been nice to try to give all that sauce something to do, to try to counter the intense saltiness & to make it less visually bland. When it arrived & I saw all that sauce, I asked the waitress if it came w/rice, but she said it didn't, so I had to order some as a side dish. (Odd since all the other dishes we ordered came w/a small bowl of rice).
Read moreThe fish being "not bad" was the good news.
One of us ordered the teriyaki duck. We also tried to order the blue dumplings as an appetizer. But they were out so we ordered other dumplings instead. They were light, but oily & under filled. The dipping sauce was very nice. When the waitress came to clear the appetizer, she said our food would be right out, but 5 minutes later came back and said they were out of the vegan duck. So got some just OK spicy basil w/vegan chicken instead. Another in our party ordered the larb. Everyone tried a bite & found it inedible. It tasted fatty, but not in a lush, unctuous way, more like raw fat from uncooked Impossible meat, it was sour, but not enjoyably sour like lime juice. It has a weird (bad) taste, a weird smell & a weirder metallic after taste. It was pictured on the menu on a bed of lettuce, but didn't come w/anything fresh or green to try to help counter all the weirdness in the heap of vegan meat (think it's Impossible meat, which we all typically enjoy). We told the waitress simply that we didn't like the dish she graciously offered to let us order something else & took the larb off the check. Ordered prik khing but were later informed they were out of green beans (a main ingredient). We also ordered a (tasteless) eggplant dish.
AroyThaiGarden
Thank you so much 🙏🏻😊
Read moreGuest
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