Gluten Free Bangkok

Bangkok Travel Tips

G-Free Travel Rating

6/10

Major Airport

Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)

Official Language

Thai (most tour guides will know some English)

Currency:

Thai Baht

Power Outlets:

Types A, B, C & O

Voltage is higher = 220V

Eating Gluten Free in Bangkok

Bangkok provided more options due to its size but navigating the soy sauce issue was a constant battle. We were able to find some great places to eat but it took some work as usual. Kara has a magical ability to find amazing restaurants everywhere!

Eating Gluten Free While in Thailand

Before we dive into the restaurants and food we found while wandering around Bangkok for a few days, we wanted to offer some practical guidance.

Mentally Prepare Yourself:

We have been in some unique places where gluten free food is hard to come by and normally we are set to take on the challenges by packing a bunch of granola bars, camping dinners and bread. This time we only packed a few granola bars as back up because we knew we were going to be in areas that are highly traveled to by tourists. So while we knew there would be challenges we were not expecting as many restrictions as we encountered. Keep in mind, Celiac Disease is not common in Thailand (southeast Asia for that matter), so the knowledge of it is going to be scant. When it comes to street food we would be really cautious. No matter where we travel and no matter how prepared we think we are there are always complications. Lucky for us, none of those complications led to a reaction.

Get a Thai Gluten Free Language Card

One of the ways we prepared ourself was by getting a Thai gluten free card. This card explains that you have Celiac’s and cannot eat certain foods. It goes on to list many foods that contain gluten and how it will make you sick. This specific gluten free card also talks about soy sauces and other sauces they use that are contaminated with gluten. We highly recommend downloading one of these cards to have in case you are in an area where you can’t use Google Translate…which brings me to my next point.

Make sure you have Google Translate or Apple’s Version (Translate)

These apps make communicating much easier than it used to be. This way if they have questions about what you are saying or about the language card you just gave them then it’s a lot more likely everyone will be more confident in the outcome of the meal. Plus, these apps have a camera feature which is nice for translating menus or ingredients while shopping if they aren’t in English.

Bring Your Own Soy Sauce

Because really, the sauces are the culprit. This is the constant battle you will fight with pretty much every meal at every restaurant. Most Thai foods are naturally gluten free and that is how some restaurants will advertise them on the menu, but when you clarify with them you all of a sudden, have a meal with no sauce. Sometimes that is fine; the other ingredients are flavorful enough but other times you are eating plain rice and chicken. While we did find some gluten free soy sauce when grocery shopping, we brought our own just in case.

Indulge in the Fruit

Thailand has a tropical climate, which allows for you to try many fruits that you may not get back in the United States regularly. Some of their top dishes highlight these fruits; for example, mango sticky rice or the papaya salad.

But in the end, you know your body the best and how sensitive you are. While we want you to be safe and healthy, we also want you to know you can try some of their infamous dishes without a problem.

Restaurants

Downtown Bangkok

Lon Lon Local Diner: We didn’t get to eat here because they were closed by the time we finished on the Mahanakhon Skywalk. The menu was labeled with which items could be altered to accommodate the gluten free diet. The reviews on the Find Me Gluten Free App also praised how knowledgeable the staff were and how tasty the food was. It is always hard to pass up a restaurant that you are highly confident in, but sometimes timing doesn’t work out.

Bonita Cafe and Social Club: This was little bit of a hike from the Mahanakhon Skywalk but they were open, had a clearly marked menu online and we were hungry. Even though items were clearly marked gluten free on the menu, we clarified with the waitstaff and she was very well informed about gluten free. Just take cash along because they charge a 10% credit card fee.

25 Degrees Burger Bar: We almost ended up here but I was still adjusting to the heat and a burger sounded too heavy of a meal for me. They do offer gluten free hamburger buns (marked on the menu) and American fries (per reviews- would clarify if they are cooked in a separate fryer though).

Bangkok Bold Kitchen: This was found during research prep before the trip based on reviews. Because we spent more time in Bangkok Old Town, we didn’t make it over here. They have a separate gluten free menu with many options. A great place if you are wanting some Pad Thai or stir-fry dish that you can’t get elsewhere safely.

Cabbages and Condoms: If you are looking for unique atmosphere this is the way to go. We were initially recommended to go here for their gluten free options by someone else but it had been a while since they had been here. And when we checked reviews they were also a couple of years old. They do have curries which are a safe way to go if the rest of the menu falls through.

Rattanakosin (Bangkok Old Town)

Old Capital Bike Inn: I know this is weird to have an inn as one of the restaurants that we would recommend, but we would recommend it for both a breakfast joint as well as a place to stay. The staff was AMAZING in every aspect. They have a separate gluten free menu and everyone was familiar with gluten free.

Mango Vegetarian Restaurant: Terry’s favorite restaurant in Bangkok to go to. It had the most gluten free options and very knowledgeable staff. The restaurant is very quaint and it is near many of the must-see temples. Also, the portion sizes are quite large.

Thipsami: Great restaurant to try Pad Thai. Menu was clearly marked with which items are gluten free and staff was knowledgeable.

Bakery and Coffee

Jedi Café & Bar: A modern cafe that based their coffee selections off the Star Wars theme. While we didn’t eat here, it was a nice place to enjoy some coffee. Located right off a canal, it’s a great starting point for your day of temple hopping.

Gluten Free Bakery Tama: Because this wasn’t near any of the activities we were doing or where we stayed AND Terry wasn’t going through carbohydrate withdrawals yet, we didn’t get here. When I was completing my research ahead of time this bakery came up as 100% dedicated gluten free. It sounds like their almond croissants are fantastic so if you are in the need of a fix then we recommend here.

Theera Healthy Bake Room: Similar to the above, it was not near where we were. It’s nice to have things prepared ahead of time in case you keep striking out and you just want the confidence and something familiar. Not dedicated 100% gluten free but they do have gluten free desserts that are marked clearly on their menu/website.

The Infamous Street Food

This is entirely up to you and your comfort level. Since everyone varies in their degree of sensitivity some people maybe more inclined to try a dish or two. Honestly, we wouldn’t blame them. The smell, sight and atmosphere are all fantastic; however, we stuck to food we knew was gluten free, albiet boring by Thailand standards, corn-on-the-cob. That is what we recommend you do as well, stick to naturally gluten free foods, not the corn-on-the-cob. There are a couple of reasons for that:

We can guarantee that street food vendors will not have a gluten free sauce.
Even if you ask for no sauce, be advised they may only have one cooking surface and that surface is not cleaned between customers. Risk for cross-contamination is high.

Fresh fruit smoothie stands are a very common and while it is not the same as trying Thai street food, it is a great way to tide over your hunger until you can get to a restaurant. We had many smoothies while in Thailand.

Even if you can’t eat go enjoy the atmosphere!

Grocery Shopping

If you are staying in a place where you can prepare your own meals then grocery shopping may be needed. We recommend you stop by a little local market (not a night market) and purchase some fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood. It is a great experience to partake in. If you want to learn how to cook fresh local meals at home then register for a Thai cooking class. We didn’t do this in Bangkok but we did do one during our stay in Phuket and that was the best meal we had while in Thailand.

Stores:

Big C Supermarket
Tops

Make sure you have your translate app with you in case labels are not in English! If you are unsure then we recommend sticking to foods that are naturally gluten free (i.e. fresh fruits, vegetables and meat). It’s a great way to catapult yourself into a healthy diet.

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