One of the best parts about living in Asia, is not worrying {too much} about watching what I eat. I avoid eating gluten, so it’s helpful that many dishes I consume are rice based and naturally free of it. Even so, it can still be a bit daunting to travel with a food allergy. Today I’m providing my guide to eating gluten free in Ao Nang, Thailand.
Before arriving in Thailand, I found these useful Thai phrases from the Road Affair blog that helped me deal with my gluten intolerance abroad. This article, in general, has a significant amount of information pertaining to gluten free dining in Thailand.
- I’m allergic to wheat flour – ผมแพ้แป้งสาลี (Puum Paae Paeng-saa-lii)
- I’m allergic to oyster sauce – ผมแพ้น้ำมันหอย (Puum Paae Naam Man Hoy)
- I’m allergic to soy sauce – ผมแพ้ซีอิ๊วขาว (Puum Paae see-ew)
- Cannot eat – กิน ไม่ได้ (Kin Mai Dai)
- Please don’t add soy sauce – ไม่ ใส่ ซีอิ้ว (Mai sai see-ew)
- Wheat flour – แป้งสาลี (Paeng-saa-lii)
- Rice flour – แป้งข้าวจ้าว (Paeng-khao-jao)
- Bread – ขนมปัง (Kha-nom-pang)
- Maggi – แม็กกี้ (Mag-gee)
- Soy sauce – ซีอิ้ว (See-ew)
- Oyster sauce – น้ำมันหอย (Naam Man Hoy)
- Mushroom sauce – ซอสเห็ด (Si-ew hed hohm)
As always, I cannot guarantee that every dish you eat will be completely gluten free – but personally, I didn’t have any issues with the following restaurants. I also am not on a strict gluten free diet, meaning I can have soy sauce, etc. just not in excessive amounts.
May and Mark’s House
From the airport, I initially made my way to Krabi town before heading to Ao Nang. While there isn’t much to do in Krabi town itself, I can highly recommend May and Mark’s House if you find yourself in the area. Located very central, May and Mark’s offer plenty of gluten free options including smoothie bowls and traditional Thai dishes. May and Mark’s are also extremely vegan and vegetarian friendly. If you need to work up an appetite, I suggest walking to Wat Kaew {less than 10 min. walk} prior.
Hours: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Address: 34 Maharaj Road Soi 10 Paknam, Tambon Pak Nam, Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81000 {MAP}
Lion and Shark
You’ll soon realize that the majority of my diet in Thailand consisted of smoothie bowls and pad thai. These are two of my favorite things to consume {in general}, and therefore I made sure to get my fill while abroad. Lion and Shark is a trendy cafe located on the second story of an all-female hostel. They are known for their smoothie bowls, so you can imagine I wasn’t going to miss it. While it wasn’t the best I’ve had in Thailand {read more about that here}, it sufficed. The vibe of the restaurant is very laid back and mellow, and the open dining experience is perfect in the morning.
Hours: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Address: 459/2 4203, Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Mueang Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81000 {MAP}
Cafe 8.98
Another popular cafe in Ao Nang {and Krabi Town} is Cafe 8.98. They do a great brunch, but also offer lunch and dinner options. Their entire menu is labeled with ‘gluten free’ and ‘vegetarian’ symbols so you won’t have any questions while ordering. They even mention dishes that have traces of gluten. As you can imagine, I once again ordered a smoothie bowl, but also indulged in avocado on gluten free toast. SCRUMPTIOUS.
Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Address: 143/7-8, Moo 2, Ao Nang, Muang, Krabi, Thailand 81180 {MAP}
Aning
For my first dinner in Ao Nang, I wanted to treat myself. While ‘treating myself’ may be spending more than ₩30,000 in South Korea on a meal, it means something entirely different in Thailand. I decided to visit Aning, an open air restaurant located on the main strip in Ao Nang, facing the ocean. I ordered a glass of white wine, a fried shrimp appetizer, and eventually…. you guessed it, pad thai. The entire meal cost me just over ฿400 {$12 USD}. Aning has an extensive menu {Mexican, Italian, Western, Thai}, so you are sure to find something to fit any dietary need.
Eating alone when you travel can sometimes be, well, lonely. That being said, I had no issues with this at Aning. Three lady boys were posted right outside the restaurant, taking pictures with tourists and inviting every human being to their show. Watching them interact with others {especially the highly intoxicated} was entertaining to say the least. Additionally, Aning has live music most nights which adds a whole other level to the atmosphere.
Hours: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM {Sunday 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM}
Address: 249/2 4203, Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Mueang Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81000 {MAP}
Massaman
For good, traditional Thai food in Ao Nang, I can recommend Massaman. What it lacks in atmosphere and charm, it makes up for in quality. The portion sizes are massive, the price is reasonable, and the taste is superb. I ordered white wine, pad thai {shocker}, and coconut curry with rice. The grand total came to ฿355 {approx. $10 USD}, and it was some of the best Thai food I’d ever tasted. It just goes to show you should never judge a book by it’s simple floor plan and lackluster wooden tables… wait, what?
Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Address:
Thailandia
There is no doubt that I’m a sucker for a good aesthetic when it comes to dining options. Therefore, I have to be transparent when I say I only ate at Thailandia because of it’s ‘Rainforest Cafe’ vibe. It looked like a straight up jungle. That being said, the food {read: pad thai} was actually pretty decent. I dined with a couple fellow female travelers, and we all agreed it was a good choice. We were entertained with a live band, lively atmosphere, and attentive service.
Tip: Don’t mistake this location for ‘Thaindia2’ on Google Maps. You will see the correct address below.
Hours: 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Address: 249/2 4203, Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Mueang Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81000, Thailand {MAP}
The Last Fisherman
If you are looking for a perfect spot to watch the sunset, The Last Fisherman is the place to be. Once again the menu is extensive, offering plenty of gluten free options. I was lucky enough to snag a table right along the beach, however, many people on Trip Adviser recommend arriving early to guarantee a good seat at sunset. I am not even going to tell you what I ordered because at this point, you already know. I will say it’s the only place I ordered a cocktail in Thailand, and it was strong but delicious.
Hours: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Address: Unnamed Rd Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand {MAP}
BUZZ
And finally, the restaurant in this series that I didn’t get the pleasure of visiting, but desperately wish I did. BUZZ was at the top of my list of restaurants to dine at during my time in Ao Nang. They offer organic, allergy friendly dishes, all of which look drool worthy. That being said, their hours made it difficult to arrange a reasonable meal time.
Most days, I was out the door at 7:00 AM and didn’t return until nearly sundown. BUZZ doesn’t open until 9:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. Therefore, I missed it altogether. If you are in Ao Nang and have the option to check it out, please do so and report back! I know they advertise gluten free and vegan options, but I can’t vouch for this personally.
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address:
I now realize the title of this blog post should have been, ‘I only ate pad thai and smoothie bowls in Thailand, which are already free of gluten, but this is where I ate them’. But I mean, can you really blame me? It’s Thailand after all.
Over to you – what’s your favorite restaurant in Ao Nang or Krabi?
Diver’s Inn Steakhouse
Lots of gluten free options
http://www.krabi-divers-inn.com
Thanks for the suggestion!