Thai Vegan

Thai Vegan offers Albuquerque diners lighter and healthier lunch and dinner options. It's an intimate, friendly restaurant tucked in a small shopping area on Osuna. Menu options are plentiful and include many Thai staples as well as meat substitutes. There are two Thai Vegan locations in Albuquerque.

5505 Osuna Road NE (just east of San Mateo)
Albuquerque, NM 87105
(505) 884-4610
Monday - Friday lunch 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; dinner 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Thai Vegan in Nob Hill
3804 Central
(505) 200-2290
Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

There aren't many purely vegetarian restaurants in Albuquerque, and even rarer is the vegan restaurant. For those who are vegan or those who are looking for more healthful food options, the restaurant offers low fat dishes that are colorful and flavorful.

Like all Thai restaurants, there are plenty of noodle soups, curries, and stir fry dinners. There are also plenty of combination plates and chef specials. For vegetarians/vegans who enjoy soy "meats," there are plenty of those options, as well as tofu. Deep fried foods are available, as well as healthier alternatives.

The restaurant was busy on a Monday night, a sure sign of regulars. My companion ordered an appetizer of fried tofu with chili peanut sauce, which she declared was delicious. We both got hot teas. Is a visit to an Asian restaurant complete without hot tea? The Chrysanthemum tea was sweet and flavorful.

There were many options, making it difficult to choose. Everything looked appetizing. I opted for the cashew dinner combination, which was served with steamed brown rice, spring roll and salad (8.95). Dinner combos also come with a choice of tofu or other soy "meats." The cashews were stir fried in Thai sauce with veggies and was presented in a small bowl on a large plate with the other offerings. The rice was molded in the shape of a heart, and was delicious. The salad was simple but fresh and also delicious. The stir fry was a bit overcooked, but the cashews were crunchy and good. (I don't like soggy vegetables). As is often the case in Asian restaurants, there was too much food and much of it went home with me. She also got a dinner combination plate, the spicy eggplant, which she said was very good.

There are specialty salads such as cucumber, glass noodle, and papaya, among others. There are rice paper wraps with a variety of soy "meats" and even a lentil wrap. Soups include miso, seaweed, and more. Curry dishes come in red, green or yellow. And there are chef specials such as sweet chili "fish" and lentil loaf. For those not used to vegan food, there are more meat like choices, such as the chicken burger, pepper steak sandwich and bacon burger. All are made with soy, no meats.

We were too full for dessert. But while we were there, a diner was served her dessert along with a Happy Birthday song from the chef, who sang into a microphone and wore his white hat. The entire restaurant joined in for the happy occasion. It was a fun way to end our meal.

Thai Vegan offers good food at reasonable prices and an alternative to traditional heavy restaurant meals. The staff is attentive and efficient. The atmosphere is convivial and conducive to a good meal, especially if you're lucky enough to hear Chef sing happy birthday.