Whether you have decided to go fully plant-based or would like to partake in ‘Meatless Monday,’ the desire to go vegan or vegetarian is at an all-time high. Even the most devout carnivores are tempted by these eco-friendly and delicious options.

Living in Orange County, you may think that your options for Vegan Dining may be limited, but one thing people forget to consider is that Thai Food is one of the most vegan friendly cuisines available and most Thai Food Restaurants will have dozens of plant baseditems to choose from.

Since the explosion of tourism in Thailand in the 1980s, Thai Food has become one of the most popular ethnic foods around the world. It diverse range of dishes with unique spices and ingredients has made it one the five most popular foods around the world.

Historically meat was avoided in Thai cooking due to its Buddhist background. That means that many Thai Dishes are vegan and vegetarian and almost all menu items can be made 100% vegan with one or two small changes.

So, if you are looking for vegan food in Orange County, you should first take a look at some of the best Thai restaurants in the area. Vegan Thai food pairs hot spices with sweet, light citrus flavors like lime and mango. These unique flavor combinations make for the perfect base for dozens of vegan dishes.

So whether your are a devout plant based eater or a carnivore who wants to try something new, Vegan Thai Food is the best option for you, and Zabb Thai in Orange County is one of the best Thai restaurants around.

Here are some of the more popular vegan food options you can try at Zabb or at any other Thai Food Restaurant in Orange County.

Vegan Pad Thai

When you ask anyone what their favorite Thai dishes, most people will reply back with Pad Thai as one of those dishes. Pad Thai is very popular in both America and in Thailand.

Invented by PlaekPhibunsongkhram in 1938, just one year before World War II, it has since become the unofficial National Dish of Thailand.

From it’s inception, Pad Thai was a Vegan dish consisting of, stir fried rice noodles, with Thai spices and ingredients like peanuts, tamarind, and palm sugar. Meat was not added until much later as the dish become popularized in Western Countries like the United States.

One of the best Pad Thais in Orange County can be found at Zabb Thai Cuisine. Zabb takes pride in preparing their dishes as traditionally as possible, using only the highest quality ingredients to make all their curries, sauces, and stir-fries from scratch. Their pad Thai is made the same way it was made in 1938, with a couple small tweaks to make it vegan friendly.

Zabb Pad Thai:Made with Thai rice noodles, bean sprouts, chives, tamarind, palm sugar, shallots, lime, garlic, crushed chili, and soy sauce instead of fish sauce. Topped with crispy pan fried tofu and crushed peanuts.

Vegan Tofu Satay In Coconut Sauce

Almost as ubiquitous as Pad Thai, Satay (Thai Skewers) can be found on almost every street corner in Thailand or in any Thai Restaurant in Orange County. Traditionally made with grilled meat and a side of peanut dipping sauce, this National Thai Dish can also be made vegan with the use of tofu instead of chicken.

Zabb Thai offers their customers a Vegan Satay that is made with a plant based mock chicken that is seasoned, marinated, and grilled, giving you the unmistakable sweet, smokey and salty flavor of Grilled Satay.

Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice

Fried rice is a traditional Chinese dish that was first invented to prepare leftover rice and other ingredients that may have been left over from a previous night’s meal.

Since it’s inception, it has exploded in popularity and into almost every other Asian culture and cuisine, and Thailand is not an exception.

But make no mistake, the Fried Rice found in Thailand and in the many Thai Restaurant throughout the world, have taken fried rice and made it their own. Popular Thai Fried Rice dishes include khao pad gong, and even Pineapple Fried Rice.

Pineapple Fried Rice is the perfect blend of sweet, savory, salty and spicy, and is the perfect meal for all our vegan readers. You can top with crispy tofu to round out this dish and give it the perfect texture.

Made with Thai jasmine rice is fried with pineapple chunks, peas, cashews, and currants with curry spices. The classic pineapple fried rice is perfectly delicious, with no meat required.

Thai-Style Summer Rolls

Summer Rolls are traditionally associated with a Vietnamese delicacy known as “gỏicuốn”. But this super popular appetizer has spread to other Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand.

Thai Style Summer Rolls are made with rice vermicelli, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, basil, and other herbs. This fresh and filling starter is the perfect way to start your meal.

Thai Green Mango Salad

Another healthy and delicious dining option for our vegan friends, the Thai Green Mango Salad, is refreshing, healthy and delicious. Perfect for when the temperature rises, and you want something light that won’t weigh you down.

Zabb Thai makes their mango salad with fresh mangos, red peppers, red onions, cilantro, and peanuts, and tossed in a delicious creamy sesame dressing, this salad takes mangos to the next level with major flavor in every bite.

Vegan Yellow Thai Curry with Mixed Vegetables

No article about Vegan Thai Food would be complete without mentioning Yellow Curry. This simple, yet delicious dish is a fan favorite year around. Thai Yellow Curry boast bold flavors and loads of plant-based protein. Yellow Curry has a rich and creamy texture and is loaded with veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower.

And again, one of the best Vegan Yellow Curries is available at Zabb Thai Cuisine in Newport Beach. Theirs is made with coconut milk, potatoes, broccoli, fresh ginger, and plenty of spices. Yellow Thai curry is milder than red or green curries and you can then adjust the spice by adding chili paste.

Vegetarian Tom Yum Soup

If you are feeling something warm and hearty, then Tom Yum soup is the answer. The words Tom Yam means “boiling” or “hot” and “spicy and sour”, which perfectly describes the soup.

Tom Yum soup is made with a combination of freshingredients like kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, fish sauce, galangal, crushed peppers, and lemongrass.

The best Tom Yum soup is always made from scratch, and never from pre-made pastes. And you can be sure when you dine at Zabb Thai, that the Tom Tum has been prepared from scratch and for your enjoyment.

Thai Corn Fritters

Corn Fritters have been around for centuries, and variations can be found in almost any culture around the globe. But one variation that is sure to leave an impression are Thai Corn Fritters.

Traditionally, corn fritters are made by frying cakes of dough made of corn. What makes Thai corn fritters unique are the seasoning that they use.

Thai Corn Fritters (Tod Man Khao Pod) is mad with soy sauce, onions, coriander, bell peppers, chilis, turmeric and other Thai spices, this sweet and spicy treat is sure to be a favorite for everyone at the table. And best of all this is another vegan dish that can be enjoyed by plant and meat eaters alike.

So when it come to finding the best vegan food in Orange County, Thai Restaurants will always have a wide range of vegan friendly dishes that can be enjoyed by everyone.

The dishes we listed are just a few of our favorites, and just the tip of the iceberg. Visit www.zabbthaicuisine.com to see a full vegan menu and to claim your Free Summer Rolls Coupon.