
Yes, it is true. I decided back in the fall that I wanted to plan a big trip for my birthday. What better way to celebrate than to to travel almost 10,000 miles away from home? YIKES! This will be my first time in Asia, so I am adding a brand new continent and two countries (layover in Dubai, UAE) to add to my list of travels. This is a trip that takes me way out of my comfort zone but I am ready for the challenge. Am I nervous? HELL YEAH. Am I excited? Even more so!!!
As with all of my trips, I do a ton of planning before I leave. This trip is no different except that I am finding it somewhat difficult to navigate this Southeast Asian country in terms of gluten-free research and reviews. I’ve read mixed reviews from gluten-free travelers about eating safely in Thailand. Besides eating gluten-free due to Celiac Disease, I also have a shellfish allergy. I think the latter is going to pose more of a problem than the gluten.
In preparation for my food restrictions, I received complimentary food allergy translation cards in Thai from Select Wisely that highlight both my avoidance of gluten as well as shellfish. These cards are “strongly worded” to alert the vendor or restaurant of my food allergies and came highly recommended by Jodi of Legal Nomads via Twitter. (Jodi is an extensive world traveler who also happens to have Celiac Disease.)

Jodi has written a book called The Food Traveler’s Handbook which includes “guidelines tailored to travelers with special dietary needs such as food allergies (celiac disease, nut allergies, etc), vegetarians.” I do not have the book yet, but I was quite inspired when I heard Jodi speak about her foodie travels from across most of the world at the book launch last fall. I love Celiac travelers that do not let their gluten-free diet stop them from traveling the globe!
Jodi gave me some other helpful tips via Twitter and email. She said “rice flour noodles abound, but a shellfish allergy is far more of an issue since [Thai] use shrimp paste/ground shrimp a lot.” Jodi adds “seitan (faux meat) is made from gluten” and often used at vegetarian places in Thailand “even with just the vegetable dishes.” Finally, Jody warns that “khao soi noodles in the north are made with flour and should be avoided” and like in the United States “soy sauce has wheat flour, so you’ll have to ask for dishes to be soy sauce-free.”
Blogs about gluten-free travel in Thailand
- Gluten Free Thailand [Gluten Free Cambodia too] by Gluten Free Dairy Free NJ (January 2013)
- Thailand Gluten-Free posts by Ramblist (February-March 2013)
- Thailand Gluten-Free posts by Gluten Free Singapore (2012)
- Eating Gluten-Free in Thailand by Lauren Schaad (November 2012)
- Gluten-Free and Paleo in Thailand by Paleo Bug (November 2012)
- Thailand Gluten-Free posts by Gluten-Free Doesn’t Have to Suck (2011-2012)
- Gluten Free Thailand by Gluten Free in S.E.A. (December 2011)
- Eating Gluten Free in Thailand, Part 1 by Gluten Free DFW (March 2010)
- Thailand – Traveling as a Celiac by GF-GlutenFree (September 2006)
Forum posts about gluten-free travel in Thailand
- Thai Visa Forum: Gluten Free Foods
- Trip Advisor Bangkok Forums: Gluten-Free
- Trip Advisor Chiang Mai Forums: Gluten-Free
I found a link to a store called Maison du Vins 1994 in Bangkok. Although their site is in Thai, I used Google translate to discover they sell imported gluten-free food. Although not really near the places I plan to go in Thailand, I definitely hope to make it there one day. I love checking out markets and shops with gluten-free products when I am both home and abroad.
As you can see, I have already done a lot of research for my two-week holiday to Thailand. While I feel that some of my research will come in handy, I won’t know for sure until I am there and experience the sights, sounds, smells, and food first hand. I will be sure to report back on all of my gluten-free food adventures when I return. Until then…
SAFE GLUTEN-FREE TRAVELS!
What a helpful composite of good researching practices about traveling a particular place Gluten-Free. This would be easy to “translate” as a model for anywhere someone wants to visit. Thanks, Erin. Safe traveling!
Thanks for sharing the information about the translation cards. I definitely have to look into this for my upcoming trip to El Salvador. Safe and enjoyable travels!!
Enjoy your trip! Can’t wait to hear about it and see pictures!
Sounds like an amazing trip, Erin! Have a great time.
Erin, you’re going to have an amazing time. When in doubt, just grab some of the amazing fresh fruit sold streetside. Can’t wait to hear your stories!
There are several shops in BKK that sell gluten free items also – Radiance Wholefoods and Sunshine Market. If you are staying near Sukhumvit, most Villa Markets and Topps have GF cereal and snacks.
Also, I would recommend Koh Phangan as there are several restaurants which have delicious GF fare. Check out my blog: http://planktonbreak.wordpress.com/category/about-me/
Thanks for your comments. I had almost no luck in Koh Phangan and ate at the place for almost every meal. Where did you eat in KP?
I was there just a few weeks ago. I found 5 places in total: The Yoga Retreat, World’s End, Macrobiotic World, Soma and Peppercorn.
Also, I have changed my site’s address: http://glutenfreethailand.wordpress.com/category/gf-restaurants/
I was there just a few weeks ago. I found 5 places in total: The Yoga Retreat, World’s End, Macrobiotic World, Soma and Peppercorn.
Also, I have changed my site’s address: http://glutenfreethailand.wordpress.com/category/gf-restaurants/
Sweet blog! I found it while searching onn Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Many thanks
Did you ever end up going? How was it? Did you find it hard to eat safely? I would love to hear about where you ate and what you ate in Thailand.
Did you ever make it to Thailand? Was it easy or hard to find safe food? I am Celiac only but would love to hear about your experience.
I should mention that I am mostly interested if you made it to Chiang Mai and how the food experience was there as my husband and I are planning a trip there soon.
Hi! Yes, I did go to Thailand. I went to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Koh Phangnan. You can find all of my Thailand posts and mentions here:
http://glutenfreeglobetrotter.com/category/asia/thailand/
In Chiang Mai, I went to Butter is Better Bakery twice. I also took a cooking class at Baan Thai Cookery School which was so much fun. Apparently, there are more places that have opened since my trip. I suggest Google and Trip Advisor for your research. That’s how I found most of the places I went to in Thailand.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions or want help with your itinerary! gfglobetrotter@gmail.com
How did it go??!
I loved Thailand. I didn’t get sick from gluten at all. Please use the search tool to see my posts about Bangkok and a cooking class in Chiang Mai.
Oh, Thanks Erin. I am following you on facebook already. Found out just now that you have been to Thailand. I have been there about 25 times, but still not one time since my diagnosis six months ago. I am glad I tried all the food I did before my body decided to say no to gluten. It seems like my favorite thai dish is gluten free. Tom Yam Khung. Thanks for all this great information. I will read it all.
/Stefan