Yet I did not find a menu at all even on their website, so I’ve assembled the menu with Jit‘s help (NorthernThailand.com). Feel free to download the menu below if you plan to try Pun Pun Vegetarian Restaurant, however the editing properties are not allowed.

View from Le Méridien, Chiang-Mai Thailand (Photo by Doni Dexter Photography)

Location & Hours & Notes

• Pun Pun Restaurant Website | Pun Pun on Facebook
• Located behind Monk Chat Building, Wat Suan Dok, Muang Chiang Mai,(Suthep Road) Thailand | Phone: +66-081-470-1461.
• Just ask your tuk-tuk or driver to take you to Wat Suan Dok temple, then walk on the main road until you see “Monk Chat building”, and you will see the restaurant sign.
• Open 9:00am-4:00pm except for Wednesdays
• Most staff speak Thai, but they might be able to know some English, it doesn’t hurt to try to ask. The host speaks mostly Thai though.

Coconut & Passionfruit Juices with Ice (30 B. each)
I love their ice juices. So refreshing and fruity when it comes from fresh fruits like coconut or passionflower. But I sadly would choose coconut over passionfruit, there’s something so real about the coconut ice water that I cannot explain in words. Each drink is worth less than a dollar!

{Gang Masaman} Masamman Curry in Coconut Milk w/ Potato, Peanut, Tofu and Mushrooms (45 B.)
I don’t remember what it tasted like since I ate it in November 2011, but it was a decent curry, I recalled. It comes up with one complimentary plate of steamed brown rice. For extra plate of steamed brown rice, it costs 10 B.

{Yen ta four} Noodle Vegetable Soup with Tofu, Topped with Beetroot & Lime Sauce (40 B.)
I am a MASSIVE fan of noodle soups because I grew up around herbal & broth-flavoured noodle soups (aka Taiwan). However, I never had an actual “Thai” noodle soup so I went for that one since it has unique toppings such as seaweed, beetroot and “lime sauce.” Unfortunately that noodle soup just didn’t really jive with my palate. It was a bit of a let down. It was sort of a tart, beet, seaweedy noodle soup. Seaweed & beetroot doesn’t combine very well for me, it was too sweet for me. I honestly don’t like my noodle soups sweet, but I like my noodle soups spicy and salty. I would love to try other noodle soups when I return to PUN PUN Vegetarian.

{Lap dtow hoo kub hed} Sour, Salty and Spicy Minced Tofu Salad mixed with Roasted Rice Powder (45 B.)
In the U.S., Thai restaurants call them laab or larb, which any meat mince played a role in the dish flavored with fish sauce, lime juice and fresh herbs. But in a veganized laab or larb, they use tofu or seitan as a source of protein and texture. Therefore, in Chiang-Mai, the northern Thais call their dish as, “Lap”, which I find it interesting. The dish was spectacular with some chili heat. I would get it again and it’s a must to try an authentic, vegan-friendly Lap salad for only 45 Bahts!

{Salad dok mai} Edible Deep Fried Flowers & Greens Salad (60 B.)
This is my first time to try fried flowers salad, or an actual flowers salad. It tasted like a sweet tempura salad, but I couldn’t taste the flowers very well, but PUN PUN serves a variety of vegan-friendly dressings. I don’t recall the dressing I had, but it was tasty on the salad. It was a certainly unique dish I have tried in Chiang-Mai. I would love to try it again when I return.

{Pad prig khing dtow hoo} Stir-fried Green Beans & Tofu with Roasted Chili Paste (45 B.)
The host at PUN PUN Vegetarian recommended me the stir-fried dish, and it was my last day to eat with them. Surprisingly the dish didn’t taste that spicy at all but tasty. I liked the combination of green beans & tofu with roasted chili paste, and it is served with one complimentary plate of steamed brown rice. For extra plate of steamed brown rice, it costs 10 B. I would love to try other stir-fried dishes when I return.

{Gang keaw wahn} Green Curry in Coconut Milk w/ Eggplant, Green Bean, Tofu, Mushrooms and Sweet Basil (45 B.)
I’ve tried all sorts of Thai green curries at other restaurants as well as the Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi): all of them tasted a bit heavy, greasy and extremely spicy. But this one at PUN PUN Vegetarian, it tastes like a perfect green curry, well balanced and blended. The vegetables weren’t soggy, but freshly cooked in the curry. I love the combination of the curry. PUN PUN Vegetarian serves very good vegan-friendly authentic northern Thai curries! Served with one complimentary plate of steamed brown rice. For extra plate of steamed brown rice, it costs 10 B.

Deep-fried Spring Rolls Stuffed with Herbs & Sprouts served with Tamarind Dipping Sauce (45 B.).
Wow, you can actually taste the strong Thai basil herb in the deep-fried, yet delicately crispy spring rolls. The sweetness from the tamarind dipping sauce was delish. I love fried spring rolls, but for Thai, they tasted great especially with fresh herbs. I would say it is a twist of Vietnamese fresh and Thai fried spring rolls. Great appetizer dish!

{Som tam Lao} North-Eastern style Green Papaya Salad (35 B.)
When it comes to Northern Thai cuisine, it is a must to try some green papaya salad from that area. At first, we can smell the fermentation from the salad due to the mild pungent smell. I had fermented salads before, but this green papaya salad was not as enjoyable as I had thought. It was too sour and fermented at the same time. But I wouldn’t mind trying their lap (Larb or laab) salad again, which was probably the best one.

Name: Arlette Bellio
Funniest Nickname: Artie
Location: Currently living in Mexico City (Originally from NYC)
Occupation: Holistic Practitioner/Teacher, Artist & Photographer

Blog Name: THETAHEALING™ & PHOTOGRAPHY
Blog WWW: artbellio.blogspot.com
Twitter: @artbellio
Facebook: /ThetaHealing Arlette

Where are you based in and how long have you been living there?
I am based in the East Coast, currently living in Mexico since Oct 2010.

How did you start as a vegan? Tell your story.
It started a few years back. I couldn’t look the other way any longer and ignore what was being done to the animals.

What inspired you to start a blog? What sort of topics do you generally about?
I like to document my experiences while traveling. Usually Photography and places I visit.

What is your favourite vegan local meal & dessert?
That would be Enchiladas de Flor de calabaza without the cheese of course from Maque. Dessert–haven’t found great vegan desert yet

What are your favourite vegan restaurants in Mexico City and how often do you eat out in Mexico City?
I would say Falafelito & Corazón de Árbol. I eat about 2-3 times a week.

You live in Mexico City, where tortillas are popular. Do you prefer flour or corn or blue corn? Why?
I prefer blue corn tortillas simply because the blue corn has not been contaminated by GMOs (I have heard) and also because it’s gluten-free

Which area of Mexico City is best for vegan food?
Colonia Roma

Is that true that Mexico lacks groceries compared to U.S.? Got a reason?
Yes! By far. The meat substitutes here reminds me of what we had in Health Food stores back in the early ’90′s! We could really use a WHOLEFOODS!

What is your experience ordering vegan dishes at any restaurants in Mexico City?
Well, sometimes even though I ask for a dish “no cheese” the food arrives with it. On one occasion I had to send it back twice!

What is your favourite taco filling?
Flor de Calabaza (zucchini flower)

Do you ever cook, if so, what is your favorite style or ethnicity of cooking?
Yes, I cook all the time. It really depends on my mood. I like variety! I’ll make a vegan lasagna, or Indian Dosas with coconut chutney, Japanese soup with soba, veggies and sea vegetables; wakami, and hijiki, or Carribean style black bean rice, sweet plantains, or Felafel or Thai yellow curry with veggies and rice noodles. But my favorite is fusion, when I mix it up, like middle Eastern with Asian and Mexican.

What local ingredient could you not live without?
Avocado

What vegan food adventures are on your horizon for the upcoming summer?
Playa Del Carmen – I heard there’s a raw vegan restaurant there, looking forward to check it out.

Any last minute advices on visiting Mexico City?
Bring your own: Tempeh, Earth Balance, Follow Your Heart’s Vegan Mayo.

 

Want to join Rika’s interviews? Contact me at veganmiam (at) gmail.com.

I wrote an earlier post on Mexico City DF’s Azul Condesa in Colonia La Condesa, and I would like to refine a new post about Chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita’s Azul Condesa since it was my second experience there. Keep in mind that their general menu only offers one vegetarian/vegan option (without “queso” or cheese). Because of the popular mango season in Mexico City DF (this April-early May), Azul Condesa currently serves a special seasonal mango-themed menu, which may have at least 1 – 2 vegan options such as the guacamole with mango and fresh tortilla chips (not made with lard, fortunately) or mango salad.

I may have wrote that they had excellent service: My first time with Azul Condesa was amazing because the staff spoke English fluently plus left us ample time to finish our plates. My second time was terrible and strange: the staff did not speak English at all, plus I get stared at a lot and he would walk around our table frequently to see if we finish our plates. He was slightly impatient despite how empty the restaurant was which I assumed we would get better service when it opens compared to busy evenings. It is a bit rude when you have staff talking belligerently in the corner near the kitchen. It is best to leave your customers alone for awhile and finish their plates comfortably without pestering every 5 minutes, seriously.

 
To view my first post on Azul Condesa, go here, but I would recommend reading this first since my first post may have typos.

 

Location & Hours & Notes

• Azul Condesa Website | Azul Condesa on Twitter | Azul Condesa on Facebook
• Azul Condesa Nuevo León #68 Colonia La Condesa Mexico, D.F.
• Monday through Saturday from 1:30PM – 1:30AM | Sundays 1:30PM – 6:30PM.
• Some staff speak English and Spanish. I began to notice during weekday openings (around 1-3pm), the staff do not speak English at all. I wonder if Azul Condesa only uses evening staff that speak both, but not the afternoon staff because it is not too busy between 1 – 4pm?
• It is very strange that the restaurant manager will ask if you have a reservation with them when it opens exactly at 1pm during a quiet weekday. We came early at 1pm and had no reservation with them. But I would strongly recommend to make a reservation after 4pm as well as weekends since it is more likely to get busy.
• They serve complimentary bread rolls basket with mildly spicy salsa, which are vegan.

We ordered Mango & Guanábana margaritas, plus Classic (cheaper) and Cucumber (with chili-salt on a rim) margaritas. I ordered a vegan-friendly dish from their seasonal mango menu: Guacamole with Mango ($65 pesos), which is their guacamole recipe with fresh mango chunks served with tortilla chips. My partner ordered a vegan-friendly entree dish, which can be made without cheese (“queso”): Organic hibiscus flower enchiladas, served with light tomato and smoky chipotle sauces at $95 pesos, which was also mentioned in the earlier post.

Mango & Guanábana (aka Soursop in English) Margaritas.
I think the Mango Margarita is a winner since I could not taste the Guanábana very well. I would get the Mango Margarita again. These margaritas taste like soft version of nieve, more like a icy sorbet.



Complimentary bread rolls & salsa.
I love the warm bread rolls in the basket with the traditional chipotle-flavoured salsa (hints of peanuts). It is a bit spicy, but tasty. The bread rolls are great with the vegan enchiladas tomato sauce as well.

Guacamole with Mango ($65 pesos).
It is a huge margarita-style glass of guacamole with fresh, soft mango chunks and pomegranate seeds. I never had a sweet version of guacamole with pomegranate and mango but it was worth to try it in Mexico City. I couldn’t finish it all, but with my partner’s help, it was worth it. I could taste the freshness of these mango chunks and knowing it is a popular mango season in Mexico City, these mango chunks are so tasty! The guacamole was very creamy, yummy and interesting: I suspected these onions were blended in already as a creamy guacamole. The tortilla chips were very crispy and shaped as “scoops”, which made them easy to eat with the guacamole.

Organic hibiscus flower enchiladas, served with light tomato and smoky chipotle sauces ($95 pesos).
In Spanish, it was written as: Enchiladas de Jamaica orgánica: bañadas en salsa ligera de jitomate y chile chipotle. It was a very big traditional Mexican dish of enchiladas. My partner ordered it for himself and I had some of the sauce with the complimentary bread rolls. It was pretty filling for him, unfortunately he had a stomachache afterward probably due to the hibiscus flowers.

Classic Margarita.
My partner wanted to try a classic margarita while in Mexico City, and it tasted original, I suppose.

Cucumber Margarita with Chili & Salt on a Rim.
I had a taste of it during my first time at Azul Condesa and it tasted so refreshing with a strong cucumber flavour, but for some reason during my second time there, it did not taste the same. It was slightly strong with a faint cucumber flavour. I do like the chili & salt on a rim for the most part.

To view other groceries & restaurants in Mexico City, go here.

• Nevería Roxy Website | Twitter
• I went to Nevería Roxy in the Condesa area. There is one in Polanco area as well, but I would highly recommend the Condesa location due to a friendly staff and bigger lot. Tamaulipas #161 Hipódromo Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de México, DF, Mexico
• Opens Monday to Sunday 11:00am to 8:00pm
• Old-fashioned ice cream parlour
• Their vegan-friendly nieve menu can be found here.
• It is vegan-friendly as long as you request nieve (water ice or sorbet).
• Two choices: traditional Mexican nieves or American-style helados.
• Bola grande (big scoop): $18 pesos and bola chica (small scoop): $15 pesos
• Get a bola grande scoop if you want an enjoyable, lasting nieve or fruit sorbet and make sure you get it without a cone since it may not be vegan (I have not asked, but most cones are not vegan). I got mine in a traditional glass cup.

Nevería Roxy’s Nieve Flavours

• Chicozapote
• Fresa
• Guanábana
• Guayaba
• Lima
• Limón
• Mamey – I tried the flavour and it tasted smooth and delicious if you tasted an actual mamey before. It made the sorbet creamier due to its thick, but soft texture. I would get it again.
• Mandarina
• Maracuyá
• Melón
• Naranja
• Piña
• Tamarindo – It is always unique to try anything with tamarind in Mexico, but the sweetness from the tamarind gives the nieve a very sweet, a bit nutty and tangy flavour. It is a very unique flavour coming from a homemade nieve.
• Zapote
• Zarzamora

Nevería Roxy’s Tamarind Nieve

Nevería Roxy’s Mamey Nieve

 
Will I come back?
With an uncomfortable afternoon heat wave in Mexico City, you will need your “VEGAN” flavoured ice sorbet! I love all kinds of flavours for a nieve, and you cannot get these FRESH exotic fruit flavours anywhere in the U.S., but Mexico! I am better off with nieve than a fatty coconut ice cream! It’s only a dollar something for a scoop of that and it’s a good deal for sure!

 

 
To view other groceries & restaurants in Mexico City, go here.

Located in the gritty Colonia Roma, Nirvana Vegetariano is a traditional, Carribean-influenced version of traditional Mexican cuisine based on staples such as the tortilla, Plantain, tamales, tacos as well as black beans. At $60 pesos per person, it surpasses any other traditional Mexican restaurants for that price. Plus, it comes with a beverage (refillable) for extra $14 pesos. That day I went with a local friend, it has pero (pear) or Jamacia Flower juices. I mostly like the pear juice since it tasted less sweet than the Jamaica Flower.

Location & Hours & Notes

• Puebla #120, Colonia Roma, Cuauhtémoc, D.F., Mexico
• Small Buffet-Style
• Opens Monday to Sunday 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, which may look very limited. It gets very busy after 2 PM.
• Affordable price per person $60 pesos, or with refillable beverage at $74 pesos. You need to pay upfront and then pick a table. You will receive one card for the buffet or two cards for buffet + beverage. Then go to the right end of the buffet and give the card(s) to the dishwasher, to get your utensils/plate from the dishwasher (see below photo on the right). Then you can proceed whatever you like.
• It is 100% vegetarian-friendly (lacto-vegetarian) and can be mostly vegan-friendly. But always ask the staff first.
• Always ask the staff to indicate which dishes are vegan before you eat. Surprisingly, all the dishes are vegan except for the creamy condiments set aside.
• The dishes are usually divided by fruits, salad, one soup and couple of main courses.

On the right side of the buffet area, you will see dishes in the window, that’s where the dishwasher will provide you utensils & plates after giving him your “card” provided by the staff.

You will receive one card for the buffet or two cards for buffet + beverage after paying upfront. Go to the right end of the buffet and give the card(s) to the dishwasher, to get your utensils/plate.

I received the plates & a cup for beverage after giving the dishwasher the two cards. ($74 pesos).

Vegan Pozole & Hominy Oyster Mushroom Soup
I did not have a chance to look at the entrance board, but we guessed it was a vegan pozole soup, but it didn’t taste like pozole, but mostly hominy oyster mushroom soup. It is an interesting soup with plenty of textures. I do like it though!

Vegan Vegetables Tamales
You can get as many tamales as you want at Nirvana Vegetariano, but they are freshly made tamales. The tamales contains grilled vegetables which was pretty interesting. I wish I could eat it all, but I had a bite from my partner’s and it tasted really yummy! Best tamales ever! Avoid tamales with small block of cheese because they aren’t vegan!

Our plates from the buffet
You can get fresh corn tortillas, Mexican rice, Plantain & eggplants, faux “gyro-like” meat with hint of pineapples, and much more to make your own taco or eat it out of the plate. I really like the Plantain & Eggplants dish, it tasted sweet and roasted, especially creamy. Everything tastes very delicious, and I had no complaints about any of these! It was certainly an enjoyment! The buffet also provides cilantro spicy salsa and limes as well as other condiments that may not be vegan.

 
Will I come back?
Yes, I would go back for a decent buffet. It’s a very affordable option to eat in Mexico City and something different to try such as a fusion of Mexican & Caribbean cuisine. Now it is making me curious about vegan Carribean cuisine! I never had stomach issues with Nirvana Vegetariano (I can tell if I eat dairy by accident), but so good, none so far!

 

 
To view other groceries & restaurants in Mexico City, go here.

Blog Name: Vegan Mexican Food
Blog WWW: www.vmexx.blogspot.com
Twitter: @darth_lorr
Facebook: /darthsideofthemoon
Pinterest: /cadavrexquis

 
Where are you based in and how long have you been living there?
I’m currently living in Xochimilco, Mexico City and have been here since January ’12. Before that, I lived here from July to December back in ’09.

 

 
How did you start as a vegan? Tell your story.
I went vegan little more than 2 years ago and was vegetarian 3 years before that. Trying to give up cheese was a struggle, but being on the Post Punk Kitchen forum and meeting other vegans helped me make the transition from vegetarian to vegan.

What inspired you to start a blog? What sort of topics do you generally about?
Other blogs, definitely! I saw how others shared their recipes and funny stories and wanted to do the same.
I generally talk about food but I like to sneak some personal experiences in there, too.

What is your favourite vegan local meal & dessert?
Tacos and pineapple tamales.

 

 
What are your favourite vegan restaurants in Mexico City and how often do you eat out in Mexico City?
Gold Taco! Not vegan, but they have decent options and The Green Corner is a close second. I eat out at least once a week.

You live in Mexico City, where tortillas are popular. Do you prefer flour or corn or blue corn? Why?
That’s a tough one! I love flour tortillas but most are made with lard and blue aren’t as common as white or yellow corn tortillas, so I’m choosing blue.

Which area of Mexico City is best for vegan food?
Coyoacán, Roma or Condesa.

Is that true that Mexico lacks groceries compared to U.S.? Got a reason?
Yes. Even though I still hear people complain, the U.S. markets are more inclusive, having options for almost everybody with some kind of dietary restriction or people with different lifestyles like us. México on the other hand, is getting there but really slowly. There are plenty of gluten-free and vegan-friendly products in health food stores but the prices are higher than usual.

What is your experience ordering vegan dishes at any restaurants in Mexico City?
Most servers will give you a weird look if you ask about ingredients or try to modify a dish to make it vegan but others will happily help you out (even if they think you’re a little crazy).

What is your favourite taco filling?
Cochinita pibil.

Do you ever cook, if so, what is your favorite style or ethnicity of cooking?
Mexican food! But I love asian-inspired food as well.

 


 
What local ingredient could you not live without?
Hot sauce.

Tell me more about your pet(s).
I have a dog called Ellie. She’s a little out of her mind but we all love her to pieces.

 


 
What vegan food adventures are on your horizon for the upcoming summer?
I’m going back to my hometown (Tijuana) to finish school and hope to discover more vegan options at omni restaurants!

 

 
Any last minute advices on visiting Mexico City?
Bring your vegan passport or dictionary because many people here just speak spanish!

 

 

 

 
Want to join Rika’s interviews? Contact me at veganmiam (at) gmail.com.