Vegan
Thai
Delivery
Take-out
Asian
Vegan Thai food restaurant. Offers a lunch combination special. Dinner is a la carte menu. Reported having a separate bakery that makes both vegan and non-vegan goods. Moved into this space 2013 from 1121 NE 45th St. Open Mon-Sun 11:30am-3:00pm, Mon-Thu 4:30pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 4:30pm-9:30pm, Sun 4:30pm-9:00pm.
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5240 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, USA, 98105
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Last update on 18 Jun 2023 by soshill_climber
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109 Reviews
First Review by xbillyx
zenmaestro
Points +803
best vegan buffet anywhere - Edit
i travel lot and try lots of vegan restaurants in the cities that i visit. this is probably one of the best vegan thai restaurants in the country -perhaps the best. not just an excellent "vegan" restaurant, it's perhaps the best thai restaurant in seattle. outstanding flavors. service is acceptable -friendly/cordial. restaurant's clean. highly recommended.
Read morePros: excellent food, great location near other vegan haunts
Cons: service could be warmer
Guest
foosgoddess
Points +112
Best Vegan Thai food - Edit
This place is great. The staff is super friendly and the food was Amazing. They also make there own fake meat and it is really good. I highly recommend this place.
Read morePros: Amazing food, Fake meat made there. , Good prices
Cons: Didn't like the location
Guest
HelenK
Points +39
One of my favorites! - Edit
This is by far my favorite Thai restaurant. I have eaten at a lot of Thai restaurants but none beat Araya's! They say "vegetarian place" but they are actually vegan (although they may have dairy for their iced teas).
Read moreI have never had a bad dish here! My favorites are the fresh rolls, tom kah soup, pad Thai, bathing rama, and pa-nang curry. They also make fabulous Thai iced teas and interesting cocktails, along with vegan baked goods.
Additionally, I am both gluten-free and allergic to corn and they are always very accommodating. Many items are already gluten free and many they can make gluten free by request (like the fried rice). I bring many omnivorous friends and family here and they also really like the food.
One other thing I love about this restaurant is how the vegan message is conveyed. It is clear that this is a vegan restaurant and the reason is for the animals. They sell vegan stickers by donation and also provide informational flyers on veganism (such as "what about fish?") in the restaurant. They also recently hosted a vegan bake sale to raise money for charity.
This is an all around amazing restaurant and they also recently moved locations to a nicer space a little farther North. Definitely check them out!
Pros: Excellent food, Food allergy friendly, Promote veganism
Guest
Shel Graves
Points +266
Vegan Thai in a great vegan neighborhood - Edit
Welcome to the vegan neighborhood, Araya, we've been waiting for you to open!
Read moreThis is great vegan Thai in a beautiful new location next to Wayward Vegan Cafe, Vegan Haven grocery, and vegan Pizza Pi.
For Thai, go here!
Pros: Experienced staff and chefs, Good atmosphere and location, Curries: avocado, pumpkin, pineapple
Cons: You don't like Thai?
Guest
veggieseal
Points +63
Fantastic Vegan Thai! - Edit
Araya's is, hands-down, my favorite Thai restaurant in Seattle. There's no worrying about ingredients, everything is delicious, the staff is friendly but doesn't hover. Close to perfect.
Read moreUnlike most people I know, I don't really care for the lunch buffet...their menu entrees are a little more expensive, but definitely more variety. The buffet is a good one though, if that's your bag.
Pros: All vegan, scrumptious, helpful service
Guest
Miso Vegan
Points +83
Good Thai food - Edit
Lunch buffet is good. Be sure to get there early, though. Menu items are very good, though strangely their pad thai is disappointing. Service has never been great, but is sometimes okay (feels disorganized). For the prices, especially at dinner, I'd want better. Portions are decent. ... Note the buffet price went up - it's $8 + tax now.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Thursday July 13, 2006
Pros: vegan, buffet is good, location
Cons: service usually so-so, pricey
Guest
SummerMorgan
Points +62
Great food and Friendly Service! - Edit
Favorite resturant in the Seattle area!
Read morePros: Food, Price, Service
Guest
corinal
Points +1764
Amazing buffet!!! - Edit
The all-vegan lunch buffet is such a treat. Tons of options and such good food. A cute little place with a friendly atmosphere. I always go straight to the spring rolls while loading up a whole soup bowl of plum sauce, then I go for the phad thai and pour peanut sauce on it, and I sometimes mix in a little of the other stuff as well to see what I feel like. While you don't have to load up all at once because it is an all-you-can-eat buffet, it is difficult not to!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Many options, Friendly
Cons: The buffet doesn't go all day
Guest
cookie1908
Points +83
Amazing Lunch Buffet! - Edit
Do not miss this gem! Araya's lunch buffet is full of delicious dishes...and everything is vegan! Fried rice, pad thai, soup, salad, noodle dishes, veggie dishes, spring rolls, fruit, and dessert. All for $9/per person, what more can you ask for? My husband and I went back up to the buffet line at least 3 times! Highly recommend.
Read morePros: Inexpensive, Cute university neighborhood location, Delicious ALL VEGAN food
Cons: Lunch buffet line gets long
Guest
Meggie and Ben
Points +1786
WOW - Edit
Seriously amazing food. I love this place. Their thai tea and pumpkin curry is to die for!
Read moreGuest
SouthernVegan
Points +51
I love it! - Edit
Great food, good prices. The lunch buffet is amazing and the dinner menu is great as well. They do not serve alcohol
Read moreGuest
Nomeatforme
Points +41
Overall good! - Edit
I very much enjoyed what I had. The staff was friendly and the food was good! I'm not a big fan of buffets, especially when I see little fingers poking around, so I ordered off the menu and go the Spicy Noodles.
Read moreMy only real complaint would be that the place needs a little updating and the bathroom was neglected.
Pros: Friendly Service, Tasty Food, Good Variety
Cons: Needs Buffet Police, Dirty Bathrooms, Remodel due
Guest
vegaholic
Points +38
consistently good - Edit
Very reliably good food, love the noodle curry and pineapple fried rice (can get it with brown rice). Friendly staff and really nice atmosphere.
Read moreGuest
chrisaultman
Points +59
Good food, huge selection - Edit
I'm mostly raw, but a friend wanted to take me here. I really enjoyed it. The menu is huge. Incredible to have that many choices. Service and ambience were good, and I'd definitely go back.
Read morePros: Tons of choices, Delicious food
Cons: No raw dishes
Guest
fondducoeur
Points +1167
Huge Menu, Great Atmosphere - Edit
I ate lunch at Araya's yesterday, and thought the place was awesome. The menu is huge and the atmosphere and service is great. As an appetizer, the veggie tempura was fantastic. My husband's lemon tofu entree was pretty yummy (but didn't taste very lemony). I got the veggie beef with peanut sauce. The sauce was great, as were the noddles and veggies, but I wasn't fond of the veggie beef. If I go there again I will probably stick with tofu.
Read moreHowever, the portions are large and there were tons of options on the menu. They have a daily vegan buffet that sounds great, but I haven't tried it yet.
Pros: huge menu, all vegan, nice atmosphere
Guest
j.lee
Points +119
Love - Edit
Used to live across the street from this place (more or less) and they were always good for a quick pick-up when I had the need for some Red Curry. The spring rolls are to die for, the thai tofu is one of my favorite appetizers, and the Phad Phrik King, my standby whenever we go there and I'm not sure, makes me wish we still lived by there. My one problem - the bean composition seems to have changed in recent years...they may be using a new supplier, but it's not quite as good as it used to be. But that's really just nitpicking on what's essentially an institution for Seattle vegans.
Read morePros: Great Food, Unbelievably friendly staff, 100% Vegan
Cons: Lunch Buffet can get boring, No Massamun Curry
Guest
thoor_ballylee
Points +321
Good, filling vegan Thai. - Edit
I would fully recommend this restaurant. I have not tried the buffet yet, so I can't say if the other reviews on the buffet are correct, but in general buffet food is nothing to rave about, I don't know why it would be better just because is was vegan. I had spring rolls and spicy noodles and tofu, it wasn't excellent, but it was pretty good and I felt for where I was it was a good enough value. I went by myself, but I would recommend this restaurant to anyone going with a few people, I probably won't go back by myself. I enjoyed the atmosphere and all the Buddhas hanging out all over, it felt relaxed and peaceful and in the middle of Seattle that is not something I can say very often. Also for any real spice lovers, this place hooked me up with the best of them, I asked for the real thing and they did not disappoint.
Read morePros: tasty, filling food, atmosphere
Guest
Cascadian
Points +244
Excellent value vegan thai lunch buffet! - Edit
Araya's is my favorite Thai place anywhere. I love their set price, all you care to eat lunch buffet and try to eat there every time I am in Seattle. The University District location they have is fairly central and offers the highest concentration of vegan & vegan-friendly places in Seattle. If I was able to do so I would give Araya's a 4.5!
Read morePros: Good location, Lunch buffet offers great value, Nice ambience inside
Cons: Price is higher than would be ideal, On a busy car-filled street / no view, Not in Portland (my city!)
Guest
Keith_Thode
Points +717
Vegan Thai - 'Nuf said. - Edit
When visiting Seattle, this is my favorite eating place. It's been in business a long time, because it's popular. It's popular, because of the food, whether you're a vegan or a carnivore.
Read moreGuest
waxnumber3
Points +52
awesome lunch buffet - Edit
The Araya's lunch buffet is a great deal on delicious vegan food. I particularly like their soups. The staff is always friendly and the environment welcoming. They also have vegetarian/vegan resources available.
Read morePros: all vegan, yummy buffet, good value
Guest
shirley1
Points +340
best vegan thai food - Edit
I were recently in Seattle and visited this restaurant.It is a family run business which makes it very homely and friendly.
Read moreThe food was amazing > I was with 2 non veg people who said it was as good as any authentic thai food that they had eaten.
We went back the next day for the buffet which was also very good with a good selection of food to choose from.
It is worth the visit.
Pros: good food, good selection, good portions
Cons: none
Guest
markvegan
Points +60
Support Araya's! - Edit
All Vegan! with tons of informative brochures and support of animal rights!!!
Read morePros: all-Vegan, Animal Rights, Friendly
Guest
915phil
Points +62
Friggin Awesome - Edit
I absolutely love this place. The buffet is delicious and reasonably priced. An absolute must-visit.
Read morePros: Great food, Good service, Chill atmosphere
Guest
Tofu Mom
Points +45
So Tasty! - Edit
My family and I love Araya's!! The buffet is affordable especially with the endless appetites my teens have. We live out of town but will make a special trip just to eat here.
Read moreBesides, it's VEGAN and how many places can you find that cater to us that way, specifically?
Pros: VEGAN, buffet, friendly
Cons: parking can be tricky
Guest
noah
Points +71
amazing - Edit
i eat thai food locally usually twice a week. it was not until i went to Araya's that i found my favorite thai dish. avocado green curry. all i can say is that i now have my local thai place custom make this dish because it WAS THAT GOOD. great service. good tea. decently priced. parking on site. oh, i also had pineapple fried rice, vegan, and it was oh so tasty. but if you can only get one, get the avocado green curry!!!
Read morePros: avocado green curry, parking
Guest
Lettuce Muncher
Points +393
Yummy - Edit
I really enjoyed this place. We were seated in a corner surrounded by Buddha statues, which was an experience in itself. I had the Phad Thai and some sort of stir fry with cashews and mushrooms in it, as well as the spring rolls. The brown rice was good, not like regular brown rice, this was actually really tasty. The only drawbacks were the slow service-she took our order right away but didn't check on us or give us our bill until at least a HALF HOUR AFTER we finished eating. I was also overcharged. The Phad Thai was delicious, they say they make the spring rolls there, but they tasted exactly like the ones I can buy in the freezer section at a health food store for cheaper! I will definitely return, even though I am still miffed about being overcharged. I would like to try their lunch buffet.
Read morePros: Tasty Food, All Vegan
Cons: Poor Service, Overcharged
Guest
CrispyOne
Points +50
Yummy Buffet! - Edit
I've been to Araya's several times in the past since I used to work next door, but I could never get my husband (he's a meat eater) to eat there until now. We both had the buffet and enjoyed it very much. The spring rolls and pad thai are my favorites. Keep up the great work!
Read morePros: All vegan buffet, Nice staff, Good value for price
Guest
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