The buzz:  Following on from the original outlet on Nimmanhemin Road in Chiang Mai, owner and chef Churnjuti “Churn” Sathirasrindh brings her self-titled vegetarian restaurant to Bangkok, hoping to woo health-conscious city dwellers with her down-to-earth, meat-free cuisine.

The decor: Sleek and low-lit with earth tones, wooden paneling and cushioned banquettes, this looks and feels more like an upmarket sushi bar than a shrine to vegetarian cooking. Bossanova and jazz tunes enhance the stylish ambience.

The cuisine: Vegetarian, what else? But instead of trying to fool meat lovers with faux duck or chicken, Khun Churn plays with local organic produce from greens and tofu to taros and potatoes. Designed with health in mind, the menu offers a variety of dishes prepared with low-cholestrol vegetable oil. Fish sauce is replaced with soy sauce, coconut milk with non-dairy, transfat-free cereal cream and white rice with brown. Crisp fried potato chunks tossed with chopped garlic and parsley, the man kratiem (B85) is a simple but addictive dish, as are Khun Churn’ string beans (B95) topped with sweet ginger sauce. But the really popular crowd-pleasers are fresh spring rolls (B75), salad kaek (mixed veggie salad with peanut sauce, B140) and pan-seared tofu coated with sesame (B110). A set lunch (B130) is also available, 10:30am-3pm, and a fully macrobiotic menu will be introduced soon.

The drinks: There are herbal drinks like matoom (B45) and iced jasmine tea with dried plum (B55). Or try its fruit juice cocktails such as the Keep the Doctor Away (orange, apple, lime, B85) or Detox (wheat grass, beetroot, cucumber, carrot, apple, celery, B105). Need some alcohol? Choose from wine by the glass (B140), beer (B95) or a vodka shot (B100).

The crowd: Health conscious young professionals in the neighborhood and families.

Khun Churn. G/F, Bangkok Mediplex Bldg., Sukhumvit Soi 42, BTS Ekamai, 02-713-6599. Open daily 10am-8pm.