So you’ve decided to embrace a plant based diet. Good for you! As more and more people become aware of the benefits of sustainable living and eating a plant-based diet, they’re embracing a plant-based lifestyle. Eating a plant-based diet is not only beneficial to our personal health, but to the health of our planet as well!
While there are sure to be local restaurants for vegans and vegetarians in your area, it can be difficult to limit yourself to just those places every time you’re going out to eat. First of all, it may get boring to eat the same dishes over and over again. And then there are social situations that just don’t lend well to it. Just because you’ve decided to embrace a plant-based diet doesn’t mean your friends and family have.
With that in mind, we’ve put together this guide of how to eat vegan at any restaurant. These opinions are so good you just may be able to convert a few of your carnivorous friends!
Eat vegan at a Vietnamese restaurant
We’ll start with a pretty easy one. While Vietnamese cuisine certainly includes its fair share of meat, it’s also known for using an abundance of vegetables. And considering the growing popularity of Vietnamese food, you’re sure to have one nearby!
Start with a veggie spring roll appetizer. Most Vietnamese restaurants offer them either fried, or using steamed rice paper. This is especially great for those who are choosing to go vegan for health reasons, because you’re able to cut out the fat and cholesterol added from the deep frying process.
For your main course you can go with a number of options. First there’s pho. That big bowl of soup that’s already filled with tons of vegetables can get a kick of protein by adding tofu. Just make sure to ask what type of broth they use. A vermicelli dish is another great option. It’s basically pho minus the broth. Then there’s my personal favorite, a fried tofu banh mi. For the uninitiated, banh mi is a type of sandwich, or more accurately the bread it comes on. Similar to a po-boy or hoagie, it too has a lot of veggies on it. Tell them to hold the mayo and you’ve got an awesome vegan option.
Eat vegan at a Japanese restaurant
Another type of cuisine that offers lots of vegan options without even trying is Japanese food. As a matter fact, one of the most popular dishes at any Japanese restaurant is completely plant-based!
Of course I’m talking about edamame. Edamame is simply immature soybeans still in the pod. They’re either boiled or steamed so they’re super healthy too. And the best part is that a serving contains almost 12g of protein!
If you’re looking for a soup option, try the miso or clear soup. Some restaurants use fish sauce in their broth, so be aware of that when ordering. Veggie ramen is another excellent choice. Don’t be put off by the creamy appearance. Chances are, it’s soy milk.
In addition, there are a plethora of salad options, vegetable tempura, dumplings, and probably several vegetable sushi roll options as well.
Eat vegan at a Chinese restaurant
As most Chinese dishes don’t contain dairy, it is easy to find vegan options for Chinese food. Tofu, a common protein within Asian culture, can also be substituted for meat in many dishes. Make sure you check whether the dishes have been prepared with oyster sauce or fish.
Almost any Chinese dish can be made meatless. General Tso’s tofu (sometimes called bean curd) is an extremely popular choice. If the sweet spiciness of the General Tso sauce isn’t your thing, you can more than likely request any of their sauces to be used instead. Maybe Kung Pao or Mandarin. Wok fried veggies, and eggless fried rice are some other great options.
Eat vegan at a burger restaurant
While it may sound crazy, a whole lot of burger joints these days offer meatless options for their vegan and vegetarian patrons.
Black bean burgers and tofu hotdogs have been around for a while. But now there are even more options with the introduction of plant-based meat substitutes. If you enjoy the taste of meat and haven’t tried them, you should. If you don’t care for the taste and/or texture of meat, try something else. Even several fast food chains have embraced these meatless “beef” patties.
It goes without saying that french fries are still an option. Once again though, you’ll want to ask how they’re prepared. There are a few places left that still use lard or another form of animal fat to cook their fries. If they offer them, go for the sweet potato fries. Sure, they’re still fried, but they are at least slightly healthier, and they’re so good!
Eat Vegan at a Mexican restaurant
I know what you’re thinking. Mexican food and dairy go hand in hand. How could you possibly find a dish that doesn’t use some sort of animal product? Well, it’s easier than you think.
First of all, there are chips and salsa. That’s a vegan option you won’t even have to ask for. Then there’s bean dip and of course guacamole. Once again, you’ll want to ask how they cook their chips, and if there’s any lard in the bean dip.
Veggie fajitas are my go-to vegan option at any Mexican restaurant. Those sizzling veggies and warm tortillas just hit the spot. Ask for a side of guac in lieu of the cheese and sour cream that normally comes with them. A vegetable quesadilla is another excellent main dish. You can always get a side of rice to accompany your fajitas, provided they don’t use chicken broth to cook it.
Summing it up
No matter where you’re eating they’ve got a vegan option for you. Ask your server if they have a separate vegan menu, or any plant-based specialty options. Just because you don’t see them on the menu, doesn’t mean they don’t offer them. If they don’t, that’s okay too! You’ll figure it out. It might take a little thought and innovation on your part, but that’s half the fun!