Italian
Order: Marinara pasta · pizza marinara · minestrone · bruschetta · grilled vegetables · olives.
Ask about: Ask about butter, cream, parmesan, egg pasta, anchovy in caesar.
Travel · Restaurants · Real-world eating
Vegan when eating out and travelling
Order plant-based anywhere on Earth. Cuisine-by-cuisine picks, hidden ingredients to spot, airline meals, and a phrase card that has your back.
By cuisine — what to order
Indian
Order: Chana masala · dal · aloo gobi · bhindi · vegetable biryani · roti · idli · dosa.
Ask about: Ghee, paneer, cream. Ask if naan is brushed with butter.
Mexican
Order: Bean tacos · guacamole · salsa · rice & beans · fajita vegetables · chips.
Ask about: Lard in refried beans and rice, cheese and sour cream. Ask for corn tortillas.
Chinese
Order: Ma po tofu (no meat) · buddha's delight · vegetable dumplings · sichuan aubergine · steamed greens.
Ask about: Oyster sauce, fish sauce, egg noodles, chicken stock. Order with mushroom sauce.
Thai
Order: Green/red curry (request no fish sauce) · pad thai (no egg) · som tam · mango sticky rice.
Ask about: Fish sauce, shrimp paste, egg. Say 'jay' (Thai vegan) or 'mangsawirat'.
Japanese
Order: Avocado / cucumber / inari maki · edamame · vegetable tempura · miso soup (ask about dashi).
Ask about: Dashi (bonito), mayo. Choose kombu-only dashi restaurants.
Middle Eastern
Order: Hummus · baba ganoush · falafel · tabbouleh · foul · stuffed vine leaves · fatoush.
Ask about: Yogurt sauces. Check falafel isn't fried with eggs.
Ethiopian
Order: Yatakilt wat · misir wat · gomen · shiro · injera. Order the 'fasting platter' — traditionally fully vegan.
Ask about: Kitfo, tibs, doro wat (all animal-based).
Hidden animal ingredients
Bread
Milk, butter, eggs, honey, L-cysteine (from feathers/hair).
Refried beans
Lard is standard in many Tex-Mex chains.
Wine & beer
Isinglass (fish), gelatin or egg used for fining. Check Barnivore.
Sugar
Bone char refining, mostly US cane sugar. Beet sugar is always vegan.
Pesto
Contains parmesan and often anchovy. Ask for oil + basil instead.
Veggie burgers
Often bound with egg or cheese at non-vegan chains.
On planes
Request VGML (vegan) not VLML. Book at least 24h out. Bring backup snacks — mix-ups happen on ~10% of long-haul routes.
In the wild
HappyCow lists vegan restaurants in 180+ countries. Google Maps: search 'vegan' in-region for reviews and photos.
At home dinners
Bring one abundant dish — mushroom bourguignon, big grain salad, dal — that quietly out-eats the meat platter.
FAQ
How do I ask if something is vegan in another language?
Use our printable phrase card — it covers 30+ languages with photos of common animal ingredients and the phrase 'I don't eat meat, fish, dairy, eggs or honey.'
What's the safest cuisine to default to when travelling?
Indian (South Indian especially), Ethiopian fasting menu, and traditional Middle-Eastern mezze are almost universally accommodating. Italian is easy in cities; harder in small towns where cheese is default.
How do I order vegan on a flight?
Request 'VGML' (vegan meal, not 'VLML' which allows dairy) at least 24 hours before departure. Bring a protein bar and fresh fruit as backup — VGML mix-ups are common.
What if I'm invited to a non-vegan family meal?
Offer to bring one hearty dish that serves everyone. Eat before if unsure. Keep it warm and unpreachy — the food does the convincing.