Vegetarian Food In China

So, you have a trip planned to China and the first thing you wonder is how a vegetarian like yourself will survive? China doesn’t exactly have the reputation of being vegetarian-friendly but worry not.

Being a vegetarian in China is easier than you may think and the good news is that it’s unlikely that you’re going to completely starve. It’s true that the Chinese enjoy their meat and seafood but they’re also big fans of vegetables and you’ll be surprised at the vegetarian dishes available in China.

Here’s a guide to vegetarian food in China. Bon appétit!

Removing Communication Barriers

First things first, it would help to learn how to communicate to staff at the hotel or restaurant that you’re dining at that you’re a vegetarian. The three magic words to remember are Wo Chi Su, which literally translated means ‘I eat vegetarian’.

Picking the Right Food

When at a restaurant in China, look for certain items on the menu like yogurt (the Chinese love their flavoured yogurt!), rice porridge and onion pancakes that make for a delicious breakfast.

For lunch and dinner, stir fried vegetables, dim sums with spinach and mushroom and dishes made with pumpkin, eggplant, green beans and tofu are easily available. Some names to remember are liang ban huang gua, which is a spicy cold cucumber salad, di san xia, which is stir fried eggplant, chilli and potato braised with soy sauce and chao bai cai, which is stir fried cabbage with chilli and salt. Rice is a dietary staple in China so it’s the perfect accompaniment to many of these dishes.

As a general rule, always be sure to let your server know that you don’t eat meat of any kind.

Best Places to Eat

Thanks to globalisation, several Western fast food restaurant chains have made their way in to the Chinese market. Subway and McDonalds are popular amongst tourists looking for familiar food. Papa John's Pizza, T. G. I. Friday's and Starbucks are other outlets with relatively standardised global menus so if you’re likely to find vegetarian fare here too.

Sure-shot Vegetarian Option

If you find it difficult to find vegetarian food, a Buddhist temple will never fail you. Most of them will have a small eatery within the premises that serve 100% vegetarian food so you can enjoy a simple meal without any hesitation. If you’re unable to find a Buddhist temple, look for a restaurant that displays a Buddhist symbol against dishes.

Take Your Own Snacks

There may be times when you’re not entirely sure about what’s being served on the menu so make sure you always carry some snacks with you to avoid going hungry. Fruit, energy bars and packaged nuts are great healthy options to fill up on.