Chinese food is one of the most popular cuisines around the world, and its popularity keeps growing. Millions of people outside of China love Chinese food and eat it regularly. But how do you order Chinese food if you are vegan? What are your vegan Chinese food options? What are the best vegan Chinese dishes commonly available?
Although there are Chinese dishes that are traditionally vegan, many are not. And some dishes that might initially seem vegan may not be. For example, a Chinese stir-fry vegetable dish might contain oyster sauce or some broth made from meat. So how do you navigate the menu and ensure that you are ordering Chinese dishes that do not contain hidden non-vegan ingredients?
Vegan Chinese Food Options
1. Buddha’s Delight
This is a classic vegan meal that utilizes a wide variety of vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, snow peas, and tofu. It can be either stir-fried or braised and is often served during Chinese New Year. It is a very common dish on Chinese restaurant menus today. However, it can contain animal products such as oyster sauce so it is important to specify that. We will show you exactly how to do that below.
2. Vegan Mapo Tofu
Mapo tofu often includes pork and sometimes fish sauce, but it is also prepared by Buddhists without either. The vegan version is made with soft tofu, Szechuan peppercorns, chili paste, and fermented black beans in a spicy sauce. In order to ensure it is vegan, make sure it is not served with meat or fish sauce.
3. Stir-Fried Chinese Greens
There are lots of vegan options for stir-fried Chinese greens. Some popular greens are Chinese broccoli (gai lan), bok choy, mustard greens, and choy sum. They are normally stir-fried with garlic and some salt or soy sauce. They can sometimes include oyster sauce or fish sauce so it is important to state that you’d like that omitted.
4. Szechuan String Beans
This dish encompasses long beans that are blistered and then stir-fried with garlic and spices. It is sometimes made with ground pork so be sure to ask that it be made without meat.
5. Vegan Hot and Sour Soup
This traditional Chinese soup can be made vegan by using vegetable broth instead of a meat broth and omitting meat and eggs. The other commonly used ingredients like bamboo shoots, tofu, mushrooms, lily buds, white pepper and black vinegar are vegan.
6. Vegetable Spring Rolls
These popular fried appetizers can be fully vegan if no eggs, meat, or fish and oyster sauce are used.
7. Cucumber Salad
This is a cold and refreshing dish consisting of sliced cucumbers, vinegar, garlic and sesame oil. It is normally eaten as an appetizer and is traditionally vegan.
8. Vegetable Dumplings
This dish consists of steamed dumplings. Although some versions can contain meat and seafood, it can also be made using cabbage, carrots, jicama and other veggies.
9. Kung Pao Tofu
This dish is traditionally made with chicken, but it can easily be made with tofu instead. It is a slightly tangy and spicy dish that includes peanuts and vegetables. Ask that it be made without oyster sauce.
10. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce
This is a delicious dish consisting of eggplant stir-fried with garlic and a spicy sauce. It can contain oyster and fish sauce so ask that it be made without them.
11. Vegetable Fried Rice
Almost every Chinese restaurant will have fried rice on the menu and it can easily be made with vegetables, tofu, and soy sauce. Ask for no meat and eggs.
12. Vegetable Noodles (Lo Mein, Chow Mein, Mi Fun, etc)
Most Chinese restaurants have one or more options for stir-fried or braised noodles. These dishes can be made vegan by requesting that it not be made with meat, eggs, or oyster sauce.
13. Moo Shu Tofu
Moo Shu is a stir-fried dish that is accompanied by thin pancakes. It is commonly made with pork and eggs but tofu can be used as a protein substitute or simply by omitting the meat and eggs. The dish often contains cabbage, mushrooms, and variations of other vegetables. Ask for no meat and no eggs.
14. Sesame Tofu
This dish is a variation of sesame chicken, a battered and fried dish containing sesame oil and sesame seeds. Ask for tofu instead of chicken and specify that no oyster sauce is used.
15. Bamboo Shoots and Mushrooms
This is a wonderful braised bamboo shoots and shitake mushroom dish that is served with a thick sauce. Ask that it be made with no oyster sauce.
As you can see, there are many vegan Chinese food options if you know what to look for. Besides the obvious meat, seafood and egg dishes, the sometimes hidden ingredients that can make a dish non-vegan are oyster sauce, fish sauce, dried shrimp, and eggs. Once you remember this, it is easy to ask that the dishes you order do not contain any of the above.
How to Order Vegan Chinese Food Safely
As mentioned earlier, besides avoiding obvious meat, seafood, and egg dishes, the main not-so-obvious ingredients to watch out for if you are vegan are oyster sauce, fish sauce, and stocks or broths made from meat or seafood. In order to ensure that you are able to convey this clearly to whoever is taking your order, we have compiled translations below to make it easy.
English Translation to Chinese
I do not want oyster sauce:
我不要蚝油
Wǒ bù yào háo yóu
I do not want fish sauce:
我不要鱼露
Wǒ bù yào yú lù
I do not want meat broth:
我不要肉汤
Wǒ bù yào ròu tāng
I do not want seafood broth:
我不要海鲜汤
Wǒ bù yào hǎi xiān tāng
I do not eat meat, seafood, eggs, or cheese:
我不吃肉、海鲜、鸡蛋, 或奶酪
Wǒ bù chī ròu, hǎi xiān, jī dàn, huò nǎi lào
Hopefully you now feel much more confident ordering vegan Chinese food at your favorite restaurant.