How to Survive as a Vegetarian in China
Telling Chinese people that you don’t eat meat is often met with 莫名其妙地望着 (mòmíngqímiào de wàngzhe), a look of confusion, and maybe even shock. The saying that Chinese people will eat “anything with four legs except tables and anything that flies except aeroplanes” may have been inspired by Cantonese cuisine, but it remains true that in China anything is fair game for the dinner table.
Despite this, it is possible to survive in China and Beijing as a vegetarian or with food allergies, so long as you know what to look for and a few essential phrases. Chinese cuisine can be quite accommodating as it usually incorporates a lot of vegetables and tofu (豆腐 dòfu) or – not only do they know how to cook tofu better here than in the West, but it's a great way to stay healthy thanks to its high protein (蛋白质 dànbáizhì) content.
Tofu as often found in Yunnan-style restaurants
If you are invited over for dinner (晚饭 wǎnfàn) at your Chinese friend’s house, be prepared to answer questions about why you are refusing their mum’s famous homemade meat dumplings (肉饺子 ròu jiǎozi). If the thought of being interrogated over your eating habits and dietary requirements gives you an upset stomach (胃部不舒服 wèibù bú shūfu), here are some essential phrases for wriggling your way out of sampling chicken feet (鸡脚 jījiǎo) and the like.
How to explain being vegetarian/dietary requirements in Chinese
我吃素 wǒ chī sù I am vegetarian
我吃纯素 wǒ chī chúnsù I am vegan
我不吃肉／我不要肉 wǒ bù chī ròu / wǒ bù yào ròu I don’t eat meat
我不吃海鲜 wǒ bù chī hǎixiān I don’t eat seafood
鸡蛋可以／不可以 jīdàn kěyǐ / bù kěyǐ Eggs are okay / not okay
你有没有忌口／过敏？nǐ yǒu méiyǒu jìkǒu / guòmǐn? Do you have any allergies?
我对…鸡蛋／海鲜／ 花生／乳制品／麸质…忌口／过敏 wǒ duì … jīdàn / hǎixiān / huāshēng / rǔzhìpǐn / fūzhì … jìkǒu / guòmǐn I am allergic to …eggs / seafood / peanuts / dairy / gluten.
你为什么不吃肉? nǐ wèishénme bù chī ròu? Why don’t you eat meat?
因为…我关心动物／对身体很好／对环境很好／更便宜。yīnwèi … wǒ guānxīn dòngwù / duì shēntǐ hěnhǎo / duì huánjìng hěnhǎo / gèng piányi Because I care about animals / it is healthy / it is good for the environment / it is cheaper
Explaining the concept of vegetarianism to a Chinese person may be tricky, but trying to order food with your specific dietary requirements can be even harder in a restaurant and in Chinese! Even after ordering a dish without meat (没有肉 méiyǒu ròu), it is still possible to end up with some surprise chicken floating in your noodles because the restaurant owner doesn’t understand or they simply think chicken doesn't count as meat (肉 ròu) (true story). And just because a dish on the menu contains the character for vegetables (菜 cài), it doesn’t automatically mean it is vegetarian-friendly.
Similarly if you have food allergies, you should always ask as clearly as possible what is in the dish you want to order. Even asking about the type of oil the dishes are cooked in may be necessary, as Chinese restaurants like to use peanut, sesame or a mixture plus they usually cook everything in the same wok. Chinese restaurants are becoming more aware of food allergies, particularly when faced with foreigners, and may ask you if you have any specific dietary requirements (你有没有忌口／过敏？ nǐ yǒu méiyǒu jìkǒu/guòmǐn?). But it is still worth double-checking because you don’t want to find any rogue peanuts in your dishes.
How to order food at a restaurant without the fear of meat, allergic reactions, or dying entering the equation
你有素菜吗？nǐ yǒu sù cài ma? Do you have any vegetarian dishes?
我也不吃鸡肉 wǒ yě bù chī jīròu I don’t eat chicken either.
这个菜有肉吗？ zhège cài yǒu ròu ma? Does this dish have meat?
我要吃这个菜没有肉 wǒ yào chī zhège cài méiyǒu ròu I want to eat this dish without meat
你能不能做饭没有肉？nǐ néng bùnéng zuófān méiyǒu ròu? Can you make this dish without meat?
我对X严重过敏，请不要添加X wǒ duì X yánzhòng guòmǐn, qǐng bù yào tiānjiā X I have a serious allergy to X, please could you not add X.
你用什么油做饭？花生油吗？芝麻油吗？nǐ yòng shénme yóu zuófān? huāshēng yóu ma? zhīma yóu ma? What oil do you use to cook? Peanut oil? Sesame oil?
If all else fails, you can always try asking for some staple dishes, listed below, which usually feature on restaurant menus or try your luck and ask if the cook can create something for you from scratch.
Vegetarian dishes to order
蒜蓉西兰花 suànróng xīlánhuā – broccoli fried with garlic
青菜炒面 qīngcài chǎomiàn – fried noodles with greens
豆腐 dòfu – tofu
辣椒炒土豆 làjiāo chǎo tǔdòu – spicy stir-fried potatoes
西红柿炒鸡蛋 xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn – tomato fried with egg
麻辣／拍黄瓜 málà / pāi huángguā – cucumber seasoned with spice and/or garlic (cold dish)
地三鲜 dìsānxiān – fried potatoes, peppers, and eggplant
香菇／咸菜包子 xiānggu / jiǔcài bāozi – steamed buns containing mushrooms / pickled vegetables
Beijing's top 5 vegetarian restaurants
Tianchu Miaoxiang (天厨妙香)
Consistently one of the top restaurants in Beijing, here you can sample delicious vegetarian food at affordable prices. Like many popular Chinese vegetarian restaurants, it usually has queues outside during lunchtime and the menu contains many dishes that mimic the taste and texture of meat. If you are interested, you can even take a tour of their kitchen and watch the magic happen!
Suhu (素虎素菜)
Also known as VegeTiger, this restaurant offers similar fare to Tianchu Miaoxiang with an extensive menu full of a variety of soups, hot and cold dishes bursting with flavor. The artful presentation of their dishes matches the restaurant’s comfortable, stylish décor and calming atmosphere.
King’s Joy (京兆尹)
Probably the most famous and most expensive restaurant on the list but also the best in terms of food and experience. The attention to detail is visible in the dishes presented with dry ice or in beautiful crockery plus the decoration, from the quotes printed on the floor lighting to the table displays. The tasting menus are the best way to try innovative vegetarian cuisine, which plays with contrasting flavours and textures, all of which is explained by attentive waiters.
Tribe's veggie falafal salad
Tribe Organic
Vegetarian, vegan, organic, paleo, gluten-free, what more could you want? Tribe goes back to basics with some delicious dishes available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that will suit all your dietary needs. Highlights include their grainbowls which can be filled with tofu, lentils, and other vegetables. Mondays are ‘Meatless Mondays’ when a special vegan menu is released each month that is bound to excite your tastebuds.
Wagas (沃歌斯)
A vegetarian-friendly restaurant offering healthy options from soups to deli salads. Don’t miss their smoothies packed with the best superfoods or their handmade pastas. Their Weekly Specials reflect the seasonal ingredients available and ensure a refreshingly great taste.
Photos: theodysseyonline.com, mamaloli.com, nipic.com, Tribe
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