Eating vegetarian in China is possible, and the easiest way to avoid trouble is to say clearly what you do not eat, in Chinese. Dishes that look like vegetables can be cooked in meat stock or with a few strips of pork, so a quiet word with the kitchen matters more than the menu. This is especially true for parents who follow Buddhist customs, who may feel awkward asking.
What should you say to the kitchen?
Show a short card on your phone, and read it aloud if you can. Here are three lines to save.
- 我吃素，不吃肉、不吃鱼、不吃蛋。 (I eat vegetarian: no meat, no fish, no egg.)
- 请不要放猪油，也不要用肉汤。 (Please do not use lard or meat stock.)
- 我只是不吃肉，可以吃蛋和奶。 (I only avoid meat; egg and dairy are fine.)
If someone is strict Buddhist vegetarian, add: 不要葱、蒜、韭菜。 (No spring onion, garlic or chives.) Offer the card to the waiter before you order, not after the dish arrives. Our offline translation guide shows how to keep the card ready without data.
Where are the traps?
Meat hides in sauces, soups and fillings, not just in the main dish. Check these first.
- Stir-fried vegetables cooked with minced pork or dried shrimp.
- Soups and noodles made on meat or bone stock.
- Dumplings and buns with a mixed filling.
- Sauces thickened with oyster sauce or fish sauce.
Ask the kitchen before ordering, and point at a dish rather than guess from the Chinese name. If the answer sounds unsure, choose a plainer option such as steamed vegetables, tofu or plain rice.
Where is the easiest place to eat?
Vegetarian restaurants and temple canteens are the clearest choice, because the whole kitchen follows the same rule. Look for the character 素 on a sign, or ask your hotel to mark nearby options on a map. Opening hours differ, so check the day before and keep a backup meal.
Hotel breakfasts are a good place to practise. Take a plain bowl of rice, steamed vegetables and fruit, and ask the staff about anything you cannot read.
What about group tours?
On a tour, you are one of a table, and the restaurant may serve the same set menu to everyone. Ask the agency before you pay what the vegetarian arrangement is, whether it is in writing, and who will brief each restaurant. Our guide to group tour meals explains how the lunch and dinner stops usually work.
Bring your own backup on long travel days: biscuits, nuts, fruit and instant noodles without meat flavouring. A hotel kettle makes noodles easy. Use the bilingual hotel and transfer sheet to put your meal request in one place for your driver and guide.
What should you do before you leave?
Save the card, screenshot the Chinese lines, and tell your tour agency or your family WhatsApp group the plan. If you also have an allergy, read our food allergy card guide, because an allergy needs a firmer message than a preference. For the street stalls along your route, our street food guide shows what is easiest to check.