Best Vegan Options at Restaurants: A Complete Dining and Ordering Guide For Your Night Out

Following a vegan diet isn’t as challenging as some would have you believe. As long as you stock your home with fresh, plant-based foods and meals, you won’t need to worry about accidentally ingesting animal products. But when you go out to eat, it’s another story. How can you ensure there will be meal options for you without resorting to only eating steamed veggies or salads with no dressing? 

Finding vegan options at restaurants can be frustrating. But as more people embrace different diets, restaurant owners have realized that they need to cater to vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diners as well as omnivores. Even if the restaurant has no vegan-friendly menu items, there are ways to order off-menu and get a meal suitable for your diet. This plant-based restaurant guide will teach you how to prepare for eating out, how to find vegan food options, and what to do if no clear options are available.

Research Restaurants Before You Go

The biggest tip for eating out as a vegan is to do your research. Unlike an omnivore, you can’t just roll up to a restaurant and know they will have something you can eat. While there are many vegetarian-friendly restaurants, the vegan choices may be limited or boring. Before deciding on a restaurant, check out the menu online to see what they offer that you can eat.

Opt for Vegan Restaurants

If you live in a city or large metro area, you’re more likely to have vegan restaurants in your neighborhood. This is an ideal solution; you don’t need to worry that there won’t be any good options when you eat out with friends. Vegan restaurants are designed to fit your dietary preference, and they are becoming more popular and appealing (even to non-vegans).

Save Yourself the Hassle by Calling Ahead

Not sure whether a restaurant offers vegan options? The best way to find out is to call the restaurant before you get there and ask. Many restaurants post their menus online, but it’s not always clear whether the menu options are vegan or not. If you’re uncomfortable with calling, consider sticking to chain restaurants with well-known plant-based menu items.

Calling ahead saves you hassle in the long term and also prepares the restaurant so they know your dietary requirements before you arrive. When you call, specify that you follow a plant-based lifestyle and ask what options they have. If there aren’t any options on the menu, ask about modification possibilities. And check on their food preparation practices. Do they prepare vegan meals alongside non-vegan meals, risking cross-contamination, or do they have a separate kitchen area for vegan meal prep?

Bone Up On Your Restaurant Menu Lingo

As a vegan, you need to know how to read between the lines on a menu. Most restaurants don’t list out every single ingredient in their dishes, which means there might be animal products lurking that you’re unaware of. Learn about common animal-based ingredients that might not be immediately clear, like butter in bread, dairy in sauces, or eggs in desserts. That way, you’ll know whether an item is likely safe for you to eat or whether you should choose something else. And if you’re not sure, ask!

Also, familiarize yourself with common symbols and phrases that suggest a menu item is suitable for vegan-friendly dining. For example, an item might be described as “plant-based,” “dairy-free,” or “vegetarian with modifications.” Vegetarian and vegan dishes are often denoted on menus with leaf or plant symbols so you can quickly identify your options without reading every menu item.

How to “Veganize” Meal Options

Some restaurants won’t list vegan items on their menus, but you can get around that by learning how to “veganize” meal options. The key is to know what you want to ask for in advance and be confident, polite, and clear about your dietary needs and preferences.

Some of the easiest ways to veganize meals include:

• Removing cheese from a meal and subbing vegan cheese, if available
• Swapping a dairy-based dressing for an oil-based one
• Substituting animal proteins for plant-based ones like beans or tofu
• Asking for guacamole instead of cheese on a burrito

You can also create a makeshift meal out of side dishes or appetizers. For example, you could order a side of rice, beans, and veggies and combine them to create a balanced (and delicious) meal. Or you could order a hummus and veggie appetizer with a couple of sides for a filling dinner. A menu's small plate and side dish sections are often secret havens for vegan dishes.

Types of Restaurants and How to Order Vegan

You can order several basic vegan meals at different types of restaurants, even if they’re not on the menu. Learn how to eat vegan at restaurants with various menus so you’re prepared for your next meal out.

Italian

Italian menus are filled with meat-based sauces and cheese-laden dishes, but there are also easy ways to create a vegan-friendly meal at an Italian restaurant. Here are some examples.

• Bruschetta
• Bean salad
• Olives
• Pasta with tomato sauce, olive oil, or garlic and herbs
• Pizza without cheese and extra veggie toppings
• Extra bread dipped in olive oil (check that the bread is vegan first!)

Check out VNutrition’s vegan pasta recipes if you're eating Italian at home. These recipes can also suggest what to ask for when eating out at an Italian restaurant.

Mexican

Mexican food is more than just meat, beans, and cheese. You can get a delicious and vegan-friendly Mexican meal at a restaurant with a few simple modifications.

• Guacamole, salsa, and tortilla chips (check that they’re fried in vegan-friendly oil)
• Beans and rice (be cautious of lard in beans and chicken broth in rice)
• Vegetable or bean burritos or burrito bowls
• Veggie tacos
• Veggie fajitas

If you’re ordering a dish with a sauce, ask the server whether it contains dairy or whether there are dairy-free options before finalizing your order.

Asian

Asian restaurants often have plenty of vegan-friendly dishes, but it’s always best to ask if you’re unsure. Here are some items to order at an Asian restaurant.

• Tofu-based dishes
• Veggie sushi
• Edamame
• Stir fries with soy sauce
• Vegetable dumplings or gyoza
• Veggie fried rice (ask for no egg)
• Steamed rice and veggies

Watch out for fish sauce, oyster sauce, and hidden eggs in noodles. Check out these VNutrition tofu recipes for ideas on how to eat vegan at an Asian restaurant (or at home).

Indian

Indian restaurants usually have a decent selection of vegetarian dishes, though some contain dairy and aren’t suitable for vegans. When going out for Indian food, consider ordering the following items.

• Vegetable samosas
• Vegetable pakora
• Saag (skip the paneer)
• Curry vegetables
• Rice and peas

If you’re unsure whether an item contains animal products, tell the server that you can’t have butter, ghee, cream, or paneer and ask for recommendations on what to order.

Middle Eastern

Middle Eastern food features beans, whole grains, and vegetables, perfect for a vegan diet. Here’s what to order at a Middle Eastern restaurant.

• Falafel
• Couscous
• Tabouleh
• Rice
• Mujadara (lentils and rice with caramelized onions)
• Hummus and pita bread

Tell the restaurant staff that you follow a vegan diet so they can ensure your food doesn’t contain cheese or yogurt.

American Diners, Bars, and Fast Food

American restaurants often aren’t as vegan-friendly as most ethnic restaurants, but you can still find vegan dishes. Here are some of the most common vegan options to order.

• Veggie burgers (no cheese)
• Salads with oil-based dressing
• Baked potatoes (no butter, sour cream, or cheese)
• Veggie sandwiches and wraps (hold the cheese and mayo)
• Steamed veggies
• French fries

The best way to ensure you’re not inadvertently ingesting animal products at an American restaurant is to tell the server about your dietary needs immediately.

What to Do If There Are No Vegan Options

Sometimes, you may encounter a restaurant with no vegan options in sight. If that happens, don’t worry—you won’t have to starve while everyone else in your party feasts. Ask for a simple off-menu vegan meal, like steamed veggies, rice, and beans. Alternatively, order a salad with no dressing and bring your own dairy-free dressing to put on top. You can also bring your own condiments if you’re worried about hidden mayo or butter. Or consider bringing something you can mix with your water at the restaurant to add nutrients, like Live it Up Super Greens powder.

If you don’t want to pay for a basic vegan meal, consider eating a snack or full meal before you go to the restaurant. That way, you can simply eat a side of vegetables and get a drink without being ravenous. It might feel awkward to do this at first, but your family and friends should understand your dietary restrictions. Rather than focusing on the food at a restaurant, focus on socializing with your loved ones.

Best Apps and Resources for Finding Vegan Food

As more and more people embrace a vegan lifestyle, more apps and resources are available to help you find vegan food in your area. Apps like HappyCow or Vegman can help you find vegan options at restaurants wherever you are. You can also check the Google Reviews of a restaurant you plan to visit to see whether any previous diners have mentioned vegan options. 

Also, look on social media for inspiration. Follow vegan-specific Instagram accounts or join vegan Facebook groups for local restaurant recommendations. And if you have a local network of vegan friends, ask them for restaurant suggestions next time you’re going out to eat.

Conclusion and Final Tips

Eating out as a vegan doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right strategies, you can find options to suit your dietary preferences at almost any restaurant. Whether you find a place with vegan-specific offerings or need to order a variety of appetizers and sides to satisfy your appetite, there’s no reason you can’t join your non-vegan friends for a meal. Learn to be confident and proactive so you’re not caught off guard when visiting a new place.

Do you have any tips on eating out as a vegan? Share them with us in the comments!