How to Eat Out as a Vegan

Here are some tips for how to eat out as a vegan! You can almost always find something to eat anywhere. This guide will help you whether the restaurant is fine dining, fast-casual, fast food, food truck, or any other type. 

Our family loves to eat out! We like to check out the restaurant’s ambiance, decor, architecture, and of course, new flavors. Plus, it’s nice to not have to worry about cooking or cleaning the mess afterward.

This is especially the case when we are out exploring a new area or simply tired of homemade meals. 

Choosing to be a vegan was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made. However, eating out as one didn’t initially seem so smooth, but it is!

I was able to quickly change what I ate at home by only buying vegan items.

However, that same control was out of my hands when the food came from other kitchens. I found myself not knowing what or how to order.

I also felt a bit embarrassed about potentially being viewed as a “difficult” customer. All that is different now as I am so proud to be part of this rapidly growing body of change-makers. I no longer care about standing out because the cause is worth it!

A Note About Communication

Of course, some of us might be lucky enough to live in cities that are considered vegan-friendly. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

Many of us will find ourselves somewhere that isn’t necessarily known to be vegan-friendly. Maybe it’s where your friends want to eat or maybe all there is when traveling. 

Undoubtedly, I have noticed an uptrend in vegan options at many restaurants. I think the food industry is hearing us and catching on to the direction society is headed.

No worries, if you happen upon a restaurant that isn’t quite caught up yet with offering vegan options. Indeed, restaurants are all in different stages.

This is as an opportunity to offer some ideas that might encourage them to add to their menu. When I go out to eat, I am kind and patient toward the restaurant employees about my lifestyle.

Although I certainly carry a high level of passion for the ethical treatment of animals, I intend to be positive and celebrate any small gain.

I do think it’s so important for us to let the restaurants know that we are looking for vegan options. Usually, restaurants will make an effort to serve what their patrons are requesting.

Nevertheless, if they continuously hear vegan queries, they are more likely to add these options to their menus. 

Confusion About Veganism

One thing you may notice is some confusion about what vegans do or don’t eat. Very often, I have had to explain that vegan food does not include any ingredients derived from animals.

Many people seem to confuse veganism with gluten-free diets. I was offered a cheeseburger on a lettuce wrap instead of the bun one time at a burger place. The sweet young employee thought I needed a gluten-free meal, which is why he suggested a replacement for the bun. I kindly explained the difference to him and ordered the fries!

Tips For Eating Out As A Vegan

Along my vegan journey, I have had to learn how to analyze menus, get creative with my meals, and communicate my needs to the restaurant employees.

Finally, here are my best tips for getting a delicious and filling meal as a vegan. This may seem like a lot of steps at first, but it will become second nature, I promise!

1. Study the Menu

Try to familiarize yourself with the menu ahead of time. Restaurant websites or online search engines usually have images of the menus. Look for items that are identified as “vegan,” or have symbols such as a “v,” or a plant image. Check the key at the bottom of the menu that explains whether they mean vegan or vegetarian.

2. Look for a separate vegan/vegetarian menu

Check for a separate vegan/vegetarian menu on their website or online. See if the vegetarian items can be modified if you can't find anything that’s vegan. The restaurant may not have this particular menu online, but they might at the restaurant.

3. Find a nutrition or allergen menu  

If the restaurant only has one standard menu and you aren’t seeing too many online options, check for a link that has nutritional information for the food items. Most fast-food restaurants have this on their website. It’s a reliable source to look into for potential dairy or egg ingredients in otherwise naturally assuming vegan items.

4. Call the restaurant before you go

If you aren’t finding too much information online, go straight to the source by calling them. I usually ask to speak to the manager or chef. Calling can also be helpful for the restaurant to know that customers are asking about vegan options.

Call to verify that the dishes you’ve already identified are indeed vegan. Or, you might ask them what they suggest for you. If they are drawing a blank as far as what you can eat, suggest something they might create. How amazing would it be if a vegan item was eventually added to the menu because of you?

5. See what other vegans have eaten at the restaurant

You can do an online search for vegan options at the restaurant for some ideas to plan for. Perhaps another vegan has already done some research on this restaurant’s menu and they’ve written about it. Check social media groups, blogs, yelp, or google reviews. I still highly suggest that you call the restaurant to verify this in case the recipe or menu has changed. 

• Stay in the know by joining a local vegan group on social media. 
• Search “vegan” within your map app on your phone. This will usually pull up restaurants that have something vegan on their menu.
• Use vegan apps such as Happycow, or do an online search such as “vegan in Austin” to see what comes up.

6. Get creative about your meal

You might combine a few side dishes to form a balanced meal. For example, you can combine rice, beans, and vegetables. Or you can ask for your taco/burger to come with extra avocado instead of meat.

Don’t ever hesitate to ask if the chef can make you something vegan. I have been to many restaurants where the kitchen gladly whipped up a vegan meal for me that wasn’t even on the menu.

Surely, most restaurants want to please their customers by providing a delicious meal. This will make customers want to come back for more and tell their friends about it.

7. Eat before you go if you must

If you don’t think you'll find anything to eat at the restaurant, curb your appetite by eating at home. This way, you can enjoy your time with family and friends without an empty stomach.

You can simply order a fun drink to sip on while you visit with each other. You might kindly let the server know why you aren’t eating anything.

I’m sure this feedback would be helpful for the restaurant owner to know, especially because this is a sure sign that you or your money may not be back.

A Few More Tips...

• Unless it has a vegan symbol on the menu, always verify! The dish may have somehow included animal products in its preparation.
• Make sure to let your server know that you’re a vegan when ordering. They can help make sure your meal is vegan.

Some Usual Vegan Dishes Amongst Various Cuisines

• American: veggie burger without cheese or mayo, veggie wrap without cheese, fries, sweet potato fries, Impossible Burger with vegan cheese, Beyond Burger with vegan cheese, salad without meat and cheese, vinaigrette or balsamic dressing, steamed or grilled veggies
  • Watch out for dairy and eggs used in breading for items such as fried pickles, egg used as a binder for veggie burger patties, dairy ingredients in the buns, tater tots with egg as a binder
• Brunch: avocado toast without egg, oatmeal with plant-based milk, fruit, smoothies, whole-grain cereal with plant milk, toast with jam, plain bagels
  • Watch out for toast made with dairy ingredients, oatmeal prepared with dairy milk, milk used in smoothies
• Chinese: vegetable spring rolls, vegetable tempura, veggie or tofu fried rice without egg, veggie noodle dishes, tofu dishes, sesame balls
  • Watch out for fish sauce in dishes, and egg or dairy in the tempura batter
• Greek: grilled veggie kabobs, pita bread if made without dairy, greek salad no feta, hummus with veggies, grilled vegetable gyros, baba ganoush
  • Watch out for dairy ingredients in the pita, cheeses such as feta in dishes, dairy yogurt in dips and dressings
• Indian: dolsas, vegetable samosas, vegetable pakoras, dal, kitchari without yogurt, biryani with vegetables, masala dosa, chana masala, curry without dairy, rice
  • Watch out for dairy such as ghee or fish sauce in curries and soups, naan made with dairy
• Italian: veggie pizza without cheese, pastas with marinara sauce, side salads without cheese or croutons, vinaigrette or balsamic dressing, bread or rolls
  • Watch out for items such as housemade pastas that have egg, bread, or rolls made with egg or dairy, some marinara sauces might be made with meat stock
• Japanese: miso soup as long as it isn’t made with fish sauce, edamame, vegetable sushi roll, white rice, fried rice without egg, vegetable tempura, tofu or vegetable ramen
  • Watch out for dishes that contain dashi (blended meat stock), bonito fish flakes, oyster sauce, egg or dairy used in the tempura batter, meat stock in ramen
    • Note: although the name is deceiving, eel sauce is not really from eel. It is made with sugar, soy sauce, and mirin. I like to drizzle it over my veggie sushi rolls.
• Korean: vegetable fried rice without egg, white rice, pickled vegetables such as kimchi and potatoes, vegetable ramen
  • Watch out for hidden fish sauce in dishes, meat stock used in the ramen
• Mexican: veggie fajitas, veggie enchiladas without cheese, beans, Spanish rice, tortillas 
  • Watch out for lard or dairy in the beans, chicken stock in the rice, lard in the tortillas, gelatin in margaritas
• Seafood: salads without meat, croutons, and cheese, vinaigrette or balsamic dressing, fries as long as they aren’t battered in egg and dairy, veggie sandwich, rolls
  • Watch out for fries that may have been battered in egg and dairy-based breading, rolls or bread with dairy ingredients
• Traveling by plane, bus, train, boat: pretzels, crackers, nuts
  • Watch out for items such as nuts that have been sweetened with a honey glaze
• Vietnamese: veggie stir fry, veggie spring rolls, vegetable pho
  • Watch out for fish sauce used in dishes

Vegan Drinks with Alcohol

Check Barnivore to see if beverages with alcohol are vegan. Here are some common drinks I know and trust to be vegan:

• Wine: Natura, Layer Cake, Barentura, and Costello del Poggio 
• Beer: Bud Light, Coors, Corona, Guinness, Yuengling

My Favorites 

Other than local restaurants, here are some of my go-to’s that I can count on when we are out and about. Many of these restaurants have additional vegan options. I only listed what I usually order at each of them.

• Blaze Pizza: red sauce, vegan cheese, and all the veggies 
• Burger King: Impossible burger without cheese or mayo, fries, french toast sticks
• Carrabas: bread with oil and herbs, Italian salad with vinaigrette dressing, linguine Positano without parmesan
• Cheesecake Factory: Korean fried cauliflower without ranch, vegan cobb salad
• Chick-fil-A: cool wrap without cheese or chicken with vinaigrette dressing, waffle fries, kale crunch salad
• Chipotle: sofritas burrito with brown or white rice, brown or black beans, all the veggies, all the salsas, and a side of chips & guacamole
• Chuy’s: chips and salsa, been burrito no cheese or veggie enchiladas no cheese. See my Chuy's guide here: https://serenetrail.com/how-to-eat-vegan-at-chuys/
• Jersey Mike’s Subs: all the veggies with avocado instead of cheese
• Mellow Mushroom: hummus, veg out pizza, vegan greek salad, and tempeh hoagie
• Moes: tofu burrito with rice, beans, quinoa, and all the veggies
• Olive Garden: salad with olive oil & balsamic vinegar (no croutons), breadsticks, spaghetti with marinara, minestrone soup
• P.F. Changs: chili garlic green beans, Buddha’s feast, Thai harvest curry
• Subway: all the veggies on Italian bread with olive oil and mustard (no cheese)
• Taco Bell: bean burrito no cheese, cinnamon twists 

I hope these tips help! Please don’t ever feel discouraged and know that you are joined by many other vegans who are trying to navigate the waters of eating out as vegans.