Best Cuisines for Vegetarians
🇮🇳 Indian
The gold standard for vegetarian cuisine. Paneer dishes, dal, vegetable curries, samosas, and more. Many restaurants are fully vegetarian.
🇮🇹 Italian
Pasta with marinara or pesto, margherita pizza, eggplant parmesan, risotto, caprese salad. Cheese-lovers paradise.
🇲🇽 Mexican
Bean burritos, cheese enchiladas, veggie quesadillas, nachos. Ask about lard in beans and chicken stock in rice.
🇹🇭 Thai
Tofu curries, pad Thai, vegetable stir-fry, spring rolls. Ask about fish sauce - many dishes can be made without.
🥙 Mediterranean
Falafel, hummus, spanakopita, Greek salad, grilled halloumi. Healthy and satisfying options abound.
🍕 Pizza
Cheese pizza, veggie toppings, white pizza. Most pizzerias have multiple vegetarian options ready to go.
Popular Vegetarian Dishes
Classics
Grilled cheese, veggie burgers, mac and cheese, cheese pizza, pasta primavera, vegetable stir-fry.
Proteins
Tofu, tempeh, paneer, eggs, cheese, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, Beyond/Impossible meat.
Trending
Cauliflower steaks, jackfruit tacos, mushroom "bacon", halloumi burgers, plant-based everything.
- Most restaurants now have dedicated vegetarian sections on menus
- Ask about hidden meat: soups often have chicken stock, beans may have bacon
- Side dishes at steakhouses can make a full meal
- Many dishes can be made vegetarian by substituting protein
- Brunch is great for vegetarians - eggs, pancakes, and cheese
- Ethnic cuisines often have more interesting vegetarian options than American chains