Being a vegetarian while moving abroad can be tough. Sometimes the food culture is drastically different from your home country, or the language barrier hinders you from being able to communicate your wishes. However, I have experienced Taiwan to be a very vegetarian-friendly place. In fact, estimates suggest that around 10-13% of the population follows a vegetarian diet. In my home country, The Netherlands, it’s estimated to be only about 5%. So it seems like I definitely came to the right place:)

‘’It’s getting more and more convenient to eat vegetarian in Taipei now, most restaurants have vegetarian meals for us. And Taiwan actually has lots of people trying not to eat meat for health.’’ - Jennifer, 20

One of the main reasons for the large number of vegetarians is the influences of the main religions in Taiwan, namely Buddhism and Taoism. These religions emphasise principles of nonviolence and compassion.

Oftentimes, vegetarian meals in Taiwan will also exclude eggs, as eggs are seen as still connected to the potential for life. If you’re a vegan coming to Taiwan, this might actually make things easier for you! In general, veganism is a very Western concept. It’s the reason why there is no perfect translation for the word ‘veganism’ in Mandarin Chinese. Sometimes you’ll see the words lacto-vegetarian and ovo-vegetarian being used on a menu. Lacto-vegetarian means that the dish is vegetarian but includes lactose, and ovo-vegetarian means the dish is vegetarian but includes eggs.

One important thing to note is that vegetarian meals in Taiwan will often also be free of something known as the five pungent spices: onions, garlic, leeks, chives and shallots. In Buddhist and Taoist tradition, strong smelling vegetables are avoided in order to maintain ritual purity.

‘’I’ve been a vegetarian since before I was born, so about 22 years. My family is religious. Just being a baby in my mom’s body, I started being a vegetarian.’’ - Ting, 22

▲Taiwan has a lot of buffet-style vegetarian restaurants. One of these restaurants is located right outside the NCCU campus (shown on the photos), you can expect to pay around $100 per meal.

Taiwan has a lot of buffet-style vegetarian restaurants. These restaurants let you pick whatever you’d like from a bunch of options, and at the end they either weigh your food or decide based on what you picked what the price will be. One of these restaurants is located right outside the NCCU campus (shown on the photos), you can expect to pay around $100 per meal.

▲These are the traditional Chinese characters for ‘’vegetarian food’’. If you’re an exchange student who is not studying Chinese, I suggest taking a screenshot on your phone and looking out for it when choosing restaurants or stands at a night market:)

Another tip I would like to give to my fellow exchange vegetarians is that it is quite common in Asia to find dishes that include both tofu and meat. At least in my home country, tofu is strongly associated with vegetarianism and is usually only found in vegetarian or vegan meals. In Taiwan, tofu is seen as a standalone ingredient that can absorb lots of flavour, rather than just a meat replacement.

▲For example, mapo tofu traditionally is not vegetarian and contains both tofu and beef! Just something to keep in mind:)

In case you find yourself in a non-vegetarian restaurant, you will often still find some vegetarian items on the menu. One example is sesame noodles, which are simply noodles with a sesame sauce. The basic option does not have meat in it, if there is meat included that will usually be mentioned on the menu. And although simple, it is very tasty!

▲My favourite place for sesame noodles around campus! This is their name on google maps: 政政小廚（原頂鼎食堂）

Another hack is to take a look at the side dishes. Often you will find things such as various types of vegetables, fried tofu, eggs, edamame, dry noodles and kimchi. This way you can still enjoy a balanced meal, even when you’re out with non-vegetarian friends. And ofcourse I always recommend you simply ask the staff! Even if they don’t speak English, they are usually very happy to help and Google Translate goes a long way.

Lastly, I have some recommendations of vegetarian restaurants in Taipei from Jennifer, who is a third year art and design student and has been vegetarian all her life:

• Little Tree Food
  This restaurant focuses on healthy eating and their dishes are inspired by both the Western and Chinese cuisine. They have two branches, one in Da’an and one in Dunnan.
• So Veg // 蔬軾
  This restaurant also prioritises whole foods in their dishes, that include a mix of Western and Asian-inspired creations. They also serve their own premium yoghurt and hand-made fruit Jams. They have multiple branches, including locations in the Zhongshan, Anhe and Yonghe districts.
• Miacucina
  This restaurant is known for its fresh ingredients and Italian-inspired menu. You’ll find things such as salads, paninis, flatbreads and hearty pasta dishes. They also have multiple branches around Taipei.

I hope that this guide will make being vegetarian in Taiwan a little easier for you. And if you are not a vegetarian, perhaps this article will inspire you to eat a vegetarian meal every once in a while! Taiwan has a lot of delicious vegetarian food to offer, so I hope you all get to experience this during your stay here:) Until the next time!