Vegan in the restaurant

Open the menu and choose whatever you fancy. That's not so easy when you're on a vegan diet. In larger cities, vegan restaurants and bistros already offer the luxury of choice. In smaller towns or in the countryside, vegans have to get a little creative.

Vegetarian or vegan dishes are part of the traditional cuisine in some regions of the world, such as India, Asia and Africa. International restaurants therefore often already offer vegan or easily veganisable dishes on the menu.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Greek

Dolmadakia, kritharahki, gigantes and couscous - these are some of the names behind vegan or easily veganisable dishes. In Greek cuisine, you can fill up on a wide variety of meat-free dishes.

Dolmadakia are pickled vine leaves filled with rice and are usually also suitable for vegans. Kritharahki are small rice noodles typical of Greek cuisine and are used in soups or salads. Gigantes are giant white beans served in a savoury tomato sauce.

What always works is a farmer's salad without cheese, potatoes, rice, chips, a gigantes or couscous salad or fried or baked aubergine, courgettes and peppers.

Tip: To be on the safe side, ask whether cheese is used for gratinating. And if there is no vegan vinegar for the salad, add a squeeze of lemon.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Italian restaurant

In any good Italian restaurant, the pizza dough consists of flour, water, yeast, oil and salt. A pizza with delicious tomato sauce and lots of fresh vegetables can be veganised in no time at all by simply leaving out the cheese.

There are usually also various vegan options for pasta dishes, for example spaghetti aglio et olio or spaghetti pomodoro. The insalata mista also tastes good with a squeeze of lemon if vegan vinegar is not available.

Tip: Traditional Italian pasta does not contain eggs, but some pizzerias are said to prepare their pizza dough with eggs or milk. To avoid unpleasant surprises, don't hesitate to ask the waiter.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Indian restaurant

Indian cuisine offers a great selection of vegan-friendly dishes: various rice dishes, fresh vegetables, dal or, for example, chana masala, a traditional vegan vegetable dish made from chickpeas. Flatbreads such as papadam, naan and chapati are often served with meals.

Tip: Indian restaurants often use milk, cream, yoghurt and ghee (clarified butter) for cooking. For example, naan is traditionally made with yoghurt and chapati may contain ghee. Ask which dishes use these ingredients and ask for a vegan version if necessary.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Chinese restaurant

In Chinese restaurants, you will usually find a selection of vegan vegetable dishes. These include fried vegetables with tofu, the "fasting dish of the Buddhists", fried bean sprouts or fried rice with crunchy vegetables.

Tip: Many Chinese restaurants like to add fried egg to their vegetable dishes or use fish sauce. Ask for an egg-free version or ask for a vegan sauce.

Vegan in a restaurant: at a Japanese restaurant

Japanese restaurants often already offer vegan sushi options on the menu, for example sushi with cucumber or avocado. Vegetable dishes with tofu are also often vegan from the outset, as are various noodle dishes.

tip: Ask the waiter which dishes use fish sauce and ask for a vegan alternative if necessary. Also ask if the noodles are egg-free. Udon noodles are usually vegan.

Vegan in a restaurant: at a Thai restaurant

Thai restaurants are known for their curry dishes. Different variations with coconut milk and vegetables are also suitable for vegans. Fried rice with vegetables and the "Tom Ka Puk" soup with coconut milk and vegetables can also be vegan.

Tip: In addition to coconut milk, cow's milk is often used for soups and curries, sometimes also fish sauce. Ask for a variant without these ingredients.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Mexican restaurant

Fiery vegetable chilli, spicy salsa and crunchy tortilla chips: Mexican cuisine offers hearty dishes that vegans will also be tempted by. The menu usually includes a vegetarian version of fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas and wraps. These can easily be veganised.

Tip: The dishes are often topped with cheese and sometimes sour cream is used for the guacamole or added to the chilli. Ask for your dish to be prepared without cheese and sour cream.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Spaniard

In Spanish cuisine, vegans can also get their fill - and often even without veggie extra sausage. The tapas menu often includes vegetable dishes such as papas (small potatoes wrapped in salt), judias verde (green beans with onions and garlic) or pimientos de padrón (roasted green peppers).

Of course, you can also order a Piriñaca. This is a southern Spanish salad made from onions, tomatoes, peppers and cucumber, dressed with olive oil and vinegar.

Tip: Ask the waiter whether the piriñaca is served with egg or mackerel fillets. You can replace the vinegar with a little lemon juice if it is not vegan.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Korean restaurant

In addition to many meat and fish dishes, you will also find a few vegan or easy-to-convert dishes at Korean restaurants. When it comes to banchan, the side dishes alone, you usually have a choice between different types of kimchi and radish, savoury bean sprouts and other spicy vegetables.

Bibimap is a popular dish made from rice, various vegetables and gochujang, a spicy paste made from sticky rice, soya beans, chilli peppers and salt. You will also often find deep-fried vegetables on the menu.

Tip: Ask which banchan (side dishes) are prepared without fish sauce or other animal ingredients. The bibimap is often prepared with beef and egg, so ask the waiter for a vegan option.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Ethiopian

A visit to an Ethiopian restaurant is an experience in itself, as the food is traditionally eaten with the fingers. The food is accompanied by the typical "injera", a flatbread made from white flour and the Ethiopian grain teff. You tear off a bite-sized piece, grab some vegetables, curry or sauce with it and pop the whole thing in your mouth.

Ethiopian cuisine offers a selection of different lentil curries and dishes made from chickpeas.

Then there is maffé, a spicy dish made from manioc, potatoes, carrots and peanut sauce. It is served with couscous or rice.

Tip: In Ethiopian cuisine, a specially prepared spiced butter is often used, as is cottage cheese. Ask for your food to be prepared without these ingredients.

Vegan in the restaurant: at the Turkish restaurant

Turkish cuisine can do much more than just kebabs. If you visit a proper Turkish restaurant, you can choose from a wide variety of dishes.

The meze (starters or "appetisers") include mercimek köftesi (elongated lentil patties), piyaz (white bean salad), humus (chickpea tahini paste) or Şakşuka (salad made from aubergines, courgettes and other vegetables). Lavaş (Turkish flatbread) or white bread is served as an option.

Various pilavlar (rice dishes) with chickpeas or different vegetables are vegan or can easily be veganised. In addition to vegetable dishes, such as stuffed aubergine, some restaurants also offer vine leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, sultanas and onions - zeytinyağlı yaprak sarma.

Tip: Yoghurt is often used as a garnish or in the dishes themselves. When ordering, ask the chef to prepare your dish without yoghurt.

Vegan in restaurants: demand determines supply

When you go to a restaurant, you want to be pampered - even as a vegan. As a good host, they will be happy to look after you. Don't be afraid to ask and express your wishes. You will be surprised how many restaurants are happy to take up the challenge and prepare a vegan dish or entire menu for you.

The effort for the chef is usually not that great: omit one ingredient or replace it with another and the dish is vegan. And it's also good publicity for the restaurant. If the restaurant takes you seriously and endeavours to serve you a delicious vegan creation, you will definitely come back and tell your friends and acquaintances about it.

Another option is to let them know that you are vegan when you make your reservation. Some restaurants even welcome this so that the kitchen and service can adapt. It may also be more relaxed for you. You don't have to deal with the question of what you can eat that evening directly in the restaurant.