Going Out For Dinner? Here Are 5 Tips To Help You Order Vegan

Cooking at home may be the go-to of many vegans, but sometimes we may want to (or have to, for whatever reason) go out to eat.

The bad news is that not all establishments create dishes with vegans and vegetarians in mind, which is where we have to get a little creative.

The good news is that you don’t have to leave the restaurant with an empty stomach. Today, I’ll be giving you 5 of my favorite tips for when it comes to dining out as a vegan. I hope you find them helpful!

1. Look at the menu ahead of time

The great thing about the internet is that a lot of restaurants have their menus online. This allows you the opportunity to look at what options you have ahead of actually being there.

Create a game plan before actually being at the restaurant to save yourself time and stress.

2. Inform your server that you’re vegan or vegetarian

You want to take as much guesswork out of the equation as possible, so informing your server up-front of your dietary needs is a good move.

That way they can make the necessary accommodations for you and also inform the chef before preparing your meal.

3. Order yourself a fun drink to start

If the place you’ll be dining at doesn’t have the widest selection of vegan options, you can spice up your meal a little by adding a fun drink.

Assuming you’re over the age of 21, this can include an alcoholic beverage that doesn’t include a dairy or egg ingredient. However, many places also serve mocktails that are suitable for non-alcohol drinkers.

4. Look into possible vegan-friendly appetizers

Depending on the type of menu you’re looking at, your options will be different. But many places serve warm pretzels (which can be requested without butter), chips and salsa or guac, fries or onion rings (if the batter is vegan-friendly).

You can also ask about vegetable-based soups; the diner near me does a really nice vegetable soup.

5. Don’t be afraid to order off-menu or make customizations

Most places are usually happy to accommodate. Try ordering a veggie sandwich or wrap (most places add cheese so ask for it without), or flatbread pizza without the cheese and extra veggies.

You could also add an impossible patty to your salad or pasta dish, if they have it, to bump up the protein.

Hopefully this post gave you some useful tips for the next time you’re eating out as a vegan. Until more places get acquainted with more plentiful vegan options, we have to get creative!

Thanks for reading. Until next time, peace!