Top 10 Countries to Visit if You're Vegan
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
WRITTEN BY: Savannah Sher
If you don't eat meat, dairy or eggs, travelling to certain destinations can indeed be tricky. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Countries to Visit if You're Vegan.
For this list, we're looking at the best places to travel if you follow a strict vegan diet.
For this list, we're looking at the best places to travel if you follow a strict vegan diet.
Top 10 Countries to Visit if You’re Vegan
If you don’t eat meat, dairy or eggs, travelling to certain destinations can indeed be tricky. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Countries to Visit if You’re Vegan.
For this list, we’re looking at the best places to travel if you follow a strict vegan diet.
#10: Germany
You might assume that because their traditional cuisine is very meat-centric that the Germans wouldn’t have much to offer for vegans. But despite their reputation for serving up bratwurst and schnitzel, there’s actually something for everyone in modern Germany. While in more rural areas you will undoubtedly have a tough time coming across vegan cuisine, Germany’s largest city, Berlin, is one of the world’s most vegan-friendly, with plenty of vegan restaurants. Vegan specialty items are easily found in grocery stores around the country.
#9: Malaysia
When you think of Malaysian food, you probably picture bustling night markets and street vendors where you can buy any number of local delicacies. The country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, is known for its expansive markets which feature an intersection of cuisines, with contributions from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and beyond. Hidden among all the meat-centric options though, it’s actually quite easy to find stalls and restaurants devoted explicitly to vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Nasi lemak is considered Malaysia’s national dish and while its traditional serving isn’t explicitly vegan, it’s very easy to order it without the egg in order to enjoy it.
#8: England
While the UK may be famed for its fish and chips and bangers and mash, there is actually a wealth of great meatless food available, too. In fact, London has even been voted as the most vegetarian-friendly city in the world, which may come as a surprise to many. Even Paul McCartney said, “After 40 years of touring as a vegetarian, I’m proud to say that when it comes to eating, there’s no place like home.” It has been customary for business owners to mark vegan options with a green “V” and with the wealth of multicultural options available across the city, vegans will never be far from a restaurant that can accommodate them.
#7: Thailand
We’ll take that pad thai without the chicken and shrimp, thank you! While Bangkok may be Thailand’s largest city, the best place to visit if you’re meat free might just be Chiang Mai, which is situated in the Northern part of the country. Because of the Buddhist population of the region, finding vegetarian restaurants is a breeze. Also, any restaurant advertising itself as being “Jay” will be explicitly vegan, as it represents a specific Buddhist cuisine that avoids the use of all animal products.
#6: Sri Lanka
Visiting Sri Lanka is a great opportunity to try out some fruits and vegetables that aren’t very common in other parts of the world. Vegans can sample local breadfruit, murunga and plantain and the ever popular jackfruit. If you’re looking for vegan options while in Sri Lanka you may be offered jackfruit curry, a dish that is likely unfamiliar to you. When you take your first bite, you might be worried that the cook made a mistake, because the texture is almost indistinguishable from real meat. Delicious!
#5: Israel
Did you know that Israel is home to approximately 200,000 vegans? In a country of 8 million, that’s a pretty significant population. In fact, Tel Aviv has been called the vegan capital of the world, a title it has happily embraced. The city boasts over 400 vegetarian and vegan restaurant options, so even a local would have a hard time running out of options! Of course, traditional dishes like falafel are vegan, but there are also tons of high end culinary options that rival some of the best meat-centric restaurants in the world.
#4: Ethiopia
This East African cuisine make things pretty simple for vegans because there is little dairy used in most dishes so it’s easy to figure out what is vegan and what isn’t. Many of Ethiopia’s staple foods are totally vegan friendly, like injera, a thin sourdough bread made from teff flour, which accompanies many meals and also serves as a plate and cutlery. Because lots of residents are actually Orthodox Christians, they make it a practice to eat meat-free on Wednesdays and Fridays, so you know at least twice a week it should be easy to find good dining options!
#3: Indonesia
Indonesian cuisine is marked by dishes like satay and beef rendang, both of which put the focus heavily on meat. But for every satay that you find, you’ll also come across, say, ketoprak (tofu and rice cake in peanut sauce), tauge goreng (bean sprouts and noodles) and delightfully fresh tempeh everywhere! And while there are definitely parts of Indonesia where finding vegan food may be a little more tricky, but in Bali, you’ll undoubtedly find what you’re looking for- and probably much more! The trend in food here is to use very fresh local ingredients, making for a vibrant food scene that is colorful and exciting.
#2: India
When you think of the best country to get vegetarian food, India is likely the first one that comes to mind. And your assumption would be totally correct! Take, for example, the fact that there are more vegetarians in Indian than there are in the rest of the world . . . combined! Indians eat less meat than any other people, and it shows in the wealth of options they have available. While the use of dairy products like paneer cheese, cream and ghee (clarified butter) is widespread in certain regions, it’s usually pretty easy to figure out which dishes are “purely” vegetarian, or vegan.
#1: Taiwan
If you’re in Taipei and notice a symbol outside of a restaurant that looks kinda like a swastika, please don’t assume it is meant to be in any way offensive!. In fact, this little sign shows you exactly where to find Taoist and Buddhist restaurants, which are all vegetarian. And because they use very little dairy in their cuisine, vegetarian in Taiwan often translates to vegan. Eating in Taipei is all about the incredible street food and night markets, and vegans, despite the plethora of seafood on offer, won’t be left out here. You’ll have an easy time finding options at Shilin Night Market as well as many others. And it’s all so delicious!
If you don’t eat meat, dairy or eggs, travelling to certain destinations can indeed be tricky. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Countries to Visit if You’re Vegan.
For this list, we’re looking at the best places to travel if you follow a strict vegan diet.
#10: Germany
You might assume that because their traditional cuisine is very meat-centric that the Germans wouldn’t have much to offer for vegans. But despite their reputation for serving up bratwurst and schnitzel, there’s actually something for everyone in modern Germany. While in more rural areas you will undoubtedly have a tough time coming across vegan cuisine, Germany’s largest city, Berlin, is one of the world’s most vegan-friendly, with plenty of vegan restaurants. Vegan specialty items are easily found in grocery stores around the country.
#9: Malaysia
When you think of Malaysian food, you probably picture bustling night markets and street vendors where you can buy any number of local delicacies. The country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, is known for its expansive markets which feature an intersection of cuisines, with contributions from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and beyond. Hidden among all the meat-centric options though, it’s actually quite easy to find stalls and restaurants devoted explicitly to vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Nasi lemak is considered Malaysia’s national dish and while its traditional serving isn’t explicitly vegan, it’s very easy to order it without the egg in order to enjoy it.
#8: England
While the UK may be famed for its fish and chips and bangers and mash, there is actually a wealth of great meatless food available, too. In fact, London has even been voted as the most vegetarian-friendly city in the world, which may come as a surprise to many. Even Paul McCartney said, “After 40 years of touring as a vegetarian, I’m proud to say that when it comes to eating, there’s no place like home.” It has been customary for business owners to mark vegan options with a green “V” and with the wealth of multicultural options available across the city, vegans will never be far from a restaurant that can accommodate them.
#7: Thailand
We’ll take that pad thai without the chicken and shrimp, thank you! While Bangkok may be Thailand’s largest city, the best place to visit if you’re meat free might just be Chiang Mai, which is situated in the Northern part of the country. Because of the Buddhist population of the region, finding vegetarian restaurants is a breeze. Also, any restaurant advertising itself as being “Jay” will be explicitly vegan, as it represents a specific Buddhist cuisine that avoids the use of all animal products.
#6: Sri Lanka
Visiting Sri Lanka is a great opportunity to try out some fruits and vegetables that aren’t very common in other parts of the world. Vegans can sample local breadfruit, murunga and plantain and the ever popular jackfruit. If you’re looking for vegan options while in Sri Lanka you may be offered jackfruit curry, a dish that is likely unfamiliar to you. When you take your first bite, you might be worried that the cook made a mistake, because the texture is almost indistinguishable from real meat. Delicious!
#5: Israel
Did you know that Israel is home to approximately 200,000 vegans? In a country of 8 million, that’s a pretty significant population. In fact, Tel Aviv has been called the vegan capital of the world, a title it has happily embraced. The city boasts over 400 vegetarian and vegan restaurant options, so even a local would have a hard time running out of options! Of course, traditional dishes like falafel are vegan, but there are also tons of high end culinary options that rival some of the best meat-centric restaurants in the world.
#4: Ethiopia
This East African cuisine make things pretty simple for vegans because there is little dairy used in most dishes so it’s easy to figure out what is vegan and what isn’t. Many of Ethiopia’s staple foods are totally vegan friendly, like injera, a thin sourdough bread made from teff flour, which accompanies many meals and also serves as a plate and cutlery. Because lots of residents are actually Orthodox Christians, they make it a practice to eat meat-free on Wednesdays and Fridays, so you know at least twice a week it should be easy to find good dining options!
#3: Indonesia
Indonesian cuisine is marked by dishes like satay and beef rendang, both of which put the focus heavily on meat. But for every satay that you find, you’ll also come across, say, ketoprak (tofu and rice cake in peanut sauce), tauge goreng (bean sprouts and noodles) and delightfully fresh tempeh everywhere! And while there are definitely parts of Indonesia where finding vegan food may be a little more tricky, but in Bali, you’ll undoubtedly find what you’re looking for- and probably much more! The trend in food here is to use very fresh local ingredients, making for a vibrant food scene that is colorful and exciting.
#2: India
When you think of the best country to get vegetarian food, India is likely the first one that comes to mind. And your assumption would be totally correct! Take, for example, the fact that there are more vegetarians in Indian than there are in the rest of the world . . . combined! Indians eat less meat than any other people, and it shows in the wealth of options they have available. While the use of dairy products like paneer cheese, cream and ghee (clarified butter) is widespread in certain regions, it’s usually pretty easy to figure out which dishes are “purely” vegetarian, or vegan.
#1: Taiwan
If you’re in Taipei and notice a symbol outside of a restaurant that looks kinda like a swastika, please don’t assume it is meant to be in any way offensive!. In fact, this little sign shows you exactly where to find Taoist and Buddhist restaurants, which are all vegetarian. And because they use very little dairy in their cuisine, vegetarian in Taiwan often translates to vegan. Eating in Taipei is all about the incredible street food and night markets, and vegans, despite the plethora of seafood on offer, won’t be left out here. You’ll have an easy time finding options at Shilin Night Market as well as many others. And it’s all so delicious!
