How to Order Vegetarian and Vegan Chinese Takeaway
Chinese takeaway is one of the most plant-friendly cuisines around, but it can also be a minefield if you're not sure what to look for. Some dishes that look vegetarian on the menu quietly contain oyster sauce, egg noodles, or stock made from meat. This guide covers what to order, what questions to ask, and which dishes are genuinely safe, including what's available from us here at Wong's in Barry.
Is Chinese Takeaway Good for Vegetarians and Vegans?
Yes, genuinely so. Chinese cooking has a long tradition of plant-based cooking rooted in Buddhist and Taoist food culture, which means tofu, mushrooms, seasonal vegetables and fermented sauces have always played a central role. A good Chinese takeaway menu will have plenty of options, not just a token side salad.
That said, not every vegetable dish is automatically vegan. The hidden ingredients that catch people out most often are:
Oyster sauce appears in a lot of stir-fried vegetable dishes and adds a deep savoury flavour. It is not vegan. Ask if a dish uses it, and most kitchens will happily swap it out.
Egg noodles are the standard base for chow mein at many takeaways. If you are vegan, it is worth checking whether vegan noodles are available, or swapping to fried rice instead.
Fish sauce sometimes turns up in soups or sauces, particularly in dishes with a Thai or Southeast Asian influence. It does not always appear on the menu description.
Prawn crackers are not vegetarian in many takeaways, despite sometimes being served as a default side. They contain dried shrimp.
Egg can appear in fried rice, spring roll wrappers, and omelette-based dishes like egg foo young.
If you are strictly vegan, the two questions most worth asking when you order are: what oil is used for frying, and are vegan and meat dishes cooked separately.
What Are the Best Vegetarian Dishes to Order from a Chinese Takeaway?
Most Chinese takeaway menus include the following, and the majority can be made vegan with minor adjustments:
Vegetable spring rolls are almost always vegan. The filling is typically cabbage, carrot and glass noodles, and the wrappers are usually egg-free. Always worth confirming, but spring rolls are a reliable starter choice.
Tofu dishes are one of the best options on any Chinese menu. Tofu absorbs flavour well and can be prepared dozens of ways, from salt and chilli to sweet and sour, black bean or satay. It works as a protein-rich meat substitute without trying to pretend to be meat.
Vegetable fried rice is a solid choice. Ask for no egg if you are vegan, and most kitchens will accommodate this without any fuss.
Vegetable chow mein is another reliable option, though as mentioned above, check whether the noodles contain egg.
Mixed vegetables in black bean sauce is a punchy, satisfying dish that is often fully vegan. Black bean sauce is made from fermented soybeans and is naturally plant-based.
Mushroom-based dishes are particularly good in Chinese cooking because mushrooms bring a natural umami depth that makes them genuinely filling rather than just a side vegetable.
Vegetable or mushroom soup makes a good light starter, especially on a cold night.
What We Offer at Wong's
We have a dedicated vegetarian and vegan section on our menu, covering starters, rice dishes, noodles, saucy mains and tofu dishes. Here is a rundown of what we stock:
Starters
Our Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls come eight to a portion, packed with cabbage, carrot and glass noodles. The Salt and Chilli Tofu is one of our most popular dishes full stop, not just among vegetarians. Crispy cubes of tofu tossed in a dry spiced seasoning, it works as a starter or as a main. We also make Handmade Vegetarian Pancake Rolls, which are slightly different from spring rolls: larger, with mixed vegetables and herbs inside, and fried to a golden finish.
Soups and Lighter Dishes
Our Mix Vegetable Soup uses seasonal vegetables, chestnut mushrooms and a touch of white pepper. The Beansprout Vermicelli is lighter still, thin rice noodles with beansprouts and spring onions.
Rice and Noodles
We do Mushroom Fried Rice and Mixed Vegetable Fried Rice, both made with long-grain rice wok-fried to order. On the noodle side, Mushroom Chow Mein and Mixed Vegetable Chow Mein are both available. If you need egg-free noodles, just ask when ordering and we will sort it.
Saucy Mains
Sweet and Sour Tofu, Mixed Vegetables in Green Pepper and Black Bean Sauce, Mixed Vegetables with Garlic Sauce, Broccoli in Vegan Oyster Sauce, and Mixed Vegetables with Cashew Nuts all feature on our vegetarian menu. The Szechuan Mixed Vegetables and Mixed Vegetable Kung Pao are both available if you want something with proper heat.
Tofu Mains
Beyond the Salt and Chilli Tofu starter, we also do Beancurd with Cashew Nuts, and Beancurd with Mushrooms for something quieter and more savoury.
Egg-Based Options
Mushroom Egg Foo Young and Mixed Vegetable Egg Foo Young are both on the menu for vegetarians who eat eggs. These are fluffy omelette-style patties served with a sauce.
Sides
Bamboo Shoots and Water Chestnuts, Garlic Mushrooms, Beansprouts and Salt and Chilli Chips are all worth adding to an order if you want to build a spread.
Can I Customise Dishes at a Chinese Takeaway?
Most takeaways are flexible, and we are no exception. Common requests we get include:
Egg removed from fried rice
Oyster sauce swapped for a vegan alternative
Extra tofu added to a vegetable dish
Adjusting the spice level on Szechuan or Kung Pao dishes
Just let us know when you order, either over the phone or via our online ordering. If you have a specific allergy or dietary need, it is always better to call so we can talk it through directly.
What If I Want a Full Vegetarian Spread for a Group?
A good mix for sharing would be:
Salt and Chilli Tofu as a starter
Mixed Vegetables in Black Bean Sauce as a main
Mushroom Fried Rice or Mixed Vegetable Chow Mein as the base
Garlic Mushrooms and Beansprouts as sides
Salt and Chilli Chips for something indulgent
That covers a range of textures, from crispy to saucy to chewy, and enough variety that it does not feel like an afterthought.
Ordering Vegetarian Chinese Takeaway in Barry
We deliver across Barry, Rhoose, Dinas Powys, Sully and Wenvoe. You can order online via our website or call us on 01446 721044. We are open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm.
If you have any questions about specific dishes or ingredients, just ask. We would rather take two minutes to answer a question than have someone end up with something that does not work for them.
Wong's Chinese Takeaway, 108 Broad Street, Barry, CF62 7AJ. Rated 4.8 on Google. Food hygiene rating: 5.
