A delicious Taiwanese Vegetarian Food

Did you know that Taiwan has the second-largest vegetarian population in the world, right after India? Around 10–15% of the population is vegetarian, and indeed, you’ll find plenty of vegetarian restaurants across the country. Even in supermarkets, vegetarian labeling is often seen on food products.

We’d like to introduce you to Taiwan’s vegetarian culture!

What is Taiwanese Vegetarian Food?

In Taiwan, vegetarian food is called “Su-shih (素食)”, a term rooted in Buddhist and Taoist religious traditions. In fact, there are several types of vegetarianism in Taiwan, which we’ll explain below.

	Fish	Eggs	Dairy	Five Pungent Spices (五葷)
Vegan (全素)	×	×	×	×
Ovo-Vegetarian (蛋素)	×	〇	×	△
Lacto-Vegetarian (奶素)	×	×	〇	△
Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian (蛋奶素)	×	〇	〇	△
Five-Pungent-Vegetarian (五辛素)	×	△	△	〇

The “Five Pungent Spices” (五葷, wu-hun) are garlic, green onions, scallions, chives, and onions—ingredients believed in Buddhism to hinder spiritual practice.

The character “素 (su)” carries the meanings of pure and natural. When applied to food, it implies “pure, without animal products.”

Since many Taiwanese Buddhists and Taoists follow strict religious precepts, vegetarianism is deeply ingrained in everyday life.

What kind of vegetarian dishes can you find？

Popular meat-based dishes such as lu rou fan (braised pork rice), dim sum, and mantou (steamed buns) all have vegetarian versions, often made with soy-based meat substitutes. But in specialized vegetarian restaurants, it’s not just soy meat—there’s an abundance of dishes highlighting vegetables, beans, mushrooms, and more, all prepared in ways that bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients.

Taiwan has such a long history of vegetarian culture, the skill and knowledge behind its vegetarian cuisine are truly impressive.

Image：臺北旅游網

Image：人間福報

There are also plenty of vegetarian lunchbox shops across Taiwan, making it easy to find options during lunch breaks or while out and about. And it’s not just Chinese cuisine—you can also find vegetarian Western, Korean, and other international foods, so there’s never a shortage of variety.

Conclusion

Even among non-strict Buddhists or Taoists, many people incorporate vegetarian meals once or twice a month. In some households, meat and vegetarian meals coexist naturally, reflecting Taiwan’s culture of respect for diversity. Because of this, there’s no sense of “enforced vegetarianism”—instead, it’s a flexible, comfortable, and welcoming food culture.

As part of your cultural experience in Taiwan, we highly recommend trying vegetarian food—not only for vegetarians, but also for those who normally eat meat!

At Relax Go Taiwan, we can also arrange vegetarian-only restaurant tours tailored to your needs. Be sure to check them out!