3 Countries That Surprised Me as a Vegan Traveler 

For me, vegan travel always starts well. 

There’s something beautiful about the confused look on complete strangers’ faces as your meal is delivered before theirs. And as you tuck in, you’d be mad not to enjoy their momentary jealousy. 

But the shine doesn’t last long. Each bite is a stark reminder that a chef never came anywhere near your meal (let alone a vegan one). It was created by a food scientist in a lab, made in a factory, and microwaved in a tin can in the sky.  

What follows is several instantly forgettable movies, some bad sleep, and a sore neck. 

But what’s to come makes it all worthwhile.

Vegan food from around the world is what gets me out of bed every morning. I’ve eaten a lot of it, in a lot of different countries. 

In some, I land full of confidence, knowing exactly where I’m going for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Others pose more of a challenge. But to be honest, they’re the ones that spring the best surprises and make the best memories.

1. China

Back in 2019, I was working as an English teacher in Shanghai. Despite telling the school catering staff that I was vegan, for the first week, they proudly presented me a piece of chicken each time I arrived for lunch. Awkwardly, I declined, and stuck to rice and the pickled vegetables that are served with every meal (as most of the actual vegetable dishes had small bits of meat or egg). 

For them, vegan is a hard concept to grasp. 

On the surface, China is not particularly vegan-friendly. But as I scratched a little deeper, I discovered not only some of the best vegan food I’ve ever had, but some incredible accidentally-vegan street food, and the most wonderful vegan community of anywhere I’ve lived in the world.

Starting off with the street food. I eventually decided that lunch at the school canteen wasn’t for me, and once I realized I could venture out in my free periods, my tastebuds rejoiced as my waistline admitted defeat.     

From scallion pancakes to vegetable bao buns and fried tofu, there were always plenty of vegan options for me to enjoy as I explored what, for me, is the most exciting city in the world. Admittedly, the language barrier was a challenge, but it was an adventure I relished. 

In the non-vegan restaurants, shredded stir-fried potato (now my favorite way to eat potatoes) and an unreal fried eggplant dish, among all manner of other vegetable dishes, were my go-to. Plant-based protein options weren’t abundant, granted, but I made sure I was supplementing with shakes and cooking plenty of tofu at home. China wins the tofu game, by the way. I’ve never seen so many types of tofu in my life, it really pushed me to experiment and explore in the kitchen.

Then there was the temple food, the vegan restaurants tucked away in the back of hotels, and hidden on the 10^th floor of shopping malls. The fact that China has one of the  oldest vegan cultures in the world is something that most people don’t know. That results in dishes you wouldn’t believe are plant-based, incredible meat alternatives, and unbelievable flavors that your Chinese takeout could only dream of. Chinese food in China is completely different to Chinese food back home. There are plenty of modern vegan restaurants too, combining ancient cooking methods with 21^stcentury flair. 

Last but not least, I want to talk about the vegan people. I made so many vegan friends that I’m still in touch with today. In fact, I’m meeting a couple from Shanghai in Chiang Mai later this month. Vegan potlucks, picnics, and meals out were a weekly occurrence. I don’t think there are many better places to meet vegan friends in the whole world.

So whether you’re just visiting or planning a longer stay, trust me, China is a fantastic place to be a vegan. 

2. Jamaica

I sincerely apologize for the upcoming name drop and showing off. 

Back in my late teens, I was flown to Jamaica by Virgin Media. I was there to shoot a commercial with Usain Bolt at his training facility. My acting days were fleeting but this was one hell of an experience. 

For a country that’s famous for jerk chicken, and ackee and saltfish, I wasn’t holding out much hope for a smooth eating experience. What I was met with was a culture driven by Ital philosophy, the freshest fruit and vegetables I’ve ever had, and amazing people who were willing to help at every turn.

We were staying in one of the fanciest hotels in Kingston, an old imperial house that was built by the British. Apart from being an incredibly beautiful setting, I’ll never forget the breakfasts as long as I live. Fruit platters stacked high with things I couldn’t name, let alone pronounce, sat next to bowls of callaloo, curried vegetables, and rich stews. Dumplings, fried plantain, and vegetable dishes needed absolutely no meat to hold their own. I’ve had a lot of hotel breakfasts in my life. None of them have come close.

When I got some time off to explore (which wasn’t nearly enough), I found some beautiful Ital restaurants serving jerk tofu, Ital stews thick with pumpkin and coconut milk, and rice and peas. The people running these places were some of the warmest I’ve met anywhere in the world.

On the actual shoot days at Bolt’s training facility, the spread they put on was incredible, and surprise surprise, most of it was vegan. I was standing a few places behind the big man himself in the buffet line, watching him pile his plate impossibly high. Sorry to any meat eaters reading this, but a solid 75% of what went onto that plate was plants. That’s what the fastest man in the world at the time was fueling himself with, and people still try to tell me veganism isn’t healthy.

The production company also organized for us to go up to the Blue Mountains, home to some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. No plant milk in sight, but none was needed. We visited Bob Marley’s house too, complete with a tour through the studio where he was shot before performing for peace two days later, and the kitchen, where the guide explained how Marley’s Ital diet was heavily plant-forward, though not strictly vegan. 

Every guide we had on every trip went out of their way to make sure I was fed, one even went off and found me vegan patties (which put Cornish pasties to shame) while the rest of the group had jerk chicken. That’s Jamaican hospitality in a nutshell.

I was only in Jamaica for less than a week, but it left a mark that’s lasted until today. The vegan food scene isn’t there as some modern add-on, it’s woven into the culture itself, built on a philosophy of peace and love that predates the word “vegan” by decades. If you ever get the chance, go.

3. Poland

I’ll admit that the thought of Polish food didn’t exactly excite me as I boarded a flight to Warsaw for the very first time. How ignorant of me. I had no idea what a pleasant culinary experience I was about to embark on. Not only is Polish food incredible, but the vegan scene across the country is booming, and it’s far more than beetroot stews and sausages. 

The first time I took a bite of a crispy schnitzel, and a warm, soft pierogi covered in vegan sour cream and plant-based bacon bits, I had to admit I was wrong. Polish food is amazing, and what’s so great is that we can enjoy it all as vegans. In cafes and restaurants across Poland, infamously un-vegan-friendly Polish cuisine has been veganized, and I for one am incredibly grateful for it.   

Beyond the traditional dishes, the sheer range of restaurants and worldwide cuisines available caught me off guard too, and most places have at least a couple of solid vegan options on the menu. That turned out to be a lifesaver on a lads holiday to Warsaw, where I was the only vegan in the group.

But if you are lucky enough to travel with fellow herbivores, Warsaw is genuinely a dream. The proximity between vegan restaurants is unreal, and the city is so easy to get around. On one major street where we stayed, I lost count of the vegan restaurants walking from one end to the other. 

One of those restaurants was a hole in the wall vegan kebab shop, and I’m not ashamed to say I ate there every single day for breakfast while my mates were nursing their hangovers (I tried my best but just fell short of trying everything on the menu). Falafel wraps, classic style kebabs, they had it all, fresh, delicious, and healthy. It’s my humble opinion that more people should start their mornings with a vegan kebab.

The Vietnamese influence in Warsaw was also slightly surreal. The connection goes back decades, to the 1950s, when Vietnamese students first arrived in Poland under exchange programs between the two communist countries. That small beginning grew into what’s now one of the largest immigrant communities in Poland, concentrated heavily in Warsaw, and it shows in the food. As someone who lives in Asia and would choose Asian food over almost anything else, I couldn’t go too long without noodles, and I didn’t have to look hard to find some of the best pho I’ve had outside of Vietnam. The banh mi, too, transported straight back to Hanoi.

Poland is a fantastic country, Warsaw is a beautiful city, and I could genuinely see myself living there one day. If you’re a vegan traveler considering it, this is your sign to book your flights.

Honorable Vegan Destination Mentions

I was only in the UAE for around a week, and although not completely loving my time there, the hummus and legume based dishes were completely worth the stay. Even in the airport, the hummus on offer is the best you’ve ever tasted in your life. I was pleasantly surprised and more than satisfied with the vegan options in a place that isn’t exactly known for being the most ethical and forward thinking. I’d definitely recommend a few days stopover if you get the chance.

If you’re unfamiliar with Indonesian food, you must change that as soon as possible. It’s comfortably in my top three world cuisines, and Gado-gado, a salad made with tofu and a satay style peanut sauce, would be one of my death row meals. There’s a ton of other accidentally vegan street food dishes too, or at least almost there and very easy to veganize, and there are dedicated vegan canteen style restaurants in most cities. It’s a gorgeous country full of amazing people, incredible food, and a vegan culture that was there long before the acai mafia invaded Bali. 

So there you have it, three deep dives and two extras, five countries that surprised me as a vegan traveler. They’re all great options, but my hope is that you’ll go out there and create a list of your own. Book that flight. Have that adventure.

And if you do want a helping hand, Rebecca from Veggies Abroad is the best vegan travel planner out there. You’re in the safest of hands and she’d love to help.