Navigate vegetarian dining in Pakistan with Meri Sehat. Discover tips, restaurant recommendations, and cultural insights for a satisfying meat-free culinary experience

Eating Out As A Vegetarian In Pakistan

Despite popular belief, it’s actually surprisingly easy being a vegetarian in Pakistan, but it’s still best to stay prepared. Here are our tips and tricks that will help you enjoy your meal when dining out in meat-loving Pakistan.

Overview

Disclaimer: Vegetarianism here is defined as only avoiding meat. I still eat eggs, dairy and honey because come on, it takes a lot of money and effort to be vegan in Pakistan.

When I went vegetarian in March 2018, the first comment I would get is &ldquo;It must be so hard to be a vegetarian in Pakistan.&rdquo; Then I would launch into a well-rehearsed answer illuminating the subcontinent&rsquo;s long history of vegetarianism and how much of our culture is plant-based with many foods being completely vegetarian, even vegan. I have seen many expressions change over time because it is a slow realisation that it is actually pretty easy to be a vegetarian in Pakistan.

For the last few years I have seen many small businesses&rsquo; and restaurants include vegetarian food on their menus. From Neapolitan wood fired pizzas to good old street food of paani poori, samosas and channa chaat, there is no end to the variety of vegetarian foods to make this lifestyle choice work for you. 
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top tips for vegetarian

Below are my top tips for eating out when you are a vegetarian:

<ul>
	<li>Read The Menu Ahead Of Time: It may seem like nagging but planning ahead is the best way to make sure that you will have a good time if you and your friends are eating out. Spontaneity is only fun if you are prepared and reading menus of the cafes and restaurants your friends want to check out is a way to stay ahead and ensure that you will not be nibbling on bread while everyone is digging into their entrees. Reading the menu ahead of time also lets you bring attention to the fact that a menu isn&rsquo;t vegetarian friendly and course-correct way ahead of time. 
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	<li>Ask The Restaurant To Adapt An Item For You: One time I was at a work dinner at a steak house and I used the above tip. I read the menu and saw that they had a mac-and-cheese topped with brisket beef. I was glad it was just topped with the beef as opposed to being mixed into the mac-and-cheese. At the restaurant I asked them to just get me the mac-and-cheese, no brisket with their parmesan wedges. They complied and it was a very filling meal. Places like POMO, Test Kitchen and Cote Rotie (the writer is based out of Karachi) have plenty of vegetarian options on their menu and their waiters and chefs are more than happy to adapt items for you. I also ask if Asian sauces have oyster and Worcestershire sauces and then look for options which don&rsquo;t. This may feel fussy but being firm and polite about your choices goes a long way. 
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	<li>Be Adventurous: Home-based food businesses on Instagram are much likely to adapt to your <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/non-meat-alternatives-for-vegetarians">vegetarian</a> needs than a restaurant. I once asked a bespoke Asian food chef to make vegetarian dumplings and she went all out and made them vegan! They were so delicious that everyone ate them. Small home-based food businesses also directly supply to local restaurants and you now have a way to buy directly from them. Bread, cheeses, condiments and desserts are all fun to try from small businesses and while it may seem like a vegetarian lifestyle is restrictive it makes you a more adventurous eater. 
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Conclusion

So, these are my tips for eating out when being a vegetarian in Pakistan. It has opened up a world of culinary delights for me and there is always something new and exciting to discover. More people in the restaurant business are open to the idea of vegetarianism as a sustainable model in light of the recession, climate change and the pandemic. 
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