Vegan in Taipei: A Practical Guide for Vegan Travelers

Going vegan isn’t easy, especially when going abroad and traveling. It is sometimes problematic exploring food in different countries with different culture for those who are on a special diet. Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is famous for both local and international, diverse cuisines. With the rising popularity of Veganism all over the world and the prevailing Buddhist vegetarianism in Taiwan, as a vegan, looking for what to eat in Taipei is not a problem!  Here is what we suggest:

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First thing first: knowing about the Buddhist vegetarianism in Taiwan

Buddhist vegetarianism is the practice of following a vegetarian diet under the Buddha’s teaching. With the prevailing Buddhism religion in Taiwan, it is quite common to see vegetarian options in restaurants and food stands. 

Tips for Vegans in Taipei: looking for vegan street food 

As you might already know, street food culture is a must experience when you visit Taiwan. It would be a pity if you were a vegan, and only visit restaurants or sit-down dinner for your whole journey. There are some local cuisines that are offered vegan or vegetarian due to the common Buddhism belief. 

1. simply ask

Simply ask if it is cooked with meat or if there is any dairy or egg inside, or in Chinese it would be “全素” (Quán sù), which means vegan. If you ask for something vegetarian, that would be “素” (sù). 

2. look for the character with a Buddhism symbol: swastika

In East Asia, the swastika is a symbol which is commonly seen in Buddhist communities and Buddhist temples, which represents as a decorative object of luck and fortune. As mentioned before, due to the common Buddhist vegetarianism being practiced in Taiwan, there are restaurants and food stands where offer both, vegetarian and vegan menus. To make it easier to be identified, the symbols are often marked on the signs outside the food stands or restaurants. 

3. make sure it is not cooked with lard

Since lard is derived from pork, a vegan would avoid it on their diet. Cuisines cooked with meat, egg, and dairy products can be easily spotted whether if it is vegan or not. However, you need to be careful with those ingredients that are not visible to the eyesight. There are many traditional Taiwanese cuisines that are cooked or fried with pork oil, because it is a common cooking technique in Taiwan. 

Two long-running vegan restaurants in Taipei 

Taipei’s vegan scene changes fast, and several places on our original list have since closed. These two were still open in 2026; check their pages for current opening hours before you go, and browse HappyCow’s Taipei listings for newer spots.

1. Ooh Cha Cha

The lovely name of the restaurant comes from the French “oh la la “, which expects people to be impressed after tasting the food. Working with local farmers for high-quality, fresh ingredients, Ooh Cha Cha features colorful smoothies, tasty beers, burgers, salads and more. At Ooh Cha Cha Bar, board games nights, cooking teaching, are occasionally held. Check out their Facebook events to make your vegan dining night special.  

Location: No. 207, Sec. 2, Nanchang Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 

2. Plants 

With wooden utensils and design, the simple but cozy vibe makes Plants a hipster restaurant. The self-made kimchi and sauerkraut at Plants are the must-try. At Plants, they are promoting not only a vegan diet but defining the vegan lifestyle in their own way. Apart from delicious and creative cuisines such as Macrobiotic Tempeh Bibimbap and tropical spring roll, Plants offers organic coffee and energy bowls with superfood such as chia seeds. At Plants, they bring vegan food up to another level, don’t miss out! 

Location: No. 10, Ln. 253, Sec. 1, Fuxing S. Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City

Taipei will be your top choice for vegan food

When it comes to good food, Taiwan is one of your top travel destinations. Whether you are a vegan or not, it is always exciting to try something new and exotic. If you happen to be a vegan, traveling to Taipei shouldn’t be something to worry about. Next time when you travel to Taipei, be sure to explore vegetarian and vegan food in Taiwan.

Explore Taipei’s Vegan Food with a Local Guide

Cover photo: user:takoradee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons