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25 Vegetarian-Friendly Countries That Will Make You Want to Grow More Veggies

Have you ever been abroad and desperately need sustenance, only to find that the sole vegetarian option is a sad “veggie stack” — a culinary creation so bland it makes you question the chef’s imagination? I’ve been there. Thankfully, things have improved, but there are still spots around the world where uninspired veggie dishes reign supreme.

Fear not, fellow herbivores! After relying on sites and apps like Happy Cow to find available vegetarian options, I decided to be more proactive. So you wouldn’t have to, I combed through reports and studies from various organizations outlining the top vegetarian destinations. The result? A mouthwatering compilation of vacation destinations ideal for indulging sans the veggie stack anxiety. Let this guide be your inspiration for transforming your own travels and garden into a veggie masterpiece!

India

Image Credit: A.Savin, FAL/Wikimedia Commons.

It’s impossible to pinpoint a city in India that’s more vegetarian than the other. One study from the World Animal Foundation (WAF) suggests that between 31 and 42% of the country is vegetarian, so if you’re struggling to find an eatery that caters to your dietary requirements, you’re not trying hard enough.

According to Happy Cow, in major cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi, you’ll find hundreds of vegetarian restaurants and many hundreds more with vegetarian options.

United Kingdom

Image Credit: Steve F, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Vegetarians and vegans in the UK make up around 10% of the population, which means there are almost seven million of them. They have a significant proportion of vegetarian restaurants to cater to these people.

In London alone, over 4,000 restaurants list themselves as vegetarian-friendly, 200 don’t serve meat, and another 163 are entirely vegan. There are also many more around the rest of the country.

Germany

Image Credit: Schnobby, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Germany’s placement here may be a surprise since it has a reputation for having a meat-centric diet. However, according to the WAF, a little over 10% of the population follows a vegetarian or vegan diet.

There are thousands of vegetarian restaurants scattered across the country. Berlin and Cologne share the majority, with each city having several hundred purely vegan or vegetarian restaurant listings.

Italy

Image Credit: https://pizza.de/, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

While you might associate Italy with pepperoni pizza or meat lasagna, vegetarianism used to be part of everyday culture. Food historians often credit the first pizza to Raffaele Esposito of Naples. Thought to be a dish for the poor, locals used vegetarian ingredients on their pizzas because meat was costly.

Those who choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle in Italy are among approximately 6% to 7% of the population. Travelers can find most vegetarian and vegan-only restaurants in Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Milan.

Japan

Image Credit: Olivia Fries, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Seafood plays a significant role in the diets of most Japanese people, but there is a growing number of vegetarians. They comprise 9% of the population or over 11 million people.

I recall visiting Osaka and finding a tiny vegan restaurant run by a lovely couple who couldn’t speak English. Somehow, through various gestures, I was given a vegan set menu that was a delicious representation of Japanese dishes. Of course, most vegetarian restaurants are in bigger cities like Tokyo.

Vietnam

Image Credit: Shitadevi, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Roughly 10% of Vietnamese people are completely vegetarian. The majority of the population follows Buddhism, which encourages a meat-free diet. Two days out of the month, all Buddhists are vegetarian.

There are over 500 vegetarian and vegan-only restaurants in Ho Chi Minh alone. In North Vietnam, Da Nang and Hoi An are the meat-free epicenters.

Australia

Image Credit: Alpha from Melbourne, Australia/Wikimedia Commons.

When I was younger, more people scoffed at dietary choices, but it’s not something you see anymore. Meat consumption in Australia is high compared to the population — however, 12% of the 26 million citizens follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. This means some amazing meat-free dining options exist, especially in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.

Few restaurant menus would be without vegetarian options. Branches of the Hare Krishna movement operate in most cities and provide budget-friendly vegetarian meals.

Canada

Image Credit: Geoff Peters from Vancouver, BC, Canada, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Canada has around 39 million citizens, and around 3 million are vegan or vegetarian. Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto have the most meat-free restaurants in the country.

Moreover, another 40% of Canadian citizens say they’re at least willing to incorporate a plant-based diet part-time. While meat consumption is high at 90 pounds per capita, people are increasing the amount of white meat and eating less pork and red meat.

Thailand

Image Credit: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

It’s all about knowing where to go and what to ask. While Thailand mostly follows a Buddhist philosophy, going meat-free isn’t on the agenda. The first time I arrived in Bangkok, I ate ice cream for dinner because I didn’t know how to ask for vegetarian food or where to find it.

Approximately 8% of the population abstains from meat consumption. Bangkok and Chang Mai are home to most vegetarian and vegan-only restaurants.

France

Image Credit: Tangopaso, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

France is one of those countries where many people feel they will be laughed at if they say they’re vegetarian. However, the country is well-equipped to deal with people who follow that diet.

The number of restaurants in France is higher than that of vegetarians. Only 5.2% of the French say they don’t eat meat, but in Paris, there are 183 vegetarian and vegan restaurants.

Poland

Image Credit: Janbies, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

I grew up around Polish people since my father, and many of his friends were Polish. Meat, especially blood sausage and deli meats, featured heavily in their diet. So, seeing Poland on a list of vegetarian-friendly places comes as a surprise.

Two and a half million people refrain from meat, equivalent to about 7%. Finding vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Warsaw and Krakow is very simple. I was so happy to see a vegetarian restaurant serving the Polish staple of pierogi (dumplings) and other Polish foods I hadn’t had in years.

Singapore

Image Credit: Ruth Ellison., CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Singapore is an interesting mix of cultures and religions. Many Hindus and Buddhists don’t eat meat, and the area known as Little India has an abundance of Indian vegetarian restaurants.

Seven percent (7%) of Singapore’s small population is completely vegetarian or vegan. There are over 260 purely meat-free restaurants in the city center alone.

Mexico

Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlieontravel/, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Until doing this research, I had no idea that so many Mexicans followed a vegetarian diet. A whopping 19% adopt meat-free living due to the large number of Mexican dishes that are naturally vegetarian.

Most vegetarian and vegan restaurants live in Mexico City, with over 250 to choose from. You’ll also have no issues finding vegetarian options at contemporary restaurants.

The Seychelles

Image Credit: Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency, CC BY 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Several reports show that this archipelago off the east coast of Africa is the world’s number one vegetarian-friendly nation. However, only two came up when I tried finding purely vegetarian or vegan restaurants.

As is the case with many places worldwide, plenty offer vegetarian options. The average meat consumption on the islands was also low compared to other countries. You wouldn’t have any issues visiting the Seychelles as a vegetarian, but I’m not sure it deserves the title of the world’s number-one vegetarian destination.

Peru

Image Credit: bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

If you want to check out the fascinating culture of Peru and don’t eat meat, this South American destination has you covered. In addition, plenty of the local cuisine doesn’t contain meat, so they don’t need to adapt it to vegetarian tastes.

About 10% of the locals say they’re either vegetarian or vegan, and purely vegetarian and vegan restaurants are abundant in the main cities like Lima, Quito, and Guayaquil.

Cambodia

Image Credit: Sodanie Chea, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Cambodia is a fascinating place to visit due to its culture and history. Many of the younger generations are seeing an increase in the vegetarian population, but you may get puzzled looks from others.

I would recommend dining at one of the restaurants that list themselves as pure vegetarian or vegan. I’ve been served meat at places despite asking them for vegetarian menu items — dining at a vegetarian restaurant reduces that stress. The good news is there are 37 restaurants to choose from in Phnom Penh and 12 in Siem Reap.

Colombia

Image Credit: Wojciech Kocot, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

There are over 80 vegetarian and vegan-only restaurants in the capital, Bogotá. Given that only 6% of the population is vegetarian or vegan, that’s a disproportionate number of eateries.

More Colombians identify as “flexitarian,” meaning they will happily have days of meatless meals. One report suggests this is due to health reasons rather than anything else. However, it’s also great news for vegetarian travelers to Colombia.

Finland

Image Credit: Dodo from Finland, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Fourteen percent of the Finnish population is either vegetarian or vegan. If you’re traveling to the country, you’ll have no issues finding a vegetarian or vegan-only restaurant in the capital, Lima, but choices are limited elsewhere.

If you’re traveling beyond Lima, do your research to ensure there’s an eatery that caters to your dietary needs. I’m definitely not saying you won’t find any, though I caution that more remote locations may be sparse with options.

Indonesia

Image Credit: Sakurai Midori, CC BY-SA 2.1 JP/Wikimedia Commons.

According to Statista, around 11% of Indonesians are vegetarians or vegans, and many citizens have tried this lifestyle out of a desire to try it out without success.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, and vegetarian lifestyles are prominent on several islands. If you’re visiting Bali or the capital city of Jakarta, you’ll have no problem finding meat-free restaurants.

Sri Lanka

Image Credit: Nikkolo, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Buddhism is the predominant religion in Sri Lanka, meaning refraining from eating meat on certain days is common. While meat consumption in the country is rising, visitors will have no problem finding vegetarian or vegan foods thanks to some of the region’s staple dishes.

Vegetarian curries don’t contain meat, but there are also many meat-free restaurants, especially in the capital of Colombo. In other places, it’s best to ask for no meat rather than “vegan.”

Jamaica

Image Credit: Miikka H from Helsinki, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Rastafarians are known for following a plant-based diet but comprise only a small percentage of the Jamaican population. A further 10% of citizens also follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Visitors to the Caribbean island nation won’t have any problems finding and following a meat-free diet.

The majority of pure vegetarian and vegan restaurants are in Kingston, with several more scattered across the island. Dishes like fried breadfruit, rice, callaloo, and bammy (flatbread) are things to look for in non-vegetarian restaurants.

Malaysia

Image Credit: ProjectManhattan, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

In Kuala Lumpur, you can choose from over 600 vegetarian and vegan-only restaurants, and in George Town, there are another 480. So, it’s safe to say people who follow a meat-free diet will have no issues in Malaysia.

The number of plant-based eateries is interesting, given that studies suggest only 5% of citizens are vegetarians or vegans. Try a mee goreng or vegetarian nasi lemak.

The United States

A veggie burger with various toppings like onion, lettuce and pico de gallo paired with well-seasoned fries, plated on a white dish.
Image Credit: bradley j – CC 2.0/WikiCommons.

Only 6.2% of the U.S. population is vegetarian or vegan. That’s still a hefty 19 million people, with most concentrated in coastal states like California, Arizona, New Mexico, New York, and Massachusetts.

Being a culturally diverse country, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurants are in virtually any sizable metropolis. You may find a better concentration in bigger cities like Los Angeles, but don’t discredit smaller towns you may find in the Midwest.

Switzerland

Image Credit: Thomas Woodtli from Zürich, Switzerland, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Like the U.S., only 5% of Swiss citizens say they follow a plant-based diet. That’s approximately half a million people.

Visitors to the European nation will have no issues finding food, though. Thousands of restaurants advertise vegetarian options, and hundreds of others are vegetarian or vegan-only. Zurich and Bern have the highest concentration of eateries.

Brazil

Image Credit: Wilfredo Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez, CC0/Wikimedia Commons.

Approximately 30 million Brazilians identify as vegetarians, making up 14% of the population. According to the New York Times, more Brazilians are turning to a plant-based diet due to the destruction the meat industry has caused in the country and animal rights movements.

Most pure vegetarian and vegan restaurants are in Brasília, with a large selection in Rio de Janeiro.

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