5 Best and Worst Countries for Vegetarians I’ve Visited — Based on Traditional Cuisine, Not Just Vegan Cafés

I wasn’t always a vegetarian.

I grew up in Poland — a country where meat is a staple of traditional cuisine and part of everyday meals in most households. As a young, meat-eating traveller, it never crossed my mind how difficult it might be to explore new countries and cultures as a vegetarian or vegan.

Now, after almost a decade of following a plant-based diet, I know better. And I also know that it’s often not easy. That’s why vegetarian food is such a big part of Grumpy Nomad Cat.

I believe that food is an inseparable part of every culture, and it's also one of the most important ways to understand it. So I decided to explore how welcoming (or not) the traditional cuisine is to plant-based eaters.

A Quick Note Before We Begin

The "best and worst countries for vegetarians" that I mentioned below are based on my personal travel experiences — not on rankings or random lists.

I’m also focusing mainly on traditional cuisine, not just modern vegan cafés or international restaurants. You can find pizza, pasta, or Indian food almost anywhere in the world. But does that really help you experience the local culture?

For me, real vegetarian-friendliness starts with traditional food.

My Top Countries for Vegetarians/Vegans

(Not in any particular order)

POLAND

Yes, I know — I just said our cuisine is very meat-heavy. So why is Poland on this list? Because things have changed.

Major cities like Warsaw are now considered among the most vegan-friendly in Europe, with many dedicated restaurants, cafés, and shops.

Kraków, where I’m from, is following closely behind. Even convenience stores like Żabka now carry tofu, hummus, and other plant-based products.

But more importantly, Polish cuisine has a long tradition of meat-free dishes connected to Christian fasting periods, especially Lent. This created a strong foundation of vegetarian recipes long before “plant-based” became trendy.

Another influence comes from Polish milk bars (bar mleczny). Created in the late 19th century and expanded during the communist era, they offered affordable, simple meals — many of which were vegetarian. While they are less common today, they helped normalise meat-free dishes for generations.

Traditional vegetarian staples include:

• Pierogi with potato and curd cheese (ruskie), vegetables, or fruit

• Placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes)

• Gołąbki with rice and mushrooms

• Krokiety with various fillings

• Barszcz czerwony (beetroot soup) and other vegetable soups

• Sandwiches, pastries and salads are also offered in many vegetarian/vegan options

While it’s still smart to double-check menus, finding good vegetarian food in Poland today is much easier than many people expect.

INDIA

Am I biased putting both Poland (my home country) and India (my husband’s home country) on this list? Maybe. :)

But the facts speak for themselves.

I’ve visited India several times — the North, West, and parts of the South — and I live in Malaysia, where Indian food is very common. My husband also comes from a strictly vegetarian family. So I’ve experienced Indian vegetarian cuisine both while travelling and in everyday life.

From chaat and masalas to dosas, biryanis, and sweets, the variety is endless. I honestly feel like I could spend a lifetime exploring Indian vegetarian food and still not try everything.

Vegetarianism is deeply connected to religion and culture in India, and that is why restaurants usually take “no meat” very seriously. It’s not seen as a trend — it’s a respected lifestyle.

If you’re not sure what to order, here’s what my husband and I call — a “starter kit”:

• Pani puri

• Daal with rice

• Palak paneer with cheese naan

• Vegetarian dosas or thalis

• Mango or plain lassi

You’re not going to regret it.

VIETNAM

Before my first trip to Vietnam, I was nervous. After years of travelling in Asia, I knew how tricky food could be. So I started researching vegetarian options in advance — and was surprised by how many I found. Restaurant after restaurant appeared on Google Maps. I still didn’t fully believe it… until we arrived.

I’ve now visited Vietnam twice, and each time we found plenty of vegetarian choices. People were also incredibly kind and often happy to adjust dishes for us.

Vietnamese vegetarian food is strongly influenced by Buddhist traditions, which is why “chay” (vegetarian) dishes are so common.

Some of my favourites include:

• Phở chay

• Bánh mì chay

• Gỏi cuốn chay (spring rolls)

• Bánh xèo chay with tofu and mushrooms

Just remember: fish sauce is widely used, so it’s always good to double-check.

MEXICO

Mexico was a wonderful surprise.

We’ve only visited Jalisco so far, so I won’t pretend this reflects the whole country — but our experience was fantastic.

Many people confuse Mexican food with Tex-Mex. In reality, traditional Mexican cuisine is built around corn, beans, vegetables, herbs, and chilli peppers. Meat exists, of course, but it’s not always central.

Real Mexican food feels fresh, balanced, and deeply flavourful, unlike what Tex-Mex is known for.

Almost any restaurant we visited offered plant-based options. In Puerto Vallarta, we even found a fully vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options.

Vegetarian-friendly traditional dishes include:

• Chiles rellenos

• Quesadillas

• Tamales

• Enchiladas

• Tlacoyos

• Chilaquiles

• Nopal (cactus) salad

I genuinely can’t wait to go back... 🤤

Bonus tip: learning even a few words of Spanish can go a long way. I speak it quite fluently, and it made a big difference — especially when explaining dietary preferences.

ITALY

Italy is a classic for a reason.

Beyond pizza and pasta, traditional Italian cuisine relies heavily on vegetables, legumes, grains, olive oil, and cheese. Many iconic dishes are naturally vegetarian.

Italians are also proud of their food and usually happy to accommodate special requests — as long as you respect the cuisine.

Top vegetarian dishes include:

• Melanzane alla Parmigiana

• Risotto ai Funghi

• Pizza Margherita

• Pasta alla Norma

• Caponata

And of course, Mediterranean cuisine is consistently ranked among the healthiest in the world.

The Less Vegetarian-Friendly Countries

(Based on traditional cuisine. Not in any particular order.)

FRANCE

France is famous for its culinary heritage — but that heritage is built on butter, meat, stocks, and sauces.

During our trip to Paris and the south of France, we struggled to find traditional vegetarian meals. In the end, we often relied on Italian restaurants.

Modern vegan spots exist, especially in cities, but historically speaking, French cuisine offers very few naturally vegetarian main dishes.

HUNGARY

I was excited to visit Budapest — until food became a challenge.

Hungarian cuisine is heavily focused on meat, stews, sausages, and pork-based dishes. Traditional vegetarian options are limited.

Even finding simple meat-free sandwiches wasn’t easy. Cooking in our apartment ended up being our best solution.

USA

Before you drop your jaw — hear me out.

I’ve only visited Los Angeles and Las Vegas, so this is based purely on that experience.

Yes, vegetarian food exists. But traditional American cuisine is centred around burgers, BBQ, steaks, and fast food. Many meat-free options we found were highly processed and heavy.

Every trip left my digestion struggling for days.

If you know great veg-friendly places in the US, let me know — I’d love to explore more.

AUSTRALIA

I spent a week in Melbourne and found it surprisingly difficult to connect with traditional vegetarian food.

Australia has amazing international cuisine — especially Asian and Indian — but its own food culture is strongly influenced by British and meat-based traditions.

Several local friends even admitted that “Australian cuisine” isn’t very clearly defined — and when it is, it usually involves meat.

MALAYSIA

Malaysia deserves a special mention.

Traditional Malay cuisine relies heavily on meat and seafood. However, Indian and Chinese influences bring many vegetarian options, especially in cities.

Kuala Lumpur is improving rapidly, with more vegetarian and vegan restaurants opening every year. Smaller towns can still be challenging, but overall, things are moving in the right direction.

Tips for Vegetarian Travel

• Choose Accommodation with a Kitchen

Apartments make life much easier, especially for families. Being able to prepare simple meals can save you in difficult destinations.

• Learn a Few Local Phrases

Knowing how to say “no meat” or “no fish sauce” goes a long way. You can also carry a written explanation if needed.

• Visit Local Markets

Markets are great for fruit, nuts, bread, and simple snacks when restaurants are limited.

• Always pre-order your in-flight meal

Some people flying for the first time, especially on long-haul flights, may not know that they can choose the meal served during the flight. You need to do it in advance, but the process is quite easy. Simply log in to your airline's website after purchasing a ticket and pick one of the options they offer.

• Use Apps

Apps like HappyCow help you find vegetarian-friendly places almost anywhere.

Travelling as a vegetarian isn’t always easy — but it’s incredibly rewarding. And when you understand a country’s traditional food culture, you understand much more than just what’s on your plate.

Want to learn more travel tips and explore travel eats with me?

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