Eating Out as a Vegan in the UK: 7 Tips That Actually Help

Eating out as a vegan in the UK has got massively easier, but it can still be awkward — especially at pubs, family gatherings, and independent restaurants that haven’t updated their menus. Here are seven tips that genuinely help.

1. Check the menu online before you go

Most restaurants publish their menu and allergen information online. Spend two minutes checking before you leave the house. It saves the awkward moment of sitting down and realising there’s nothing you can eat. For chains like Nando’s, Greggs, and McDonald’s, we have full vegan menu guides.

2. Say “vegan” not “vegetarian”

If you say “I’m vegetarian”, staff will offer you dishes with cheese, cream, and eggs. Be specific: “I’m vegan — no dairy, eggs, or honey.” UK restaurant staff are generally well-trained on allergens and most will know exactly what that means.

3. Ask about cooking oils and sauces

The main course might be vegan but the sauce or cooking fat might not be. Butter is used heavily in UK pub kitchens. Ask: “Is this cooked in butter or oil?” and “Does the sauce contain any dairy?” These are the two most common hidden non-vegan ingredients in restaurant food.

4. Side dishes are your safety net

If the main menu is hopeless, you can almost always build a meal from sides. Chips (ask if cooked in vegetable oil), salad, bread, roasted vegetables, baked beans, and rice are available nearly everywhere and are usually vegan. Three good sides make a perfectly fine dinner.

5. Indian, Thai, and Middle Eastern restaurants are your best friends

These cuisines have centuries of plant-based cooking traditions. An Indian restaurant will have multiple vegan options (dal, aloo gobi, chana masala, vegetable biryani — just ask them to use oil instead of ghee). Thai curries with tofu are widely available. Middle Eastern mezze (hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, baba ganoush) is almost entirely vegan.

6. Use the allergen menu

UK law requires restaurants to provide allergen information for every dish. Ask for the allergen menu — it will show you exactly which dishes contain milk, eggs, fish, and crustaceans. This is more reliable than asking the waiter, who might not know every ingredient in the kitchen.

7. Don’t apologise

You’re a paying customer with a dietary requirement. You don’t need to apologise for asking questions or requesting modifications. A good restaurant will accommodate you happily. If they make you feel like a burden, that’s a reflection on them, not you.