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If you’re in a city or town that you’re unfamiliar with and you don’t have a computer handy, stop by a health food store or vitamin shop to ask the employees if they know of any vegan-friendly eateries. These people are usually knowledgeable about local options.

Discovering vegan-friendly ethnic eateries

If you’ve done your homework (see the preceding section), you’ve probably realized that ethnic restaurants often are fail-safe options for vegans. And, luckily, the world is full of amazingly unique ethnic cuisines. Many of these cuisines have vegan dishes to choose from, offering new flavors, textures, and experiences.

You should easily be able to find (or request) the following vegan dishes at many ethnic eateries:

Bean tacos and burritos without lard or cheese

Chinese bean curd (tofu) dishes with vegetables

Grilled vegetables with olive oil and olives

Indian vegetable and bean curries with dahl (lentils) and no ghee, clarified cow’s milk butter

Middle Eastern hummus and tabbouleh salad with vegetables and olives

Thai vegetable curries made with creamy coconut milk

Vegetable pizza with no cheese

Making the Most of Nonvegan Menus

Dining in a vegan restaurant is ideal, but you may not always be able to find one. If you plan ahead and know the restaurant you’ll be going to, you may be able to look at its menu online or call ahead to ask whether it offers any vegan options. If you find that vegan pickings will be slim, plan to eat a hearty snack before going out so you don’t have to rely on the bread basket to get filled up.

Even if you aren’t armed with a lot of information beforehand, you can usually find things to eat in any restaurant. This section points you to places to try first and also gives you pointers for making the most of nonvegan menus, even if you have picky vegan kids in tow.

Getting what you need wherever you are

Vegans often are faced with choosing their meals from menus that are loaded with meat and cheese. Fortunately, you can make good choices even in these limited situations. Use the following tips to help you make the most of any menu you may come across:

Be as polite and patient as possible when asking for special meals. The employees at the restaurant may be in the middle of a rush, so your special request could take extra time.

Enroll the help of your server. Servers often are knowledgeable about what’s available and can help you figure out which dishes would be free of animal products. If the restaurant is very busy and your server doesn’t seem willing to help, put together a simple meal from vegan-safe side dishes. Most restaurants have a grain, vegetable, potato, or bean side.

Be sure to leave a nice tip for any server who goes the extra mile to help you. This recognition of a job well done will pave the way for future vegans, especially if you’re super nice to boot.

Call ahead to the restaurant as far in advance as possible. Talk with the manager or chef about your diet and what ingredients you avoid. If given enough advance warning, most chefs will happily accommodate you.

Make the best of your situation and enjoy the company of friends and family. Order a drink, a salad, and some bread if you aren’t able to eat much else. Making a big deal out of the situation will make others uncomfortable and they may think twice before inviting you out again.

Eat before you leave if you know there won’t be much available. Rather than starve throughout the night, you can be digesting while everyone else is eating! Have a cup of tea and fruit to participate in the meal.

Helping vegan kids find yummy choices

Eating on the road with kids can present another challenge to a vegan family. While adults may be more adventurous with ethnic dishes or even satisfied with very simple side dishes, kids can be picky. A vegan-friendly restaurant generally offers more choices for your little veg-head to choose from, but sometimes you can’t find such