Food Guide

Vegetarian & Vegan Food in Xi'an

Guide to vegetarian and vegan dining in Xi'an.

Vegetarian & Vegan Food in Xi'an

Guide to vegetarian and vegan dining in Xi'an. Buddhist temples, vegetarian restaurants, and Chinese menu keywords.

8-10 min read Updated May 18, 2026 Food & Dining

Vegetarian Dining in Xi'an

Traditional Chinese cuisine uses meat sparingly in many dishes, making vegetarian eating more common than you might expect. Xi'an also has Buddhist temples serving vegetarian meals and several dedicated vegetarian restaurants.

Important

"Vegetarian" in Chinese can mean different things. Clarify if you avoid meat (素食), avoid all meat and seafood (素斋), or are vegan (完全素食 - no animal products at all).

ChinesePinyinEnglish
素食 Sùshí Vegetarian food
素菜 Sùcài Vegetarian dish
不要肉 Bù yào ròu No meat
不要猪肉 Bù yào zhūròu No pork
不要牛肉 Bù yào niúròu No beef
不要鸡肉 Bù yào jīròu No chicken
不要海鲜 Bù yào hǎixiān No seafood
不要鸡蛋 Bù yào jīdàn No eggs
不要牛奶 Bù yào niúnǎi No milk

Vegetarian-Friendly Dishes

Where to Eat

Tips

  1. Use translation apps to show dietary requirements
  2. Look for "素" (vegetarian) labeled items
  3. Be aware of hidden meat - broths, sauces may contain meat
  4. Egg is often considered vegetarian in Chinese cuisine
  5. Chinese broccoli (油菜) is usually safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Xi'an good for vegetarians?

Surprisingly vegetarian-friendly thanks to Buddhist temple cuisine and Muslim Halal options. Use HappyCow app to find restaurants.

Best vegetarian dishes?

Vegetarian roujiamo, liangpi, vegetable biangbiang noodles, Buddhist temple dishes, persimmon cakes. Most can be made vegetarian on request.

Buddhist vegetarian restaurants?

Yes, near Daxingshan Temple and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Mock-meat dishes. Prices 30-60 RMB per person.

How to say I am vegetarian in Chinese?

Wo chi su, Bu yao rou. For vegan: Wo bu chi rou, dan, nai.

Can vegans eat at the Muslim Quarter?

Many items are naturally vegan. Some vendors share woks with meat. Ask you mei you rou and you mei you dan.