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Vegetarian Guide to Manila Local & Street Food

Find authentic meat-free options, learn essential phrases, and get local tips for plant-based dining.

Local Foods

Food districts

Filtered results are based on automated analysis of common food data. This is for general guidance only. Ingredient variations, preparation methods, cross-contamination risks, and data accuracy can differ significantly. Always verify all information directly with vendors before consumption, especially for allergies or strict dietary needs. See full disclaimers for filtered results.

Not all dishes marked vegetarian are strictly vegan. Some may contain eggs or dairy. Always confirm specific ingredients with the vendor.

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Essential Phrases

I am vegetarian

Ako ay vegetarian

Ah-koh eye veg-eh-tah-ree-an

Indicates vegetarian diet preference

No meat, fish, or shrimp paste please

Walang karne, isda, o bagoong po

Wah-lang kar-neh, is-dah, oh bah-go-ong poh

Specifies no animal proteins including common sauces

Watch Out For

Patis (fish sauce)
Bagoong (shrimp paste)
Tinapa (smoked fish)
Meat stock in soups

Safe Options

Pinakbet (vegetable stew - request without bagoong)
Lumpiang gulay (vegetable spring rolls)
Ensaladang talong (eggplant salad)
Ginataang gulay (vegetables in coconut milk)

Important Notice

Traditional Filipino cuisine heavily incorporates meat and seafood. Even vegetable dishes often use fish sauce or shrimp paste as flavoring. Cross-contamination is common as the same cooking implements are typically used for all foods.