Vegetarian & Indian Food in the Philippines: Guide

Quick answer

The Philippines is one of the harder places in Asia for vegetarians. Filipino cooking leans on pork, chicken and seafood, and fish sauce and shrimp paste turn up even in vegetable dishes. Manila has many Indian restaurants and vegan cafés, while El Nido and Coron have a few. English is widely spoken, so explaining your needs is easy. Carry snacks for boat days.

How easy is it to eat well?

Vegetarian & Jain friendliness

2/5

5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal

Indian food availability

2/5

5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare

What to order (and what to ask about)

Adobo
The national dish of meat braised in vinegar, soy and garlic. Kangkong (water spinach) adobo is a vegetable version, but check it has no pork.
Lechon
Whole roast pig, the centrepiece of every fiesta.
Sinigang
Sour tamarind soup with pork, prawns or fish; even vegetable versions usually use meat or fish stock.
Pancit
Stir-fried noodles usually with pork, chicken and shrimp; ask for a vegetable-only plate cooked fresh.
Chicken inasal
Grilled chicken marinated in calamansi and annatto, served with unlimited rice at local chains.
Lumpiang sariwa
Fresh spring rolls of vegetables with a sweet peanut-garlic sauce; some versions add shrimp, so ask.
Ginataang gulay
Vegetables in coconut milk; meat-free only when made without shrimp paste or dried fish, so ask for it without bagoong.
Tortang talong
Grilled aubergine dipped in egg and fried. No meat, but it contains egg.
Halo-halo
Shaved ice with sweet beans, coconut, jellies, ube and evaporated milk; some versions add leche flan, an egg custard.
Turon
Banana and jackfruit wrapped in spring-roll pastry, fried and caramelised; a cheap street snack.
Taho
Warm silken tofu with brown-sugar syrup and sago pearls, sold by street vendors in the morning.
Mangoes and mango shakes
Philippine mangoes are among Asia's sweetest; dried mangoes from Cebu make good gifts.

Phrases that help

Useful phrases
Say	Meaning
Vegetarian po ako.	I am vegetarian (polite).
Walang karne, please.	No meat, please.
Walang bagoong at walang patis.	No shrimp paste and no fish sauce.
Walang itlog.	No egg.
Gulay lang po.	Only vegetables, please.
Salamat po.	Thank you (polite).

How easy is vegetarian food in the Philippines?

Harder than in Thailand, Vietnam or Bali. Filipino food is built around pork, chicken and seafood, and even dishes that look like vegetables often contain shrimp paste (bagoong), fish sauce (patis) or pork pieces. The good news is that English is widely spoken, so you can explain exactly what you eat, and tourist areas understand vegetarian requests.

Where can you find Indian food?

Manila: the widest choice, with Indian restaurants in Makati, Bonifacio Global City and the Paco and Ermita areas, where an Indian community has lived for generations. Vegan cafés are common in Makati and BGC.
Cebu: a handful of Indian restaurants around IT Park and Mactan.
El Nido and Coron: a few Indian restaurants in town, plus Italian, Mexican and Middle Eastern places with good vegetarian choices.

What about island-hopping lunches?

Boat-tour lunches are usually grilled fish, pork and chicken with rice and fruit. Tell your tour operator the day before that you are vegetarian; most will pack grilled aubergine, tofu, rice and extra fruit. Carry biscuits, nuts and fruit on every boat day.

What hidden ingredients should you watch for?

Patis (fish sauce) in soups, stir-fries and dipping sauces.
Bagoong (shrimp paste) in vegetable dishes and with green mango.
Pork lard and pork bits in vegetables and noodle dishes.
Meat stock in soups, even "vegetable" ones.

Tips for Jain travellers

Jain food is very difficult here; onion and garlic are in nearly everything. Carry ready-to-eat meals, khakhra and thepla, and book hotels with a kettle. Some resorts will cook plain rice and steamed vegetables if you ask a day ahead.

Pack a small stock of food from India. Our packing list covers what travels well.

Plan the trip with the things to do list, the 7-day itinerary, the Philippines trip cost page, the best time to visit and the visa-free entry rules.

Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to be vegetarian in the Philippines?

It is harder than most of Southeast Asia, because meat, fish sauce and shrimp paste are used widely, even in vegetable dishes. But English is spoken almost everywhere, Manila has plenty of Indian and vegan restaurants, and tourist towns like El Nido understand vegetarian requests. Ask clearly for no meat, no fish sauce and no shrimp paste.

Are there Indian restaurants in El Nido and Coron?

Yes, a few in each town, serving North Indian staples like dal, paneer and naan, plus some vegetarian thalis. Choice is limited compared with Manila, and prices are higher than in India. Many Western restaurants in El Nido also have good vegetarian pasta, pizza and salads, so you will not struggle in town; boat days are harder.

Can Jain travellers manage in the Philippines?

It is difficult. Onion, garlic and root vegetables appear in almost every local and restaurant dish, and Indian restaurants outside Manila may not be able to cook Jain food. Carry ready-to-eat meals and dry snacks from India, book hotels with a kettle, and ask resort kitchens a day ahead for plain rice and steamed vegetables.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.