Vietnamese Vegetarian Food Is Different
I'm Vietnamese-Australian, and Vietnamese vegetarian food (called 'chay') is not what Western vegetarians expect. It's not about kale salads or veggie burgers. It's Buddhist temple food, mock meats, tofu mastery, and vegetables cooked in ways that create umami without animal products.
My grandmother is Buddhist and eats chay twice a month (1st and 15th of lunar calendar). Growing up, I thought vegetarian food was boring. Then I had proper Vietnamese chay and realized it's its own sophisticated cuisine.
This guide covers Vietnamese vegetarian food in Sydney from someone who grew up eating it.
What Is Vietnamese Chay?
The Buddhist Context
Vietnamese vegetarian food comes from Mahayana Buddhist tradition:
- No animal products: No meat, no fish, no eggs, no dairy
- No pungent vegetables: No onion, garlic, chives, shallots, leeks (the 'five pungent spices')
- Why no pungent vegetables: Buddhist belief they inflame passions and hinder meditation
Result: Vietnamese vegetarian cooks developed incredible skill in creating flavor without the usual aromatics Vietnamese cooking relies on.
Mock Meats and Tofu Mastery
Vietnamese chay is famous for:
- Mock meats: Made from wheat gluten, soy, mushrooms
- Realistic textures: 'Chicken', 'pork', 'fish' made entirely plant-based
- Visual mimicry: Sometimes looks exactly like meat dishes
Why mock meats? Not to trick people, but to allow vegetarians to participate in Vietnamese food culture without feeling excluded. If your family eats phở bò, you can eat phở chay that looks and tastes similar.
Chay vs. Western Vegetarian
Western vegetarian:
- Focus on vegetables as vegetables
- Often cheese/egg-heavy
- Mediterranean, Indian influences
Vietnamese chay:
- Mock meats common
- Completely vegan (no eggs/dairy)
- Mushrooms for umami
- Rice and noodles central
Best Vietnamese Vegetarian Restaurants in Sydney
Cabramatta: Traditional Chay
1. Quan Thanh Restaurant (John Street)
The verdict: Best Vietnamese vegetarian in Sydney.
What to order:
- Phở chay: $12. Mushroom-based broth, mock beef, incredible depth
- Bún chay: $12. Vermicelli with mock meats and vegetables
- Cơm chay: $13-15. Rice with various vegetarian dishes
- Mock duck: $14. Shockingly realistic texture
What's special:
- Run by Buddhist family
- No garlic/onion (proper Buddhist vegetarian)
- Mock meats made in-house
- Full menu, not just 'vegetarian options'
Personal take: This is where my grandmother goes. The phở chay broth is so good I sometimes choose it over regular phở. They've perfected creating umami from mushrooms, kombu, and vegetables. The mock meats are the best I've had anywhere.
Vibe: Simple Vietnamese restaurant, Buddhist shrine in corner, Vietnamese spoken, very community-focused.
2. Green Vegetarian (Freedom Plaza area)
The verdict: Solid vegetarian, slightly more modern.
What to order:
- Vegetarian bánh mì: $7. Mock pork, excellent
- Spring rolls: $8. Fresh and fried versions
- Rice dishes: $12-14. Good variety
Personal take: Not quite as good as Quan Thanh but more convenient location, faster service, good for quick vegetarian meal.
Marrickville: Modern Vietnamese Vegetarian
Various Vietnamese Restaurants with Chay Options
Most Marrickville Vietnamese restaurants offer some vegetarian dishes:
- Thanh Binh: Has vegetarian phở and rice dishes
- Pho Pasteur: Vegetarian phở available
Quality: Good but not specialized. They use garlic/onion (not Buddhist-style), and mock meats are commercial rather than house-made.
Read more: Complete Marrickville Vietnamese Guide
Buddhist Temples with Vegetarian Food
Phuoc Hue Temple (Wetherill Park)
- Vegetarian meals on Buddhist holy days (1st and 15th lunar month)
- Free or donation-based
- Traditional Buddhist vegetarian food
- Community dining experience
Quang Minh Temple (Bexley)
- Similar vegetarian offerings on holy days
- Sometimes vegetarian cooking classes
Cultural note: Temple food is traditional, simple, no mock meats usually. It's about nourishment and mindfulness, not gourmet experience.
Read more: Vietnamese Community and Temples Guide
Essential Vietnamese Vegetarian Dishes
Phở Chay (Vegetarian Pho)
What makes it work:
- Broth from shiitake mushrooms, kombu, vegetables
- Roasted spices (star anise, cinnamon) for depth
- Mock beef or tofu
- Same fresh herbs as regular phở
Good phở chay tastes like: Rich, umami-heavy, surprisingly close to beef phở. You don't feel like you're missing something.
Bad phở chay tastes like: Vegetable soup with noodles. No depth, no complexity.
Personal take: Quan Thanh's phở chay is so good I sometimes order it even when I'm not eating vegetarian. The mushroom umami is incredible.
Bún Chay (Vegetarian Vermicelli Bowl)
Components:
- Rice vermicelli noodles
- Mixed vegetables (lettuce, cucumber, herbs)
- Mock meats (usually fried)
- Spring rolls (vegetarian)
- Nước chấm chay (vegetarian dipping sauce - no fish sauce)
How it's different: The dipping sauce uses soy sauce or mushroom seasoning instead of fish sauce. Good versions taste almost identical to regular bún.
Cơm Chay (Vegetarian Rice Plate)
Typical setup:
- Steamed rice
- 2-3 vegetable dishes
- Tofu or mock meat
- Pickles
- Soup
Similar to: Vietnamese home-style rice meal, but entirely vegetarian.
Bánh Mì Chay (Vegetarian Baguette)
Fillings:
- Mock pork or tofu
- No pâté (sometimes tofu pâté)
- Same pickles, cucumber, herbs
- Vegetarian mayo
Quality varies wildly: Best versions use good mock meat and season properly. Bad versions are just vegetables in bread.
Gỏi Cuốn Chay (Vegetarian Fresh Spring Rolls)
Fillings:
- Tofu instead of shrimp/pork
- Vermicelli
- Lettuce, herbs, vegetables
- Rice paper wrapper
Dipping sauce: Hoisin-based usually, or soy-based nước chấm.
Mock Meat Dishes
1. 'Chicken' (usually wheat gluten)
- Shredded texture similar to real chicken
- Flavored with turmeric, lemongrass
2. 'Pork' (soy-based usually)
- Firmer texture
- Can be grilled, fried, braised
3. 'Fish' (tofu sheets and nori)
- Layered to create flaky texture
- Seaweed for ocean flavor
4. 'Duck' (layered wheat gluten)
- Most impressive mock meat texturally
- Often roasted, skin-like exterior
Personal perspective: Mock meats are acquired taste. I grew up eating them at temples, so they're normal to me. Many Western vegetarians find them off-putting (too realistic) or disappointing (not realistic enough). Vietnamese vegetarians love them.
Cooking Vietnamese Vegetarian at Home
Essential Ingredients
Proteins:
- Firm tofu: Base for many dishes
- Wheat gluten (mì căn): For mock meats
- Mushrooms: Shiitake, king oyster, wood ear
- Beans and legumes
Umami sources (no fish sauce):
- Mushroom seasoning: Essential for Vietnamese vegetarian cooking
- Soy sauce: Dark and light
- Kombu (kelp): For broth
- Miso paste: Sometimes used
Aromatics (Buddhist-style, no garlic/onion):
- Ginger: Allowed and essential
- Lemongrass: Allowed
- Galangal: Allowed
Where to buy:
- Asian supermarkets in Cabramatta
- Vietnamese grocery stores
- Buddhist supply stores (they stock vegetarian ingredients)
Simple Vegetarian Vietnamese Recipes
1. Quick Phở Chay
Cheat version:
- Vegetable stock + shiitake mushrooms
- Star anise, cinnamon, ginger
- Rice noodles
- Tofu
- Herbs
Time: 1 hour vs. 12 hours for beef phở
2. Tofu Spring Rolls
- Firm tofu sliced
- Vermicelli
- Lettuce, herbs
- Rice paper
- Hoisin-peanut sauce
Time: 30 minutes
3. Caramelized Tofu
- Firm tofu
- Sugar (caramelize)
- Soy sauce
- Ginger
Time: 30 minutes
Serves over rice, tastes similar to caramelized pork
What's Hard to Make at Home
- Mock meats: Require special ingredients and technique
- Proper phở chay broth: Time-consuming, need many mushrooms
- Realistic textures: Professional vegetarian restaurants have years of practice
Vietnamese Vegetarian for Non-Buddhists
Why Non-Buddhist Vietnamese Eat Chay
1. Health reasons
- Taking a break from meat
- Lighter eating
2. Environmental reasons
- Younger Vietnamese-Australians choosing plant-based
3. Cultural/family reasons
- Accompanying Buddhist family members
- Respecting Buddhist occasions
4. It's delicious
- Good Vietnamese vegetarian food stands on its own merit
Personal experience: I'm not Buddhist, but I eat vegetarian Vietnamese food regularly. Sometimes because my grandmother makes it. Sometimes because I want phở chay specifically. Sometimes because Quan Thanh's mock duck is incredible and I'm curious how they made it.
Adapting to Western Vegetarian/Vegan Diets
Good news:
- Vietnamese chay is fully vegan (no eggs, dairy)
- Naturally plant-based cuisine
- Fits modern plant-based diets
Challenges:
- Mock meats are processed foods
- Sometimes MSG-heavy
- Not always 'whole food plant-based'
Western vegan perspective: Vietnamese vegetarian food can be very appealing to vegans - it's an entire cuisine of vegan food, not just 'vegan options.' But hardcore whole-food vegans might struggle with the processed mock meats and seasoning heavy approach.
Buddhist Vegetarian Calendar
When Vietnamese Buddhists Eat Vegetarian
1st and 15th of lunar month:
- Most common vegetarian days
- My grandmother's schedule
- Vegetarian restaurants busiest these days
Full moon days:
- Considered auspicious for vegetarian eating
Entire lunar months:
- Some Buddhists eat vegetarian entire month (often 7th lunar month)
Personal occasions:
- After family death (mourning period)
- Before important events (purification)
- Making vows or prayers
What this means for restaurants: Vietnamese vegetarian restaurants get very busy on 1st and 15th of lunar month. Plan accordingly.
Mock Meat Controversy
Different Perspectives
Traditional Vietnamese Buddhist view:
- Mock meats allow vegetarians to participate in food culture
- Not about tricking anyone, about inclusion
- Skill and artistry in creating realistic textures
Some Western vegan view:
- 'Why make it look like meat if you're against eating animals?'
- Processed foods are unhealthy
- Should focus on vegetables as vegetables
Personal take: Both are valid. Vietnamese mock meats come from different cultural context - Buddhist vegetarianism developed in meat-eating culture, needed to create parallel foods. It's not about fooling anyone, it's about Vietnamese vegetarians still being able to eat 'phở' and 'bún' and participate in food culture.
That said, I also appreciate simple vegetable-forward dishes. Both approaches coexist in Vietnamese vegetarian cooking.
Tips for Ordering Vietnamese Vegetarian Food
At Vegetarian Restaurants
- Ask if it's Buddhist-style (no garlic/onion): If you care about this
- Ask about mock meats: If you're curious what they're made from
- Try the specialty dishes: Things the restaurant is known for
- Don't expect it to taste exactly like meat versions: It's different, that's okay
At Regular Vietnamese Restaurants
- Ask if vegetarian options are available: Not always on English menu
- Specify 'chay' or 'vegetarian': They'll understand
- Ask about fish sauce: Some 'vegetarian' dishes use fish sauce
- Be flexible: They might adapt dishes on the spot
At Temples
- Food is usually free or donation-based
- Simple, traditional vegetarian food
- Respectful dress (cover shoulders, knees)
- Eat what's offered, don't be picky
- Usually served at specific times only
Vietnamese Vegetarian Food Across Generations
First Generation (My Grandparents)
- Buddhist vegetarian practice
- Strict about no garlic/onion
- Make traditional vegetarian food at home
- Connected to religious practice
Second Generation (My Parents)
- Some Buddhist, some not
- Respect vegetarian food but don't practice regularly
- Will eat vegetarian on certain occasions
- More flexible about garlic/onion
My Generation
- Some Buddhist, many not
- Some vegetarian/vegan for environmental/ethical reasons
- Appreciate vegetarian Vietnamese food as cuisine, not just religious practice
- More open to fusion and innovation
Third Generation
- Even less religious connection
- If vegetarian, often Western-style veganism
- May discover Vietnamese vegetarian food as adults
Final Recommendations
Best Traditional Vietnamese Vegetarian
Quan Thanh (Cabramatta) - The best, most authentic, Buddhist-style vegetarian food.
Best Mock Meats
Quan Thanh - House-made mock meats, incredibly realistic textures.
Best for First-Timers
Quan Thanh or Green Vegetarian (Cabramatta) - Full menus, English available, welcoming to non-Vietnamese.
Best Vegetarian Phở
Quan Thanh - The mushroom broth is exceptional.
Best for Vegans
All Vietnamese chay is vegan - no eggs, no dairy. Any of the above work.
Vietnamese vegetarian food is sophisticated, delicious, and entirely vegan cuisine that's been refined over centuries. It's not 'make do' food - it's its own complete culinary tradition.
In Sydney, the Vietnamese Buddhist community has maintained this tradition. Restaurants like Quan Thanh serve food that's indistinguishable in quality from what you'd find at temples in Vietnam.
Whether you're Buddhist, vegan, vegetarian, or just curious, Vietnamese chay is worth exploring. Start with phở chay at Quan Thanh. If you like it, there's an entire world of Vietnamese vegetarian food to discover.
And yes, the mock duck is shockingly realistic. Try it.
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