Vegetarian Barbecue: How to Order Without Feeling Left Out

Vegetarian skewers you can order straight away

Eggplant, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, corn, garlic chives, sliced potato, tofu skin, grilled mantou — nearly every barbecue stall carries these, and they're often among the most popular items at the table.

Details worth checking

• Whether the grill is shared with meat (some strict vegetarians mind this; if you're more relaxed about it, there's no need to worry too much)
• Basting sauces may contain oyster sauce or meat drippings — you can ask for no sauce and just a sprinkle of pepper-salt or cumin instead
• Starches (grilled mantou, rice cakes) are filling and help you avoid ending the night still hungry after eating only vegetables

A trick for fitting right into the mood

Order a few vegetarian skewers yourself and offer to share them with the table — they often end up stealing the show, since plenty of meat-eaters love the taste of grilled vegetables too.

A tip for beginners

A barbecue outing isn't off-limits for vegetarians. Plan your order ahead of time, and you can enjoy the same lively, satisfying night as everyone else. It's also worth bringing a small bottle of your favorite dip or seasoning — many stalls have limited condiment options, and having your own means your vegetarian skewers get more flavor without you having to settle for whatever the stall happens to offer. Visit the same barbecue stall a few times and the owner will usually start remembering your preferences, making future orders even easier.