Eating out
What should vegans watch for in Asian cuisine?
Short answer
Fish sauce, shrimp paste, dashi (fish), lard, egg in fried rice, honey in sauces. Often vegan: many tofu dishes, vegetable stir-fries in oil, some coconut curries without nam pla.
Dashi and nam pla are the umami base. Ask for soy sauce and mushroom stock.
“Vegetarian” pad thai often includes egg.