Describe what you need to avoid before choosing a dish, and ask about the stock, sauce, oil and preparation as well as the main ingredient. Vegetarian, vegan, religious dietary requirements and food allergies need different conversations. For a serious allergy, prepare a personalised, checked Chinese card and a clinician-agreed emergency plan before travelling.
China offers a great deal to enjoy at the table, but the useful preparation is specific. “I eat vegetables” leaves much more room for misunderstanding than a short list of ingredients you do not eat. Give the kitchen a clear question it can answer.
Separate preference from a medical requirement
| Your requirement | Explain this clearly |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Specify no meat, fish or seafood, then say whether eggs and dairy are acceptable to you. |
| Vegan | Specify no meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy or honey, including ingredients used in stocks and sauces. |
| Religious dietary requirement | Describe the preparation or certification you require. A cuisine name or absence of pork is not a complete answer. |
| Food allergy or coeliac disease | Name the exact ingredient and explain the need to prevent cross-contact. Ask whether the kitchen can reliably meet that requirement. |
If you avoid several foods, prepare one concise list rather than a collection of different app translations. Give it to the restaurant, hotel and anyone arranging meals. State which requirements are medical and which are preferences, so they are not treated as interchangeable.
Ask what the dish is cooked with
A plate of greens or tofu does not reveal its stock, cooking fat or sauce. Ask specifically about meat stock, lard, oyster sauce, fish sauce, dried shrimp and any garnish that matters to you. For vegan meals, include eggs, dairy and honey in the question.
For a wheat or gluten restriction, ask about noodles, dumpling wrappers, soy sauce and other prepared sauces. For a sesame or nut allergy, ask about oils, pastes, dressings and toppings as well as whole seeds or nuts. These are questions for the kitchen, not a list of dishes this guide can certify as safe.
Shared woks, utensils, fryers and serving spoons can also matter. Removing a visible ingredient from a finished dish does not answer a cross-contact question. Ask before preparation; if staff cannot confirm the process, choose a different meal or venue.
Carry a card that describes your own needs
Prepare the wording before departure and have the specific ingredients checked by a fluent speaker. For a severe allergy, ask your clinician what information and emergency instructions the card should carry. Keep a printed copy as well as an offline phone version.
A vegetarian or vegan conversation
I do not eat meat, fish or seafood. Please also check the stock, cooking oil and sauces.
我不吃肉、鱼或海鲜。也请确认汤底、食用油和酱料的成分。
For a vegan meal, add: I also do not eat eggs, dairy products or honey.
我也不吃蛋、奶制品或蜂蜜。
An allergy conversation to personalise
I have a serious food allergy to [name the ingredient]. Can your kitchen prepare food without this ingredient and prevent cross-contact? Please tell me if you cannot be sure.
我对【填写过敏原】有严重的食物过敏。厨房能否确保食物不含这种成分，并避免交叉接触？如果不能确认，请告诉我。
Replace the bracketed text and check the complete translation before using this card. It helps start a conversation; it does not confirm that the kitchen can meet your needs.
Show the card to someone who can speak with the kitchen. Ask for confirmation about the specific dish and preparation. A polite nod, an app-generated “no problem” or a vegetarian symbol alone is not enough for a serious allergy.
Make the first few meals easy to arrange
Choose a first hotel that can discuss your requirements before arrival, and identify one or two possible restaurants nearby. Contact them with the actual ingredient list rather than asking only whether they are “foreigner-friendly”. Dedicated vegetarian or vegan restaurants may make the conversation easier, but their suitability for an allergy still needs separate confirmation.
For a food allergy, ask about breakfast as carefully as dinner. Buffets, shared tongs and communal dishes can introduce issues that a single plated meal avoids. If a hotel offers an alternative, confirm who will prepare it and how you should identify yourself on arrival.
Allow enough time between visits to eat somewhere suitable. A long transfer day is a poor moment to rely on finding an unverified restaurant at the last minute. Bring familiar, labelled backup food where it meets your own dietary and customs requirements.
The restaurant ordering guide covers menus and QR ordering. Use its translation tools for ordinary questions, while keeping your checked dietary card as the main reference for ingredients.
Prepare separately for a serious allergy
Discuss the route, emergency access and your current treatment plan with your clinician before travelling. Carry the medication prescribed for you, keep it accessible and make sure travelling companions know the plan. Check the import and airline conditions for your actual medication; our medication packing section explains the document checks.
Save the local emergency number and the Chinese address of your accommodation. In mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance in a medical emergency. For suspected anaphylaxis, follow your prescribed emergency plan immediately and seek emergency care; do not wait for a translation app, a restaurant discussion or a reply from a travel planner.
Before you set out, review insurance cover and the location of appropriate care with your insurer and clinician. Keep this information beside the ingredient card. The medical help guide explains the practical steps for seeking care.
Before you move on
Questions you may still have
Does a vegetarian dish mean it is allergy-safe?
No. Vegetarian food can contain allergens, and preparation may involve shared utensils or equipment. Ask about your particular ingredient and cross-contact requirements.
Can I rely on a translation app for a severe allergy?
Use a personalised card checked before departure, and speak with someone who can confirm the kitchen's process. Automatic translation alone cannot establish that a meal is suitable.
What is the ambulance number in mainland China?
Call 120 in a medical emergency. For a suspected severe allergic reaction, follow your prescribed emergency plan and seek urgent care immediately.