No Passport Required: Your Guide to International Plant-Based Dining

Tired of scanning restaurant menus hoping to find something more exciting than a garden salad? The secret to satisfying vegetarian and vegan dining lies in choosing the right cuisines. While many restaurants are slowly adding plant-based options as afterthoughts, five culinary traditions have been serving incredible vegetarian and vegan dishes for centuries.

Mexican, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern restaurants don't just accommodate plant-based diners—they celebrate them. From India's chana masala and crispy dosas filled with spiced vegetables to Vietnam's fresh spring rolls and aromatic pho with tofu, these cuisines offer abundance rather than limitation. Mexican restaurants serve hearty bean burritos and sizzling veggie fajitas, while Middle Eastern mezze platters showcase naturally vegan treasures like hummus, falafel, and tabbouleh.

The best part? These aren't "substitute" dishes created to replace meat—they're authentic, time-tested recipes that happen to be plant-based. Whether you're a lifelong vegetarian or simply looking to explore more diverse flavors, these five cuisines prove that the most delicious comfort foods might have been vegan all along...