Source: https://verify-veg.com/blog/is-char-kway-teow-vegetarian/
Language: en

# Is Char Kway Teow Vegetarian? (Shrimp, Sausage & Lard)

Char kway teow is a smoky stir-fried noodle dish, and the smoke traditionally comes from pork lard.
Even a version with no visible meat can be cooked in lard. Here is how to order it vegetarian.

> **Key Takeaways**
> - Char kway teow is usually not vegetarian: it is stir-fried with shrimp, Chinese sausage and egg.
> - It is traditionally cooked in pork lard, which is the hidden animal fat.
> - A "no shrimp" version can still be lard-fried.
> - Ask for no shrimp, no sausage, no egg, and cooked in vegetable oil.

**TL;DR: Char kway teow is usually not vegetarian.** It's stir-fried flat rice noodles with
shrimp, Chinese sausage, egg and bean sprouts: traditionally cooked in **pork lard**. A
vegetarian version (no shrimp/sausage/egg, no lard) exists.

## What's in it

- **Flat rice noodles**: vegan.
- **Shrimp**: not vegetarian.
- **Chinese sausage (lap cheong)**: pork.
- **Egg**: vegetarian, not vegan.
- **Pork lard**: the traditional frying fat.
- **Bean sprouts, chives**: vegetarian.

The "wok hei" (smoky flavor) is traditionally achieved with lard, which is why even a "seafood-
free" version can still be non-veg.

## How to order it vegetarian

Ask for **no shrimp, no sausage, no egg** and **cooked in vegetable oil (no lard)**. Many
Malaysian/Singaporean hawker stalls and Buddhist-vegetarian eateries make a fully vegetarian
version.

## The bottom line

- **Vegetarian?** Only the made-veg version (no shrimp/sausage, oil not lard).
- **Vegan?** Same, minus the egg.

See our [Char Kway Teow dish guide](/food/malaysia/char-kway-teow/) for the full breakdown.

**Check before you eat.** The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a
photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more).
[Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verifyveg-vegan-scanner/id6758276834) - 
Android is coming soon.

*Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food
against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.*

*Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Recipes and
preparations vary by restaurant, region and cook, so always confirm with the restaurant, brand or vendor.*