Is Fried Rice Vegetarian? (Egg, Fish Sauce & Meat)
Is Fried Rice Vegetarian? (Egg, Fish Sauce & Meat)
Fried rice looks like a safe vegetarian default, but the egg, fish sauce and meat are mixed in rather than served on top. Here is what makes it non-vegetarian, and how to order it plant-based.
Key Takeaways
- Fried rice is usually not vegetarian: it contains scrambled egg and is often seasoned with fish sauce.
- Chicken, pork, shrimp or char siu are frequent add-ins.
- Southeast Asian versions (nasi goreng, khao pad) may also have shrimp paste.
- Order it vegan with no egg, no meat and soy sauce instead of fish sauce.
TL;DR: Fried rice is usually not vegetarian: it contains scrambled egg, is often seasoned with fish sauce, and commonly includes meat or shrimp. Vegetable fried rice without egg and fish sauce is the vegetarian/vegan option.
What’s usually in it
- Rice: vegetarian.
- Egg: the classic fried rice is scrambled with egg (not vegan).
- Fish sauce: common in Southeast Asian fried rice (Indonesian nasi goreng, Thai khao pad).
- Meat / shrimp: chicken, pork, shrimp or char siu are frequent add-ins.
- Shrimp paste (terasi/belacan): sometimes in the sambal or seasoning.
So even “vegetable fried rice” often still has egg and fish sauce.
How to order it vegetarian or vegan
- Ask for no meat, no shrimp, no egg.
- Ask for soy sauce instead of fish sauce.
- Check for shrimp paste in the seasoning.
The bottom line
- Vegetarian? Vegetable fried rice, no meat/shrimp: but confirm no fish sauce.
- Vegan? Same, minus the egg.
See our Fried Rice dish guide 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 - 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.