Is Tom Yum Vegetarian? (Shrimp & Fish Sauce)

Tom yum is a hot-and-sour Thai soup, and the classic version is shrimp-based. The sour flavor comes from lime and lemongrass, but the savory base comes from fish sauce. Here is how to order it vegetarian.

Key Takeaways

• Tom yum is usually not vegetarian: the classic “tom yum goong” is made with shrimp and fish sauce.
• The sour flavor comes from lemongrass, galangal, lime and chili, all plant-based.
• Mushroom or tofu tom yum is the vegetarian version, but it still needs “no fish sauce.”
• Confirm no chicken stock or oyster sauce in restaurant versions.

TL;DR: Tom yum is usually not vegetarian. The classic “tom yum goong” is a hot-and-sour soup made with shrimp and seasoned with fish sauce. A vegetarian/vegan version with mushrooms or tofu is common: just ask for no shrimp and no fish sauce.

What’s in tom yum

Tom yum’s signature sour-spicy flavor comes from lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chili and lime: all plant-based. The non-veg parts:

• Shrimp: “goong” means shrimp; it’s the default protein.
• Fish sauce: the seasoning base.
• Sometimes chicken stock or oyster sauce in restaurant versions.

The vegetarian version

“Tom yum hed” (mushroom) or a tofu version swaps the shrimp for mushrooms/vegetables and uses soy sauce or salt instead of fish sauce. Thai restaurants can usually make this on request.

The bottom line

• Vegetarian? Order mushroom/tofu tom yum, no shrimp.
• Vegan? Same, and confirm no fish sauce or oyster sauce.

See our Tom Yum 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.