The word “vegetarian”

In Japan “vegetarian” has no fixed meaning. A dish sold as ベジタリアン can still be made with fish stock, egg or dairy.

• ベジタリアン often means “no meat”, sometimes “no meat or fish”, rarely “nothing animal”.
• ヴィーガン (vegan) is better known in Tokyo, but staff may not know what's in the dashi or the sauces.
• 肉なし (no meat) doesn't cover dashi: list what you avoid, one ingredient at a time.

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