What can I eat?
Pick your diet. See the Japanese dishes that are safe bets, the hidden traps to watch for (dashi, mirin, wheat in the soy), and the exact words to order a safe version or show the staff.
No meat or poultry, but fish and seafood are fine. Japan is a paradise here — sushi, sashimi, grilled fish and seafood dominate — just watch for pork in broths and hidden meat in mixed dishes.
What to watch for in Japan
- Pork in ramen broth, gyoza and chashu
- Chicken or pork in fried rice, hot pots and mixed izakaya plates
- Meat-based stocks in some simmered dishes
Safe bets to order6
- SushiNaturally pescatarian. Halal-certified sushi exists (even the soy sauce). Vegetable sushi suits vegetarians — confirm the rice seasoning.
- Unagi (grilled eel)Freshwater fish — suits pescatarians. The tare contains soy (wheat) and mirin (alcohol).
- IzakayaMixed menus — easy for pescatarians, workable for vegetarians (edamame, tofu, pickles, grilled vegetables). Confirm dashi for strict diets.
- SashimiNaturally pescatarian and gluten-free if you use tamari instead of wheat soy sauce.
- ChirashizushiSeafood over seasoned rice — pescatarian. Use tamari for gluten-free.
- OdenBroth is fish-dashi (not vegan); many items are fish cakes. Daikon, egg and tofu items suit pescatarians/vegetarians who accept dashi.
How to order it safely
Show this to staff
Pescatarian
肉と鶏肉は食べませんが、魚介は大丈夫です。
Niku to toriniku wa tabemasen ga, gyokai wa daijōbu desu.
I don't eat meat or poultry, but seafood is fine.
Always confirm your own dishes with the staff — our useful phrases make it easy.