If It’s Vegan, Is It Halal? What Each Avoids, and What to Check in Vegan Dishes

Even a vegan dish is not necessarily halal

A vegan dish made without meat or fish has no pork to worry about. In a case study of a vegan restaurant in the Japan Tourism Agency’s guide, the restaurant said in a January 2024 interview that Muslim customer numbers were increasing.

However, a vegan dish is not automatically halal. Veganism avoids things derived from animals, and alcohol is not among the things it excludes. Vegan dishes may use mirin (みりん), cooking sake (料理酒), or wine (ワイン).

Conversely, a halal dish is not necessarily vegan. Halal dishes may use meat slaughtered in the Islamic way, eggs, or seafood.

This article explains the differences using the Japan Tourism Agency’s guide for restaurants and accommodation facilities and the national Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) for vegan food. We checked all the sources on September 28, 2026.

Different ways of deciding what to avoid

Vegans avoid everything derived from animals

The Japan Tourism Agency’s “Hospitality Guide for Vegetarian, Vegan, and Muslim Travelers” distinguishes vegetarians and vegans as follows.

Vegetarians do not eat meat or seafood. They mainly eat vegetables, grains, mushrooms, fruit, seaweed, and similar foods. Whether they eat eggs or dairy products depends on the person. Vegans also avoid eggs, dairy products, honey, gelatin, and similar foods.

The guide’s Reference Volume has a more detailed classification table. In the vegan row, red meat, white meat, seafood, dairy products, and eggs are all marked “×”. The “other” column lists animal-derived ingredients in general, including honey and gelatin, as well as insects.

The guide gives religion, animal protection, environmental protection, and maintaining health as examples of reasons people become vegetarian or vegan. Reasons differ by person, but for vegans, the criterion for what to avoid is whether it comes from animals.

The Reference Volume also describes people who avoid the five pungent vegetables based on Buddhist beliefs: garlic, garlic chives, rakkyo onions, green onions including bulb onions, and asatsuki chives. They are called Oriental vegans or Oriental vegetarians and are common in Taiwan.

Halal excludes specified things

Halal has specified things to avoid. The Japan Tourism Agency’s guide identifies these three groups of ingredients subject to Islamic rules.

• Pork and pork-derived products, including bacon (ベーコン), lard (ラード), and pork-derived ingredients in emulsifiers (乳化剤), shortening (ショートニング), gelatin (ゼラチン), and similar products
• Alcohol
• Meat not slaughtered in the Islamic way, and products made from it

The guide says many Muslims do not consume alcoholic drinks, including mirin. It also says some avoid even small amounts of alcohol in soy sauce and similar foods, while views differ on whether such small amounts must be avoided. For an overview of things avoided in halal diets, see What Is Halal? It Means “Permitted”: The Basics of Halal Food.

Let us also look at a certification body’s standards. The Japan Halal Association (JHA), a nonprofit organization, publishes “Guidelines for Serving Muslim Customers at Restaurants.” Its 2017 version sets conditions for using processed products without halal certification: their ingredients and food additives must contain no animal-derived substances, except those from aquatic animals, and their ingredients must contain no alcohol. For soy sauce and miso, it prohibits products with added alcohol but does not treat alcohol produced during brewing as a problem. Both the government guide and the certification body’s standards include alcohol among the things to avoid.

Putting the two side by side shows that they draw different boundaries. Veganism draws the line at whether something comes from animals. Halal draws it at whether something is permitted under Islamic teachings.

Alcoholic drinks are made from plants such as rice or grapes. If no animal-derived ingredients are used, they fall within the vegan boundary, but outside the halal boundary. This is why vegan dishes may contain alcohol.

The differences in the Japan Tourism Agency’s menu examples

The guide gives five examples of adapting the same dish for vegetarians and vegans, and for Muslims: tempura rice bowls (天丼, tendon), curry (カレー), aglio e olio pasta (ペペロンチーノ), pan-fried gyoza (焼き餃子), and miso-simmered udon (味噌煮込みうどん). The tempura rice bowl example is shown in the table below.

Ingredient	Standard version	For vegetarians and vegans	For Muslims	Suitable for both
Egg in the batter	Egg	Not used	Egg	Not used
Stock in the sauce	Seafood stock	Kombu and mushroom stock	Seafood stock	Kombu and mushroom stock
Soy sauce in the sauce	Soy sauce	Soy sauce	Soy sauce with no added alcohol	Soy sauce with no added alcohol
Sweetness in the sauce	Mirin	Mirin	Sugars such as beet sugar	Sugars such as beet sugar
Shrimp topping	Shrimp	Not used	Shrimp	Not used

Wheat flour in the batter, salad oil for frying, and the vegetable toppings are the same in all four columns, so they are omitted from the table.

The vegan version keeps mirin and regular soy sauce

In the vegetarian and vegan column, egg and shrimp are removed, and the stock changes to kombu and mushroom stock. Mirin and soy sauce remain the same as in the standard version.

In the Muslim column, mirin is replaced with sugars such as beet sugar, and soy sauce is replaced with a version containing no added alcohol. A tempura rice bowl adapted for vegans has not made these two substitutions needed for the Muslim version.

The miso-simmered udon example follows the same pattern. In the vegan version, egg is removed, chicken is replaced with mushrooms, and seafood stock is replaced with kombu and mushroom stock. But mirin, soy sauce, and miso stay the same as in the standard version. In the Muslim version, mirin is replaced with sugars such as beet sugar, and the soy sauce, miso, and udon noodles have no added alcohol.

Adapting for vegans means removing animal ingredients. Adapting for Muslims means removing pork and alcohol and using halal-certified meat. The changes are made in different places, so making one set of changes alone does not satisfy the other set of conditions.

The Muslim version keeps eggs and seafood

Let us look in the other direction, too. The Muslim version of the tempura rice bowl keeps egg in the batter, seafood stock, and the shrimp topping. The Muslim version of miso-simmered udon uses egg and halal-certified chicken.

From a vegan person’s perspective, dishes for Muslims contain things they cannot eat. Being halal does not mean a dish can also be served to vegans.

A version suitable for both

The guide calls the table’s fourth column “suitable for both” (共通対応). For a tempura rice bowl, it omits egg and shrimp and uses kombu and mushroom stock, soy sauce with no added alcohol, and sugars such as beet sugar. The idea is that this can be served to vegetarians, vegans, and Muslims.

It is possible to make dishes that meet both vegan and halal requirements. But this means applying both sets of conditions together. A dish made to meet only one set does not necessarily meet the other.

Different approaches to utensils and frying oil

Besides ingredients, the two also differ in how they approach utensils and frying oil.

The national vegan standard requires separate frying oil

On September 6, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) established JAS 0026, “Management of Restaurants to Serve Foods Suitable for Vegetarians or Vegans.”

The standard prohibits using oil in which ingredients unsuitable for vegans have been fried for dishes intended for vegans. It requires thorough washing of utensils, kitchen areas, and tableware. If utensils are shared with other dishes, it also requires disclosure on the menu or elsewhere. Its example statement is: “The utensils are shared with the preparation of animal-based foods” (調理器具は、動物性食品の調理と共用しています。).

The Japan Tourism Agency guide’s Q&A for serving vegetarians and vegans also says kitchens and utensils do not necessarily need to be separate. It says thorough washing matters to prevent meat and similar ingredients from mixing in.

Some Muslims are concerned about shared utensils

For serving Muslims, the guide says many people consider utensils previously used for other dishes acceptable if properly washed. It also says some Muslims feel uncomfortable about sharing and are concerned about the entire preparation and storage areas, as well as the utensils.

The vegan standard checks whether animal ingredients might get into a dish. Thoroughly washing utensils used for pork dishes, then using them for vegan dishes and disclosing this on the menu, meets the standard’s requirements. How a Muslim person sees that dish differs by individual.

At a restaurant where every dish is vegan, meat will not touch the utensils. At a restaurant serving vegan dishes alongside its usual menu, checking whether utensils and frying oil are shared will help you prepare.

What vegan standards and certification marks show

The national standards do not set religious requirements

A Japanese Agricultural Standard for “Processed Foods Suitable for Vegetarians or Vegans” (JAS 0025) was also established on September 6, 2022. Its foreword says it was established following a request from the Japan Vegetarian Society, a certified nonprofit organization.

This standard requires processed foods suitable for vegans to be made without animal-derived ingredients or additives. It also prohibits animal bone char and chitosan obtained from crustaceans as processing aids in the production of the ingredients used.

However, the standard’s scope includes this sentence.

This standard does not specify requirements based on human health, global environmental protection, socioeconomic considerations such as fair trade and animal welfare, or religious beliefs.

JAS 0026 for restaurants contains a sentence with the same meaning. Neither standard’s main text contained provisions on alcohol or alcoholic beverages. A product or dish meeting the vegan JAS requirements may still use alcohol.

Only businesses certified by a certification body registered with the national government may display the JAS mark.

Private certification also covers alcoholic beverages

The Japan Tourism Agency’s guide gives two examples of certification marks indicating vegan options: VegeProject Japan’s “Vegan Certification Mark” and the Japan Vegetarian Society’s “JPVS Restaurant Accreditation.”

VegeProject Japan’s website includes “drinks and alcoholic beverages” among examples of products eligible for vegan certification. The same page’s FAQ explains that vegan and halal standards and aims differ. Some products meet both, while others meet only one.

The certification body itself explains that vegan and halal are separate standards. It is accurate to read a vegan certification mark as a sign that the absence of animal-derived ingredients has been checked.

The meaning of certification and marks varies by issuer. The same applies to terms related to halal. We compare differences between organizations in What Does “Muslim-Friendly” Mean? How It Differs from Halal Certification, and Standards That Vary by Who Uses the Label.

“Plant-based” covers more than “vegan”

You will also often see “plant-based” (プラントベース) in stores. In its Q&A on plant-based food labeling, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) uses the term for products made mainly from plant-derived ingredients to resemble meat, fish, and similar foods. It includes products containing animal-derived additives as plant-based foods if their main ingredients come from plants.

Products labeled “plant-based” (プラントベース) may contain animal-derived additives. VegeProject Japan’s FAQ also explains that the definition of plant-based is less clear than those of vegan and vegetarian.

Vegan dishes mean fewer things to check

We have looked at the differences, but vegan dishes also have aspects that make choosing easier for Muslims.

Vegan dishes contain no pork, pork-derived ingredients, or other animal meat. Of the three groups listed by the Japan Tourism Agency’s guide, two are excluded at the ingredient stage if a dish follows the vegan definition: pork and meat not slaughtered in the Islamic way. Animal gelatin and animal-derived emulsifiers are not used either.

That leaves alcohol. For restaurants that are not fully vegan, utensils and frying oil are additional points. There is less to check than when asking at an ordinary restaurant from scratch.

Some vegan labels are certified, while others are based on a restaurant’s own judgment. The guide also recommends that restaurants start by explaining what they offer in writing or verbally, then move on to symbols and certification marks. An uncertified restaurant’s label is also a useful clue to what it offers. Look at who provides the label, then ask about any concerns to help you decide.

What to check when choosing vegan dishes

Whether alcohol is used

Alcohol is the first thing to check. For savory dishes, ask about mirin (みりん), cooking sake (料理酒), sake (日本酒), wine (ワイン), and sake lees (酒粕). For desserts, ask about Western liquor (洋酒) and liqueurs (リキュール). These may be used even in vegan dishes.

Some soy sauce (醤油) and miso (味噌) products list alcohol (酒精, shusei) or alcohol (アルコール) among their ingredients. The guide’s menu examples also use soy sauce and miso with “no added alcohol” (アルコール無添加) for Muslims. What people avoid differs, so ask according to the range of things you wish to avoid. For how alcohol gets into each seasoning, see Are Soy Sauce, Mirin, Miso, and Vinegar Halal? Checking the Ingredients of Japanese Seasonings for Alcohol.

When buying processed foods labeled vegan (ヴィーガン), also check the ingredients for terms such as mirin (みりん), alcohol (酒精), and Western liquor (洋酒). We explain how to read labels in How to Spot Pork and Alcohol on Ingredient Lists, and What the Label Alone Can’t Tell You.

A fully vegan restaurant, or a restaurant with vegan options?

What to check differs between a restaurant where every dish is vegan and one serving vegan options alongside its usual dishes.

At a fully vegan restaurant, you do not need to worry about meat touching utensils or frying oil. At a restaurant with vegan options, ask whether utensils and frying oil are shared. A restaurant certified under JAS 0026 must disclose shared utensils on its menu or elsewhere. Reading the menu notes first can make the conversation quicker.

Name the ingredients when you ask

Naming ingredients when asking at a restaurant communicates more clearly than simply asking “Is it halal?” (ハラルですか). At a vegan restaurant, the points of concern are alcohol and the cooking environment. Asking about those directly makes a clear answer more likely.

Ask specific questions, such as “Does this dish contain mirin, cooking sake, or wine?” (この料理に、みりんや料理酒、ワインは入っていますか) or “Is the frying oil the same oil used to fry meat or fish?” (揚げ油は、肉や魚を揚げる油と同じですか). We give examples of how to ask in “Is It Halal?” Is Not Enough: How to Ask When Checking at a Restaurant.

Vegan dishes are one option when looking for halal food. Checking alcohol and the cooking environment can widen your choice of restaurants.

Quotes from Japanese sources in this article are our own translations.

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Sources

Primary sources

• Japan Tourism Agency (counselor in charge of receiving foreign visitors), “Hospitality Guide for Vegetarian, Vegan, and Muslim Travelers” (ベジタリアン・ヴィーガン／ムスリム旅行者おもてなしガイド) (in Japanese), April 2024 (p. 7: adapting tempura rice bowl ingredients; p. 11: adapting miso-simmered udon ingredients; p. 13: backgrounds and types; p. 17: ways to display information; p. 21: Q&A; p. 25: Islamic teachings on food; p. 32: food options meeting Muslim travelers’ needs), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001740443.pdf
• Japan Tourism Agency (counselor in charge of receiving foreign visitors), “Hospitality Guide for Vegetarian, Vegan, and Muslim Travelers: Reference Volume” (ベジタリアン・ヴィーガン／ムスリム旅行者おもてなしガイド 資料編) (in Japanese), April 2024 (p. 3: backgrounds, types, and dietary restrictions; p. 31: case study of a vegan restaurant), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001740444.pdf
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, “Japanese Agricultural Standard: Processed Foods Suitable for Vegetarians or Vegans (JAS 0025)” (日本農林規格 ベジタリアン又はヴィーガンに適した加工食品（JAS 0025）) (in Japanese), established September 6, 2022 (foreword; section 1: scope; section 4.5: processed foods suitable for vegans), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://www.maff.go.jp/j/jas/jas_standard/attach/pdf/index-53.pdf
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, “Japanese Agricultural Standard: Management of Restaurants to Serve Foods Suitable for Vegetarians or Vegans (JAS 0026)” (日本農林規格 ベジタリアン又はヴィーガン料理を提供する飲食店等の管理方法（JAS 0026）) (in Japanese), established September 6, 2022 (section 1: scope; section 5.5.2.4: preventing mixing into dishes suitable for vegans; section 5.6.3: information display), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://www.maff.go.jp/j/jas/jas_standard/attach/pdf/index-221.pdf
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, “How Does the JAS System Work?” (JASってどんな制度？) (in Japanese) (displaying the JAS mark), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://www.maff.go.jp/j/jas/jas_system/
• Japan Halal Association, “Guidelines for Serving Muslim Customers at Restaurants” (飲食店におけるムスリム対応ガイドライン) (in Japanese), Ver.20171207 (section 1.1.4.2: soy sauce and miso; section 1.1.6: processed products), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://jhalal.com/wp-content/uploads/Guideline4Restaurant20171207.pdf
• Consumer Affairs Agency, “Information on Plant-Based Foods” (プラントベース食品関連情報) (in Japanese) (Q&A on Plant-Based Food Labeling, Q1), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://www.caa.go.jp/notice/other/plant_based/
• VegeProject Japan, “Vegan Certification” (ヴィーガン認証) (in Japanese) (examples of eligible categories; frequently asked questions), checked on September 28, 2026
  https://vegeproject.org/certificate/