Does I Love Taimei Have Vegetarian Options? What to Order

Yes — six of our seven Side Kicks have no meat in them, and all our drinks and dessert bowls are meat-free too. So if you’re the vegetarian in a group that’s just walked up to our counter, you’re not stuck with a plain tea. But there’s one honest catch about our fryers you should know before you order, and we’d rather tell you upfront.

What vegetarian food can I actually order?

Start with the sides. Six of the seven Side Kicks contain no meat:

• Tofu Fries — $3.90. Fluffy inside, crisp outside. Most people walk past these for the chicken, which we think is a mistake.
• Shake Shake Fries — $3.90. Potato fries you shake in the bag with your seasoning powder.
• Mini Hashbrown — $3.90. 马铃薯球 — little potato spheres, good for sharing.
• Enoki Mushroom — $4.60. Thin, tangly, fried until the ends go crunchy.
• Golden Sweet Potato Fries — $4.60. Order these with Sour Plum powder. That’s the pairing we’d point you to first — sweet potato and 梅粉 is a night market classic.
• Mushroom Combo — $4.90. The bigger mushroom plate.

The one to skip is Taiwan Seafood Tempura ($5.30). Despite the name it’s 甜不辣 — a Taiwan-style fish-paste snack, not a battered vegetable. It’s genuinely good, just not vegetarian. We wrote a whole explainer on Taiwan tempura if you’re curious what it actually is.

Then there’s the drinks — the whole Milk Tea, Flavoured Tea, Sparkling, Yakult Gold and Mood Tea range, plus nine toppings from classic Pearl to Aiyu Jelly (愛玉) and Grass Jelly (仙草). And the four Dessert Bowls at $5.30 each: Lychee Paradise, Mango Bliss, Grape Joy, and Grass Jelly & Aiyu Delight.

What’s the catch?

Our fryers. The sides above go into the same oil as the chicken, and they’re prepped on the same surfaces. So they’re vegetarian-friendly by ingredient, but if you avoid meat for religious reasons or you’re strict about cross-contact, that’s the detail that matters — and only you can decide if it works for you.

Two more things worth flagging. Garlic Seafood powder is exactly what it sounds like — skip it and take Mala (麻辣), Seaweed (海苔), Sour Plum (梅粉) or Cheese (起司) instead. And Cheese powder and most of our milk teas contain dairy, so nothing here is vegan. If you need fully vegan food, we’re not your stop. We’d rather say that than waste your trip.

What about the no pork, no lard policy?

All food at I Love Taimei is prepared with no pork and no lard, and no beef is served either. That’s been true since we opened in 2009, and it’s why the brand describes itself as “made for everyone to enjoy.”

To be clear about what that does and doesn’t mean: we are not halal certified. We never claim to be. You can read what certification actually involves from MUIS, Singapore’s Islamic religious council. The honest middle ground is that our kitchen is genuinely pork-free and lard-free, without the formal certification — we go into more detail in our full answer on that question.

For a vegetarian, the practical upshot is simple: the oil your Tofu Fries came out of has never touched pork or beef.

Where can I order this?

Every item above is on the menu at all 14 outlets island-wide, and the menu doesn’t change between them. So whether you’re at Bugis Junction (230 Victoria St, #B1-K11 to 11A), Nex in Serangoon (23 Serangoon Central, #B2-48A), or Waterway Point in Punggol (83 Punggol Central, #B1-K5), you’ll find the same six sides. Most outlets run 11:00–22:00 daily. The full list is on our outlets page.

Frequently asked questions

Can vegetarians eat at I Love Taimei? Yes. Six of the seven Side Kicks are meat-free, and so are all the drinks and dessert bowls. The one exception in the sides is Taiwan Seafood Tempura.

Do you have vegan options? No. The milk teas and Cheese powder contain dairy, and the meat-free sides share fryers with chicken. We’re not a good fit if you’re vegan.

Are the seasoning powders vegetarian? Four of the five are — Mala, Seaweed, Sour Plum and Cheese, though Cheese is dairy. Garlic Seafood is seafood-based, so leave that one out.

Is the food halal? We are not halal certified by MUIS or any other body. Our kitchen policy is no pork, no lard, and no beef is served.

Can I get the vegetarian items delivered? Yes, the full menu is available for delivery, sides and dessert bowls included.

Find your nearest outlet

If you’re ordering for a mixed table, the easy call is a Mushroom Combo and Sweet Potato Fries with Sour Plum in the middle, and everyone picks their own drink. Nobody has to eat around anything.

Order now

Taste it for yourself — 14 outlets island-wide. No pork, no lard.