Vegetarian dishes can be difficult to find outside the city. So, if you're in a non-vegetarian restaurant, be mindful when ordering. Many of the dishes comprised of veggies are cooked with fish or chicken stock and most pastries traditionally contain lard. Still, if you tell the waiters you’re vegetarian, they'll usually go out of their way to recommend something suitable. The majority don’t speak English, so bring your dictionary with you or memorize some simple phrases. "Sao vegan/ vegetariano(a)." – I am vegan/ vegetarian. "Não como carne, galinha nem peixe." – I don’t eat meat, poultry or fish. "Não como manteiga, queijo, ovos e mel." – I don’t eat butter, cheese, eggs or honey.
