WaBa Grill: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

WaBa Grill makes vegetarian ordering simple because tofu sits right on the menu next to chicken, steak, and salmon as a real protein choice. Add a plant-based steak alternative and a full lineup of vegan sauces, and this fast-casual rice bowl chain turns out to be one of the easier Asian grills to eat clean at. Every order starts the same way, pick a bowl, plate, salad, or taco, then pick a protein, and that protein choice is what makes or breaks a vegetarian order here.

What to order at WaBa Grill

Order the Tofu Bowl or Tofu Plate with organic tofu, hand-basted and grilled the same way as the chicken and steak. Plantspired Steak is the other vegan protein, a charbroiled plant-based option cooked on its own separate grill plate so it never touches meat. Round it out with white or brown rice, steamed vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and carrots, and WaBa Sauce, Garlic Serrano, or Sweet Chili, all of which are vegan. Jalapeno carrots and half an avocado are safe add-ons too.

What to watch out for

Skip the Boom Boom Sauce and Ranch Dressing, both contain egg or dairy, and go easy on the Pork Veggie Dumplings, which contain real pork despite the name. The Edamame Kimchi is a genuine unknown since kimchi recipes often use fish sauce and WaBa hasn’t confirmed either way, so ask before you order it. The sesame dressings are also unconfirmed for vegan status, since WaBa hasn’t published whether they contain dairy or egg.