What can a vegetarian, who is allergic to shellfish, eat at an authentic Chinese Restaurant?

Any ideas of dishes that are likely to be safe? I will, of course, ask the server at the restaurant, but I don't want to make a big scene.

It's a business dinner, in another city. I should attend, and don't have a say in the restaurant choice.

My shellfish allergy isn't quite life threatening, but it's pretty severe. I absolutely have to work the next morning, so I can't afford to get sick.

Your best bet is to call ahead to the particular restauarant and ask them. Call at a time of day that wouldn't be busy, say 2:30 in the afternoon. Ask them what they have that would be suitable for vegetarians that would not have come in contact with any shellfish. Be sure to specify that 'vegetarian' means no meat, including red meat, pork, poultry, fish, etc, as many Chinese restaurants label foods containing fish as vegetarian.

Good luck!

The big question is, how severe is your allergy? My friend, Pat, is allergic to shellfish. Some friends of hers brought Chinese takeout to her house and she started going into anaphylactic shock, even though she didn't have a bite to eat.

What happened? Enzymes from the shrimp dish that one friend ordered entered the air and affected Pat.

If your allergies aren't that bad, I would suggest you visit the restaurant well before your dinner date and ask to see the menu. If you call beforehand, you may be able to go in at a time when the place isn't so crowded. By doing it this way, you won't hold up other diners while making your selection.

I'm Jewish and I keep kosher. I generally stay away from Chinese restaurants, unless they're specifically vegetarian or "Kosher Chinese" (I lived in Los Angeles where, in addition to New York, you can find such a thing) because pork and shellfish are to Chinese cuisine what money and sex are to a whorehouse (e.g. it is rare to find the one without the others).

I have a friend who has severe reactions (anaphylactic shock) to virtually microscopic amounts of shellfish residue and she avoids Chinese restaurants altogether due to the possibility of cross contamination of cooking and preparation surfaces.

Fried rice is the best!

spicy eggplant, gai lan (chinese vegetable), string bean with ground pork, ma po tofu without pork

anything!! just ask them to not prepare it with the meat! tofu?? bean curd?at my fav spot they have a mushroom and broccoli stir fry its yummy!! ^_^

Try Tofu. But be sure to tell them of your shellfish allergy since a lot of the sauces are seafood based.

Maybe a stirfry?

Good luck and be sure to take your allergy medication before you head out!

Anything without shellfish?!

there's plenty - sezchuan veggies, tofu / bean curd dishes

a lot of Chinese Restaurants have a whole vegetarian section

shellfish isn't vegetarian anyway