Vegetarian Japanese food in DFW gets a worse reputation than it deserves. Most American sushi places treat vegetarian guests like an afterthought — here's an avocado roll, hope you like it. Real Japanese cuisine has had vegetarian and vegan dishes for centuries, and a decent restaurant can do better than rice and avocado.
Jinbeh has been cooking for vegetarian and mixed-dietary tables in Frisco and Lewisville since 1988. This is the practical guide to eating well as a vegetarian at our restaurants — what to order, what to ask, and what to skip if you're strict vegan.
“The vegetable-tofu hibachi gets ordered more than people expect. It's the only entrée that gets the full chef show without the meat. Vegetarian guests at a hibachi table aren't just along for the ride.”
— The Jinbeh FamilyVegetarian hibachi at Jinbeh
The vegetable-tofu hibachi is our main vegetarian entrée. The chef cooks on the same teppanyaki grill as everyone else's order, but typically on a wiped clean section for strict vegetarians. What's on the tray:
- Tofu — firm tofu, seared with our hibachi sauces
- Vegetables — zucchini, onion, mushrooms, bean sprouts, sometimes broccoli
- Hibachi fried rice or steamed rice — ask for no egg in the fried rice if you're vegan
- Soup and salad — clear broth (confirm vegetarian dashi with server), ginger dressing on the side salad
- Sauces — yum yum and ginger sauces on the side
For strict vegan diners, tell the chef when they arrive: “no egg in the rice, oil instead of butter on the grill.” That covers the two most common cross-contact issues with vegan hibachi.
Vegetarian sushi at Jinbeh
The sushi bar offers more vegetarian options than the menu makes obvious. Standard vegetarian rolls:
- Avocado-cucumber roll — the classic. Simple, clean, works for everyone
- Asparagus roll — lightly grilled asparagus, a bit more flavor than plain cucumber
- Sweet potato tempura roll — cooked, kid-friendly, the safety net for picky eaters
- Vegetable nigiri — inari (sweet tofu pouches with rice), tamago (egg, if you eat eggs)
- Custom vegetable roll — ask the sushi chef to combine avocado, cucumber, asparagus, and pickled radish in a single roll. Often plated in soy paper for a different texture
Vegan vs. vegetarian: what to skip
| Dish | Vegetarian? | Vegan? |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable hibachi tray | Yes | Yes if no egg + oil instead of butter |
| Hibachi fried rice | Yes | No (egg) — ask for steamed rice |
| Tamago nigiri (egg) | Yes | No (egg, sometimes dashi) |
| Inari nigiri (sweet tofu) | Yes | Usually yes — confirm with server |
| Clear soup | Usually (ask) | Usually (ask about dashi) |
| Miso soup | Usually (ask) | Usually (ask about dashi) |
| Edamame | Yes | Yes |
| Ginger salad | Yes | Yes |
| Sake / Japanese beer | Yes | Yes |
Insider Tip
Mixed dietary tables at Jinbeh
A common scenario: family of 4-6 with one vegetarian, the rest eating fish and meat. At a hibachi table, the chef cooks the vegetable hibachi on a wiped clean section of the grill, then transitions to the meat. At the sushi bar, vegetable rolls plate alongside fish rolls without cross-contact concerns. Tell the server about the dietary split when you sit down so the kitchen plans the cook order.
Where Jinbeh is
- Jinbeh Frisco: 2693 Preston Rd Suite 1040, near Stonebriar. (214) 619-1200
- Jinbeh Lewisville: 2440 S Stemmons Fwy #A, off I-35E. (214) 488-2224
Frequently asked questions
Does Jinbeh have vegetarian options in DFW?
Yes. Jinbeh accommodates vegetarian and vegan diners at both Frisco and Lewisville. The vegetable-tofu hibachi tray is the most-ordered vegetarian entrée — zucchini, onion, mushrooms, bean sprouts, tofu, seared on the hibachi grill with rice and sauces. The sushi bar offers avocado-cucumber rolls, asparagus rolls, sweet potato tempura rolls, and vegetable nigiri (inari sweet tofu, tamago egg if you eat eggs).
What's the best vegetarian roll at Jinbeh?
The most-ordered vegetarian rolls at Jinbeh are the avocado-cucumber roll (clean, simple), asparagus roll (lightly grilled asparagus inside), and sweet potato tempura roll (cooked, kid-friendly). For something less common, ask the sushi chef for a custom vegetable roll combining avocado, cucumber, asparagus, and pickled radish — often plated in soy paper instead of nori for a different texture.
Can I get vegetarian hibachi at Jinbeh?
Yes. Our vegetable hibachi tray (with or without tofu) cooks on the same hibachi grill as the meat proteins, but the chef can prep it on a clean section of the griddle for strict vegetarians and use separate utensils. For full vegan cooking, ask the chef to skip the egg in the fried rice and use oil instead of butter on the grill.
Is the soup or salad vegetarian at Jinbeh?
The ginger salad with our house dressing is vegetarian. The clear soup served before hibachi is usually a vegetable-based dashi — most batches are vegetarian, but ask the server to confirm the day's preparation, since some dashi recipes include bonito flakes (which are fish-based).
What about vegan diners at Jinbeh?
Vegan diners can order vegetable hibachi (no egg in fried rice, oil instead of butter), avocado-cucumber rolls, asparagus rolls, sweet potato tempura rolls (the batter is egg-free at most kitchens — confirm with server), edamame, and the ginger salad. Skip nigiri with egg (tamago) and rolls with imitation crab. Sake and Japanese beer are vegan.
Are vegetable rolls real Japanese cuisine, or just an American thing?
Vegetable sushi has been part of Japanese cuisine for centuries — pickled vegetable rolls (kappa maki, oshinko maki), inari sushi (sweet tofu pouches with rice), and futomaki (large rolls with multiple vegetables) are traditional. The avocado-heavy American vegetarian rolls are more recent, but they're rooted in the same tradition.
Can vegetarian and meat-eating guests share a table at Jinbeh?
Yes. Both Jinbeh Frisco and Lewisville accommodate mixed dietary tables routinely. At a hibachi table, the chef cooks vegetarian proteins separately on a wiped section of the grill, then cooks the meat proteins. At the sushi bar, vegetarian rolls plate alongside fish rolls without any cross-contact issues. Tell the server about the dietary mix when you sit down.
Does Jinbeh have a separate vegetarian menu?
We don't print a separate vegetarian menu — vegetarian options are integrated into the main menu. Look for the vegetable hibachi tray, vegetable rolls (avocado-cucumber, asparagus, sweet potato), the ginger salad, edamame, miso soup (confirm vegetarian dashi), and vegetable tempura. Ask the server to point them out if you're scanning the menu for the first time.
Reserve vegetarian-friendly at Jinbeh
Mention “vegetarian” or “vegan” when you reserve. The kitchen and chef will be ready.