Vegetarian Friendly Dishes at Milpitas Buffet

A seafood buffet is not the obvious choice for a vegetarian, but plenty of mixed groups end up at Milpitas Buffet because one person wants crab and another wants sushi. The good news: a June 2024 Tripadvisor reviewer noted that vegetarian items are available, and there is enough on the line to make a full meal. The catch is that some dishes that look vegetarian are not.

What vegetarians can usually eat

The restaurant's own party tray list includes separate vegetable trays (asparagus, green beans, mixed vegetables and tofu) and two vegetable noodle trays, which is a good sign that these dishes are regular parts of the kitchen's rotation. You can see them on our menu page.

Ingredients that hide in vegetable dishes

Chinese-American kitchens often build flavor with ingredients that are not vegetarian. Oyster sauce is the most common one in stir-fried greens. Fish sauce, chicken stock and egg also turn up in sauces, soups, fried rice and batters.

• Oyster sauce: often in broccoli, bok choy and mixed vegetable stir-fries.
• Chicken stock: common in soups and some braised tofu dishes.
• Egg: in fried rice, egg noodles, batters and many desserts.
• Shared fryer oil: vegetable spring rolls and egg rolls may be fried alongside meat and seafood.

None of this is posted on the buffet line, and we could not confirm the recipes for individual dishes. If you are strict, ask a staff member about a specific tray before eating it. Avoiding wheat too? See our gluten-free guide.

Build your own bowl at the grill

The Mongolian grill gives you the most control. You pick every ingredient yourself: vegetables, noodles and sauce. Skip the meat and seafood, go light on sauce, and ask the chef if they can cook your bowl on a clean section of the griddle. Our Mongolian grill guide walks through how the station works.

A sample vegetarian plate

• First plate: salad bar vegetables, seaweed salad, edamame and two avocado rolls.
• Second plate: a vegetables-only grill bowl with rice noodles and soy and garlic.
• Third plate: green beans, tofu and steamed rice from the hot line.
• Dessert: cut fruit, with soft serve if you eat dairy.

Is it worth the price for a vegetarian?

At dinner, the price is built around crab and shellfish, so a vegetarian pays for food they will not eat. Weekday lunch is the better value: around $18 to $20 by diner reports, with almost all the same vegetable options. Check the price per person guide and the hours guide to plan the cheapest visit.

Vegetarians with a sushi preference should also read our sushi guide, which covers the meat-free rolls in more detail.