Is Soy Sauce Vegan? Soy, Tamari and Sauces to Watch
Soy sauce is vegan: it's fermented soybeans, wheat, salt and water. Oyster sauce, fish sauce and some teriyaki and dashi-based sauces are not. Here's how to tell.
4 min read · Updated October 2026
Yes, soy sauce is vegan. Traditionally brewed soy sauce is made from soybeans, wheat, salt and water, fermented with koji mould. Tamari, light and dark soy sauce, and most “seasoned” soy sauces are also vegan. The problem sauces in Asian cooking are the ones that sit next to it: oyster sauce, fish sauce, and dashi-based seasonings.
Soy sauce and its neighbours
| Sauce | Usually vegan? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Soy sauce (light, dark, all-purpose) | Yes | Soybeans, wheat, salt, water |
| Tamari | Yes | Little or no wheat; often gluten-free |
| Coconut aminos | Yes | Coconut sap and salt |
| Teriyaki sauce | Usually | Some contain honey or fish extracts |
| Ponzu | Often no | Commonly made with bonito (fish) dashi |
| Mentsuyu / tsuyu | Usually no | Bonito-based |
| Oyster sauce | No | Oyster extract. Vegetarian “mushroom oyster sauce” exists |
| Fish sauce | No | Fermented anchovy |
| Hoisin | Usually yes | Check for honey or anchovy in some brands |
Dark soy and mushroom soy
Dark soy sauce is thicker and sweeter, coloured with caramel or molasses. Mushroom dark soy adds straw-mushroom extract. Both are normally vegan. Caramel colour is not an animal product.
Things that occasionally appear
- Sugar: in sweeter sauces; bone-char debate applies mostly to US cane sugar.
- Flavour enhancers E621 (MSG) is vegan. E631 and E627 can occasionally come from fish or meat. See E631.
- “Seasoning” or “bonito extract” in Japanese-style bottles: fish.
At restaurants
The soy sauce on the table is fine. The stir-fry sauce may not be: Chinese restaurant kitchens commonly add oyster sauce to vegetable dishes, and Thai kitchens use fish sauce as a base seasoning. Ask for “no oyster sauce, no fish sauce” explicitly. Miso soup is usually made with fish dashi too.
See also: is Worcestershire sauce vegan and our vegan travel tips.
Need a faster check? Vegan ingredient checker
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kikkoman soy sauce vegan?
- Kikkoman's standard naturally brewed soy sauce is made from water, soybeans, wheat and salt, so yes.
- Is tamari vegan?
- Yes. It's a soy sauce made with little or no wheat.
- Is teriyaki sauce vegan?
- Most bottled teriyaki is, but some contain honey or fish extract. Check the label.
- Is oyster sauce vegan?
- No. Look for vegetarian mushroom-based oyster sauce instead.
- Is soy sauce gluten-free?
- Regular soy sauce contains wheat. Tamari labelled gluten-free is the usual alternative.
Sources & verification
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