Vegetarian Pad Thai may omit which seafood entirely?

Vegetarian pad thai may omit shrimp entirely.

Shrimp is a common ingredient in standard pad thai, appearing in fresh or dried forms depending on the recipe. It contributes seafood flavor and savory depth, but it is not essential to the noodle dish’s identity. Vegetarian versions leave it out and commonly replace fish sauce with soy sauce.

The distinction matters because “vegetarian” pad thai can vary in strictness. A dish may omit visible shrimp while still requiring careful checking for fish sauce, dried shrimp, or other seafood-derived ingredients. Recipes designed for vegetarians usually alter the sauce as well as the toppings.

Other versions may contain crab, squid, fish, or meat, but those are optional variations rather than the seafood named in Wikipedia’s description of vegetarian pad thai. Tofu, egg, rice noodles, tamarind, vegetables, peanuts, and lime can remain, depending on the recipe and dietary rules.