In ancient times, Buddhists and Taoists had their own definitions of "five meats", namely, garlic, leeks, parsley and other five plants with strong smell. So in this sense, garlic is a "meat dish".

The ancients called animal food "fishy". The so-called not eating fishy, not only not eating fish, but also including all animal foods.

Now generally speaking, "meat dishes" refer to animal ingredients.

Therefore, whether garlic is a meat dish depends on your starting point: if you fast, read Buddha, cultivate one's morality and realize Tao, it is "meat"; If you just want to have a healthy diet, it is a vegetarian.

Personal opinion, for reference.