Beijing Vegetarian Food Guide

It is easy to be a Beijing Vegetarian! Contrary to the belief of many, it is easy to maintain a vegetarian or vegan diet in Beijing.

There are vegetarian options at most restaurants in Beijing and if you have never tried the Buddhist pure vegetarian restaurants, you are in for a treat.

There are also several Western style Beijing vegetarian restaurants.

The social scene for Beijing vegetarians has expanded considerably in recent years. It is easy to connect with fellow veggie lovers here.

For those who cook at home there are more and more farms around Beijing that will deliver a large variety of organic vegetables to your door. In addition, you can shop online for other vegetarian and vegan foods.

This article includes contact information for where you can buy vegetarian food in Beijing. At the end of the article we list a selection of the best Beijing vegetarian restaurants.

If you are visiting Shanghai during your stay in China check out our sister site’s article on vegetarian food in Shanghai.

Here are a few tips to get you started as a vegetarian in Beijing.

Learn to Explain That You are a Beijing Vegetarian

One of the frustrations for many expat Beijing vegetarians is that asking for a vegetable dish in a Chinese restaurant in China doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be vegetarian.

People are often disappointed when the food arrives and there are small pieces of meat chopped up on-top of the dish, or sometimes even hidden inside or under the vegetables (yuck!).

It is, therefore, very important to know enough basic Chinese to clearly explain your dietary preference. Here is how to do it.

This generally means Buddhist vegetarian, which means you likely won’t get any garlic or onions.

This phrase is widely understood in China because buddhists tend to eat vegetarian food fairly frequently and especially during Buddhist holidays.

Even if you are ordering vegetarian dishes in Beijing, it is good practice to use the above phrases to emphasize that you expect your meal to be prepared vegetarian.

If you communicate sufficiently at the beginning, it decreases chances of being disappointed with food arriving with meat bits, mixed up with meat, or cooked with animal oil when the food arrives to your table.

With this vocabulary, you should be able to go to any restaurant in Beijing and convey your dietary preference. So don’t be afraid to venture out!

Vegetarian Street Foods and Restaurant Dishes

Now that you can communicate that you are a Beijing vegetarian you can go out for a meal anywhere.

Typical Chinese street food and restaurant dishes that are usually vegetarian (always confirm first) include:

Vegetarian Street Food in Beijing

• Sweet potato baked over coals – Hóngshǔ – 红薯
• Rice cakes/ buns – Mǐ gāo- 米糕
  There are many types and some have sweet fillings. Sometimes they are called “Niángāo” – 年糕 – Mochi.
• Crepes – Jiānbing – 煎饼
  Savory herbs, sauces, egg and a fried piece of dough wrapped inside. Be sure to explain that you are vegetarian as the vendors sometimes include a sausage inside.
• Cold rice noodles – Liáng pí – 凉皮 or Liáng miàn – 凉面
  These come with grated cucumber, other vegetables, and sauces. This is typically available during warmer summer months, only.
• Steamed buns – Bāozi – 包子
  These come with various fillings inside including vegetarian options. Order the “Cài bāo” 菜包 (vegetable bun) or “Dòushā bāo” 豆沙包 (red bean paste bun) as the other fillings usually have pork or other meats.
• Steamed or grilled corn – Yùmǐ – 玉米
  Note that the varieties sold by street vendors are usually quite chewy and not particularly sweet.
• Smelly Tofu – Chòu dòufu – 臭豆腐
  This is a widely sold snack in China. Don’t be put off by the smell, it is definitely worth a try.

Vegetarian Dishes in Holes in the Wall and More Formal Beijing Restaurants

• Fish-flavored Eggplant – Yú xiāng qiézi – 鱼香茄子
  This is an eggplant dish with a seasoning of garlic, scallions, ginger, sugar, salt and chili peppers. Note that there is no fish although “Yú xiāng” translates as “fish fragrance”.
• Scrambled egg with tomato – Xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn – 西红柿炒鸡蛋
• Cold cucumber salad – Liángbàn huángguā – 凉拌黄瓜
  Sometimes called “Pāi huángguā” 拍黄瓜, comes with garlic.
• Eggplant, potato and green pepper dish – Di sān xiān – 地三鲜.
• Vegetarian dumplings – Sù jiǎozi – 素饺子
  If you order vegetarian dumplings with other friends ordering meat dumplings, be sure to tell the server that they should be on separate plates (in Chinese – “Fēnkāi liǎng gè pánzi” – 分开两个盘子). If the dumplings are mixed together on a big plate (as is typically the case), you won’t be able to determine which ones are the vegetarian.
• Hotpot – Huǒguō – 火锅
  This can be a good choice for vegetarians as you can order many types of vegetables, mushrooms and Tofu. You can also ask for a divided hotpot so your meat eating friends can use one side and the vegetarians the other side.

Social Groups and Apps for Beijing Vegetarians

You can connect with like-minded individuals through groups like “Mercy for Animals”. There are also several vegetarian/vegan groups which are easily searchable on social media channels. Highly recommended are:

Vegans of Beijing VOB
Website: https://vegansofbj.com
Info: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/qxSYnK5IIJgdOJJPrc71rQ
WeChat ID: vegansofshanghai (now also covers Beijing)

Beijing Vegan Community
(by Redthread Artful)
WeChat ID: gh_237e995472ad
Website: http://www.redthread.cn
21-day Vegan Challenge: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mMyYs8HJ-Zs_GLugZyPG4w

Vegan Social Club Beijing
Website: http://www.vegansocialclub.com

There are more and more apps that make life as a Beijing vegetarian more convenient including:

Vegetarian Restaurant Guide App (素食餐厅指南)
Comes with a mini program and map of vegetarian restaurants.
Info: https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2019/07/29/find-vegan-options-mini-program-veg-restaurant-guide
App: https://wemp.app/accounts/4b86d4b0-8522-4c1c-95ee-30eb47ce7583
WeChat ID: gh_086430919a37

Baidu Maps App
You can also search for vegetarian restaurants nearby on the Baidu map app on your phone if you type “Su Shi – 素食”. So search for vegetarian restaurants near your home if you would like to check out a new place. You might be surprised at how prevalent they are in the city.

Vegetarian Food Delivery Services in Beijing

You can search for the category of vegetarian food restaurants on the many popular food delivery apps in Beijing such as Sherpas, Meituan and Eleme.

Most Western restaurants with a wide variety of vegetarian offerings can be found on those food delivery apps or have their own Beijing food delivery service.

Online Stores for Vegetarian Food in Beijing

You can order vegetarian and vegan products on Taobao. There are also more and more online shops specializing in products for vegetarians and vegans in China.

Cloud Kitchen Vegan Bakery
WeChat Store: https://weidian.com/?userid=343101233

Go Vegan
WeChat Store: https://weidian.com/?userid=818118918

Check out our organic food in Beijing article for lists of farms near Beijing that can deliver a wide variety of vegetables to your door. We also list some online stores for buying organic and vegetarian foods.

Plant-based Meat in China

The Buddhist vegetarian restaurants in China make a wide variety of mock meats to imitate chicken, beef, pork, duck etc. These meats are colored to look like real meat and usually made of wheat gluten (Seitan), a high protein meat substitute, or Tofu.

Lovers of the new plant-based meat substitute trend led by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods in Western countries will not be disappointed. Beyond Meat is now available at several supermarkets in China. They have also been joined by several local brands who sell their product on online stores as well as at partner restaurants around the country.

Here are a few options for buying plant-based meat online or at restaurants in Beijing.

Green Common
Green Common is a Hong Kong company that distributes Beyond Meat in Asia and has developed their own Omnipork which is now sold through their online Tmall store in China. Several hotels and restaurants such as Grand Hyatt and Wagas in Beijing are now offering Omnipork in their dishes. They also sell other plant-based vegetarian and vegan food items through their online store.
Info: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201911/11/WS5dc8ccf1a310cf3e35576960.html
Websites:
https://www.greencommon.com
https://greenmonday.org
WeChat ID: GreenCommonCN
WeChat ID: OmniPork
TMall Store: https://greencommon.tmall.hk

Zhenmeat
Zhenmeat is new Chinese company developing plant-based meat alternatives tailored to Chinese tastes.
Info: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/13/zhenmeat-china-plant-based-meat-firm-seeks-funding.html
Website: https://zhenmeat.com/en
WeChat ID: zhenmeat

Youkuai ZRou
WeChat ID: Z-RouFood
WeChat Store: https://shop44767386.m.youzan.com/v2/showcase/homepage?kdt_id=44575218

Have fun exploring all of the vegetarian options in Beijing and enjoy connecting with the diverse and lovely Beijing vegetarian community.

Bon Appétit!

Beijing Vegetarian Restaurant Guide

One area of Beijing where you can find a few vegetarian restaurants in close proximity; both Western style and Chinese/Buddhist style, is Wudaoying Hutong, just North of the Lama Temple and Confucius temple.

Here is a selection of the top vegetarian restaurants in Beijing:

Overseas and Western Style Vegetarian Restaurants in Beijing

• The Veggie Table (吃素的）
  The Veggie Table is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Beijing serving Moroccan and Western style vegetarian dishes. They use vegetables from nearby organic farms in Beijing.
  Address: No. 19 Wudaoying Hutong, Dong Cheng District
  Tel: 6446-2073
  WeChat ID: TheVeggieTable

Chinese Style Vegetarian Restaurants

• Suhe Vegetarian Lifestyle （素和善食)
  A fusion of Sichuan style cuisine with salads and curry.
  Add: 2/F, One World Apartment, No. 16 Xinyuan Nan Rd., Chaoyang district
  Reservations: 8453 1644
  WeChat ID: suheshanshi
• Vege Tiger (素虎)
  Vegan Restaurant
  Locations:
  1. Qianmen Buffet Location
  Building 3, Zheng Yang Market, QIanmen West Street, Xicheng District
  2. Chang’an Market Location
  No. 15 Fuxingmen Outer Street Chang’an Market Bldg 5 Floor 5 #501 Xicheng District
  3. Shangdi Location
  Xibeiwang East Road No. 10 Courtyard, Zhongguancun Software Park East Bldg 5 Underground level 1 B102, Haidian District
  4. XiSanQi Location
  AnNing Zhuang Back Street, AnNing Beili No. 8, Taishan Hotel 1st floor, Haidian District
• Vege Wonder (山河万朵中国素食)
  Set menus starting at RMB 680 per person.
  Add: 2/F, West Bldg, WF Central, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
  Tel: 6888 8798
• Be Vegan Go Green (奉善斋)
  Vegan and Organic restaurant with set menus.
  Add: 3/F, Metropark Lido Hotel, 6 Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang District
  Reservations: 64314345
  WeChat ID: fszsushi
• Nutrient Health Tea House (营养素健康茶餐厅)
  Vegan buffet
  WeChat ID: ganenchisu
  Location: Rm. 325, 3F, Guanghua SOHO, 22 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District

Buddhist Style Vegetarian Restaurants in Beijing

Many buddhist style vegetarian restaurants include mock meat in their dishes made from Seitan. Buddhist vegetarian food usually does not include onions or garlic.

Here are several of the best buddhist vegetarian restaurants in Beijing:

• Lily/Baihe Vegetarian Restaurant (百合素食)
  Down a small alley inside an old Hutong near Dongzhimen metro stop.
  Add: 23 Caoyuan Hutong, Bei Xiaojie, Dongzhimen Nei, Dongcheng District
  Tel: 6405 2082
• Wutai Yun Organic and Vegan Restaurant （五台云养生素食馆）
  The restaurant includes a store with various vegan food items. Try their famous vegan Jiaozi (dumplings).
  Add: 54 Jiaoda East Rd., Haidian District
• Tianchu Miaoxiang Vegetarian (天厨妙香)
  Two locations in Beijing; one in Chaowai Soho and one near Qinghua University.
  Website: http://www.liaofan.com/English/index.html
  WeChat ID: tianchu2003
  WeChat ID: tcsoho
  Locations:
  1) Rm 0260, 2/F, Bldg D, Chaowai SOHO, 6B Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, CBD/Guomao
  Reservations: 5900 1088
  2) Rm. 110, 1/F, ChuanYe Bldg., East Gate of Qinghua University
  Reservations: 6279 7078
• King’s Joy Vegetarian Restaurant (京兆尹)
  Awarded a 2-star rating in the 2019 Beijing Michelin Guide. More expensive than most vegetarian restaurants in Beijing, but delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere.
  Add: No. 2 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng district
  WeChat ID: JZY-kingsjoy
• Ye Bo Zhai Vegetarian Restaurant （叶钵斋宫廷素食）
  Add: No. 40, Wudaoying Hutong, Lama temple, Dongcheng District
  Reservations: 64035889, 64035899
• Gongdelin (Godly) Vegetarian Restaurant （功德林素菜馆）
  One of the most historic and well known vegetarian restaurants in Beijing located near the Qianmen pedestrian street.
  Add: No. 2 Qianmen East St, ChongWenMen, Dongcheng district
  Tel: 67020867
• Suzhi Vegetarian Restaurant
  WeChat ID: sz52185148
  Add: Dongsishitiao Nanxincang Commercial Bldg 1st floor (east), Dongcheng District

Non-vegetarian Restaurants with Options for Beijing Vegetarians

• Doko Way
  Western style healthy food restaurant and delivery service with Vegan, Gluten-free and Keto options. Two small restaurants in Shunyi district near the Western Academy and Dulwich International Schools.
  Info: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/3d-wHXVxv8H5a0lWCEmdSw
  Locations:
  No. 8 Laiguangying East Road, Shunyi District
  No. 2 Xiangjiang North Road, Shengtang Square
  WeChat ID: gh_81eefe939d8b
• Tribe Nutrition
  Western organic restaurant with two locations in Beijing.
  Websites:
  http://www.tribeorganic.com
  http://www.tribenutrition.com
  Locations:
  1) Lido Place, Unit B-103, 6 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District
  2) Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park, Unit L-BS-51a, Bldg 9, Chaoyang District
  WeChat ID: organic_organic
  WeChat ID: tribenutrition
• Indian Kitchen
  Excellent Indian food. Where many tour groups from India are brought when they visit Beijing. Indian restaurants generally cater very well to vegetarians. There are several other branches in the city.
  Location: No. 2 Sanlitun North Alley, Chaoyang district
  Tel: 6462 7255
• Moka Bros
  Healthy dinning, western food. Nice ambiance with plenty of slogans to encourage and inspire.
  Locations:
  1) Nali Patio G/F NO.81 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang
  2) Solana Mall
  3) Guomao China World
• Green Option
  Western style healthy food restaurant and delivery service.
  Location: No. 19 Dongfang East Rd., The Grand Summit (Guanshe), Bldg. 1, No. 41 First floor

Vegetarian Burgers in Beijing

Many Western bars in Beijing offer vegetarian hamburgers including:

• Home Plate Barbecue
  Website: http://homeplatebbq.com/rsite/
  Location: 35 Xiaoyun Rd. Courtyard
• Jing-A Brewpub
  Website: http://jingabrewing.com
  Beyond Meat Burgers: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Gd4MKT7PRdvXGioa5P2xqA
  WeChat ID: jingabeer
  Locations:
  57 Xingfucun Zhong Rd., Chaoyang District
  Longfusi Taproom
• Beersmith
  Omnipork Burger
  Hotel Jen Beijing 1/F, No. 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue
• Slowboat
  WeChat ID: SlowBoatBrewery