Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or just trying out Meat-Free Mondays, Beijing isn’t short of great options for those avoiding meat and animal products. The majority of Beijing’s Chinese vegetarian restaurants are located in Dongcheng and Xicheng, particularly around Yonghegong, but others can be found scattered throughout the city. With the opening of health-centric restaurants such as Tribe Organic and Juice by Melissa there are also more Western restaurants with dedicated vegetarian menus. 
 

OUR FAVORITE VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS

Tribe Organic
While the menu is not fully vegetarian/vegan, Tribe has plenty of options whatever your dietary requirements – including gluten-free. Tribe source their ingredients from reliable organic suppliers such as TooToo Farm, so you can be assured of quality. Our favorite plant-based dishes on the menu include the Power Plant Salad (vegetarian) with baba ghanoush and the All-In Smoked Tofu Grain Bowl (vegan) finished off with gochujang tofu cream.
Daily 10.30am-10pm. 107, 1/F, Bldg 3, China View, 2 Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang District (8587 1899)
朝阳区工体东路2号中国红街大厦3号楼1层107室

King’s Joy
King’s Joy serves up the most creative (and priciest) vegetarian cuisine in Beijing, compromising nothing in terms of taste or diversity despite being completely meat free. The food is loosely Chinese, but dishes such as sushi rolls topped with slices of purple dragon fruit designed to resemble tuna bespeak international influences. If the huge menu is too daunting, King’s Joy offer a range of set menus, starting from around RMB 400 per person (expect to spend the same or more a la carte). 
Daily 11.20am-10pm. 2 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District (8404 9191)
京兆尹：东城区五道营胡同2号

Juice by Melissa
Not all of the ingredients at Juice by Melissa are destined for the juicer. Many of the vegetables and other healthy goodies make it onto their largely vegan food menu, which features a selection of dips, soups, and salads. Despite the name, dishes like the “Healthy Hippie” (a salad with mixed grains, beetroot, kale, and avocado) show that health food doesn’t have to be all hair cloth and hemp. 
Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9am-9pm. 101, Dongwai Gongguan, 3 Xinzhong Dongjie, Chaoyang District (130 4112 1556)
朝阳区新中东街3号东外公馆101室

VegeTiger
Tucked away in a corner of Fullink Plaza in Chaoyangmen, VegeTiger serves up vegetarian versions of a range of Chinese cuisines, from northern dumplings to spicy Sichuan. They are well known for their fake meat dishes, including “lamb” chuan’r, Sichuan boiled “pork” slices (shuizhu roupian), and Wuxi “pork” ribs, which are so good you won’t even miss the meat. There is a second branch in Wudaokou. 
Daily 9.30am-9.30pm. 3/F, Fullink Plaza, 18 Chaoyangmen Waidajie, Dongcheng District (6588 7016)
素虎净素餐厅：东城区朝阳门外大街18号丰联广场3层

Zheng Long Zhai
More of a supermarket/snack shop than a restaurant, Zheng Long Zhai is the best place in Beijing to shop for fake meat and meat substitutes. The shop’s many freezers conceal a mind-boggling array of fake meat products, from chicken nuggets to whole lobsters. Those looking for something a little less fake will want to check out their vegan pastries, made without the lard that often pops up in Chinese baking. We’re a big fan of the sweet-savory “ox tongue” pastries – so called because they resemble said tongue rather than because they contain any of it. 
Daily 10am-10.30pm. 58 Xisi Beidajie, Xicheng District (6603 1053)
正隆斋：西城区西四北大街58号

Tianchu Miaoxiang
This very popular vegetarian restaurant in a central location (there is another branch near Tsinghua). Tianchu Miaoxiang is well-known for their fake meat dishes, as well as dishes featuring a wide range of mushrooms. Be sure to go slightly outside of peak hours otherwise you will have to queue alongside all the nearby office workers. 
Daily 11am-9.30pm. 260, 2/F, Bldg D, Chaowai Soho, 6 Chaoyangmen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (5900 1288)
天厨妙香素食馆：朝阳区朝阳门外大街乙6号朝外Soho大厦D座2层0260号
 

OUR FAVORITE VEGETARIAN DISHES

Vegetarian eating doesn’t necessarily mean you have to frequent purely vegetarian restaurants – some of Beijing’s most popular dining destinations have excellent vegetarian options on the menu. We’ve compiled a few of our favorites below.

Great Leap Brewing #45 Brewpub – The Green Machine (RMB 110)
Vegetable-topped pizzas can suffer from sogginess, but not so Great Leap’s formidable Green Machine, the thick, New York-style base topped with GLB’s signature cheese blend, shaved zucchini, roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, kale, shallot, and black pepper ricotta. 

Ganges – Jeerawali Bhindi (RMB 58)
Up to 40 percent of the Indian population is vegetarian, meaning that wherever you are in the world, Indian cuisine is often a good choice for vegetarian diners. Ganges’ Yogi Menu goes one step further, catering to strict vegetarian Buddhists and Hindus by eliminating onion and garlic. We love the jeerawali bhindi, stir-fried okra seasoned with earthy turmeric. 

Slow Boat Brewery Taproom – The Dongsi Dofu (RMB 45)
Even avowed meat-lovers will fall for Slow Boat’s take on the veggie burger. Far from the usual heavy vegetarian patty, here a crisp tofu patty is served inside a bun with crunchy slaw and Sriracha-honey aioli. Ask for it without the aioli to make it vegan. 

Obentos – Avo Grains (RMB 52)
So on trend we’re surprised it doesn’t have its own hashtag, Obentos’ Avo Grains combines, unsurprisingly, au courant avocado with a base of mixed grains, topped off with edamame, tofu, and a soft-boiled egg. Several of their salads, grain bowls, and bento boxes are vegetarian or vegan.

Biteapitta – Hummus and Falafel Pitta (RMB 38)
Quick lunches don’t get much better than Biteapitta’s humus and falafel sandwich. The double hit of chickpea goodness, together with tahini sauce, pickles, and chopped fresh veggies, will keep you feeling full until dinner time. 

In & Out – Crisp Red Beans with Pu’er Tea (RMB 38)
With its wide variety of mushrooms and all-important goat’s cheese, Yunnan cuisine is a good choice for vegetarian diners. Sanlitun’s In & Out restaurant has been top of our list of Yunnan recommendations for years – if you go, make sure to order these deep-fried red beans (a good source of protein) seasoned with Yunnan’s famous Pu’er tea. 

By Robynne Tindall
Photos: Joey Guo