Plant-based dining has grabbed the F&B headlines in recent years, with more and more restaurants turning their attention to vegan and vegetarian customers – both for these diners’ dietary requirements as well as the need to look after our planet.
From casual yum cha to Indian aplenty, here’s where to find the most delicious meatless eats in Hong Kong.
The best vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong
TREEHOUSE
This is the Kong’s favourite plant-based dining chain, with a total of four locations across the city for this eco-conscious pioneer. Fast-casual TREEHOUSE takes a completely holistic approach, even down to the use of lead-free eco-cement, reclaimed wood, and recycled plastic furniture in their shops. Diners have fallen head over heels for the brand’s sourdough flatbread wraps, mixed grain and salad bowls, raw and vegan desserts, and more dishes inspired by founder Christian Mongendre’s travels, all of which also appeal to non-vegetarians.
TREEHOUSE, multiple locations across Hong Kong
Sow Vegan
Sow Vegan delivers a sophisticated plant-based private dining experience that belies its Kwun Tong industrial building address. Local and organic ingredients are deftly showcased in an eight-course vegan tasting menu (HKD630 pp) crafted according to the creative whims of the chef team. Sow Vegan’s breads – namely the rye sourdough and vegan brioche – are exceptional, especially when gilded with their smoked butter.
Sow Vegan, Unit 1102, 11/F, Hung Tat Industrial Building, 43 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, WhatsApp 9029 3009
YUAN
Opened last autumn, YUAN by LUBUDS F&B group is said to be Hong Kong’s first fine-dining vegetarian Chinese restaurant. Executive chef Ronald Shao takes diners on a plant-based and allium-free contemporary Chinese dining journey, innovating traditional Chinese dishes with Western haute-cuisine influences. The artful 12-course seasonal vegetarian tasting menu (HKD1,288 pp) is the pinnacle of meat-free dining.
YUAN, Shop 2, G/F, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1–13 Hollywood Road, Central, 2728 7278, book here
Veggie Kingdom
Veggie Kingdom in Tsim Sha Tsui is our pick for the best vegetarian dim sum dishes around, so much so that we named it this year’s Foodie Forks Best Vegetarian Restaurant. What we love about this Cantonese eatery is that everything is homemade and 100% natural, with no plant-based meats used. The textures in particular are absolutely spot on. Alongside knockout yum cha, highlights of Veggie Kingdom’s menu include the veggie honey-coated BBQ pork (HKD118), showcasing wheat gluten marinated in a house-made vegan char siu sauce that’s smoked with a blend of oolong and pu’er tea leaves, and veggie fish fillet in sour Sichuan soup (HKD238), with thinly sliced oyster mushroom mimicking the texture of fish.
Veggie Kingdom, 7/F, VIP Commercial Centre, 120 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2366 0336/2366 3233
Kailash Parbat
India offers arguably some of the best meat-free dishes of any cuisine anywhere in the world; they’re colourful, varied, and bursting with flavour. At the Hong Kong outpost of Kailash Parbat, which has a history dating back to the 1940s, when it was first opened in Karachi, Pakistan, by the Mulchandani brothers, the menu reads like the bible of vegetarian Indian cuisine. For that reason, we strongly suggest going in a group so that you can try as many of the generously portioned dishes as possible. We adore the Bombay bhel puri (HKD75), pav bhaji (HKD95), chole bhatura (HKD105), and paneer tikka lababdar (HKD119). Kailash Parbat also provides fully vegan and Jain menus.
Kailash Parbat, Shop 302, 3/F, Multifield Plaza, 3–7A Prat Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3428 5545, WhatsApp 5379 0130, book here
Yau Veggie Bistro & Yau Veggie Diner
Yau Veggie Bistro is a standout in Tsuen Wan for creative fine-casual vegan and vegetarian cuisine. The presentation of the dishes is meticulous, and we enjoy the range of European flavours on offer, from the foie gras sauté with fig and balsamic glaze (HKD168) made with plant-based foie gras to the steak tartare (HKD238), which features Impossible beef. Baked Alaska (HKD128) and crème brûlée (HKD88) are amongst the vegan desserts on offer.
A more casual offshoot of the bistro, Yau Veggie Diner, has recently opened a few shops down at The Mills, this time offering a slice of Americana in a retro diner space. Highlights include the plant-based bacon cheeseburger (HKD99), all the vegan milkshakes (HKD69), and a banana split (HKD89) starring vegan ice cream and plant-based whipped cream.
Yau Veggie Bistro, Shop 118, 1/F, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, WhatsApp 6899 0989
Yau Veggie Diner, Shop 102, 1/F, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, WhatsApp 9881 1091
Isoya Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant
We enjoy Isoya not only for its delightful vegetarian Japanese food, but also for its peaceful, zen-like atmosphere. In general, Japan is not the easiest place for a vegetarian to dine well, with the Japanese being extremely fond of grilled meat and raw fish, so Isoya – run by the same team behind non-veg Ishiyama in Causeway Bay – is all the more welcome. The flavours are authentic, clean, and soothing, with the set lunch menu (from HKD98 pp) being particularly recommended; it includes three small starters/sides, a main course, and dessert. Even the season-driven hotpot dinner menu (HKD398 pp) won’t break the bank.
Isoya Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant, 9/F, 83 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, 5500 8812
Sangeetha Vegetarian Restaurant
Another vegetarian Indian restaurant we rate highly, no-frills Sangeetha is part of a chain originating in Chennai that now operates around 50 branches across the globe. South Indian fare shines at Sangeetha, and we recommend the staple dishes of kaima idli (HKD75), vada (HKD65), and masala dosa (HKD85). To sample the lot, go for the mini tiffin (HKD95), which includes a small dosa, idli, vada, upma, and sheera.
Sangeetha Vegetarian Restaurant, Shop 1–5, 31, UG/F, Wing On Plaza, 62 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, 2640 2123/2643 9123
Thai Vegetarian Food
Those in the Hong Kong know are well aware that Kowloon City is where it’s at when it comes to authentic Thai cuisine, and Thai Vegetarian Food is tops in that ’hood. The tom yum soup, red and green curries, and som tum (green papaya salad) are highly endorsed for the classic sweet, spicy, and sour flavours for which Thai dishes are known. Diners can order small portions of the main courses (priced at under HKD70) for a mix-and-match Thai feast.
Thai Vegetarian Food, G/F, 28 Nam Kok Road, Kowloon City, 6153 7421
JAJA
Housed within Hong Kong Arts Centre, Mira Dining’s JAJA aims to put the “fun” in vegetarian dining, offering a colourful (heavy on the pink) and eye-catching interior matched by an equally vibrant East-meets-West menu. A standout is this stunning Living Maki platter (HKD178/HKD328), featuring spicy jackfruit roll, eggplant teriyaki roll, and enoki spider roll. The “soup-er” wontons (HKD78/HKD138), served with a mala tahini sauce, and bibimbap (HKD158) are worthy savoury contenders. Stealing the dessert show is the warm and gooey hot pan cookie with ice cream (HKD108).
JAJA, 6/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2877 3999, WhatsApp 6698 6194, book here
Wanaka
Wanaka is a zen fusion café in Wan Chai with super-friendly staff. The eatery specialises in local, organic, and plant-based whole foods and is the younger sibling to another popular vegan café, YEARS, over in Sham Shui Po. Wanaka’s Amazing Day Breakfast (HKD148), starring home-grown wild mushrooms and pumpkin and a salmon avocado bagel by Alive Food, is especially noteworthy. We’re also fond of the spicy Sichuan mala spaghetti (HKD108) and tofu makhani bowl (HKD128), both of which are packed with flavour. The shop is quite small, but there’s an outdoor area too, with discounts offered if you dine al fresco.
Wanaka, G/F, 8 King Sing Street, Wan Chai, 6080 8251
Veda Café & Bar
For vegetarian Indian cuisine in Central, Veda has been our go-to since opening at Ovolo hotel in 2018. The restaurant has recently rebranded with a focus on flavourful nutritional balance. Chef Avni Jhunjhnuwala – the daughter of Veda’s founder, Sarika – showcases healthy salads like the turmeric and chickpea Caesar (HKD148) and roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts (HKD155) and signature dosas in flavours including classic potato masala (HKD130) and pesto paneer (HKD145).
Veda Café & Bar, G/F, Ovolo Central, 2 Arbuthnot Road, Central, 3755 3067, book here
Saravana
It’s difficult to compete with India when it comes to offering flavourful vegetarian cuisine, and Saravana is yet another deserving member in that category, specialising in authentic South Indian fare. To kick things off, our go-tos chaats here are the dahi puri (HKD75), pani puri (HKD65), and Bombay chaat (HKD65), or bhel puri. The cheese masala dosa (HKD80), washed down with a cup of masala chai (HKD20), is the ultimate in comfort food. We’re careful about using the term “hidden gem” these days, but Saravana – nestled within the chaos that is Chungking Mansions – truly is.
Saravana, Shop 105, 1/F, Chungking Mansions, 36–44 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2739 7633, book here
LockCha
With serene teahouses located in Admiralty and Central, LockCha is all about premium Chinese tea complemented by quality vegetarian dim sum the likes of pan-fried turnip cake (HKD38/2pcs), black truffle vegan siu mai (HKD48/2pcs), and mini glutinous rice in lotus leaf (HKD42/2pcs). LockCha also offers its own home-grown tea-flavoured beer as an accompaniment to your plant-based yum cha feast.
LockCha, G/F, The K.S. Lo Gallery, Hong Kong Park, 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Admiralty, 2801 7177, book here
LockCha, Shop G01–07, G/F, Block 01, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, 2276 5777, book here
