Top Vegetarian Restaurants in Beijing

Post on Sep,13,2013

Vacationing and traveling around the world is not only about sightseeing and being enriched in local history and traditions but it is also about experiencing amazing cuisine. While I was in Beijing I had the opportunity to taste many different meals from many different places. I had high priced meals as well as less expensive meals but one thing is for sure- everything I ate was amazing! I have put together a list of the top 5 vegetarian restaurants in Beijing for travelers. With so many to choose from it was hard to narrow down but I did it!

Lotus in Moonlight

• Location: Building 12, Liufang Nanil, Chaoyang /district. It is very difficult to find so make sure you have the number in case you need to call for diresctions.
• Travel Route: 104 (get off at Liufang Donkou stop), 18 (get off at Zuojiazhuang stop)
• Hours: 10am-2pm, 5pm-10pm
• Price: About $15 a person
• Phone Number: +86-10-64653299
• Decorum: This restaurant has a family feel to it. It is calm, quiet, and relaxing. The cool thing about this restaurant is that it has a bookstore inside of it.
• Food Specialties: The restaurant is geared towards vegan customers but also has a great selection of vegetarian dishes. The menu has an English side with some great pictures that do show how great the food really is. There are dishes that are variations of popular meats of pork, beef, and duck. The food is not made with any egg or garlic. The dish I highly recommend is the crispy tofu chicken with peppers.
• Attractions: This is in downtown Beijing so you are close to the Chaoyang Park, Ritan Park, and the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park.

LiLi

• Location: No. 23, Caoyuan Hutong, Dongzhimen Bei Xiaojie, Dongcheng District
• Travel Route: Call for exact directions
• Hours: 10:30am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm
• Price: About $10 per person
• Phone Number: 010-62025284
• Decorum: Old world Chinese traditional
• Food Specialties: This restaurant is known for its Beijing vegetarian duck. They have vegetarian versions of other foods such as meat and seafood. All the food is cooked with no egg, garlic, or wine. I had a great meal with bread and veggies with a special sauce. It is important to note that the staff barely speaks English.
• Attractions: Some of the great attractions in the area include the Donghuamen Night Market and the Temple of Confucius. You can also visit the Forbidden City.

Pure Lotus

• Location: 3/F, Lido Holiday Inn, No. 6, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District
• Travel Route: 104, (get off at Liufang Dongkou stop), 18 (get off at Zoujiazhuang stop)
• Hours: 9:30pm-12:00am
• Price: About $20 per person
• Phone Number: +86 (0)10 6592 3627
• Decorum: I loved the wooden carved temple that was in the middle of the restaurant. This place has a more romantic feel to it with dim lighting and a quiet ambiance. It can be a bit tricky to find but once there you will love the feel as soon as you walk in.
• Food Specialties: I ate so much here I cannot even think of where to begin with the food. I started with pumpkin soup that was not only tasty but also pretty colorful. I then had a warm spinach and mushroom salad. I was shocked at how much food came with each dish! My desert was a Dragon Fruit and Moon Cake; it was served over dry ice. That was unique to me! I have heard from the locals this restaurant is known for their fish with apple sauce and duck pancakes. On a side note, the waitresses speak English fairly well and this is a smoke-free facility.
• Attractions: After dinner you can catch a show at the China Puppet Theater or the Chaoyang Theater. Another cool thing I found in the area was the 798 Photo Gallery.

Cihai Suxin

• Location: No. 103, Di’anmen Xidajie, Xicheng District- Inside the Qilu Hotel
• Travel Route: 111, 107, 13, 118, 810, 823 to Dongguangfang
• Hours: 9am-10pm
• Price: About $10 per person
• Phone Number: 010-66571898
• Decorum: Very colorful and decorative. A great place to grab lunch and relax and chat with your group.
• Food Specialties: The food and decorum here remind me of a small family style Western restaurant. They offered an English menu which was a relief for me. This is strictly a vegetarian place that focused on tofu and veggie dishes. I had the tofu dish that was recommended to me by the waitress. If you are looking for more of a lighter meal then this is the place for you.
• Attractions: One thing I loved in this area was the Deshengmen. It is this huge wall that has an ancient coin exhibition and a snack bar. The Beijing Exhibition Theater is also in the area. It has a hotel, exhibition center, and restaurant. Some of the entertainment offered include Chinese plays, both Western and Chinese operas/ballets, and a variety of musicals.

Merits and Virtues

• Location: No. 158, Qianmen Dajie, Chongwen District
• Travel Route: 110, 120, 203, 20 (get off at Zhushikou stop)
• Hours: 10am-10pm
• Price: About $8 per person
• Phone Number: 86-10-67056705
• Decorum: Light hearted Chinese traditional
• Food Specialties: This place is unique because it offers both north and south China cuisines. No garlic is used in cooking. The Yangzhuo fried rice was amazing! I noticed that the food around me had a sweet smell to it. I also had some great noodle soup.
• Attractions: The Temple of Heaven is a must see attraction if you are in the area of this restaurant. It is a historical site with a public park nearby where locals dance and practice tai-chi. It really is amazing to see. Those in the mood to shop can always check out the New World Chopping Centre; a five story mall.

These are just a few of the most amazing vegetarian restaurants in Beijing. One quick tip, look at the menu for a specific symbol to see if there are vegetarian meals available no matter what restaurant you are in. Enjoy!