October 1 marks National Day in China, but it is also recognized as World Vegetarian Day. Initiated in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society to celebrate the joy, compassion, and life-enhancing aspects of vegetarianism, this day is now acknowledged globally.
In celebration of this occasion, we will explore some of Beijing's vegan and vegetarian-friendly dining options. In this first installment, we will focus on vegetarian Chinese restaurants, with non-Chinese options to follow tomorrow and Tuesday.
This guide highlights purely vegetarian Chinese restaurants and a few from Yunnan province. Known as the “Kingdom of Mushrooms” due to its vast variety of fresh vegetables and over 250 species of wild edible mushrooms, Yunnan establishments are among the most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly in Chinese cuisine.
Please note that several of these restaurants have multiple locations; we will mention just one for each to keep it concise. For additional locations, feel free to check Dianping.
**Vege Tiger**
With several restaurants throughout Beijing, Vege Tiger offers a vegetarian buffet daily for lunch and dinner. They provide a wide array of vegetarian adaptations of Chinese dishes and are particularly known for their faux meat offerings like Barbecued “Chuanr” (面筋 miànjīn), Kung Pao “Chicken,” and Braised Vegan “Meat” Balls. They also have an abundance of vegetable-based options such as Fried Potatoes with Green Beans and Garlic Broccoli, along with diverse dumplings, baozi, noodles, and rice. Priced at just RMB 78 per person, Vege Tiger is an excellent deal! For more details, you can click here to read about our visit in 2023.
**Vege Tiger 素虎素食 (Qianmen branch)**
1-3, 1/F, Bldg 3, Zhengyang Market, Qianmen Xijie, Xicheng District
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-2pm, 5:30pm-9pm; Sat-Sun, 11am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-9pm
Phone: 010 6301 0212
**Tianchu Miaoxiang Vegetarian Restaurant**
Recognized in the 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand list, Tianchu Miaoxiang is renowned for its mock meat, fish, and mushroom dishes. The presentation of these dishes is so realistic that you might find it hard to believe they are not meat! One standout dish is their Sauerkraut Fish 酸菜鱼 suāncàiyú (RMB 76), called 沧海桑田 cānghǎisāngtián, which features slices of fake fish, tofu, wood ear mushrooms, and cabbage in a sour broth. Other recommended dishes include Kung Pao Cuizhen 宫保翠珍 gōngbǎo cuì zhēn (RMB 52), Malaxiangguo 麻辣香锅 málàxiāngguō (RMB 52)—a meat-free delight—and Colorful Dumplings 彩色水饺 cǎisè shuǐjiǎo (RMB 30) filled with mushroom, tofu, and carrot.
**Tianchu Miaoxiang Vegetarian Restaurant 天厨妙香素食馆 (Chaowai branch)**
2/F, Bldg D, Chaowai Soho, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Hours: 10am-9:30pm
Phone: 010 5900 1088, 010 5900 1288
**In & Out**
This restaurant, distinct from the American chain In-N-Out, is inspired by Lijiang and has a few branches in Beijing. This upscale Yunnan restaurant presents a fantastic selection of fresh vegetarian and vegan dishes. Noteworthy items include Stir-Fried Porcini Mushroom with Peppercorn Leaves 花椒尖炒鲜牛肝菌 huājiāojiān chǎo xiān niúgānjūn (RMB 248), Fried Porcini Mushroom and Eggplant with Black Garlic 牛肝菌黑蒜烧茄子 niúgānjūn hēi suàn shāoqiézi (RMB 78), Cucumber Flowers with Tree Tomatoes 树番茄拌黄瓜花 shù fānqié bànhuángguā huā (RMB 48), Baked Eggplant with Pepper 烧椒火烤茄子 shāojiāo huǒkǎo qiézi (RMB 36), Fried Shiping Tofu 石屏香煎豆腐 shípíng xiāngjiān dòufǔ (RMB 48), and Sauteed TaiAn Potatoes with Pickles 酸
In anticipation of World Vegetarian Day on October 1, let's explore some vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the capital.