In celebration of World Vegetarian Day on October 1, we are exploring some of the finest vegan and vegetarian-friendly places in Beijing. Yesterday, we highlighted a few Chinese eateries, and today we'll focus on non-Chinese restaurants.
Beijing now boasts an increasing number of establishments offering vegetarian and vegan dishes. In fact, there are so many that this post will be divided into two parts, with a continuation published tomorrow.
Please be aware: Some of these locations have multiple branches; for the sake of brevity, we've included only one for each. Additional locations can be found on Dianping.
**Duli**
The vegan bistro Duli, which originated in Shanghai, launched its first branch in Beijing within the Friendship Store Complex this past April. They focus on innovative plant-based fusion cuisine, offering creative items such as Mapo Tofu Hummus (RMB 79), Corn and Cauliflower Fritter with Bao (RMB 89, pictured above), and Tom Yum Wanton Soup (RMB 72). Duli also regularly hosts guest chef events, featuring talents such as Chef Miguel from Migas Mercado and Swiss chef Michaela Frank. To stay updated on all events at Duli, search “Duli度粒” to follow their official WeChat account.
**Duli**
1/F, Friendship Store Complex, 17 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Hours: 11am-10pm
Phone: 185 1953 8158
**The Veggie Table**
Next is The Veggie Table, a prominent fixture in Beijing's vegetarian dining scene for over a decade. Located on Wudaoying Hutong, they offer various options including burgers, pasta, pizza, and salads. Some of the top recommended items are the Falafel Sandwich (RMB 88), Mushroom Burger (RMB 78), and Organic Basil Pasta (RMB 78). They also feature unique vegan milk choices, such as Vegan Milk Tea (RMB 46) and, for Harry Potter enthusiasts, Vegan Butter Beer (RMB 48).
**The Veggie Table**
19 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District
Hours: 11am-9pm
Phone: 010 6446 2073
**Slowboat**
Slowboat, winner of our inaugural Veggie Burger Cup with their Lotus Lane Bean Burger (RMB 52, pictured above), impressed our judges with their veggie burger selections. The Dongsi Doufu Burger (RMB 50) ranked #11, while Mock the Morning (RMB 59) came in at #14. The winning Lotus Lane Bean Burger features a homemade high-protein bean patty on a crispy bed of shredded lettuce, house pickles, crunchy fried onions, and tomato, all drizzled with a special sauce on a house-baked black sesame bun. Beyond burgers, Slowboat provides a variety of vegan and vegetarian salads and sides. Each week, they offer Meatless Mondays, where you can enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free deal on all veggie burgers and salads with the purchase of any drink.
**SLOWBOAT (Sanlitun branch)**
6 Nansanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
Hours: Sun-Thu, 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 11am-2am
Phone: 010 6592 5388, 178 1215 6182
**Gung Ho!**
Gung Ho!, a New Zealand-based pizzeria, is excellent for those with dietary restrictions, offering vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and more options. They have a variety of vegetarian and vegan pizzas, such as Black Truffle (RMB 119), Four Cheese (RMB 99), The Ubergene (RMB 99), Vegan Pepperoni (RMB 99), Porcini Mushroom (RMB 119), and for durian lovers, Aroma Durian (RMB 109). Their menu also includes a range of veggie salads, pastas, snacks, and more.
**Gung Ho! (Sanlitun branch)**
1/F, Bldg 3 China View, Gongrentiyuchang Donglu, Chaoyang District
Hours: 11am-11pm
Phone: 010 8487 1663
**Arrow Factory**
Arrow Factory has long been at the forefront of vegetarian and vegan cuisine in Beijing, creating innovative dishes for the veggie community. One standout is the Vegan Breakfast (RMB 80), featuring two herby OmniPork slices, baked beans, mushrooms, sautéed potatoes, grilled tomato, avocado toast, and scrambled tofu (available on weekends only). They also offer a DIY breakfast option where you can mix and match veggie or vegan items for your perfect brunch. In addition to brunch, they serve delicious vegan
In anticipation of World Vegetarian Day on October 1, we are exploring several vegetarian-friendly locations in Beijing.