Vegetarian cooking has always been an important part of the Chinese cuisine. The long history of Buddhism in the country has had a deep influence on culture and lifestyle. In general, Chinese cuisine, vegetarian or not, uses more vegetables and less meat than Western cuisine. Vegetable dishes are simple, natural and healthy. And best of all, they don’t have to boring. There are a myriad of ways that vegetables are prepared, from classic Buddhist vegetarian cuisine to modern fusion creations.

Buddhist vegetarian cuisine

The traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine originated in monasteries, where more than meat was banned. The food avoided pungent ingredients like garlic, leeks and onion.

A signature of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine is the technique of using various ingredients to imitate meat. The style wasn’t created in monasteries but rather came from the emperor’s court, where royals were required to fast on certain days. Since most of the royals liked meat, the court chefs came up with imitation meat dishes.

The technique uses wheat gluten, soy products and mushrooms. The dishes not only look light meat but almost taste like it, too, with the addition of certain sauces and seasoning.

For example, sweet and sour short ribs, a popular dish in China, has a vegan version that uses wheat gluten and lotus root to replace the pork.

The lotus root is cut into finger-long sticks and placed in between two pieces of wheat gluten. The result is dipped in a flour batter and fried in hot oil. Finally, it is stir fried in a wok with a sweet and sour sauce made of ketchup, soy sauce, salt and sugar.

The end result is meat-like, with the crunchiness of the lotus root.

Not all Buddhism believers follow a strict vegetarian diet. Many observe it only on fasting days. And that’s when vegetarian restaurants are often fully booked.

Shanghai Gong De Lin Vegetarian Restaurant

Established in 1922, Gong De Lin is one of the most famous Chinese vegetarian restaurants. Located on Nanjing Road W., the restaurant is also known by the name Godly.

The dEcor is classic Chinese with Buddhist touches. The restaurant has a dining hall as well as private dinning rooms.

Here you can find the most comprehensive menu of Chinese vegetarian dishes, from duck made with soy and pine nuts to mandarin fish made with mushrooms.

Some dishes look quite greasy, but only vegetable oil is used in the cooking.

A signature dish is a vegan version of the classic Shanghai crab meat, made with tofu. You would never guess it’s a non-meat dish from either the appearance or taste.

Gong De Lin’s vegan mooncake is also a crowd favorite - so convenient to buy some for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival after a vegetarian meal here.

 

Average cost per person: 100 yuan

Tel: 6327-0218

Address: 445 Nanjing Rd W.

Yufo Temple Vegetarian Restaurant

This restaurant, whose name translates to “jade Buddha,” is run by the Yufo Temple and serves classic Buddhist cuisine.

It’s most well-known for its noodle soup. The mushroom duo soup noodle (15 yuan/US$2.3) is a simple yet delicious dish.

The broth is made with high quality mushrooms and the noodle bowl is topped with generous portions of mushrooms when served.

One can also choose the classic vegetarian noodle bowl, vegetarian wonton or mushroom, and the vegetarian “meatball” noodle bowl.

Also popular are the mushroom soup, fried poplar mushrooms and vegetarian chicken’s feet with pickled chili, which is made with konjac root.

 

Average cost per person: 50 yuan

Tel: 6266-5596

Address: 999 Jiangning Rd

Modern Chinese vegetarian cuisine

Traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine is often criticized by people for using too much oil and fried starch ingredients in order to imitate the texture and flavor of meat.

More modern vegetarian cuisine focuses on much lighter fare.

In the recent years, many Chinese vegetarian restaurants stressing a more healthy cuisine have opened.

Yan Ge Ge Vegetarian Hotpot

A vegetarian hotpot restaurant that opened in the end of 2014, Yan Ge Ge offers a menu similar to what you might find in a standard hotpot restaurant, only everything is vegetarian.

The two-tier bronze pot allows customers to choose two soup bases: classic tomato or mushroom.

The beef tripe is made with konjac root, and the spring rolls are made with a soybean sprout filling.

The restaurant is not strictly vegan. There are some dishes using egg and dairy products, like egg dumplings with mushroom filling and wasabi cheese balls.

For beverages, there are an array of juices, including carrot, apple, spinach and lemons. Teas such as hibiscus with hawthorn fruit are also served.

 

Average cost per person: 180 yuan

Tel: 6222-7217

Address: A4-1F, 800 Changde Rd

Su Shi Hui Vegetarian Buffet

This vegetarian buffet features a diverse selection of dishes from appetizers to dessert.

The cold dishes include signature vegetarian classics like vegan “sausage,” pickled daikon and soba noodles. There are at least four varieties of soups and porridges.

Hot dishes include mock steak, mock lamb and okra, and also king trumpet mushrooms, a classic dish from Jiangxi Province that highlights the flavor of basil when the main ingredients are braised in sauces.

For dessert, there are both Chinese and Western offerings, including buns and cakes.

The beverage list includes plum juice, iced tea, soy milk and cucumber juice. The unsweetened chilled soy milk is an ideal treat on hot days.

 

Average cost per person: 70 yuan

Tel: 3209-9917

Address: B2-14, 762 Tianshan Rd

Lucky Zen and Veg Restaurant

This is a very popular vegetarian restaurant in Xintiandi that serves classic Chinese vegetarian dishes. There are both regular and meat imitation dishes.

Biyu zhuangcheng is a crowd favorite. The heart-shaped tofu with green sauce made with green pea paste resembles the appearance of jade, a light and delightful cold dish.

Wheat gluten stew, hot and sour fern root noodles and vegetarian meat balls also worth to try.

Hot candied sweet potato, preserved plum with yam and papaya cream balls are popular desserts.

 

Average cost per person: 80 yuan

Tel: 6373-0288

Address: 2F, 428 Madang Rd

 

If vegan

If vegan is a causal vegetarian restaurant serving both Chinese and Western-style dishes.

The mock steak with black pepper sauce is the most popular hot dish on the menu. It’s made from soy products, and the texture is not exactly like a real steak.

Tomato and beef brisket stew, Vietnamese spring rolls and hawthorn fried rice are also worth a try.

The coconut and purple sweet potato paste is a light, healthy dessert, served with yam paste with blueberry sauce. There are also various choices of green smoothies and juices.

 

Average cost per person: 90 yuan

Tel: 6891-3957

Address: 3F, 588 Zhangyang Rd

Fu He Hui

A fine dining vegetarian restaurant on Yuyuan Rd, Fu He Hui offers fusion-style cooking that’s light and healthy. There are no meat meat imitation dishes here.

Some dishes are made according to the Western “molecular gastronomy concept,” like the classic Chinese tomato and egg stir fry. Fu He Hui puts scrambled eggs inside a tomato.

The presentation of dishes is artistic, with guqin as background music and a very Zen decor.

Ormosia is a Japanese-influenced dessert of red bean ice cream and mungbean cake.

Fu He Hui doesn’t have an a la carte menu. Guests choose set meals, with prices ranging from 380 yuan to 880 yuan.

 

Average cost per person: depends on the set meal chosen, from 380 to 880 yuan

Tel: 3980-9188

Address: 1037 Yuyuan Rd

Wujie on the Bund

Located in the historical landmark 22 on the Bund, Wujie serves vegetarian dishes inspired by traditional Chinese cuisine in an upscale dining environment.

It’s more expensive than other vegetarian restaurants in town, but the dishes are well worth the cost. They are artistically presented and use the freshest ingredients.

Rice and mushroom steamed with a lotus leaf is a refreshing staple dish. The rice takes the aroma of lotus.

The dish called Chiloe is made with a special ingredient called Chilean Antarctic seaweed. The seaweed is prepared with three different sauces – sesame, spicy and Caesar.

There is also a layered avocado and beetroot salad topped with pine nuts.

Wujie also serves a vegetarian afternoon tea featuring cakes and macaroons. If any dishes uses eggs or dairy products, that fact is carefully noted on the menu.

 

Average cost per person: 240 yuan

Tel: 6375-2861

Address: 4/F, 22 Zhongshan Rd E2