Best Vegetarian Chinese Food: Dishes You’ll Love

Best Vegetarian Chinese Food: Dishes You’ll Love

Table of Contents

  • 1. North China
  • 2. East China
  • 3. South China
  • 4. West China

China boasts a vast territory. Climate and vegetation vary greatly from north to south, east to west, which played an indispensable role in the body constitutions and their diet of the people from different areas. This is why there are so many different cuisines and numerous dishes in China.

Generally speaking, the vegetarian cuisine type is heavily affected by the cooking style in the area. If you go to Beijing (in North China) and try the local veg food, the traditional dishes look browner cooked with kind of starch thickened sauce and vinegar, and taste a little saltier. In East China, the local cooks have much more different types of food materials when cooking. It is said that the vegetarian food culture was originally well-developed in this area. Then it was introduced to other parts of China. Based on the preferred taste of locals, the veg food in East China is sweeter and less salty here.

Meat-like vegan food

(Meat-like Dish)

In West China like muggy Sichuan, the local veg food is spicy and salty as Chinese believe that chili and pepper can keep damp away from human body and make people healthier. While in South China like Guangdong province, the locals emphasize on the freshness and original flavor of the materials. The veg food here is also featured with soup and porridge, which is said to be beneficial to the stomach.

If embarking a vegan food tour to China, you can taste a wide spectrum of vegetarian dishes. Just make sure you find thebest vegetarian restaurant in each city of China.

Popular vegan or vegetarian dishes in different parts of China 

North China Vegetarian Cuisine

Geographically, the northern part of China refers to the area north of the Yellow River, including famous tourist destinations such as Beijing, Xi'an, Datong, Pingyao, Luoyang, Tianjin, Qingdao, Qufu, etc. 

The vegetarian food in northern China combines imperial vegetarian dishes, temple vegetarian meals, and folk vegetarian food. The complex cooking techniques enable plant-based ingredients such as tofu, seitan, konjac, and mushrooms, along with various seasonings including sauces, sesame paste, and sesame oil, to achieve a taste and appearance comparable to that of meat. Besides green vegetable tofu, you can taste various delicious vegan dishes, such as "vegetarian Dongpo" which simulates pork with winter melon and mushrooms. 

Popular meat-free dishes

Buddha’s delight/Luohan Zhai (罗汉斋) - It originated from the Buddhist vegetarian cuisine of the temples in Wutai Mountain. Made by stewing eighteen kinds of ingredients such as mung beans, lotus roots, tofu, winter bamboo shoots, and Chinese cabbage, it is now the concluding vegetarian dish for northern New Year dinners or banquets, symbolizing good luck.

Lotus Pond Moonlight (荷塘月色) - "Lotus Pond" refers to lotus roots and mung beans, while "Moonlight" usually means white lotus seeds or yam.

Vegetarian Dumplings (素饺子) - Even if you are a vegetarian, you shouldn't miss the No.1 Chinese food - dumplings (素饺子) - which have fillings such as Chinese cabbage, tofu, and mushrooms.

青椒土豆丝 (qīngjiāo tǔdòu sī) – Shredded potato with green pepper, lightly salted and fried with oil and vinegar.

地三鲜 (dì sān xiān) – Stir-fried chopped eggplant, green pepper and potato braised with soy sauce.

>> Recommended 7 Days Essence of China Tour for Vegetarians

Tofu Dish

(Tofu Dish)

East China Vegetarian Cuisine

Experience traditional vegetarian diet in Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Yangzhou and Suzhou. Here, vegetarian dishes use the freshest seasonal ingredients and retain their original flavors. The Zen cuisine at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou and Daming Temple in Yangzhou also provide many inspirations. Bamboo shoots, soy products (oil bean curd skin), mushrooms, seasonal vegetables (wild leeks, yam grass, lotus root), roasted bran, etc. are seasoned with sesame oil, sugar, soy sauce, and mushroom water, resulting in a light and sweet taste. 

Best meat-free dishes

Shanghai-style Braised Wheat Gluten (烤麸,  Kǎofu) - This dish is made by braising wheat gluten with black fungus, yellow flowered vegetables, and peanuts. It is a must-have cold dish for the every-day meal of Shanghai people.

Vegetarian "Goose" (素烧鹅,  Sùshāo é) - A famous dish in both Hangzhou and Shanghai. It is made by frying soybean cake with a specially prepared sauce.

Kalimeris & Dried Tofu Salad (马兰头香干, Mǎlán Tóu Xiānggān) - Another classic cold dish. Its name hints at its ingredients - kalimeris and dried tofu.

素酱肉 (sù jiàng ròu) – Steamed sliced gluten with yam root, sugar, salt and sesame oil.

桂花糖藕 (guìhuā tángǒu) – Sliced lotus roots preserved in osmanthus syrup

South China Vegetarian Cuisine

It stands out with the essence of Hunan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, Minnan cuisine and Guangxi cuisine. Some of the best vegetarian dishes originated from Buddhist temples, such as "Cai Gen Xiang" in Guangzhou, "Dinghuai Shang Sui" at Qingyun Temple in Zhaoqing, and vegetarian dishes at Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen. 

It mostly uses methods like steaming, blanching and stir-frying. Vegetables like tofu, bamboo fungus, shiitake mushroom, black fungus, bean curd cake, seasonal vegetables (cabbage hearts, mustard greens), and root vegetables (water chestnuts, lotus roots) are eaten in a light and refreshing way. 

Popular meat-free dishes

Bamboo Fungus Soup (竹荪汤, Zhú Sūn Tāng) - A classic soup dish of the Cantonese vegetarian feast. It is made by simmering bamboo fungus, shiitake mushrooms, and bamboo slices together.

Vegetarian Claypot Rice (素煲饭, Sù Bǎofàn) - This is one of the most delicious Chinese winter delicacies made by cooking mushrooms, vegetarian sausages, and green vegetables together with rice.

Blanched Vegetables (白灼蔬菜, Báizhuó Shūcài) - A must-have for home cooking. Cabbage hearts, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, and lettuce are simply stir-fried.

双菇扒菜胆 (shuānggū pácàidǎn) – Blanched Cantonese cabbage with mushrooms and sauce.

>> Recommended 13 Days China Discovery for Vegetarians

eggplant with garlic sauce

(Eggplant with Garlic Sauce)

West China Vegetarian Cuisine

When traveling to Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet, Gansu, and further destinations along the Silk Road, there are also a host of options for vegetarian food. Besides plant-based protein foods (such as tofu, tofu skin, and fermented soybean curd), mushrooms, various grains (such as potatoes, pumpkins, wild oats, and oats), halal Chinese food for Muslims are also available. How does the dishes taste? They can be sour or spicy. 

Best vegetarian dishes

Vegan Kung Pao "Chicken" (宫保素鸡丁) - A classic Sichuan-style dish. It uses tofu or shiitake mushrooms instead of chicken pieces, accompanied by peanuts and dried chili peppers.

Three Shreds Salad/Liangban SanSi (凉拌三丝) - A popular dish in the northwest and Sichuan-Chongqing regions. It is made by slicing carrots, bean curd sheets, and vermicelli (or lettuce) and mixing them together.

Lanzhou Vegan Noodles (兰州素拉面) - Hand-pulled noodles served with a soup made by simmering yellow bean sprouts, celery, mushrooms, ginger slices, and Sichuan peppercorns for 4 hours, accompanied by toppings.

Hot Pot (火锅，Huǒ guō): You can choose from clear soup base or mushroom soup base, and come with vegetables, tofu, bean curd skin, noodles, etc.

鱼香茄子 (yúxiāng qiézi) – Braised eggplant with spicy garlic sauce, vegetarian style.

麻辣豆腐 (málà dòufu) – Braised Tofu of Sichuan style with hot spicy sauce.

Other dishes

红烧茄子 (hóngshāo qiézi) - Braised eggplant in brown sauce

清炒木耳山药 (qīngchǎo mùěr shānyao) – sautéed sliced yam root with wood ear.

Essential Vegan Travel China Tips for Choosing the Dishes

  1. Eating vegetarian food during your China tours is possible, and there are many delicious options available. However, only by following the seasonal menu can you taste the freshest flavors. For instance, in spring, you must order bok choy, mustard greens, and bamboo shoots. In summer, you can have winter melon soups. In autumn and winter, you can have vegetarian soups.
  2. Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen are among the most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly cities in China, with dedicated Vegan restaurants.
  3. Use apps like HappyCow to find vegan/vegetarian restaurants.
  4. Vegetarians can prepare/learn some simple Chinese phrases that can be used when ordering.

Explore Authentic China with Vegetarian Chinese Meals

Easy Tour China provides a wide range of tailor-made trips for vegans/vegetarians with the best holidays to a number of destinations, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Xian, Chengdu... We have a range of hand-picked vegetarian restaurants in each city from where you can sample delicious traditional Chinese vegetarian food. While the country’s sight-after attractions will guarantee you spectacle of sight, the food will promise a culinary delight. 

If you had any tasty veg dishes in China, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We will share the useful information with others. Thank you!



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