Top vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong reviews

If you think a healthy salad is the best you can do for vegetarian meals, think again. We’ve munched our way through a range of healthy vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong – from fine-dining to food kiosks, and from organic to all-raw vegan establishments. All so we can bring you our round-up of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Hong Kong. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!

We review the best vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong

Vegetarian cuisine has never been more in vogue – and it’s no longer the domain of committed non-meat eaters only. More and more of us are looking at how farming and meat production impacts our planet, and how clean eating can simply make us feel better. With this in mind, we put some proudly vegetarian-only restaurants in Hong Kong to the test! Read on to find out our favourite dishes for vegetarians and where to go for vegetarian fine dining in Hong Kong.

Treehouse – vegan and vegetarian dishes

We’d heard great reports about Chef Christian and his fast-growing restaurant chain Treehouse and were excited to find out more. Hailing from a fine dining background, his vision was to create a sustainable, ethical, modern and fast-dining casual restaurant. First, he sources the best local and organic ingredients he can. Then he crafts plant-based menus free from refined sugar, preservatives and trans fats. No nasty UPFs here!

The restaurant’s interior is light, welcoming and modern with dine-in seating and plenty of bins to separate your waste. Ordering is super simple on the touchscreens. You can also pre-order online with each restaurant directly and pick up your food for takeaway or dining in. First up, we tried the Forest Burger ($98) – no soya or meat alternative here, just wholesome veggie goodness. The umami-rich roasted mushroom patty was perfectly complemented by the sweet roasted bell peppers and eggplant caviar, all encased in a lightly toasted sourdough bun. A fabulous start.

The list of wraps and bowls is tempting, with Chef’s fine dining expertise and flair very evident. We opted for the large falafel-based Willow bowl on mixed greens ($128) and added a topping of halloumi (one of the few non-vegan options) and some roasted beets. Simply delicious. You can also create your own, which is where the fun really starts. You begin with either bread or bowl, then choose your base, add one of three nutritious blends, one of four toppings and a choice of nine sauces. I defy anyone to tire of dining here!

There’s also a selection of sides from $50 – and don’t miss out on the Fried Cauliflower, super value at $65. The Falafel Box ($65) is arguably the best falafel in the city – crunchy exteriors and perfectly seasoned soft interiors, served with a tomato salsa, mixed pickles and a super delicious tahini sauce. Drinks include a range of organic coffees with plant-based milk options as well as teas, cold-pressed juices and a thirst-quenching Treehouse kombucha ($45).

Last but not least, there’s a choice of six vegan desserts. It’s almost impossible to choose between the Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie ($45) and the Macadamia Chocolate Chip Cookie ($40). Both are rich and deep in flavour, despite the simple ingredients.

On a subsequent visit (yes, we were soon back!), I devoured a large Snowdrop bowl with chargrilled cauliflower, grilled tempeh and fried eggplant on the four-grain mix. Next time, we’ll be trying the pizzas and creating our own bespoke bowls. All the dishes for vegetarians at Treehouse are made freshly to order, and they deliver consistently on taste, quality, quantity and price. There are endless options and even the most hardened carnivore could be tempted to embrace these plant-based yummies.

Kate Woodbury

Various locations including Shop 1, G/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
treehouse.eco

Woodlands – Indian vegetarian restaurant in Hong Kong

Woodlands serves up authentic Indian vegetarian cuisine in a bright and airy space with vibrant green seats. The freshness of the design is the perfect introduction to the feasts on offer here. On our visit, there was a wonderful buzz in the room with Indian families chatting away and sharing colourful dishes together. The restaurant champions vegetarianism as a long and widely established way of life – one that helps to create a healthier and more compassionate society. And all of this clearly comes across in each dish.

Light and crisp with a rich potato filling, the Samosa ($58) is a perfect start. We also loved the Pakora ($78), crispy fritters of potato, onion, cauliflower and green chilli. And the Tandoori Aloo ($108) is a truly outstanding sizzler of spiced new potato roasted in the tandoor. Manchurian Gobi ($98) is a new one on us; the cauliflower florets tossed in a spicy, sweet and sour sauce hit all the right taste notes. Paper Masala Dosa ($148) is yet another Woodlands triumph. It’s a paper-thin lentil pancake with potato chaat filling. There’s also a Family Dosa that’s a whopping four feet long!

The main dishes for vegetarians are reassuringly familiar and excellent too. Dal Makhani ($98) is the ultimate comfort food – perfect when scooped up with nicely charred Garlic Naan ($32). Vegetable Jaipuri ($98) is medium spiced and ideal with Vegetable Biryani ($88). And the Bhindi Masala ($98), heavenly okra in tomato masala, is our winner of the night.

Woodlands offers food for thought. Many meat-eaters would love these wonderful clean-eating creations – classic Indian favourites that hit the spot reassuringly after a long day at work. The restaurant is spreading the word of a healthy way of life in a very exciting way.

Karl Woodbury

1/F, Dennies House, 20 Luard Road, Wan Chai
woodlandshk.com

Veggie Kingdom – top vegetarian restaurant in Hong Kong

This quiet and cosy restaurant occupies the 7th floor above busy Canton Road. The Chinese menu is 100 percent vegetarian – somewhat rare in a city known for its love of pork and seafood! The chefs have cleverly recreated classic dishes with vegetables and plant-based proteins resulting in an exciting and unique clean eating menu. We arrived just before 7pm and within a few minutes the restaurant was bustling with hungry diners. A pot of jasmine tea was quickly served.

There’s a superb choice of reimagined staples from Sichuan and Guangdong here. Of course, you’ll also find HK favourites like BBQ Pork, Veggie Beijing Duck and Veggie Goose.

Our portion of Smashed Japanese Cucumber ($48) proved a refreshing and tasty start to the meal. Next came Stir-fried Flat Rice Noodles with Veggie BBQ Pork ($98). They really hit the spot: perfectly cooked with a slightly chewy bite, and the veggie pork was convincing. An ideal dish for non-meat eaters craving those tangy and sweet flavours.

From the sizzling casserole list, we chose the Chef’s Recipe Curry ($148) which is served with Toona Bread – excellent when dipped in the rich sauce. Fried Long Beans with Pickled and Minced Veggie Meat ($68) was our standout dish, a perfect match of crunchy beans with a little sharpness from the vinegar and nuggets of savoury goodness. If you visit at lunch time, there’s an appetising menu of dumplings, rice noodle rolls and snacks, so it’s well worth a return trip!

Kate Woodbury

7/F, VIP Commercial Centre, 120 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
veggiekingdom.hk

VEDA – vegetarian fine dining in Hong Kong

Veda comes from the Sanskrit word “vid” meaning “to know”, and it represents knowledge and wisdom. This restaurant’s mantra is to “celebrate the vegetable”. Their dishes, they say, are not centred on the “without” but rather focused on the “with”. The result? An exciting Mediterranean-inspired Indian fusion of flavour, colour and texture that feels akin to vegetarian fine dining in Hong Kong.

From the list of “Small & Chaat” starters, we order the Pani Puri ($88). These delightfully crisp hollow dough balls come filled with potato chaat then crowned with a zingy mint and coriander dressing. The plump Silk Route Momos ($78) feature a homemade ricotta and spinach filling topped with a tangy tomato chutney. It’s Goa meets Genoa! Avo Chaat ($98) is an exciting millefeuille housing a smashed avocado and chaat masala with mixed chutneys – a total showstopper. And Green Pepper ($88) is humbly named but the potato masala with curry leaf stuffing is sensational. In fact, all these tapas are a feast for the senses.

On to the “Bigger to Share” dishes for vegetarians and the Locally Grown Portobello Rice ($208) is an interesting mix of coconut-infused rice pudding in a light crispy outer with organic mushrooms on the side. Veda’s Aloo Gobi ($178) comes with coconut and lentil sauce garnished with cashew nuts. We also enjoyed freshly baked Kulcha ($48).

Two desserts nicely rounded off the evening: Basque-style Chai Masala Burnt Cheesecake ($95) served with confit berries, and Wine Poached Pear ($108) infused with jaggery, with a vanilla ginger cream and pecan crumble. The mains and desserts were good but the Small & Chaat starters steal the show. In fact, next time we come, we’ll order the four we tried this time, plus the Samosa, Aloo Mattar Tikki (potato and pea patty) and Shiso Tempura (crunchy shiso leaves). This was a night of clean-eating enlightenment and it’s fair to say Veda does indeed “vid” – they truly know what they’re doing!

Karl Woodbury

2 Arbuthnot Road, Central
 veda.hk

More vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong

Fresca

Fresca is run by retired local Ivy, who puts her passion for cooking and organic vegetables right onto your plate. With a huge selection of fresh organic salads, made from her farm or sourced locally, you can always guarantee good honest healthy food and drinks. There are also home-made gluten-free muffins, warm seasonal soup and health drinks galore. Grab a box and take away a salad or sit upstairs and enjoy a slice of happiness in the midst of the central craziness.

G/F, Felicity Building, 54-58 Hollywood Road, Central | 2770 2282

Bombay Dreams

Indian food is generally a winner for veggie fans – not surprising, when India itself has more vegetarians than the rest of the world put together! But popular Indian restaurant Bombay Dreams is adding even more appeal with the launch of its all-new 100% vegan à la carte menu. The varied menu includes sumptuous dishes from South India and Goa, plus the chef’s own specialist styles of traditional North Indian cuisine. Expect the likes of lentil dumplings, stuffed chilli pakoras, tandoori roasted eggplant, and a curry of cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes, onions and spices. There are biryanis and breads, too, with classic Indian desserts to finish.

1/F, Winning Centre, 46 Wyndham Street, Central | 2811 9888

Genie Juicery

This spot was started by two lovely Hong Kong expats on a mission to provide the 852 with the best juice and smoothies around. They not only succeeded, but have now evolved into providing raw, vegan snacks and meals, along with the biggest selection of health juices and cleanses in town!

62 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town
2918 9986 | shop.geniejuicery.com

LockCha Tea House

Yes, you can find vegetarian cuisine in the heart of Hong Kong Park! Known for its amazing selection of over a hundred teas, LockCha features a menu filled with a variety of vegetarian dim sum options in an elegant dining atmosphere. The Cantonese Music Programme serenades guests on Saturday nights, and during the weekdays, LockCha also offers calligraphy and tea courses to educate its patrons. There are other locations in HK too.

* G06-07, Block 01, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central
* G/F, The K.S. Lo Gallery, Hong Kong Park, 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Admiralty

OVOCafé

Sharing our passion for moving to as green a life as possible, OVOCafé is one of our faves. It’s dedicated to healthiness and eco-living by serving fresh, tasty, vegetarian cuisine to the city inhabitants. From the selection of coffee beans and organic ingredients, creative salads and sandwiches, we can’t quite get enough of the goodness – especially the soup of the day!

1 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai | 6511 4051

Mak Mak

Yenn Wong is now on to her ninth restaurant in Hong Kong, with her latest addition Mak Mak opening in The Landmark. Concentrating on Central Thai cuisines with a chic interior and punchy dishes, this is a great restaurant for long dinners and veggie-lovers’ celebrations. While it’s not completely vegetarian, it does have a whole veggie menu, which makes it perfect for a group dinner. We recommend the lab tau hoo (spicy salad of crispy tofu, roasted rice and mushroom, green lettuce).

Shop 217A, 2/F, Atrium, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road, Central | 2983 1003

Long Men Lou (Chi Lin Vegetarian)

For a truly zen experience, wander through the Nan Lian Buddhist garden at Diamond Hill to experience an elegant vegetarian meal (made with little to no salt or MSG) among peaceful chanting and elegant environs behind a waterfall. This is one of the most popular Chinese vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong, so it’s wise to book your table in advance.

Nan Lian Garden, 60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill | 3658 9388

Kung Tak Lam

Just a stroll away from the Star Ferry, Kung Tak Lam Shanghainese serves up hundreds of vegetarian and vegan friendly dishes, all featuring a lovely harbour view. No MSG and low-salt dishes complement the overall healthy (and delicious) vibe of this award-winning eatery, so rest assured you’re doing right by your tummy here.

7/F, 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | 2312 7800

Loving Hut

Dairy-free vegan fast food sums up this popular vegetarian restaurant in Hong Kong that creatively assembles mock-meat dishes galore. Even meat-eaters will love this vegan take on their favourite dishes – check out the signature Singaporean laksa, the barbecued cha siu with rice, or the beef noodles to see why. The Kowloon Bay resto carries vegan baked goods too. Yum.

• Shop G242-245, Amoy Plaza II, 77 Ngau Tau Kok Road, Kowloon Bay | 2751 1321
• Unit 1307, 13/F, Sunbeam Centre, 27 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong | 2701 7099
• Shop 103A, 1/F, Port 33, 33 Tseuk Luk Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon | 2797 0001

Gaia Veggie Shop

So you think you’re ready to try ordering from pictures on a menu? TST’s Gaia Veggie Shop has a mixture of Asian and Italian dishes that will leave meat eaters questioning, “I can’t believe this isn’t meat!” Try the veggie sashimi or sushi (the California Roll is a specialty), or amaze yourself with the fake chicken satay. While not completely vegan, this is an adventure worth trying.

Shop 2005, 2/F, Miramar Shopping Centre, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | 2376 1186
5 other HK branches (phone numbers listed on the website)

Branto

Rumoured as having the best in “Pure Indian Vegetarian Food”, Branto is certainly a fun spot if you want to be daring when it comes to Indian vegetarian restaurants. A meal at Branto will set your taste buds spinning as you try to guess the ingredients, and your wallet will thank you for not being empty at the end of the meal.

1/F, 9 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | 2366 8171