Do you think Guangzhou is a friendly city to vegetarians? Some foreign friends told us that many restaurants in the city don't quite understand vegetarianism, as they often serve vegetable dishes sprinkled with smashed pork or ham and make soup with chicken or beef stock. This often happens even when the customer specifically asks to exclude any sort of meat from dishes.
It may be the case in a number of restaurants, but it is no denying that there are many ways to cook vegetables in China, and it seldom gets boring. Here we will introduce to you some of the best vegetarian restaurants in Guangzhou.
1. Shi Er She Veggie House (十二舍湯物素煮)
The restaurant boasts 12 cubicles decorated with lots of plants. Its tranquil and elegant vibes allow visitors to feel like stepping into a quiet courtyard close to nature.
Recommended dishes:
Veg. Chicken curry (香滑黄咖喱素鸡荟)
Description: made of curry and beancurd puff; chewy
Black rice cake with lemon juice (黑米糕)
Description: soft, fresh and sweet
Steamed egg white and tofu with black truffle and sea weed (黑松露海茸蒸蛋清豆腐)
Description: made of tofu, black truffle, sea weed (with or without egg white and milk, depending on customers' choices); smooth and tender
Other dishes: Stewed dried bamboo shoots with mushrooms; Stewed veg. chicken with yellow ginger and chestnut; Veg. tom yum soup
Average cost: 64 yuan
Address: 1/F, T.I.T Mall, 37 Jiangyan Lu, Haizhu district江燕路37号润政广场1楼
Transportation: Exit C, Jiangtailu (江泰路) station, metro line 2
2. Vegan Restaurant (水木苼蔬食料理)
The restaurant attracts and keeps customers with its simple decorations, zen vibe and tasty dishes.
Recommend dishes:
Roasted mushrooms (怀石烘蘑菇)
Description: mushrooms roasted with pepper and sauces.
Fried lotus root with taro (藕然之煎)
Description: Crispy outside and soft inside. Yummy!
Hericium erinaceus with pineapple (菠萝咕噜猴头菇)
Description: sweet and sour, appetizing.
Other dishes:
Average cost: 86 yuan per person
Address: 405, Modern Mall, Nonglin Xialu, Yuexiu district 农林下路东山锦轩现代城4楼405室
Transportation: Exit C, Dongshankou (东山口) station, metro line 1
3. Soodle restaurant (蔬稻餐厅)
The western-style veggie restaurant, located within the city's central business district, enables vegetable lovers to enjoy tasty vegetarian food as if savoring yummy French cuisine.
Mushroom steak (熔岩慢煎菇扒)
Description: tender and smooth, not greasy.
Shredded potatoes wrapped in egg roll (一口的感动)
Description: coasted in salad dressing, very soft
Spaghetti in vegetable juice (松子青酱意粉)
Description: fresh, with edible fungus
Average cost: 107 yuan per person
Address: 3/F, KINGOLD Century Mall, Tianhe district (near Grand Hyatt Guangzhou Hotel)侨鑫国际裙楼3层(君悦大酒店、全球通大厦旁，雅居乐中心对面)
Transportation: Exit A1, Zhujiang New Town (珠江新城) station, metro line 3
4. ShiFunYuan vegetarian (食坊缘)
The restaurant is nestled in a renovated villa in one of Guangzhou's old, wealthy neighborhoods, with an elegant environment and suitable for private gatherings.
Recommended dishes:
Vegetable meat roll in plum juice (美娘梅汁鲜苔卷)
Description: sweet and sour, very appetizing
Vegetable steak in black pepper sauce (黑椒素扒)
Description: made of bean product; tastes just like meat
Sizzling eggplant in sweet sauce (锡包茄子)
Description: goes well with rice
Other dishes:
Average cost: 86 yuan per person
Address: No.6, Alley 5, Siyounan Erjie Street, Yuexiu district 寺右南二街五巷6号别墅院
Transportation: Exit A, Wuyangcun (五羊邨) station, metro line 5
5. Refreshing vegetarian food (怡新素食)
Established in 2007, the restaurant survived the difficult years in the early development of the Tianhe business district and won the recognition of customers with its trendy dishes and elegant environment.
Recommended dishes:
Vegetable crabs (赛螃蟹 (for lacto-ovo-vegetarians))
Description: made of vinegar, egg white, and broccoli; tastes a bit like crab
Pumpkin soup (南瓜羹 (for lacto-ovo-vegetarians))
Description: made of milk and pumpkin; thick and appetizing
Vegetable meat soup (西湖素肉羹)
Description: made of mushrooms and smashed peanuts; yummy
Other dishes: Fried rice with five kinds of kernels (五仁饭); Fried nori roll with alfalfa shoots(苜蓿芽手卷); vegetable buns (素菜包子);
Average cost: 70 yuan
Address: 4/F, Center Plaza, 161 Linhe Xilu, Tianhe District林和西路161号中泰国际广场4楼
Transportation: Exit I, Guangzhou East Railway Station (广州东站), metro line 1
6. Foyouyuan vegetarian restaurant (佛有缘素食馆)
Known for its tasty dishes, the 26-year-old restaurant is said to be frequented by citizens living around the neighborhood and people visiting the nearby Renwei Temple and Sanyuan Palace, two ancient Taoist temples in the old downtown district.
Recommended dishes:
Vegetable roasted duck (特色素烧鹅)
Description: carrot and mushroom wrapped in dried beancurd rolls; crispy outside and soft inside
Vegetable shrimp (美味素大虾)
Description: made of bean products; tastes fresh and sweet, just like shrimp
Braised taro with coconut juice (椰汁香芋煲)
Description: taro and pumpkin; thick and appetizing
Vegetable fish (松子鱼/茄子素鱼块)
Description: made of eggplant and nori; sweet and sour
Other dishes:
Average cost: 59 yuan per person
Address: 1 Fuer Lu, Xinfu Xincun, Liwan Lu, Liwan district荔湾路幸福新村福儿路1号(陈家祠地铁D出口500米)
Transportation: Exit D, Chen Clan Academy (陈家祠) station, metro line 1(the restaurant is only 500 meters away)
Source: WECHAT (SilkRoadPost)
