Chengdu is a city noted for its food, as one might expect from the capital of China’s most extensively exported regional cuisine, Sichuan. Though vegetarian food has traditionally been difficult to come by in China, Chengdu offers a number of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chengdu that should not be overlooked.
Contents
The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Chengdu, China
Miào Shū Yuán
Miào Sh Yuán is a basic vegan buffet restaurant located across from People’s Park (Renmin Gongyuan), just east of Panda Post and the metro station. Typically, there will be 30+ various local foods available, including soups and beverages. You will receive a discount voucher for the next time you return your tray for washing.
Dongzi Kouzhang Lao’er Liangfen
Liang fen is a typical Chengdu meal that is also naturally vegetarian. This chilled mung-bean noodle dish with chilli and vinegar sauce is a traditional Sichuan summer dish. Just across from Wenshu Monastery is Dongzi Kouzhang (also known as Zhang Liangfen), a little open-air shop with a few plastic seats where the liang fen are pretty much the only thing on the menu.
Water Lotus
Vegetarian fast food restaurant that serves full meals that include a main dish (a variety of faux meats), rice, soup, and vegetables. There are vegan options available. Xinanmingzu University and Wuhou Temple are also nearby (with nearby Buddhist shopping area).
Xilai Yibin Ranmian
“Burning Noodles” is a Sichuan province dish from Yibin, which is located south of Chengdu. The meal is made up of boiling noodles (occasionally wheat) tossed in a spicy, salty sauce made up of ya cai (preserved vegetables), chopped roasted peanuts, green onion, chilli oil, sesame oil, garlic, soy sauce, and Sichuan pepper, with a dash of mushrooms thrown in for good measure. This laid-back eatery is open 24 hours a day, serving its signature noodles as well as other (non-vegetarian) fare.
Zenyue Vegetarian
Zenyue serves plant-based cuisine in a tranquil, elegant dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows, suggesting a minimalist, Buddhist environment. The dishes are all thoughtfully prepared and avoid using soy as a substitute, focusing instead on flavor combinations and a careful balance of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Suggestions include mushroom osmanthus rice soup, blueberry pumpkin quinoa cups, bamboo fungus and soaked-radish fried rice, and chilled tangerine Pu’er tea. There is a set menu as well as a buffet, and everything is fresh and seasonal.
Yù Sù Gé
Eat as much vegan hotpot or individual dishes as you want. Many primary dishes are available, as well as hot soy milk, tea, juice, coffee, salad, and vegan sweets. Exit Tianfu Square station (line 1, 2) and turn left; there will be a hotel on your left side of the street; continue until you see a Starbucks and a street bridge on your right side of the street; Turn right on that street, and you’ll get to an intersection called Qingnian Road. Continue straight through, and you’ll come to Kowlwoon Plaza, which is opposite the restaurant on the 4th level.
PúSù SùShí
In the Wide Alley sector of the tourist district of Narrow Alley, there is a Chinese vegetarian restaurant nestled in one of the courtyards. Serves vegetarian variations of Szechuan cuisine from all across the province (free from alliums).
Mike’s Pizza Kitchen
Mike’s Pizza Kitchen offers a variety of vegetarian options, ranging from pizzas to sandwiches and pasta, to break away from conventional Sichuan food. The pizzas here are authentic and can be entirely customized to meet vegetarian diets. They are run by the eponymous foreigner — Canadian by way of Las Vegas. It also serves Italian wines and local craft beer, all of which may be enjoyed in a small, modern dining room or delivered to your door.
Yu Su Ge
One of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chengdu, this enormous restaurant can accommodate 150 people and offers an extensive buffet. The menu is totally made up of vegan Chinese meals with a wide range of tastes and flavors. Stir-fried veggies, noodles, a variety of rice, fresh fruit, and soups may all be found here.
Qiānhé Qīngxīn
At number 28, there is a bustling Buddhist vegetarian buffet with the majority of the food being vegan, including several Sichuanese-style dishes. Pay for each diner plus crockery use before you arrive; at the conclusion of your dinner, you’ll be issued a card that allows you to skip the plate fee on your next visit. It’s worth noting that the battered and dessert items can contain eggs.
