Ask any vegetarian expat in China, it’s not easy to go out for dinner. Most restaurants here seem to put meat in everything, with no appreciation of an herbivorous diet. As someone who previously lived in health-conscious and hippie-friendly California, constantly explaining ‘bu yao rou’ (I don’t want meat) is frustrating indeed.

Luckily, there is always the oasis of Bao’an Nan Lu. The strip north of the iconic Di Wang Dasha building is lush with Buddhist restaurants. Great for both devoted vegans and tourists seeking that sort of spiritual Asian experience. Right in the heart of Luohu district, you will see monks and Buddhist statue shops and plenty of tofu to eat. Who says Shenzhen is all business and no culture?

First there is Torango, at Da Xin Dasha across from Suibao Shopping Center. One of the classier of these restaurants, meals are priced at about 75 to 100 RMB a head. The smell of incense is strong, and the décor is nice. Try the mock carp soup, vegetable dumplings, and their recommended Nongxiang tofu dishes. But there is one problem, the menu has no English translations and not even pictures. If you can’t read Chinese, bring someone to translate, or just try randomly pointing at an item and see what happens. Although at those prices, that kind of adventurousness might not be worth it. One would think they’d invest more in printing better menus…

Down the street is Jun Ting Ming Yuan, a kind of Buddhist-themed shopping mall. The second floor houses Comfortable Life, which is this writer’s favorite restaurant in the area. They have an English menu, with pictures, and lots of dishes reasonably prices at RMB 30 to 50. The Yunnan-style Sizzling Assorted Mushrooms is recommended, as well as the Dongbei-style Tofu With Sesame Oil. Some of the best fake meats: Mushroom Kebab with Cumin, and Fried Spare Ribs with Chopped Chili. Soups come even cheaper at only RMB 6 to 10, try the pumpkin or spinach flavours. Although this place should come with a warning to strict vegans, the Baked Mashed Potatoes is delicious but contains real cheese.

On the third floor of the mall we have La Vegan. Also on the cheaper side, expect to pay RMB 50 each. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and the informal style makes this place feel more like a normal local restaurant. Perhaps more appropriate for casual dates, but not business dinners. They have a buffet during lunch from 11:30 to 2:00, and dinner hours 6:00 to 9:00. The menu is very diverse, an international flair ranging from Korean Stone Pot to Italian Spaghetti. Many Cantonese dishes as well, such as vegetarian versions of Herb Chicken, spicy Pork Strips, and the usual fried rice and noodles. The menu, unfortunately, doesn’t have English but does have pictures to point at. Another place of interest in Jun Ting Ming Yuan is the market next door, selling varieties of frozen veggie meats for cooking at home.

At the end of our tour is the awkwardly named Natural Delicious & Healthy. While they do have an English menu, it is quite Chinglish but comes with creative names such as Grandma’s Cereal Bread, and Alfalfa Hand Scrolls. The Tripe Soup and Vegetarian Pork are recommended. Its on the expensive side, a meal can come to 100 RMB per guest. Very heavy on the Buddhist atmosphere, the waitresses will even invite you to lectures by local monks. If you’re really interested in that, check their Weibo site.

Any one of these restaurants is great for a unique culinary experience, and maybe will even lead to further interest in Buddhism and healthy food. Meanwhile, be sure to enjoy your meal!

Check out details of the restaurants below:

• Torango
• Comfortable Life
• La Vegan
• Natural Delicious & Healthy