Eat Like a Local: Vegan Yum Cha Restaurants in Hong Kong
Yum cha is the quintessential Hong Kong experience, but finding vegan-friendly versions can be quite a challenge.
I don't want you to miss out on this iconic culinary tradition, so I've put together this definitive list of vegan-friendly places where you can eat like a true Hong Kong-er when you visit.
Let's get started!
Tips for Navigating Vegan Yum Cha in Hong Kong
Navigating the vegan yum cha scene in Hong Kong can be difficult, even for a local like me. Here are a few common challenges to be aware of:
- Inadequate Labelling: Many local vegetarian and omni restaurants don’t clearly mark dishes containing egg or dairy. This can make it tricky to identify truly vegan options.
- Staff Communication: Staff are often untrained in vegan dietary requirements and may be unresponsive or dismissive when asked about ingredients. Language barriers can sometimes add to this difficulty.
- Cultural Differences: In Hong Kong, “vegetarian” (素食) often implies that dishes may include egg or milk. The term for vegan (全素) isn’t always understood or used correctly by restaurant staff, so it's always best to clarify ingredients.
In this guide, I'll do my best to mention whether the labelling of vegan dishes is clear and whether the staff is generally helpful based on my experiences or common reports.
Veggie Kingdom 緻素坊
For those seeking an authentic, entirely vegan yum cha experience, Veggie Kingdom (address) is an absolute must-try and my top recommendation. The branch I visited, located on the 7th floor of the VIP Commercial Center in Tsim Sha Tsui (right across from Harbour City), is a hidden gem offering high-quality, traditional yum cha. They also have another branch in Causeway Bay.
You'll find all the classic dim sum stables here: siu maai, rice noodle rolls, spring rolls, and various dumplings, each crafted to showcase vibrant flavours and textures. Out of all the dim sum I've tried, the shredded turnip puff, mushroom siu maai, and golden vegetable dumplings were particularly outstanding.
Given its popularity, I'd recommend booking a table in advance or arriving early. Also, be aware that there might be a dine-in time limit, so plan your meal accordingly to fully enjoy the experience.
Lockcha 樂茶軒
LockCha (address) is a refined tea house that serves traditional vegetarian dim sum, with vegan options clearly marked on the menu. Both of its branches are situated in beautiful, serene locations: the Admiralty branch is located within Hong Kong Park (shown in the map here), while the Central branch is found inside the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts.
The prices of dim sum are on the higher side, and portions can be small, but the quality of the food and the attentive service justify the cost. Being a traditional tea house, there's a minimum charge per person as you'd need to order one of the teas from the menu, in addition to the cost of your dim sum dishes. If you don't mind paying a bit extra, Lockcha is a great spot for a more upscale and tranquil yum cha experience.
M Garden 常悅素食
M Garden (address) offers a good range of dim sum during lunchtime in the bustling Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei are. However, vegans need to be careful here as the menu unfortunately doesn't clearly mark whether dishes contain dairy or egg. While some items in the main menu are marked with “有蛋” (with egg), this labelling is inconsistent, and there's no specific indicator for dairy. Staff is sometimes helpful but not always reliable, which can make ordering a bit confusing.
Despite these challenges, the food quality is generally good. If you're careful with your choices, you can enjoy delicious dim sum like xiao lung bao (上海小籠包), steamed beancurd rolls (蠔皇鮮竹卷), and radish pastry (蘿蔔絲酥餅). Safer vegan bets usually include classic siu maai, radish cake, and steamed vegetable dumplings, but always try to confirm. Service is generally okay but can be slow at times.
Vegelink 素之樂素食料理
Located on the second floor of a building in North Point, Vegelink (address) is a great find for vegetarian yum cha with good consideration for vegan diners. They offer a good variety of dim sum during lunch and provide an English menu. Importantly, dishes containing dairy are marked, and some of these can even be made vegan upon request. While most dishes should be egg-free, I'd recommend double-check with the staff, who are generally quite helpful.
Be sure to try their vegan-friendly versions of shrimp steamed rice rolls, lotus leaf-wrapped glutinous rice, and veggie meatballs. The food quality is reliable and good. As a bonus, Vegelink also has its own brand of vegetarian products, including frozen dim sum, available for purchase in their shop area – perfect for taking some treats home!
Chi Lin Vegetarian 志蓮素齋-龍門樓
Nestled inside the serene and beautiful Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden in Diamond Hill, you'll find Chi Lin Vegetarian (address) behind a giant waterfall setting. Due to its beautiful location, it's a pretty busy place, so expect a potential wait or book ahead if possible. Be aware that there are different minimum spend requirements for lunch ($150 HKD), afternoon tea ($90 HKD), and dinner ($180 HKD) per person, which can be a surprise if you're not expecting it.
The menu doesn't explicitly mark vegan items or those containing dairy/egg. However, it does list ingredients for dishes (although only in Chinese), allowing you to eliminate some non-vegan options. Yum cha options are available during lunch and afternoon tea. While not an extensive dim sum selection, you can find classic choices like steamed dumplings, radish cake, and sweet lotus buns. After your meal, make sure to explore the stunning Chi Lin Nunnery and the adjacent Nan Lian Garden.
Three Virtues 三德素食館
Three Virtues Vegetarian (address) is a large, bustling vegetarian restaurant that serves yum cha during lunch hours. They have restaurants in North Point and Jordan. For vegans, dining here can be a bit frustrating, as vegan options are not clearly marked, and the staff may not always be particularly friendly or helpful on vegan requirements.
Despite these hurdles, if you're feeling adventurous and know what to look for, you can have a pretty authentic local yum cha experience here. The food is generally decent, though some may find it a bit salty or oily. Service is the classic "Hong Kong auntie" style – efficient but can be quite blunt and not overly accommodating. If you're looking for classic items like BBQ pork 'char siu' buns, crispy spring rolls, or fried glutinous rice dumplings, this place can deliver an authentic taste, just manage your expectations regarding service and ingredient clarity.
Light Vegetarian Restaurant 普光齋
Conveniently located just a short walk from Jordan MTR station (right outside exit B1), Light Vegetarian Restaurant (address) offers yum cha during lunch hours. You'll find classic options like vegetarian siu maai, steamed dumplings, and fried radish cake. However, like many traditional vegetarian spots in Hong Kong, they don't clearly mark which dishes contain dairy or egg. Also, staff may not always be 100% reliable with ingredient information, making it challenging for vegan travellers.
The food itself is decent, offering a satisfactory yum cha fix, but perhaps don't expect it to be mind-blowingly amazing. In the evenings, they switch to a buffet-style service with various Cantonese dishes. There's also a takeaway counter where you can sometimes find dim sum items. Service can be a bit sub-par, typical of some older, busy local eateries.