Vegan Dining in Shanghai 🌱

Shanghai isn’t just China’s most international city — it’s also one of its most vegan-friendly. From a century-old Buddhist kitchen to a Michelin-starred tasting menu that turns vegetables into art, the city has something for every plant-based traveler.

Here are 5 vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Shanghai:

1. Xiangchun Story (香椿故事) – Jing’an Temple’s Vegan Favorite

香椿故事 has not been open for long, but it’s already ranked #1 on Dianping’s vegetarian list in the Jing’an area — a neighborhood known for having some of the strictest, highest-quality vegetarian standards in Shanghai.

What makes them special: Their space blends Eastern minimalist aesthetics with comfortable seating and private rooms. But the real star is the food — bold, flavorful, and far from the bland “rabbit food” stereotype.

What to order:

• Honey Pea Kernels with Corn Germ (蜜豆仁玉米胚芽) – fresh, crisp, and refreshing
• Golden Soup All-Bamboo Feast (金汁酸汤全竹宴) – looks spicy but isn’t; deeply savory and sour
• Mushroom-Braised Black Tofu (菌烧黑豆腐) – rich and comforting

The vibe: Quiet, elegant, suitable for both casual dinners and business entertaining.

Price: ~¥97-117 per person 

Address: Yuyuan Road No.155, Jing’an Fuhui Building, 3rd Floor

2. Qingchun Pumen (庆春朴门) – Zen Vegan at Qiantan Taikoo Li

庆春朴门 started in Hangzhou (near Lingyin Temple) and has become a phenomenon in Shanghai. The Qiantan Taikoo Li location is a Michelin Bib Gourmand — great food at fair prices .

What makes them special: The space is designed like a Zen garden — wood elements, green plants, and a peaceful atmosphere that feels like an escape from the city’s chaos . The entire menu is 100% plant-based, with no garlic or onion (Buddhist-style).

What to order:

• Osmanthus Taro from Lipu (桂花荔浦芋儿) – 6 RMB. Creamy, soft, not too sweet — insane value 
• Quinoa Spicy Soft Tofu (藜麦椒麻豆腐) – 24 RMB. Silky tofu with a gentle numbing kick 
• Herb Vegan Chicken Nuggets (香草素鸡块) – 36 RMB. Crispy, convincing, comes with sweet chili dip 
• Vegan Bak Kut Teh (南阳肉骨茶锅) – made with plant-based ingredients, rich and nourishing 

The vibe: Zen-like, tranquil, perfect for a slow meal after shopping at Taikoo Li.

Price: ~¥109 per person 

Address: Qiantan Taikoo Li, L4, W-L4-01

3. Godly (功德林) – The 100-Year-Old Vegan Institution

Godly opened in 1922 and is arguably Shanghai’s most famous vegan restaurant. This is a century-old “China Time-Honored Brand” (中华老字号) that has been serving Buddhist-style vegetarian food for generations .

What makes them special: Their legendary vegan “crab” roe (素蟹粉) has been wowing customers for over 100 years. It looks like crab, tastes like crab, and contains zero crab — made primarily from potato and carrot. The Nanjing West Road location is their flagship store, housed in a standalone building.

What to order:

• Vegan “Crab” Roe (清炒素蟹粉) – their legendary dish. Drizzle with a little vinegar for that authentic crab taste 
• Vegan Duck (素鸭) – made from tofu skin, rich and savory 
• Pine Nut Vegan Yellow Fish (松子素黄鱼) – crispy tofu-skin exterior, soft potato “flesh,” mushroom “bones.” A labor of love 
• Vegan Vegetable Bun (素菜包) – salty, fresh, perfectly balanced 

The vibe: Old-school Shanghai. Simple, no-fuss, full of elderly locals who’ve been coming for decades.

Price: ~¥60-77 per person (a la carte) 

Address: Nanjing West Road No.445

4. Fu He Hui (福和慧) – Asia’s Best Vegan Fine Dining

福和慧 is not just Shanghai’s best vegan restaurant — it’s one of the best restaurants in Asia. It holds two Michelin stars (and has for years), Black Pearl 2 Diamonds, and has been ranked on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

What makes them special: They don’t do faux meat. No mock duck, no imitation shrimp. Instead, they celebrate the vegetable itself — coaxing out flavors you didn’t know vegetables had. The owner and chef are both Shanghainese, and the entire experience is built around seasonal tasting menus.

The restaurant is entirely private rooms — no loud open dining area. Each room is elegantly designed with simple, zen-like decor.

What to expect (tasting menu, ~¥800-1000+ per person):

• Opening Tea (in a Champagne glass): Longjing tea with jasmine jelly at the bottom. One glass, two layers of flavor 
• Bamboo Pith & Matsutake Mushroom Soup (竹荪松茸汤) – clear, warm, deeply nourishing 
• Three-Shred Soup (素三丝) – razor-thin juliennes of lettuce, water bamboo, and tofu in a sour-spicy mushroom broth. A knife-work showcase 
• Fava Bean Purée with Fresh Lily Bulbs (蚕豆) – silky, smooth, layered 

The vibe: Silent, meditative, all-private-rooms fine dining. This is for special occasions.

Price: ~¥800-1000+ per person (tasting menu only; tea pairing +¥280) 

Address: No. 1037, Yuyuan Road

5. Dancing Dumplings (舞蔬尚饺) – Vegan Soup Dumplings Exist, and They’re Here

Vegan 灌汤包 (soup dumplings) are real, and this humble shop makes them.

What makes them special: Located in a quiet part of Yangpu, 舞蔬尚饺 is a small, family-run spot where all the staff are vegetarian. They make their dumplings by hand — filling, pleating, steaming — with what they call “craftsman’s spirit” (匠心精神).

What to order:

• Vegan Soup Dumplings (纯素灌汤包) – the main event
• Signature Tomato Noodles (招牌番茄面) – “unbelievably delicious,” sometimes sells out 
• Angelica Noodles (当归面) – warming, nourishing 

The vibe: Warm, personal, family-run. The owner is described as “kind-hearted and multi-talented” — she even arranges the flowers herself.

Price: ~¥40-80 per person

Address: Guo’an Road No. 177

FAQ:

1️⃣ Can I pay with a foreign credit card at these restaurants?

Fu He Hui accepts credit cards. For the others, use Alipay or WeChat Pay (link your foreign card before you go). Cash also works everywhere.

2️⃣ Which Shanghai vegan restaurant is closest to a major tourist attraction?

Godly is on Nanjing West Road — a major shopping street — and about 10 minutes from People’s Square. Qingchun Pumen is inside Qiantan Taikoo Li mall, a popular shopping destination in Pudong. Fu He Hui is near Jing’an Temple and the quiet streets of the former French Concession. Dancing Dumplings is farthest from tourist areas — it’s for the dedicated vegan soup dumpling hunter.

3️⃣ Do I need a reservation at these Shanghai vegan restaurants?

Only for Fu He Hui.

4️⃣ Do these vegan restaurants in Shanghai have English menus?

Fu He Hui has English-speaking staff who explain each dish. Qingchun Pumen has English menus on their ordering system. For Xiangchun Story, Godly, and Dancing Dumplings, use a translation APP or point at pictures on your phone.

5️⃣ How do I ask if a dish is vegan in Chinese? 🤔

Vegan/vegetarian 素食 sù shí

Egg 蛋 dàn

Milk 奶 nǎi

Fish 鱼 yú

Meat 肉 ròu

I want…/I need… 我要… wǒ yào…

I don’t eat… 我不吃…wǒ bù chī…

Planning a plant-based trip to China? We’ve also written a guide to vegan restaurants in Beijing.

And if you want to explore Shanghai on two wheels — with someone who knows where to find the best vegan snacks — join our Shanghai Bike Adventure. We’ll take care of the research. You just show up hungry. 😉

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