Lotus Vegen

We are standing right here in downtown Shanghai at Lotus Vegen, known locally as Huiyuan Sùshí Fāng. This is a casual vegetarian restaurant nestled in the bustling Huangpu district near Huaihai Road.

Shanghai has a long tradition of plant-based dining rooted in Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and places like this serve as everyday neighbourhood hubs for that culinary heritage. Instead of the high-end banquet style you often encounter in fine-dining halls across the city, the focus here is on classic home-style cooking. The kitchen crafts traditional Chinese noodles, dim sum, and mock-meat classics using wheat gluten, tofu, and seasonal vegetables.

Being tucked right into the city center makes it a convenient stop for locals and travellers who want authentic, entirely plant-based Chinese comfort food away from the main commercial avenues.