Vegetarian & vegan eating

Hong Kong's food culture leans heavily on meat and seafood, but a long-standing Buddhist vegetarian tradition and a growing plant-based scene make eating well as a vegetarian or vegan very achievable.

Buddhist vegetarian restaurants

These serve entirely meat-free Cantonese food, often including mock-meat versions of classic dishes — a good, culturally-rooted option rather than a compromise.

Navigating ordinary restaurants

Dishes are often cooked in shared woks or with meat-based stocks even when they look vegetarian, so it's worth stating dietary requirements clearly rather than assuming from the menu description alone.

A growing plant-based scene

International-style vegan cafés and restaurants have expanded quickly in recent years, particularly around Central, Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay.