Chinese cuisine is always said to be particularly difficult to navigate for a veggie foodie. I’m not personally a vegetarian; however, I certainly appreciate the dietary, health, and moral factors, and sympathize with the troubles of eating as a vegetarian. The option of Buddhist cuisine is not specific to China, but does have it’s presence here. I understand that there are a few different Buddhist practices throughout Asia and that there’s a distinction between committing an act of cruelty versus eating meat. In China, Buddhist cuisine is vegetarian kosher, reinforcing the belief against animal cruelty and violence. Now, onto the food!
There are a variety of vegetarian and Buddhist restaurants in Beijing. Among the better reviewed is Lotus in Moonlight. It’s not the easiest to find, but worth the excursion and lovely atmosphere. The restaurant is located in a neighborhood where the surrounding shops are catered to the local Chinese. Given this fact, walking into the restaurant was not what my dining companions and I had at all expected….elegant, tasteful Chinese influenced decor, much of it made of wood, while soothing and calm ambient music played in the background.
We ordered a variety of dishes, including imitation meat dishes, which are surprisingly meat-like in both taste and appearance. Because these mock meats are made of wheat gluten, soy, or tofu they easily absorb mock meat flavors and provide a very unfamiliar texture. If you’re a texture eater, it’s worth a try. If you’re not a texture eater, the flavors are surprisingly similar to real meat and the mock meats are still worth giving a try. There were also sprinklings of mock meat in the recommended sticky rice ball. Delicious!
Of course, there’s no need to pretend to eat meat. There are more than plenty of pure veggie options that include silky tofu and a plethora of bean based options that are beautifully presented. It’s surprising how delicately tasty the dishes were without any onion related foods used in the recipes. In addition to the spewingly beautiful presentations, the food was fresh and flavorful. Though, the Chinese would call the 100 RMB ($15) per person meal expensive. You come and judge; I say it’s worth it!
Lotus in Moonlight
Dongzhimen (东直门) Location
12 Liufang Nanli, Chaoyang District
朝阳区柳芳南里12号楼
+86 10 6465 3299
