Whether it is for health, environmental, or religious reasons, vegetarian food is always a good idea. Thankfully, the options are vast here, and this guide whittles down the best Chinese vegetarian restaurants in Singapore, and what to order there – just in time for Vesak Day 2024 too.
Chinese vegetarian restaurants in Singapore generally target people who do not eat alliums like garlic, onion, chives, shallot, and leek. While animal byproducts such as dairy and honey are sometimes used, certain dining establishments would indicate dishes that contain them.
In Singapore, these eateries are clustered in Chinatown, especially around the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. In the basement of the tourist attraction is Lian Xin, a food court with stalls serving vegetarian versions of laksa and mixed rice. Just across the road is the upscale Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant. The nearby Temple Street is also home to Yi Xin Vegan Food, which diners flock to for the Penang assam laksa.
Fortune Centre is also well known for its variety of vegetarian restaurants, and Su Shi Piao Xiang stands out for its meatless renditions of noodles from Hong Kong-style stir-fries to tomyum noodle soup. Hougang residents can turn to Divine Realm, which lines up Chinese vegetarian dishes alongside roti John and ramen, while those in Serangoon can look forward to mala xiang guo by Nature Vegetarian Delights.
Looking for vegetarian dim sum? Lotus serves meatless versions of char siu bao and siu mai during lunch and grilled spicy “cod” for dinner. For a fine-dining Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Singapore, visit Ling Zhi along Orchard Road, where ee-fu noodles with truffle oil await. Discover them below.
(Hero and featured images credit: 八宝素食馆 Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant/Facebook)
The best Chinese vegetarian restaurants in Singapore today:
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Divine Realm Vegetarian Restaurant
Propping up a corner of an HDB block, Divine Realm lines up Chinese vegetarian food alongside international cuisines. There are tze char staples like yam ring, cereal “prawns,” and suckling “pig.” Western dishes include “fish” and chips and “chicken” nuggets. Ramen from “shark” fin to “duck.” You can even order prata with dim sum.
What to order
Some of the most-ordered items include ramen (from S$6), prata (S$2.50 for two slices), siu mai (S$3.10), and roti John (S$5.50).
Daily, 7.30am – 10pm
(Image credit: @pure_green.life / Instagram)
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Strategically located across from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Eight Treasures serves Chinese vegetarian food in an upscale setting. Some of the chef’s specials include Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, marmite “pork” ribs, and “mutton” curry, which join satay, smoked “duck” with lemon sauce, and crispy “squid.” Dishes containing honey and dairy are clearly labelled.
What to order
The “prawn” and “chicken” dishes are a crowd favourite, as well as the “mutton” curry (from S$15).
Tuesday – Friday, 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 9.30pm
Closed on Monday
(Image credit: 八宝素食馆 Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant / Facebook)
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Lian Xin
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown attracts hordes of Buddhist worshippers and tourists, but come lunchtime, it becomes the haunt for diners seeking vegetarian options. In the basement is Lian Xin, a food court with four stalls selling noodles, mixed rice, Western dishes, and desserts, all of which are allium-free. Look for the anonymous entrance along Sago Street.
What to order
Dishes change daily, so aim to come on Wednesday or Sunday for the beloved laksa. Prices are affordable too, with the laksa selling for S$4 and Western food for S$5, which includes an appetiser, soup, and pasta.
Daily, 7am – 3pm
(Image credit: @herbivorera_ / Instagram)
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Ling Zhi Vegetarian
Part of the Tung Lok restaurant group, Ling Zhi is a fine-dining Chinese vegetarian restaurant offering both set menus and individual dishes. The eatery uses organic produce as much as possible to create dishes like curry “fish head,” monkey head mushroom with Sichuan peppercorns, and truffle mushroom soup. Ling Zhi also has a dim sum buffet during lunch.
What to order
The stewed ee-fu noodles with truffle oil (S$34), Firecracker monkey head mushroom (S$26), and fried mapo beancurd (S$18) are some of the more popular items.
Daily, 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
(Image credit: Ling Zhi Vegetarian)
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Lotus was started in 2013 by Rebecca Lee, who saw a gap in the market for vegetarian dim sum. The restaurant rolls out meatless versions of char siu bao, siu mai, and carrot cake during lunch, before switching over to a more extensive menu of claypot dishes, braised items, rice, and noodles for dinner. Dishes containing nuts and eggs are labelled.
What to order
During lunch, the pan-fried lion’s mane mushroom dumplings (S$9.80) can be found on almost every table. For dinner, popular dishes include stir-fried laksa (S$7.90), grilled spicy “cod” (S$16.80), buttered abalone mushroom (S$13.80), and truffled Hakka abacus trio (S$10.80) featuring yam, sweet potato, and Chinese yam gnocchi.
Daily, 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
(Image credit: Lotus Vegetarian Singapore / Facebook)
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Nature Vegetarian Delights
Tucked away in a tired shopping mall, Nature Vegetarian Delights serves vegetarian versions of mala xiang guo and hotpot buffet, which come with soup bases like laksa and miso. A la carte options range from tahu goreng to roasted yam “duck,” while the set menus offer “shark fin” soup, Peking-style roast mushroom, and claypot rice. Vegan dishes are labelled clearly.
What to order
The mala xiang guo (from S$2.60) is a crowd favourite, along with the vegetarian satay (S$5.50), golden orh nee lychee “prawns,” (from S$22.80), and claypot “trotter” (from S$12), which is made with mushroom.
Daily, 11am – 9pm
(Image credit: @veggventures / Instagram)
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Su Shi Piao Xiang Vegetarian Food
Su Shi Piao Xiang promises “less oil, less salt, no MSG” in its vegetarian food, which ranges from dumplings to sweet-and-sour “pork.” There are also noodle and rice dishes including mee goreng and pineapple fried rice, as well as steamboat “fish head” soup. The restaurant only accepts cash.
What to order
Diners mainly come for the noodles, including the stir-fried Hong Kong noodles and the tomyum noodle soup (both S$7 each). The beancurd roll (S$12) is also highly recommended.
Daily, 8.30am – 9.30pm
(Image credit: @veg_alice / Instagram)
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Yi Xin Vegan Food
The list of vegetarian options at Yi Xin runs long, spanning mixed rice, spaghetti, fried bee hoon, hor fun, rojak, satay, laksa, different kinds of fried rice, Hokkien noodles, and much more, some of which are prepared with organic vegetables. The space is small and quickly fills up during peak hours, and the restaurant only accepts cash.
What to order
The Penang assam laksa (S$6) is a crowd favourite.
Monday – Saturday, 8am – 8pm (closed on Sunday)
(Image credit: @chriseaty / Instagram)
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Jethro enjoys wine, biking, and climbing, and he's terrible at all three. In between them, he drinks commercial lagers, and eats dumplings and ice cream.
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