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Header image courtesy of Veda
While Hongkongers love exploring the great outdoors on hikes and nature walks over the weekend, another weekend activity that’s just as popular is going to brunch—from free-flow affairs to affordable eats and luxurious spreads, Hongkongers love ‘em all. Thanks to the growing popularity of plant-based diets, we’re now seeing entirely meat-free buffets and brunches pop up all over town—perfect for vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians alike. Read on for what Hong Kong’s plant-based purveyors have to offer, from wholesome smoothie bowls to all-you-can-eat vegan sashimi and char siu. Here are the best vegetarian brunches and buffets in Hong Kong.
Originally founded in North Point, this affordable vegetarian buffet restaurant has seen such success that it’s sprouted four more chains across the city in just five years. During weekdays, an hour of access to the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet can be yours for just $80 and the food, though predominantly Chinese, has plenty of fusion dishes to satisfy a variety of tastes. The dishes do change, but you can expect to find plenty of vegetable stews, noodle and rice dishes, and stations for salad, fried foods, bread, and fruit. There’s also an a la carte menu with signature dishes like dan dan noodles ($108), ground “beef” tacos ($108), and vegan spaghetti bolognese ($108)—access to the buffet is built into the dine-in a la carte pricing, so don’t worry about missing out!
From the outside, this Tai Kok Tsui spot looks like a cute neighbourhood bistro with its striped green awning and seafoam green walls, but it’s actually a cheap and cheerful buffet serving meat-free Chinese and fusion fare. All-you-can-eat pricing starts from $68 for an hour during weekdays and while the menu changes weekly, previous popular items include the mouthwatering “chicken,” Peking “duck” pizza, crispy vegetable spring rolls, sweet tofu pudding, and even faux snake soup.
My Meat Run Buddy, 28–30 Pok Man Street, Tai Kok Tsui
For a taste of healthy home-cooked Chinese and pan-Asian dishes, head to Everyday 每日 in Tsim Sha Tsui. With its stark white décor and leafy green plants, it looks like a chic café—except instead of flat whites and lattes, you’ll find an array of allium-free vegan dishes like stuffed peppers, “crab” with broccoli, pumpkin cooked in coconut milk, mixed vegetable curry, and more. Pricing starts from $88 for lunch, though like most of these places, there’s a discount if you come in for late lunch or afternoon tea.
Everyday 每日, G/F, Diamond Court, 10–12 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 2570 2266
If you have a hankering for meat-based dishes but don’t want to break your diet, check out this cheerful little vegan buffet in Wong Tai Sin. For just $88 at lunchtime, you can test your tastebuds with a wide variety of Chinese and Japanese mock meats, such as vegan sashimi, char siu, battered prawns, and sweet and sour pork. While this is an all-you-can-eat buffet, the proprietors of Daily Green are passionate about conserving resources, and encourage diners to only take what they can eat to prevent wasting food.
Daily Green (日常素食), Shop N201–N202 & N226A, 2/F, Temple Mall North, 136 Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin | (+852) 2697 6663
For a relaxed brunch of South Asian- and Middle Eastern-inspired flavours that just happens to be meat-free, pop into Ovolo Central. The homegrown hospitality group is currently a few months into a “Year of the Veg” across all its properties in Hong Kong and Australia, but Veda has been entirely veggie from the start, bearing the proud title of the city’s first vegetarian hotel restaurant. Try the spinach- and ricotta-stuffed Silk Route momos ($90) with tomato chutney for something cheesy, creamy, and tangy, or the aloo gobi ($170) with baked cauliflower, roast potatoes, and the texturally-satisfying crunchy nuts and crispy cumin seeds.
Veda, Ovolo Central, 2 Arbuthnot Road, Central | (+852) 3755 3067
Between its all-white aesthetics, Japanese ceramics, and generously-portioned plates of fusion fare, Years would have been achingly hip even without being a plant-based operation. But we’re glad that they’ve brought their filling, flavourful vegetarian and vegan eats to the streets of Sham Shui Po and Tsuen Wan. Pop along during brunch to try the comforting tom yum risotto ($88), Buddha bowl ($78), or Omnipork katsu curry risotto ($98), and wash it all down with a soy matcha latte ($38). Just make sure you come early (regardless of which branch you visit), because queueing is basically guaranteed.
If you find yourself milling about Wan Chai with a rumble in your stomach and a craving for wholesome vegetarian eats, do yourself a favour and visit the old Wan Chai market. This historical Streamline Moderne-style structure once housed the district’s fresh food market, but is now home to stylish homeware brand Ovo’s flagship store and café. Take in the gorgeous floral décor and ponder over tchotchkes before dining on filling plates like the all-day green breakfast ($108), which comes with fresh tomato, baby spinach, portobello mushroom, baked beans, scrambled eggs, cherry tomato salad, and a mini croissant. In the mood for something a little lighter? Try the fruitful yoghurt bowl ($88) with seasonal fruit, sprouted walnuts, flax and pumpkin seeds, brown rice, red date crispies, and coconut milk.
Ovo Café, G/F, OvoMarket, 1 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2527 6011
While Vego Coffee is known for its intricate vegan cakes, this popular Tsim Sha Tsui café also does a mean vegan brunch. The all-day menu is highly customisable, so you can opt for either a bagel sandwich or burrito ($98) with toppings or fillings like avocado tuna, Impossible sausage and vegan cheese, avocado hummus, and “crabmeat”, avocado and yuzu. For an extra $5, you can get a drink with your meal, and another $45–47 will get you a slice of the vegan cake of the day.
Vego Coffee, Shop 7B, 154–156 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 6808 3768
Annette is an editor and copywriter with a lifetime of experience in hunting out the most interesting, odd, and delightful things about her beloved home city. Having written extensively about everything from food and culture to fashion, music, and hospitality, she considers her speciality to be Hong Kong itself. In her free time, you can find Annette trying out new dumpling recipes or playing Big Two at her favourite local bars with a cocktail in hand.
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