1 Lotus in Moonlight

Congratulations if you’ve decided to make the trip to locate this hard-to-find little place, but once you arrive your taste buds will gladly thank you for the effort. All the dishes in this restaurant are made from tofu and fake meat products and are prepared with exceptional skill. Tel: 6465-3299

2 Pure Lotus

If you stumble upon a vegetarian restaurant that has “lotus” in its name, it’s a safe bet that you’re in for excellent vegetarian fare. The atmosphere here should bring to mind the environment of Zen Buddhist temples, which only adds to the restaurant’s superb service and extensive menu. Their version of kaoya is to die for. Tel: 6592-3627

3 Dao

A real Beijing specialty, this restaurant is run like a Daoist monastery: There are no menus, only a couple of long tables for communal eating and the place is located in a 300-year-old hutong near Houhai. Call ahead to order, you will be told what they have for the day. Tel: 6404-2778

4 Vanilla Garden

If you’re looking for a quality side of tofu, Vanilla Garden is more than happy to help you out. In addition to vegetarian cuisine they’ve got imported coffees, herbal teas, desserts and even wireless Internet. This is the place to come for veggie fare with bite. Tel: 6405-2082

5 Tianchu Miaoxiang

Students and white-collar tech company employees have this Wudaokou hideaway to exploit for delectable meatless dishes. Offering plenty of fake meat interpretations of traditional Chinese foods, you’ll find a neat selection of veggie European dishes as well. Tel: 6279-7078