Our Favorite Vegetarian Restaurants in Taiwan
In this article, we’ll be recommending our five favorite vegetarian restaurants for clean eating in Taiwan that don’t just taste amazing, but offer a unique dining experience too! [ Genuine recommendations. Not sponsored. ]
The practice of clean eating can help reduce the stress and burden on the body, leaving one feeling refreshed, relaxed, and in a better mental and physical state. The next time you’re not sure what to eat for lunch, why not try some of the delicious restaurant recommendations below!
Plants
(Source: Plants Instagram)
Located in a small alleyway in the Da An District of Taiwan is the peaceful eatery, Plants. Embraced by warm rays of sunshine, Plants exterior showcases an assortment of greenery against its bright floor to ceiling windows – its doorways creating a rare haven of serenity against the busy hustle of the city. The charm and magic of Plants lies in its relaxed stillness that stops even the busiest pedestrian in their tracks to pause for an extra moment or two.
Plants is a plant-based, gluten-free, and whole foods eatery. The care and heart of the owners is reflected in the tiniest of details at the eatery, with their menu offering a variety of different flavors and options. Each dish is rich and complex in taste with artistic plating. A meal at plants truly satisfies both the palate and the eyes!
The menu at Plants not only introduces each dish, but also carefully explains every ingredient included. The founder’s passion towards Raw Food and transparency allows us to know exactly what we’re eating in every delicious bite.
Plants is also very foreigner-friendly, with English menus available upon request and English-speaking staff. It’s one of our favorite places to take our foreign friends to dinner when they’re visiting Taiwan.
If you are visiting the restaurant in the afternoon, we recommend taking a window seat and enjoying a refreshing beverage. Once evening arrives, order yourself a delicious meal for dinner to reward yourself on a day well done.
Lastly, what makes Plants truly unique is that they also offer natural cleaning products sold with sustainable packaging! Enjoy a perfectly delicious meal, then restock on some cleaning supplies. Now you can take care of your environment, your body, and your mind. It’s the small daily wins that make life beautiful.
Uncle Q
(Source: Uncle Q Instagram)
Located on Chao Zhou street in Taiwan is Uncle Q, a small restaurant with a huge personality founded by Basketball player Quincy Davis. The restaurant has a distinctly retro American vibe, with the feeling as if you’re eating dinner at home.
With a focus on creative western-style meals, the chef recreates dish after dish of classic western delicacies with their unique vegan take. The dining experience feels almost as if you’re traveling around the world with just your mouth and food. You may just be surprised by all the different flavor combinations that can be created using just vegetables!
Our favorites here include the “Red wine & Fig Roasted Pear Salad” and “Chickpea Steak Burger”. The sweet and sour taste of the salad is appetizing and is the perfect palate opener, and the chickpea burger is juicy and thick – not second to the classic American burger.
Pro-tip: Uncle Q fills up quickly around the holidays and on weekends so we definitely recommend calling ahead of time and making a reservation when visiting.
Yang Shin Vegetarian Restaurant
(Source: Yang Shin Vegetarian Restaurant Facebook)
Located in the Zhong Shan District is Taiwan’s first Vegetarian Cantonese Tea House. It’s also one of our favorite Vegetarian restaurants to bring our parents, relatives, or mentors to dine at.
Although the focus is on Cantonese dishes, the restaurant has special dishes hidden within the menu that are classics from other regions and countries. To name a few, the Thai-styled noodles, and taro lion’s head are just some of the classic dishes that have been transformed deliciously vegetarian.
In addition to staying true to the authentic Cantonese flavors, Yang Shin Vegetarian Restaurant ( 養心茶樓 ) also takes the selection of their ingredients very seriously. The ingredients used are organic, naturally, and sustainably farmed -- like their tofu which is made with pure mountain spring water. The restaurant is environmentally friendly and sustainable, starting from the source of their food – ingredients. Knowing this, I’m always more grateful for each bite of food when dining in.
Cantonese food has always been a symbol of happiness in my heart. It’s truly a feat to be able to enjoy such a variety of ingenious dishes in just one meal – it’s something that is difficult to do even if I try cooking at home.
Drinking a warm cup of freshly brewed Pu’er Tea – one sip tea, one bite of snacks –; idle chatter with relatives as they update you on the recent ongoings of their lives; sharing our own stories in exchange – simple exchanges such as these are the best reflection of happiness.
Guo Ran Hui
(Source: Guo Ran Hui Facebook)
Guo Ran Hui is a subsidiary of the Xiang Bin Food Group, but it can also be called a vegetarian’s paradise as the restaurant was specifically created with the concept of creating a gourmet buffet for vegetarians.
When I first visited, I was completely overwhelmed by the variety of different vegetarian cuisines!
There are no borders that restrain the cuisines offered at this vegetarian buffet! You can enjoy a variety of international classics, from sushi to western-style meals, Chinese-style fried rice or even order a custom freshly baked pizza. If you order a custom pizza, you can enjoy the show as the chef kneads the dough, adds your toppings, and pops it into the kiln. Before you know it, the pizza aromas will fill the air.
Recently I also stumbled upon a thoughtfully designed feature on their website for those with any dietary restrictions or allergies. There is a filter option when viewing their online menu where you can select any ingredients you may be sensitive or allergic to, and the website will show all the menu items that contain the allergen you selected. So with a little bit of homework ahead of time, when dining-in, customers with any dietary restrictions or allergies can easily order and avoid ingredients that may cause them discomfort.
Yang Ming Spring Heart
Five Arts Creative Park
(Source: Yang Ming Spring HeartFive Arts Creative Park Web)
Located atop Taiwan’s Yang Ming Mountain is Yang Ming Spring ( 陽明春天), a no menu concept creative restaurant that doubles as both a tea-house and art gallery.
Resting in a place of rare scenic beauty encompassing the majestic mountains and waters of Taiwan, Yang Ming Spring offers unique, beautiful views in every corner of its roughly 60,000 square feet courtyard.
Awarded The Michelin Green Star for two consecutive years, Yang Ming Spring strives to implement the concept of “everlasting” in this world. The native plants and bonsai are meticulously cared for and poetically decorates the courtyard. No chemical fertilizers are used here. The restaurant also operates on a seasonal menu, selecting fresh in-season ingredients for their menu items– highlighting a serene coexistence with mother nature.
Elegantly named Chun Liu Man Shi 「川流慢食」, the dining hall resides within the courtyard with the views of Yang Ming Mountain framed by picture windows. Sitting on Japanese-style tatami mats, one can enjoy delicious food while embraced by nature.
We love visiting here during the daytime so you can enjoy a nice stroll through the courtyard and appreciate the scenic views. Afterwards, explore the special exhibitions often featured at the art gallery before making your way to Chun Liu Man Shi 「川流慢食」In the evening, move to the dining hall where you can watch the sun set gradually while savoring a deliciously creative dinner.
It’s rare to escape the noise of city life, but being here, it’s easy to let the stresses of daily life go — allowing one to reset and feel closer to nature.
What you eat and how you eat is important. Eating a meal isn’t just about filling up your stomach. The atmosphere, environment, restaurant’s mission, ingredients, are all equally important in nourishing the health of your mind and soul.
What about you guys? Do you have a favorite vegetarian restaurant? Leave us your recommendation in the comments below :)
About the Author
Alma enjoys music, science, and creative things.
She enjoys hiking with her family, or trying out new recipes in the kitchenon the weekends.
Recently she’s started practicing Qi Gong and Tai Chi.
Currently seeking exciting outside the box experiences.
Article translate by Victor Su
