27 Irresistible Vegetarian Chinese Food for 2025

If you’re looking to expand your palate, why not take it international with some delicious vegetarian Chinese foods? While Chinese food often includes ingredients vegetarians can’t eat, there are many dishes that are either vegetarian by default or easily modified to be vegetarian (or even vegan)!

According to Princeton University, China is the world’s oldest continuous civilization. It makes sense that they’d have a wide range of dishes for people of all dietary needs after all of that time. Whether you’re cooking at home or looking for some tasty vegetarian Chinese dishes to order next time you’re out to eat, we’re here to help. Read on for some of the tastiest vegetarian Chinese and Chinese-inspired dishes in our personal rotation. 

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• Vegetarian Chinese Food Starters​ and Appetizers
• Top Vegetarian Chinese Food Mains
• Sweet Vegetarian Chinese Food Desserts
• Vegetarian Chinese Food FAQs

Vegetarian Chinese Food Starters​ and Appetizers

1. Vegetable Spring Rolls

If you’ve been looking for an appetizer to make at cooking classes near you or online cooking classes, start with these irresistible spring rolls. They’re crispy rice paper rolls filled with shredded vegetables and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. They make a great snack.

2. Steamed Dumplings

You can fill dumplings with anything, but these ones are vegetarian. Fill yours with a mixture of veggies, mushrooms and tofu. Serve them with a dipping sauce or simple soy sauce. 

3. Pan-Fried Wontons

If you prefer your dumplings fried, try crispy wontons filled with a mixture of vegetables and tofu. Fry them in oil and serve them with a sweet chili sauce. These are similar to some of the top vegetarian Indian foods — samosas.

4. Pickled Vegetables

Pickled veggies make for an excellent appetizer or snack when you’re feeling peckish, and they’re vegetarian by default! Choose from a variety of vegetables pickled in a mixture of vinegar, sugar and spices. Cabbage, radish, carrots and cucumbers are all popular options.

5. Fried Tofu

Who doesn’t love crispy fried tofu served with a dipping sauce? This is a simple and healthy (-ish) appetizer that’s high in protein for any vegetarian Chinese food menu.

6. Vegetable Pancakes

This vegetarian food isn’t like the Western breakfast staple. These are crispy pancakes are made with a mixture of vegetables and flour. They’re served with vegetables and an optional dipping sauce instead of the cream and maple syrup you may be used to.

7. Steamed Bao

Bao buns are delicious vegetarian Chinese dishes to order. They’re steamed buns filled with a mixture of vegetables and proteins. You can pop them in your mouth with your hands or use chopsticks. 

8. Spicy Cucumber

If you’re looking for easy vegetarian Chinese food recipes, spicy cucumber is a great place to start. It’s a peppery yet refreshing dish made with thinly sliced cucumbers, onions and chili peppers, dressed with a vinegar-based sauce. 

Top Vegetarian Chinese Food Mains

9. Ma Po Tofu

Traditionally, ma po tofu is made with pork. However, you can easily make it without and replace it with veggies of your choice. It’s a spicy and mouth-numbing Sichuan dish served over rice. 

10. Vegetable Lo Mein

Veggie lo mein is a classic stir-fry dish on any vegetarian Chinese food menu. It’s made with a variety of vegetables, noodles and sometimes tofu or another vegetarian protein. It’s cooked up in a sweet and savory sauce.

11. Kung Pao Tofu

This takeout classic is a spicy stir-fry dish made with tofu, peanuts, vegetables and chili peppers, served with steamed rice. This is something you can find at some of the top Chinese vegan restaurants in NYC. 

12. Mushroom Dan Dan Noodles

Mushroom Dan Dan Noodles is a plant-based version of the Sichuan classic. It features wheat noodles, veggies and a spicy sauce made with chili oil, soy sauce, and sesame paste, topped with mushrooms and perhaps tofu for protein. 

13. Buddha's Delight

Buddha’s Delight is a traditional vegetarian Chinese food made with a variety of vegetables, tofu and sometimes seitan, served with steamed rice. It’s one of the best vegetarian Chinese dishes around as it’s vegetarian with no modifications. 

14. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce

Eggplant is a tasty addition to your vegetarian Chinese food. You can make it extra flavorful by adding garlic and sometimes squash served over steamed rice. You can add chili flakes to make it spicy. 

15. Vegetable Fried Rice

Any Chinese food in NYC will have veggie fried rice. It’s the most classic vegetarian Chinese food available. It’s a stir-fry dish made with a variety of vegetables, day-old rice and sometimes egg. It’s so easy to make at home with what you already have in your refrigerator. 

16. Veggie Tofu Hot Pot

Veggie Tofu Hot Pot is a vegetarian version of the popular Chinese communal dish. It features a simmering pot of broth filled with a variety of vegetables and tofu. Diners can choose from a selection of vegetables, noodles and tofu to add to the pot.

17. Garlic String Beans and Tofu 

Garlic string beans and tofu is a simple yet flavorful stir-fry dish made with blanched string beans, crispy tofu and a garlicky savory sauce. The dish is often seasoned with ginger and soy sauce, and is served steamed or stir-fried with oil. It's a popular vegetarian Chinese food. 

18. Sesame Noodles

Sesame Noodles is a Chinese noodle dish made with thin noodles, sesame paste, and a variety of vegetables and protein options. The noodles are typically tossed in a creamy sesame sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds and scallions. The end result is nutty and filling. 

19. Vegetable Chow Mein

Vegetable Chow Mein is a stir-fry dish made with a variety of vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots and bean sprouts, as well as fried noodles. The dish is often seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. It’s similar to lo mein, but with fried noodles instead of just boiled or steamed. It’s an incredibly popular vegetarian Chinese food.

20. Shanghai-Style Cold Noodles 

Shanghai-Style Cold Noodles are so refreshing. They’re thin noodles with vegetables and a sweet and savory sauce. The noodles are typically served cold, topped with a variety of ingredients such as cucumbers, carrots and bean sprouts. This is a perfect addition to any vegetarian Chinese menu for summer. 

Sweet Vegetarian Chinese Food Desserts

21. Almond Jelly

For a traditional Chinese dessert, consider almond jelly, made from almond milk, sugar and agar, a plant-based gelatin substitute. Agar is Japanese, but it can be used in vegetarian Chinese food. The mixture is chilled until it sets, creating a delicate jelly-like texture. Almond jelly is often served with fruit or syrup for added flavor.

22. Mango Pudding

Another popular Chinese dessert is the delicious mango pudding made with mango puree, sugar and cream or milk. Vegans can use coconut milk. The mixture is chilled until it sets, creating a creamy and smooth pudding. Mango pudding is often served with a sprinkle of sugar or a side of fruit.

23. Coconut Rice Pudding

Coconut rice pudding is a creamy and comforting Chinese dessert made with coconut milk, rice and sugar, as well as optional coconut flakes. The mixture is cooked until the rice is soft, creating a rich and creamy pudding. Coconut rice pudding can be flavored with spices or fruit for added depth.

24. Sesame Balls

When you're craving a moreish snack to pop in your mouth on a moment's notice, try sesame balls. Sesame balls are a crispy and sweet Chinese dessert made with a dough coated in sesame seeds and deep-fried until golden brown. The balls are often filled with a sweet red bean paste or lotus seed paste. Sesame Balls are a popular snack or dessert in Chinese cuisine.

25. Tangyuan

Tangyuan is a traditional Chinese dessert made from glutinous rice flour and water, formed into small balls and cooked in a sweet broth. This dessert may be unusual to Americans, but it’s delicious. The balls are often filled with sweet fillings such as red bean paste. Tangyuan is typically served during special occasions and festivals, like Lunar New Year.

26. Douhua

Try Douhua for a popular Chinese dessert, especially during the summer months. Douhua is made from tofu that has been sweetened and flavored. The tofu is often served with a sweet sauce or syrup, creating a creamy and refreshing dessert that also contains a decent amount of protein. 

27. Fa Gao

If you love cakes of all kinds, try Fa Gao, or fortune cake. This is a traditional Chinese sponge cake made with rice flour, sugar and eggs. The cake is often flavored with vanilla or other flavorings and is typically served as a dessert or snack. Fa Gao is a popular treat during Lunar New Year and other special occasions when it’s eaten for a year of good fortune. 

Vegetarian Chinese Food FAQs

What Can Chinese Vegetarians Eat?

Chinese vegetarians have a wide range of options to choose from, including vegetable stir-fries with tofu or tempeh, vegetable-based soups and vegetable-filled dumplings or buns. Many traditional Chinese dishes can be adapted to be vegetarian. It's always a good idea to ask about ingredients and cooking methods to make sure a dish is free from animal products.

What is the Most Famous Vegetarian Dish?

Buddha's Delight, also known as Luo Han Zhai, is a famous and iconic traditional Chinese vegetarian dish, and it’s vegetarian without any modifications. This stir-fry dish is made with a variety of vegetables, including mushrooms, carrots and lotus root. It can be served with tofu or seitan. It’s popular during Chinese New Year!

What is the Healthiest Vegetarian Chinese Food?

The healthiest vegetarian Chinese food options tend to be dishes that are steamed or stir-fried with a variety of vegetables and protein sources. Steamed vegetables with rice or noodles, vegetable stir-fries and vegetable soups are all great options that are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Buddha’s Delight isn’t just the most famous vegetarian dish; it may also be the healthiest! 

So, which of these tasty vegetarian Chinese dishes will you try? Whether you’re looking for simple snacks or tasty Chinese desserts, you have plenty of delicious options to choose from now. It’s time to get cooking! 

For even more fun vegetarian food ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!