Let's face it, you eat way too much meat. Scientists have been yammering on about how our ancestors would have only eaten the stuff very occasionally, and all we can say is... thank god we live in the present age. No but really, apparently you're only supposed to eat red meat once or twice a week. So get on reading and eat you some vegetables. 

1. Dashu Wujie 大蔬无界

The undisputed king of vegetarian restaurants in Shanghai, a trip to one of Wujie’s four branches is a must for food lovers, vegetarian or otherwise. Although the menu is mainly Chinese, the food here is surprisingly eclectic, but don’t be surprised to see people munching on mushroom and tofu fried ‘katsu’ or even potato gratin (which is delicious, by the way). Not to mention plates of flavorsome vegetables, most of them locally sourced. 

Uniqueness is a huge part of Wujie’s appeal. Each season, the chefs design dishes and nominate the best to be featured on the next seasonal menu. Plating and aesthetics are as important as the ingredients, with each dish resembling a piece of art.

Price: RMB180-220 per person

Who’s going: locals and expats

> See listings for Dashu Wujie

2. Veg Lab 简素

Wheatgrass and pea sprouts grow everywhere in this simple, green and tidy restaurant, which is favored by local vegetarians for their meat-free meal sets of popular Chinese dishes. Here you can find mala xiangguo (spicy pots of stir-fried veggies, 麻辣香锅) and mapo doufu (spicy tofu, 麻婆豆腐) made with quinoa instead of minced pork, as well as veggie dishes featuring specialty ingredients with healing properties, according to traditional Chinese medicine.

The vibe at Veg Lab is casual and relaxed – comfy banquet seating and a ‘no-pressure’ atmosphere mean you might just end up lingering for a few hours after lunch. 

Price: RMB70-100 per person

Who’s going: locals, office workers

Good for: casual lunch and dinners

> See listings for Veg Lab

3. Yan Gege 焱格格

Vegetarians, your prayers have been answered: 100 percent meat-free hot pot exists. Opened by Hong Kong actor Lü Songxian, a vocal proponent of animal rights, Yan Gege serves Beijing-style hot pot with a plethora of veggies, tofu, dumplings in two quaint restaurants in Jing’an and Hongqiao. 

We were very impressed by the quality (and quantity) of their fresh greens, mushrooms, egg dumplings (danjiao, 蛋饺)  and crispy tofu skin, but it’s the hot pot broth that steals the show. The tangy, fresh tomato base is beautifully rich, and so moreish you’ll barely need dipping sauce. The top tier of the pot roils with a mushroom-based broth. To this, more fresh mushrooms are added to create a clear and nourishing consommé. 

Price: RMB180 per person

Who’s going: young locals

Good for: casual dinners, groups

> See listings for Yan Gege. 

4. Fu He Hui 福和慧

Twice featured on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list (coming in at number 19 this year), Fu He Hui is a temple of vegetarian fine dining helmed by one of China’s most dynamic chefs: Tony Lu. Following a strict ‘no meat in the building’ policy, Fu He Hui serves multi-course set menus from elegant private rooms, many furnished with Chinese antiques.

The style is contemporary Chinese, with most of the ingredients sourced domestically, and all of it beautifully designed and plated. While the sets are large (approximately eight courses long), you likely won’t feel stuffed since they use less oil and salt than the typical Chinese way of cooking. 

Price: RMB600-800 per person

Who’s going: well-heeled locals, expats

Good for: special occasions, medium-size groups, business occasions

> See a listing for Fu He Hui.

5. Wu Guan Tang

Founded by a Buddhist, Wu Guan Tang is set in a pleasant multi-story lane house with an open-air roof terrace. Armed with the firm belief that Chinese-style veggies are good enough to eat on their own, Wu Guan Tang eschews ‘meat substitutes’ for healthy portions of beans, tofu, noodles and greens that are light on salt and free from artificial additives and MSG. They also deliberately don’t serve soft drinks like sugary sodas. Your mother would approve! 

Price: RMB100-150 per person

Who’s going: local vegetarians and healthy eaters

Good for: casual dinners, small groups, low-sodium diets, vegans

> See a listing for Wu Guan Tang.

6. Frankie’s Kitchen

Sister restaurant to Wu Guan Tang, one of Shanghai’s longest running vegetarian restaurants on Xinhua Lu, Frankie’s is a newly opened café just two doors down. The menu is pretty much the same, with a few fun additions like wowotou (窝窝头) – steamed half-sphere buns with a variety of vegetable and tofu fillings. 

From the main menu, we’re big fans of the spicy stir-fried rice noodles with green bean pickles and crunchy red peanuts (RMB32), tomato and assorted mushroom stew with rice cakes, and asparagus-stuffed tofu spring rolls with black vinegar dip (RMB32). They also serve Shanghainese-style breakfast items, including puffy youtiao dough sticks (RMB15/3) and soymilk (RMB15-18). 

Spacious and relaxed, Frankie’s is a great place for both lunch and dinner, with additional private rooms for those wanting a little extra peace and quiet. Menus are handwritten in Chinese, though an English version does exist so insist on seeing it if the staff give you the former. 

Price: RMB80-180 per person

Who’s going: local veggies

Good for: breakfast, lunch and dinner, small/medium groups

> See a listing for Frankie's Kitchen

7. Happy Buddha

Forget what you know about meat-free food being austere. Seitan – meat-free protein made from wheat gluten – is order of the day at this chilled out vegetarian (and occasionally vegan) café in Jiashan Market. Don't expect a mouthful of dry salad either, these guys make Western comfort food, including nachos, vegetarian burgers, quesadillas and even cheesesteaks made with vegan 'cheeze.'

Do make sure to leave room for house-made desserts like vegan cashew cream cheesecake and ice cream. The oatmeal cream pie is also very tasty, featuring two chewy oatmeal cookies sandwiched together with coconut cream. 

Price: RMB50-120 per person

Who's going: locals and expats

Good for: lunch, casual dinner, desserts, comfort food

> See a listing for Happy Buddha.

8. Pure & Whole

After a few of those cheesesteaks, you're probably going to need a switch to some plant-based nutrition. Cue Pure & Whole, which serves healthy meat-free eats from four locations across town. Serving a seasonal menu of salads, burgers, entrées, wraps, sandwiches and desserts, this place is well-loved for being the perfect place to eat while detoxing.

We especially love the smoky sweet potato hummus, the ultra-nourishing 'green goddess' soup and the raw 'spaghetti' (read: zucchini cut into noodle-like strands) with quinoa balls. Wash it down with the vanilla almond milk espresso, made with honey and coconut oil for a dose of slow-release energy. 

Price: RMB50-100 per person

Who's going: locals and expats, families

Good for: vegan, vegetarian, salad, sandwiches, small groups, casual dining, families

> See listings for Pure & Whole.