Finding vegetarian food in Hong Kong became part of the adventure for us. Between local restaurants, breakfast cafés, tea houses, and stops for something sweet, we ended up with a pretty varied collection of meals and snacks.
We’re vegetarians, and we eat eggs and dairy. So yes, this trip included egg tarts, buttered toast, and gelato alongside tofu, vegetables, and vegetarian dim sum. This is a diary of what we ate, rather than a list of exclusively vegetarian restaurants.
There was also a funny first-night moment involving tea, chopsticks, and two people who had absolutely no idea what they were supposed to do. More on that below!
If you’re planning the sightseeing side of your visit, our one-day Hong Kong itinerary covers the Star Ferry, Victoria Peak, Central, and the 24,000 steps that helped work up our appetite.
Our First Local Dinner: Tofu, Green Beans, and a Tea Mystery
On our first night, we went to a very local restaurant. There wasn’t much English spoken, and we didn’t speak the local language, so even a simple question felt a little more complicated than usual.
Our meal included tofu in a red sauce, green beans with chilies, and bowls of white rice. But the thing we still laugh about wasn’t the food. It was the tea.
Tea arrived at the table, and we didn’t know what we were supposed to do with it. Was it for drinking? Were we missing a step? We didn’t want to ask, so we just sat there looking at it, trying to figure things out without making it obvious that we had no clue.
Later, when we saw people rinsing their chopsticks in tea, it clicked. That was the custom we hadn’t understood! It’s one of those small travel moments that seems obvious afterward but is confusing when you’re experiencing it for the first time.
If you’re unsure what a particular bowl or pot is for, ask the staff. We could have saved ourselves some awkward guessing by doing that. Tea served for drinking and tea or water used for rinsing utensils can be part of different table setups, so it helps to check.
For vegetarian travelers, a dish’s name or appearance won’t always tell you everything about the ingredients. When ordering tofu or vegetables at a mixed-menu restaurant, confirm whether the preparation includes meat, seafood, stock, or sauces that don’t fit your diet.
Australia Dairy Company: Breakfast at a Different Pace
Breakfast at Australia Dairy Company was a very different experience from a leisurely café morning. Everything moved quickly, people shared tables, and we were seated wherever there was room.
Our table had thick toast topped with butter, a bowl of yellow custard, tea, and an iced drink. A simple breakfast, in a room where there was always something happening around us.
The shared tables also gave us a close-up look at how other people were eating and moving through their morning. Watching the little routines around us helped make sense of things we hadn’t understood the night before.
This is a stop to include for the busy local breakfast experience. It isn’t an entirely vegetarian restaurant, so choose individual dishes that work for you rather than assuming a whole breakfast set will.
Bakehouse at The Peak: Egg Tarts on Opening Day
At Victoria Peak, we stopped at Bakehouse for egg tarts and drinks, and it happened to be this branch’s opening day! We sat by the window with two tarts on a tray and the city and harbour spread out below. We also had a matcha drink and a coffee. It was a memorable way to experience a brand-new café.
The view was part of the experience. We had come up to see Hong Kong from above, and this gave us a chance to sit down and keep looking at it rather than immediately moving on to the next stop.
Bakehouse lists its sourdough egg tarts on the official Peak menu. Check the current menu when you visit, since offerings and prices can change.
Because we eat eggs and dairy, egg tarts fit the way we eat vegetarian. If you have additional ingredient restrictions, ask about the pastry and filling before ordering.
LockCha: Vegetarian Dim Sum and Time for Tea
LockCha was our dedicated vegetarian food stop in Hong Kong. After so much walking, we were ready for a proper sit-down meal and a slower break.
Our spread included pan-fried dumplings, spring rolls, and rice noodle rolls topped with sesame seeds. There was plenty to share, along with a tea service and a bottle labeled Organic Phoenix Oolong.
We enjoyed both the vegetarian food and the care that went into the tea. The small teapot, cups, and serving tray made this feel different from simply grabbing a drink between attractions.
If you’re looking for vegetarian food in Hong Kong, LockCha is a useful place to research because its tea houses serve vegetarian dim sum. There are multiple locations, so use the official LockCha locations page to choose one that fits your route.
The menu we photographed also used ingredient symbols. Even at a vegetarian restaurant, those details matter if you avoid eggs, dairy, or other specific ingredients. For us, eggs and dairy are fine, but we know everyone travels with slightly different preferences.
A Gelato Break While Exploring Central
We also stopped for gelato while walking around Central. By that point, the heat, humidity, and hills had made sitting down feel like a very good idea.
The gelateria had patterned chairs outside, and our scoops arrived in small metal dishes at the table. After walking in the humidity, we were happy to pause for something cold.
Not every food stop needs to be a full meal. This was one of the pauses that helped break up a busy day of exploring.
7-Eleven in Hong Kong: Much More Than a Snack Stop
We can’t talk about food in Hong Kong without mentioning 7-Eleven. It’s a familiar part of the city’s food-on-the-go scene, and there’s much more to browse than bottled water and a few bags of chips. The Hong Kong 7-SELECT range includes sandwiches, onigiri, ready-to-eat meals, salads, fresh fruit boxes, desserts, and snacks. The selection varies by store, and not all of those options are vegetarian, but it gives you an idea of how useful a convenience-store stop can be.
For us, 7-Eleven was especially handy after a long day of exploring. Sometimes you want to sit down at a restaurant, and sometimes you just want snacks and drinks to take back to the hotel. Our haul included Calbee Cheese Crisps, a hot-and-spicy snack, Coke, and Sprite. Those easy little stops deserve a place in the trip diary too!
As vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy, we’d browse the fruit, drinks, desserts, and snack sections, then check individual ingredients. Don’t assume a cheese sandwich, vegetable-looking rice ball, or flavored snack is meat-free: fillings, stocks, and seasonings matter. A translation app can help with labels. For an easy stop between sights or something to take back at night, 7-Eleven is worth keeping in mind.
Finding Vegetarian Food in Hong Kong: What We Learned
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Our meals ranged from a busy breakfast café to a quiet tea-house lunch, with tofu, vegetables, pastries, drinks, and gelato in between. We didn’t need every restaurant to be vegetarian, but we did need to choose dishes that fit how we eat.
The main things we would keep in mind are to explain your dietary requirements clearly, check ingredients when needed, and leave time for a proper food break between sights. A translation app can also help when you have a question but don’t share a language with the staff.
And if a pot of tea arrives and you have no idea what to do, just ask. We can laugh about our first-night confusion now, but it definitely would have been easier than silently trying to solve the mystery ourselves!
For the route connecting our sightseeing stops, read our Hong Kong walking itinerary. If food and café stops are part of how you like to travel too, you may also enjoy our Dubai food and café guide.
