Yunlaiju (云来居)

Far from the hustle and bustle of Shennan Thoroughfare is Yunlaiju Vegetarian Restaurant, which nestles in a quiet corner behind the Honey Lake automobile market.

With Yunnan-style vegetarian dishes and distinctive ethnic character, Yunlaiju is very popular. Various types of mushrooms and herbs from Yunnan are used in the preparation of the dishes.

Food served here is presented in bright colors with great tastes. Taiji safflower soup, prepared by mixing the rare Yunnan safflower to millet soup, is a soothing choice for your "exhausted" stomach. It is said to be good for boosting blood circulation. Fortune sailing, a best seller in the restaurant, is served in a hollowed out pineapple with mushrooms, tofu, pepper and pineapple cubes and onion cooked together. Also don't miss the restaurant's homemade five-color rice, a traditional dish of the Buyi ethnic group in Yunnan. To make it, herbal leaves, flowers and roots are cooked with rice. Other healthy choices feature stir-fried assorted vegetables.

Yunlaiju also serves a great variety of Pu'er tea, a specialty of Yunnan. The tea helps to improve digestion and ease discomfort. Restaurant patrons are highly recommended to drink some Pu'er tea after the meal.

Add: Inside Honey Lake Resort, Futian District (福田区香蜜湖度假村内)

Tel: 8289-4181

Metro: Honey Lake Station (香蜜湖站), Exit C

Jinhaige (金海阁)

Jinhaige, which claims to be the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Shenzhen, is what can be termed a Buddhist restaurant. Paintings of the Buddha hang from the walls, Buddhist literature is neatly stacked on a cabinet next to the entrance, and the restaurant serves Buddhist cuisine, food tasting similar to that served at a Buddhist temple.

Known in China as zhaicai (斋菜), Buddhist cuisine is well-known around the world for having the oldest known use of mock-meat, which approximates the aesthetic qualities (primarily texture, flavor, and appearance) and/or chemical characteristics of certain types of meat, a practice that goes back centuries.

At Jinhaige, when you tuck into the mock pineapple pork, it might be hard to believe it's not the real thing. Among other recommended dishes are the fried mock chicken with mock mayonnaise, the mock shrimp balls and the spicy mock lamb skewers (28 yuan). A full list of items is available on Jinhaige's Web site www.szjhg.com. Like the menu, the Web site is predominantly in Chinese, but the pictures are clear enough to help you decide what you want.

Since alcohol is avoided by many Buddhists because of its effects on the mind, Jinhaige does not serve beer.

So the next time you feel the urge to have a hearty, tasty meal that wasn't made by slaughtering innocent animals, Jinhaige is the recommended restaurant for you. If nothing else, it'll greatly improve your karma.

Add: At the intersection of Nanyuan Road and Shangbu Road, just opposite Shangbu Building (福田区南园路上步路路口，上步大厦对面)

Tel: 8365-9996

Metro: Science Park Station (科学馆站), Exit D