Are There Any Naturally Vegan Beijing Cuisine Dishes?
The Caavakushi team has recently seen a major vibe shift in the imperial capital. While Beijing cuisine is often synonymous with Roast Duck, we’ve found that the heart of the city beats to a much more plant-forward rhythm. These days the plant-based food market in China has reached a staggering $73.05 billion, growing at a 13.9% CAGR (Our source: The Business Research Company).
We think it’s fascinating that while modern food tech is booming, the most salacious finds in Beijing cuisine are actually centuries-old vegan classics. The Caavakushi team feels that visiting Beijing is less about missing out and more about discovering flavours that have been vegan since the Ming Dynasty.
1. Pai Huang Gua (Smacked Cucumber Salad)
The Caavakushi team thinks every meal should start with a smack.
– Vibe: Garlic-heavy, vinegary, and perfectly crunchy.
– Secret: By smacking the cucumber with a cleaver, you create nooks and crannies for the black vinegar and chili oil to hide in (Our source: The Plant-Based Wok).
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Please remember when ordering this salad to confirm that your chili oil does not contain any fish sauce or fish oil. This is because unfortunately most chili oils in Beijing and China in general contain fish.
2. Douzhi (Fermented Mung Bean Soup)
We’ve noticed this is basically the Marmite of Beijing. You’ll either love it or… well, you’ll try it once.
– Fact: It’s actually a byproduct of making mung bean noodles.
– Stat: Fermented flavours are a current leading trend, with a massive surge in gut-health-conscious diners (Our source: The Vegan Society).
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Always check with your server to make sure that your food is 100% plant-based.
3. Ai Wo Wo (Steamed Rice Cakes)
The Caavakushi team feels like these are definitely the donuts of the Forbidden City.
– Detail: These snowy-white glutinous rice balls are stuffed with vegan fillings like red bean paste or crushed nuts and sugar.
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Always check with your server to make sure that your food is 100% plant-based.
4. Shi Jin Dou Fu (Assorted Vegetable Tofu)
We found that the tofu in Beijing is totally next level.
– Insight: Often braised with wood ear mushrooms and bamboo shoots, it showcases why meat substitutes are the fastest-growing sector in China with an 8.66% CAGR (Our source: Mordor Intelligence).
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Always check with your server to make sure that your food is 100% plant-based.
5. Zha Jiang Main (Vegan Style)
Wait, isn’t there pork in the sauce? Usually, yes. But the Caavakushi team has found out that “Zhai” (Buddhist) versions using diced smoked tofu or shiitake mushrooms are everywhere.
– Trend: “On-trade” food service (restaurants) is growing at 8.73% as menus integrate more plant proteins (Our source: Mordor Intelligence).
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Always check with your server to make sure that your food is 100% plant-based.
6. Wan Dou Huang (Pea Flour Cake)
This was actually a favourite of Empress Dowager Cixi, and we can see why.
– Fact: It’s a silky-smooth block made purely from yellow peas.
– Tech: Pea protein consumption is expanding at an 8.41% CAGR in China right now, making this ancient snack super trendy again (Our source: Mordor Intelligence).
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Always check with your server to make sure that your food is 100% plant-based.
7. Tu Dou Si (Shredded Potato With Vinegar)
The Caavakushi team thinks this is the most underrated dish in Beijing cuisine. It’s stir-fried so quickly that the potatoes stay crisp, not mushy. Warning is extremely addictive.
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Always check with your server to make sure that your food is 100% plant-based.
8. Bing Tang Hu Lu (Candied Hawthorns)
Finally a street food icon.
– Alert: It’s just fruit and sugar on a stick!
– Note: We’ve noticed these bright red skewers are the most photographed snack in the city for a reason.
– Caavakushi Team Tip: Always check with your server to make sure that your food is 100% plant-based.
Final Thoughts From The Caavakushi Team
We believe that Beijing is no longer just a meat-and-potatoes town. With the China vegan market hitting $2.84 billion in 2026, the city is a playground for ethical foodies (Our source: Grand View Research).
The Caavakushi team wants to know: Are you brave enough to try the fermented Douzhi, or are you sticking to the Empress’s pea cakes?
Vegan Resources
- Caavakushi Vegan Food Recipes
- Caavakushi Vegan Drinks Recipes
- Caavakushi Vegan Newsletter & Free 7 Day High-Protein Vegan Meal Plan
- Vegan Stuff Podcast With Caavakushi
- Caavakushi Vegan Search Engine
- Best Vegan Recipe Books
- Best Vegan Wines & Alcohol
- Best Vegan Food & Supplements
Tell Us How You Feel
We want to know how you feel about the site, blog articles, and our recipes. Comment below and let us know your thoughts. Snap a quick picture or video clip of your recreation of our recipes and tag us on social media #Caavakushi #Caavakushirecipe #Caavakushimeal. We can’t wait to see how you added your special touch to our recipes. Help a fellow vegan out by posting your recipes on our vegan forum and make some new plant-based friends. Our podcast has something for everyone, from vegan activists to vegan businesses and plant-based celebrities.
If you like it, help us out by letting us know by leaving a review and 5 stars. Thanks in advance! (really appreciate it.) Oh, and we almost forgot to tell you that we’re giving away our 7-day high-protein vegan meal plan for free for a limited time only when you sign up for our vegan newsletter. Get yours now before it’s too late!
