The Best Vegetarian-friendly Restaurants in Taipei and Taichung

Le Palais’s eight-course vegetarian set menu features an array of mushrooms and dried goods. A very time-consuming dish to prepare, the Braised White Gourd Stuffed with Edible Bird's Nest (pictured right) is the chef’s vegetarian reinterpretation of the White Gourd Stuffed with Shrimp and Crab Meat. This refined vegetarian rendition is created by stuffing bird’s nest into the white gourd, and then simmering with vegetarian broth. Breaking the boundaries of Cantonese cuisine with East-meets-West elements, the main course of Stir-fried Orzo with Mushrooms is crafted by stir-frying orzo, a pasta shaped like a large grain of rice, and then drizzled with a special thickened sauce made with mixed mushrooms. Vegans can inform the restaurant of their dietary requirements during reservation. Subject to availability, the restaurant may be able to adjust the menu, which has a minimum order requirement for two or more guests.

RELATED: The First Day We Got Our Stars: Ken Chen And Matt Chen

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon is an excellent place for refined vegetarian fare. The vegetarian menu shines a spotlight on avocados, perfectly accentuating its silky-smooth texture in the appetiser and dessert. The set includes tasty dishes in smaller portions, as well as the standout dessert of Avocado Soufflé Served with Sicilian Pistachio Ice Cream. Rather than your usual tea or original flavours, the chef has chosen avocado as the base flavour and complemented it with pistachio ice cream for a lovely nuttiness (pictured on the right is L’AVOCAT Avocado Carpaccio with Eggplant Caviar and Spicy Tomato Jelly from the vegetarian menu).

Mipon offers a set menu of nourishing, Buddhist-inspired vegetarian delights such as Stewed Mushrooms and Taro with Chinese Herbs in Chinese Casserole; and Deep Fried Tofu Roll With Mayonnaise. The former is crafted using the same preparation methods as the classic Taiwanese-style Buddha Jumps Over the Wall by slow-cooking mushrooms, bamboo shoot, chestnuts, and other medicinal herbs; the latter is a moreish dish made by deep-frying hundred layer (bai ye) tofu coated in flour, and served with mayonnaise. For those who prefer to order à la carte, ingredients of each dish are thoughtfully listed out so vegetarians can navigate the menu with ease (pictured right is the vegetarian dish Stir-fried Mixed Mushrooms on Clay Plate, not from the vegetarian set menu).

RELATED: 8 Newly Awarded MICHELIN-Starred Restaurants in Taipei & Taichung — What the Michelin Inspectors Said

Known to be vegetarian-friendly, Din Tai Fung (Xinyi Road)’s menu clearly lists out their vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian and Buddhist vegetarian options. Other restaurants tend to offer customised vegetarian dishes upon request, but at Din Tai Fung (Xinyi Road), vegetarian versions of their existing dishes are created so vegetarians don’t feel awkward or out of place whether they are dining alone or with meat-eating friends. The Steamed Vegetarian Mushroom Dumplings and Vegetable and Mushroom Fried Rice (With Egg) (pictured right) are crowd favourites, and the delectable Taro Xiaolongbao — sweet but not overly so — is an excellent dessert.

With its cultural and religious influences, India is ranked top in the world for having the most vegetarians. Offering customers with traditional Indian fare, Taj has a wide selection of vegetarian dishes on the menu. The restaurant’s Thali Set for one comes with your choice of one main, as well as two vegetable curries, original naan, rice, salad, and an Indian-style dessert. Available all-day, the set is great value for money and hence very popular with its customers. Certain dishes can be switched to vegan or Indian vegetarian — simply notify the staff during your order (pictured right: Began Masala).

RELATED: Beginner's Guide to Indian Breads: 9 Types to Start With

Looking for a restaurant for celebratory meals? Ephernité is where you can enjoy a special eight-course menu with the perfect romantic ambience. Using fruits and vegetables sourced from a contract farm in Yangmingshan, the chef invites diners on a gastronomic journey to the picturesque fields and charming villages of France with her extensive and delicate use of French culinary techniques. The elegant dishes feature truffle and various cheese products, which are suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians. Ephernité also offers wine pairing for an elevated and unforgettable dining experience.

RELATED: On the MICHELIN Bicycle Trail in Taipei & Taichung

The seven-course lacto-ovo vegetarian menu features native and locally-grown ingredients and vegetables, such as millet, betel leaves, prickly ash, and pigeon peas, which are prepared European-style. Various artworks and modern light fixtures decorate the restored mansion with tranquil, lush surroundings, rendering the venue very suitable for business gatherings.

Enjoy a farm-to-table gastronomic experience in an elegant and romantic setting at Fleur de Sel. Amazing local Taiwanese produce takes centerstage in its six-course vegetarian menu, which features a rich selection of vegetables from Taichung and nearby areas. Seasonal flowers and fruits are delivered to the restaurant daily and prepared in a modern French style that really highlights the seasonality. Expect a memorable feast for your eyes and your palate (pictured right: Loquat & Butterfly from the vegetarian menu).

As its name suggests, Master of Mushroom offers a variety of mushroom dishes, which are also perfect for vegetarians. The signature vegetarian hot pot set comes with the shiitake mushroom broth and a selection of freshly picked mushrooms, such as lion’s mane mushroom, maitake mushroom and cordyceps flower, as well as other vegetables and soy products. The restaurant also offers other pan-fried, stir-fried, and deep-fried dishes to showcase the mushrooms’ umami and wonderful flavours in different ways. Sit by the window and admire the natural scenery as you enjoy a relaxing meal here (pictured right: Lion's Mane Mushroom with Sesame Oil).