By Localiiz
27 September 2022
Copyright © 2022 LOCALIIZ | All rights reserved
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Copyright © 2022 LOCALIIZ | All rights reserved
Check out Humans of Hong Kong, our newest video series focused on telling Hong Kong stories!
Header images courtesy of Big Dill (via Facebook)
In the not-so-distant past, people might have laughed at the idea of a burger with no meat or cheese—arguably the two most essential ingredients that give a burger its enticing quality. But with the exponential growth of Hong Kong’s vegan dining scene in recent years, we’ve witnessed the plant-based community really flex their creative muscles to come out with insanely delicious meat and dairy alternatives that rival even their cholesterol-laden counterparts. Local plant-based restaurants are now dishing out all sorts of vegan burgers made from tempeh, mushrooms, jackfruit, and everything in between, giving vegans more choices than ever to enjoy this comforting classic.
But all the options can be overwhelming—especially if you only recently started eschewing animal products and still get the occasional craving for a good ol’ Big Mac. So we’re here to help you navigate the wonderful world of vegan burgers, rounding up all the best ones you can find in Hong Kong!
Believe it or not, from the “beef” patty to the “lamb” gyro to BBQ pulled “pork,” everything on the menu of this retro American diner-style eatery is fully vegan. But that does not mean a compromise on taste—Big Dill whips up the stuff of vegan dreams.
Go for the Side Chick burger ($98), a culinary masterpiece layering a deep-fried buttermilk “chicken” patty, pickles, vegan cheddar cheese, house-made mayo, and Louisiana hot sauce on a soft brioche bun. For a more traditional burger experience, indulge in their signature Big Dill burger ($98), which stars an epic “beef” patty that will have even your die-hard, meat-loving friends fooled.
Big Dill, 123 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 5726 5533
We have Mana! to thank for the plethora of vegan fast foods that Hong Kong has to offer. As one of the pioneering plant-based eateries in the city, Mana! has become ensconced in Hong Kong’s vegan dining scene since its opening in 2012, and many plant-based restaurants have followed in their footsteps.
Offering flavourful vegan burgers made with wholesome and nutritious ingredients like quinoa, beetroot, and roasted cauliflower, Mana! manages to give diners all the satisfaction of a burger and none of the guilt (well, maybe the only guilt comes from not wanting to share). You can choose from the three pre-designed burgers or customise as per your liking, but you can’t go wrong with the Babylon ($90). The combination of the juicy beetroot and bean patty with the rich “garlic-naise” sauce is simply to-die-for.
Specialising in all things tempeh, this takeout eatery in Central churns out some mouthwatering soybean-centric burgers that earn praises from vegans and meat-eaters alike. High protein, low carb, and cholesterol-free, their tempeh patty gets a shiny gold star just for its nutritional profile.
The taste is just as impressive—it’s hearty and well-seasoned, and it doesn’t have the notorious mushy or crumbly fake meat texture that spurs carnivores to run in the opposite direction. Wait till you hear the real selling point though—coming at $48 a pop, it’s one of the most wallet-friendly vegan burgers you can find on the market!
Tempeh Foods, Shop 6, 21 Li Yuen Street East, Central | (+852) 3590 4937
Tucked away in the laid-back neighbourhood of Sai Ying Pun, this unassuming vegan café is a place of quiet reverence amongst locals in the know. From their extensive menu of vegan pasta, sandwiches, and burgers, the vegan cheese hericium mushroom burger ($98) with sweet corn salad is a definite stand-out.
Before you mushroom haters out there start rolling your eyes, let us assure you that you can hardly tell that there’s a giant mushroom in this burger at all. The chefs put a lot of care into seasoning and deep-frying the meaty vegetable so that the resulting patty is flavourful, juicy, texturally satisfying, and hardly recognisable as a mushroom. The melty vegan cheese and exquisitely toasted bun further seal the deal for us.
LN Fortunate Coffee, Altro, 118 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 2858 3898
The Park by Years in Sham Shui Po attracts large crowds outside the restaurant at all hours of the day, eager for a taste of their plant-based pasta, burger, and homemade desserts. If there’s one dish you should try from their flamboyant menu, it’s their Impossible burger (The Park remix) ($138).
The widely acclaimed “bloody” vegan burger can be found in many restaurants in Hong Kong these days, gracing our tastebuds with its uncanny resemblance to beef in texture and flavour, but The Park’s iteration is particularly noteworthy. Jam-packed with cilantro, cucumber, radish, pickled onions, and vegan cheddar cheese, the burger is full of bold, fresh flavours and doesn’t feel greasy. Not a fan of cilantro? Fret not! You can ask to swap out the cilantro for kale instead.
The Park by Years, 132 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po | (+852) 5336 4000
Devout meat-eaters know this homegrown burger joint in Wan Chai as a reliable spot for the classic, no-frills cheeseburger. But don’t overlook their plant-friendly option either! Combining the Impossible patty with pickles, onions, lettuce, and a house-made vegan X.O. sauce, Honbo’s Impossible burger ($108) is just what you need when you’re hankering for some greasy American comfort food. After all, who else can we count on to grill a vegan burger that tastes like the real deal if not the burger connoisseurs themselves?
Just like the meat-based equivalents on the menu, their vegan burger is nicely charred on the outside yet still slightly undercooked on the inside, making for a tender and irresistibly juicy mouthful that will keep you coming back again and again.
Winner winner, chicken dinner—but made vegan! The signature barbecue vegan chicken burger ($158) at this fusion vegan restaurant in the heart of Soho won us over with its barbecue-flavoured, deep-fried hedgehog mushroom that’s well-balanced with fresh avocado, pineapple, and tomato slices.
Think veggie-forward plates won’t fill you up? This beast of a burger proves you otherwise, with its generous portion enough to sate even the heartiest of appetites. You can’t help but appreciate the beautifully presented dish either. Served on an eye-catching charcoal bun and plated alongside a mountainous pile of thick-cut fries and a side salad, the dish is as much of a looker as it is a gastronomic delight.
Pop Vegan, 1/F, 28 Elgin Street, Soho, Central | (+852) 2628 6211
It would be an understatement to say that Kind Kitchen’s Beyond burgers give actual meat-based burgers a run for their money. Launched by Green Monday founder David Yeung, the vegan restaurant-cum-grocery store offers creative, dressed-up renditions of the ground-breaking plant-based patty that’s reverse-engineered to taste exactly like beef. The drool-worthy Beyond Black burger ($128) comprises a Beyond burger patty spiked with a punchy black pepper sauce, sautéed mushrooms, cabbage, and veganaise, contained by two perfectly toasted buns. Get the double patty version for double the indulgence.
Kind Kitchen, Shop 1, 1/F, Nan Fung Place, 173 Des Voeux Road Central, Central | (+852) 2110 0055
The Butchers Club sounds like the last place you would expect to find something plant-friendly, but you’d be amazed by how much these butchers know about vegan cooking. Their classic beef-based burger is a long-standing favourite among the meat-loving crowd, but vegans can enjoy the same delicious flavours with the Beyond Classic burger ($120). The Beyond patty is grilled to perfection and paired with a laundry list of fixings: house-made pickles, tomato slices, vegan cheddar cheese, pickled beetroot crisps, and a vegan sauce.
For those who love a spicy kick, get the Beyond Wu Tang burger ($120), which features the same juicy patty fried in sriracha, tempura sweet potato, kimchi, and vegan cheddar cheese served on a vegan scotch bap. Prepare a fistful of napkins because you are in for a gloriously messy affair!
The Butchers Club, locations across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon
Another plant-forward endeavour by The Butchers Club, The Veggie Club is their new delivery-only venture into sustainable dining. Partnering with Impossible Foods, The Veggie Club kicks off its dining experience by debuting two delicious vegan burgers. The Barcelona ($138) pairs an Impossible Burger patty with romesco sauce, charred spring onions, and grilled red pepper, whereas Hail, Caesar! ($130) is a twist on the classic Caesar salad. Whether you’re dipping your toes in alternative meats or an oldie-but-goldie to the vegan scene, it’s a guaranteed good time with these monster burgers! Order on Foodpanda here.
A wanderer, chronic overthinker, and baking enthusiast, Beverly spent much of her childhood in the United States before moving to Hong Kong at age 11 and making the sparkling city her home. In her natural habitat, she can be found baking up a storm in her kitchen, journalling at a café, or scrolling through OpenRice deciding on her next meal.
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