Lacto
Ovo
Chinese
Cantonese

功德林 Shanghai style food. Tsim Sha Tsui MTR. Few options for vegans. Note: mock meats contain egg, animal rennet may be used as an ingredient, and alcoholic drinks reported to possibly have animal by-products, please confirm for yourself. Open Mon-Sun 11:00am-11:00pm.


Venue map for Kung Tak Lam - Tsim Tsa Tsui
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40 Reviews

First Review by JohnnySensible

seloumathias

Points +44

Vegetarian
29 Feb 2024

Incroyable restaurant vegetarien

Vue surplombant Hong Kong Harbourg, très bon restaurant, vaut le détour !!

Pros: Nourriture, Vue, Service

UmeshMalani

Points +13

Vegetarian
09 Sep 2023

Nice discovery

The food was overall nice..different taste from malaysia.

We were 2 of us therefore dishes were too big

Pros: The fodd was good...

KayWong

Points +414

Vegan
23 Dec 2022

Very bland

Most of the dishes we tried were bland. For the dandan noodle, we even didn’t taste any spiciness. The service was good though. Hope they can improve in the future.

Ashni

Points +2223

Vegan
18 Oct 2020

Good views and OK Chinese food

This is a large and spacious restaurant with a great view. My friends in general prefer this venue to their Causeway Bay location. It is comfortable with round tables covered in white tablecloth banquet style. I usually go here when I am visiting Aqua for drinks in the same building as it is then very convenient. I find the food to be OK (not mind-blowing) and consider it to be reasonable priced when compared with other similar restaurants.

There is a large menu, with a fair bit of mock meat and also egg used, as indicated by the egg sticker on dishes containing it. I'm not sure if they have changed their labelling recently as today I noticed some dishes marked with egg that weren't marked previously, so I suggest vegans double check to make sure to avoid egg.

My thoughts on specific dishes I recently tried:
- Wheat gluten in brown sauce with edamame beans: a great starter for taste and texture
- Kung Pao chicken with cashew nuts: tastes good with nice sauce and lots of cashews. Better to present this as Kung Pao tofu since seems like regular tofu to me.
- Eggplant in Sichuan style (has a chili symbol next to it): Good but needs much more of a kick to merit being called Sichuan style
- Fried rice with seaweed and pine nuts: looks lovely but only mild flavour (this one dish seems overpriced to me)
- Various dumplings (won ton in supreme broth; steamed vegetable and tofu dumplings): nice although expect a mellow taste
- Turnip cake: OK

Updated from previous review on 2020-10-18

Pros: Great views, Comfortable and spacious restaurant

Cons: Food could have more flavour, Suggest double checking re egg

Tiff-Chang

Points +155

Vegetarian
12 Jul 2019

Delicious buy pricy

The restaurant offers a lot of Chinese vegetarian food and a nice view of the harbor. However the price is very high considering the portion of the food.

Soul2Soul Educare

Points +1090

Vegetarian
07 Jun 2018

Service was good but the Food was weird tasting

We did not enjoy our dinner at this restaurant. It used to be good 20 years ago when it wasn't so overpriced and the food was more normal. We ordered a few dishes and all of them tasted really weird and unusual. The service was good and the views were exceptional. I told them it was my son's birthday and they didn't do anything special. Most restaurants would at least give you a free dessert! I wouldn't go back.

JessieVeggie

09 Feb 2019

its a pity it was bad for you. br />
I personally really like the place. (maybe you were there on an 'off' night). br />
ps: About expecting something for free because it was a childs birthday. I cant really agree with you on that one. I've never expected restaurants to give my son free stuff on his birthday. br />
Some nice restaurants may go the distance and give a free icecream, etc. But its definitely not normal. br />
otherwise most people would say "its my kids birthday" at every restaurant they go to. (seems like the system would get abused). br />
but really, I think its unfair to 'expect' free stuff just because its your sons birthday. br />
I have no idea what your profession is, but imagine if your customer said "its my birthday" and got upset if you didnt give him something worth 10% of what he is spending with you.

zurog

Points +22

Vegan
21 Apr 2018

Nice

Tasty food, big portions for reasonable price. Shanghai noodle soup was the best choice. Very nice staff and place.

Pros: Lots of vegan options, eggs are marked in the menu

Stevie

Points +11765

Vegan
29 May 2017

Kung Tak Lam - Tsim Tsa Tsui, Hong Kong

This place is owned by the Four Seas group (look that up for yourself to see their massive meat and seafood portfolio). Thus that the management team are uninterested in verifying the wine they stock is vegetarian maybe shouldn't be a surprise. I've no issue with non-vegetarians managing vegetarian restaurants as long as they are rigorous in ensuring everything they stock is vegetarian.

I'd rate places like this at zero or negative if happycow would let me.

I'm not saying the food tasted bad but it is overpriced.









Updated from previous review on 2017-01-19

Cons: No rigour on ensuring products are vegetarian

Jackebiffen

Points +148

Vegan
30 May 2016

over priced

With so many great vegetarian and vegan places close by I wouldn't recommend this place unless you are in need of white table cloth and a good view. Food is not to my taste and many things have egg in them. But one of the more "representative" looking veggie places.

TNLOL

Points +34

Vegan
22 May 2016

Reminded me of a restaurant in Melbourne Australia

The restaurant was very lovely, clean and had a fantastic view as it is up on the 7th floor of One Peaking Tower. I got a nostalgic feel for the restaurant as it reminded me of a place in Melbourne city that I frequent often when I am home (Gong De Lin - Vegan). I eagerly ordered similar things from the menu and was delighted by a familiar taste. Unfortunately due to the price I will not be returning to this restaurant but it was definitely good to be able to experience food from this restaurant whilst visiting Tsim Sha Tsui for the 8pm Symphony of Lights.

Pros: The food was absolutely delicious and very well pr

Cons: Very very expensive and the only English speaking

Kelly Kelly

Points +3361

Vegetarian
12 Apr 2016

Good but pricey

Kung Tak Lam

(11am to 11pm)

(expensive)

Quote: "Kung Tak Lam Shanghainese serves up vegetarian and vegan friendly dishes, all featuring a lovely Harbor view. No MSG and low-salt dishes complement the overall healthy (and delicious) vibe of this award-winning eatery, so rest assured you’re doing right by your tummy here."

Kung Tak Lam, 7/F, 1 Peking Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2312 7800

Across the street from the Chung King Mansions (40 Nathan Rd entrance) is Peking Road follow it to the One Peking Road Shopping Arcade (you will need to drop down into the subway and up the other side to get past the one street) > the restaurant is inside One Peking > go up the escalator to elevators and then go to 7th floor.

Fresh blended fruit juice $38HKD > yummy

Braised Vegetarian Meatballs in Casserole $118HKD > Wonderful tasting meatballs!

Sautéed Vegetarian Chicken w. Hot & Spicy Sauce $98HKD > Very Good!

Fried Noodles w. Assorted Vegetables $88HKD > fresh but boring, lacking in flavor.

Nice upscale environment but very expensive.

Attentive and fast service.

Note: Like many Hong Kong restaurants they will bring you an appetizer and tea without asking if you want it. Unless you refuse them, you will end up with being charged for them on your bill. Example here they gave us a tiny bowl of spiced peanuts and charged $12HKD for them.

Pros: Some tasty dishes, Lovely atmosphere

Cons: Overpriced

VegMan2014

Points +17

Vegetarian
03 Feb 2016

Great if you like veggie meat

This is an excellent restaurant for anyone who enjoys Chinese food with veggie "meat" and "fish". They also have a very good range of vegetable-based dishes too. The room was over-lit making it feel a little austere and the excellent view difficult to see. The price is medium/high; the service very good, with friendly and helpful staff.

Pros: Fantastic veggie "meat" and "fish", Excellent food, plenty of variety, Good view

Cons: Too bright, lacking atmosphere, A little pricey

j4z

Points +10

Non Veg
02 Jan 2016

Nice view, okay food

The view from this restaurant is really nice, and the staff friendly. The food is okay – of the four things we ordered one was really awesome, two were okay and one was underwhelming. You might have a different experience depending on what you order and what you like.

Okay food, nice view, but don't spend too much :).

tory.may

Points +48

Vegan
20 Sep 2015

A regular favourite

Kung Tak Lam is the perfect place to head to with friends, family or by yourself! The service is outstanding, the food is quickly served and it is all very tasty. Mainly vegan, with egg-dishes labelled. The pancake mince, sweet and sour 'pork' and cutlets were our favourites. However, it IS pricey but the portions are large and the view of Hong Kong side is fantastic. I would definitely recommend this place.

Pros: Food is varied and delicious, The view, The staff/service

Cons: Expensive, Not all vegan food, Bland dessert menu

Stevie

08 Oct 2015

Hi Tory,

1stly thanks for having taken a moment to contribute to Happycow.

I regret to say Kung Tuk Lam isn't mostly vegan. Their mock meats contain egg and they use dairy milk in their stock. Also their diet suitability labelling is misleading. They don't have an egg symbol on the menu beside numerous dishes that contain egg in the mock meat.

My apologies for being the bearer of bad news.

charanratt

Points +91

Vegetarian
21 Aug 2015

Good food

It's my 2nd Visit and the food was good. But I felt the 1st time when I visited there a couple of years ago the food was better.

Pros: Many options

Cons: Expensive

Vegechips

Points +41

Vegetarian
05 May 2015

convenient Vegan restaurant

Close to the station opposite Langham hotel. Its open at night despite happy cow saying it's closed.
Nice views from 7th floor nice place to bring business people too.

selena

Points +362

Vegetarian
16 Mar 2015

pretty good

Nice to have a spot with lots of options, very clean, nice staff. Not so cheap, but fairly tasty.

Pros: nice staff, clean, large

Cons: little spendy

mazyogini

Points +38

Vegan
20 Jan 2015

Decent vegan options with no MSG & low sodium

I've eaten at Kung Tak Lam four times for lunch and dinner while visiting Hong Kong and it's worth noting how reasonably priced the food is here. It's become a haven for me when I want a good quick dinner where I don't have to worry about MSG and high sodium. I prefer the lunch menu as the serving sizes were better than what I got for dinner. They offer a good range of hot and cold options plus organic fruit drinks and the ladies will help you select, just be patient and open to a bit of cross-cultural communication (you're in Hong Kong after all!). Another thing worth mentioning is that I haven't had any food reactions eating here although I still choose non-soy/soy bean foods. I made the mistake of ordering the fried red bean balls off the separate dessert menu which doesn't say that it contains egg white but everything else is clearly marked on the full menu. If you need clarification staff are willing to advise. Service is speedy but staff have forgotten one thing that I've ordered every time I've been there and I've had to follow up. Views are nice but unless you're in a large group you can forget about a window table. If you're after dinner with a wow-View then you should go to iSquare Level 33 or ICC, Ritz Carlton etc. They do charge for the salted peanuts that are already on your table when you're seated.

Pros: Prices, Vegan options with no MSG, low sodium, Helpful but sometimes forgetful staff

Stevie

08 Oct 2015

Hi Mazy,

I also found that the quality of their diet suitability on the menu is abysmal. They have egg in a bunch of things that aren't included on the menu among the dishes that they mark as containing egg.

georgebarnett

Points +61

Vegan
20 Dec 2014

Good food, pushy and rude staff

The food was good. Not the best we've had but good. The staff however are abrupt and the dining experience is not a peaceful one.

Would not recommend. Try Paramita instead which is great.

Keelynm

Points +88

Vegan
13 Nov 2014

Pleasantly Surprised....

After reading several reviews on the topic of pushy and unreasonable staff, I was severely apprehensive of the restaurant. To avoid any hassle of choosing items, we chose the Set Menu For Four, which managed to please myself and my meat-eating family!
Our favourite dishes were 'Diced Veg Chicken in Hot Sauce' and the 'Glutinous Rice Ball Filled with Sesame Paste in Ginger Soup' which was a real highlight!

The view was wonderful as expected and the staff were certainly attentive which brought negatives and positives. Food service was quick but as we were towards the end of our meals, several staff members continued to hover near our table, eager to take the next empty plate. Thankfully I was facing away from this, but it made some of my family feel just a bit uncomfortable!

All in all a pleasant experience, we were not charged for peanuts or for our many pots of Chinese tea! If we had the time, I would have loved a second visit for lunch and that Ginger Soup dessert!! Mmmmm

Pros: Ginger Soup Dessert, The View, The Helpful Staff

Cons: Over attentive staff (not a huge problem)

vegan herbivore

Points +167

Mostly Veg
20 Jun 2014

Real restaurant

This is a real, happening restaurant with professional staff, white tablecloths, great views and an urban feel. The private room is great for events -- I had a birthday party there, and the staff made it comfortable as though we were entertaining at home. The set menu is expensive, but unfolds over a dozen courses like a royal banquet. Unlike some Chinese vegetarian restaurants, the food is not heavy, and seems actually healthful and thoughtfully prepared. The main restaurant can be crowded, and service is brisk.

Pros: Spacious and comfortable, Great views, Light and healthful offerings

Cons: Can be crowded, Service can be brisk, No liquor

KEG1106

Points +134

Vegan
05 Jun 2014

Fancy place with traditional style foods

This is the spot to pass the afternoon away sipping tea, eating dim sum and enjoying the nice view over the harbor. The white table cloths and dishes are something out of my imagination of a fancy pants tea hour. We ordered a variety of dishes, which were pretty traditional HK style foods. The flavors were straightforward and tasty. Enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. A few pics here http://kuriouskittenskookykrusades.blogspot.tw/2014/05/hong-kong.html

bonn93

Points +309

Vegetarian
04 Jan 2014

Quite bland but reasonably priced

The food here was quite bland (we tried four different dishes) and heavily centred on mock meats (personally I find mock shark fin a bit creepy). The food was mostly reasonably priced though. The highlight was that there are delicious fresh juices available.

u2nyr

Points +19

Mostly Veg
27 Apr 2013

Terrible Staff

The views are great and the food is good, but i will NEVER again walk into this restaurant. The staff is obnoxious. I walked in at 11:45 am and 2 of the 25 tables were occupied. I asked to sit by the window, they said "NO, you're one person and that's a table for 6, you must sit at this table for 4". THE PLACE WAS EMPTY! Another time We went to lunch at 2:30, i asked for dumplings, they said No, dumplings are only served until 2, now is 2:30, no dumplings. Anything you ask to be accomodated with they say No. They have a facist mentality of Do it our way or leave. Makes it unpleasant to be there. The rating is deceiving because happycow does not allow a rating of 1. This is a firmly 1-Cow establishment.

Pros: Good views & food

Cons: obnoxious staff, inflexible kitchen, ignorant management

freeprincebandar

Points +305

Vegan
25 Sep 2012

Views are worth going for despite the food

Food was just ok, nothing special. But the views are as noted in other reviews, lonely planet. If you arrive before the dinner rush you can have a nice table near the window overlooking the harbor. Waitstaff has creepy long fingernails common in Asia.

Pros: wonderful views

Cons: food just ok

KarPeiz

Points +17

Vegetarian
08 Feb 2012

Horrible service!!!

Although I have to agree with the other reviewers that the location, view & food is pretty good. I certainly need to update about the service I received this time round.

My 3rd time there n it's the most disappointing ever since.

My group of 9 went in and we got proposed with a HKD2399 set, as we had late lunch n my friends won't big eaters, we decided to order ala carte for the night. The staff serving me was really pushy and showed me black face after I ordered 6 dishes to be served before we decide if we wanna order more.

He approached me again after the first 2 dish was served and his colleague came again shortly. She urged me to order 2 more dishes but we were all feeling full already so I declined the request, she pushed and pushed and finally she said,"What u ordered is much lower than our minimum spending and this is putting us in s difficult position."

I explained that we are full already and no point ordering n wasting food. I mean what's the point if u b vegetarian to do a little part on saving the earth yet waste food right, yet she pushed and pushed...

So, unless u hack that attitude or is ready to spend a lot, if not, dun go.

WarmWhite

Points +46

Vegan
31 Dec 2011

Beautiful but Imperfect Buddhist Cuisine

Kung Tak Lam is possibly the best-located vegetarian restaurant in the world. With grand views of the Hong Kong Harbour, surrounded by sky tickling towers, it has a prominent advantage over any run-of-the-mill Buddhist restaurant. And for that reason, your hotel concierge will most likely recommend Kung Tak Lam when you ask about a vegetarian restaurant.

If you're a neophyte to the Chinese Buddhist cuisine, you're in for a treat. Any dish you can imagine from the Chinese, and particularly Cantonese cuisine, is available here in a mostly animal-free version.

But, if like this reviewer, you've tasted Buddhist cuisine far and wide, you'll notice that the grand view has perhaps relaxed the kitchen hands, leading to wide variance in the quality of dishes.

Of further concern is the heavy reliance on mock meat, fish and shellfish, to a point where a truly healthy, unprocessed dishes are hard to come by. Overall: a good introduction to Buddhist cuisine, for yourself or someone close to you.

Pros: Views, Service

Cons: Wide variance in quality




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