CLOSED: Fu Tian Yuan

Fu Tian Yuan Restaurant earned one of the coveted 5-star HappyCow window stickers! They are definitely vegan with no meat, eggs, milk, and not even added sugar! We were also pleasantly surprised at the distinct limited use of oil. Such a blessing!

It is all you can eat for only 28 RMB as of the date of this review. Please note they have a special “Happy Hour” for 18 RMB from 1-2 PM and from 7-8 PM. That’s all you can eat from WHAT IS REMAINING. Also note though that the selection could be limited during this time! (We left at 1 PM and noted there was still a good selection; however, that could have run out quickly, so please be aware!) They will give you a 3 RMB coupon to clear your own dishes if you are so inclined.

The staff was VERY friendly, however their English may be a bit limited. This is not a problem, as there is no menu. You just walk up and down the two sides of one long table and load up your plate as many times as you would like. There is also a selection of soups, fresh fruit, several cold drinks (juices) and hot tea, etc.

The food is excellent, with a large selection of vegetable and tofu dishes. There was no mock meat that we noted the day we were there. This is all good, healthy, Chinese food!

It is conveniently located not too far from the Da Shi Jie subway station on Line 8. Take exit 1 and walk east on Ninghai East Rd. and then left (north) on Zhejiang South Rd. to Fu Tian Yuan. It is correctly located in the HappyCow app. map.

I was so relieved to find this around the corner from my hostel in Shanghai. It seems to be relatively new and I'm told that it's a Buddhist establishment with the mission of serving affordable and healthy food. The buffet is 28RMB which is cheap even for a single dish in any other veg*n restaurant I've found in the central city.

Astonishingly, the service is good. This is extremely rare in a cheap urban Chinese restaurant! But the staff (though extremely little English is spoken) seemed genuinely pleased that I came and were willing to help. All three times in two days.

The food is pretty good, a lot of variety and choices (and you can always go back for more). Dishes change daily and include a lot of fresh vegetables as well as tofu and mock meat options. You won't be able to predict the taste from what each dish looks like!

The restaurant is relatively clean and spacious and chilled out. The surrounding area is culturally interesting and extremely stinky.