Vegan-friendly
Chinese
Take-out
功德林 brand was originally established in 1922. Offers extensive menu with a variety of mock meats. Serves noodles on the first floor and the full menu on the second floor. Some menu items are in English. Air-conditioned. Reported to close earlier than stated times. Open Mon-Sun 5:00pm-9:00pm.
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Last update on 20 Oct 2019 by Knut-Martin
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52 Reviews
First Review by tofutodd
Red Willow
Points +20
Favorite dish at Gong De Lin - Edit
I was directed to this restaurant by two very enthusiastic Chinese women who were delighted that a foreigner was interested in vegan food. I went to the West Nanjing road site, though there are many others, including small take-home- portion stores. The best dish I've had there is the "tofu and fake crab meat". I find this extremely addicting. But, alas, it is the only really good thing I've discovered so far. I find most of the "meat" dishes leave something to be desired- not the right consistancy or flavor. But an order of tofu and a plate of stir-fried veggies along with a huge 4 RMB pot of tea is worth stopping for.
Read morePros: large portions, many locations, good atmosphere
Cons: inconsistant quality
Guest
PatrickvanderLinde
Points +789
Tasty but a little bit on the oily side - Edit
This restaurant has a huge variety of mock meats. As a vegan it is quite weird to see sharkfin soup and prawns on the menu. But since these are mock meats I decided to give the three fish soup a go and shredded beef with mushrooms in a pepper sauce. I actually enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The rice that I got on the side was nice and sticky. It was actually the perfect food after a long flight. As a critique I think the food was a little bit too oily and texture wise I expected a little bit more of the three fish soup. But the spices made up for it quite a bit.
Read morePros: Very large menu (almost too large), Nice relaxed atmosphere
Cons: A little bit too oily
Guest
peanutplans
Points +2877
Yummy chinese food - Edit
We had a very nice time here. All was yummy and service was solid.
Read morePros: yummy food, countless options
Guest
MarcSchoch
Points +112
Traditional Chinese taste - Edit
So many dishes to choose from.
Read moreGreat location in the middle of Shanghai. Big recommendation.
Cheer Marc
Pros: Location next to People's square , Huge variety of vegan and vegetarian food , Traditional Chinese taste
Guest
kev_bite
Points +163
Good food! - Edit
All vegetarian food, and a great selection!
Read moreGuest
vegaanistadissa
Points +62
Deli shop - Edit
I went to the restaurant but it was closed between lunch and dinner time (see photo for opening times). So instead I went to the deli shop next door and got some ready-to-eat foods, only the wontons need to be cooked. Everything I got was vegan (I checked with the shop employees).
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-04-24
Pros: Lots of vegan options, Everything was delicious and very traditional, Can be used in cooking
Cons: Mostly Chinese descriptions
Guest
WanderlustMemoir
Points +319
Mediocre breakfast noodles - Edit
Our visit to the Nanjing West Road branch was to eat their signature noodles as breakfast. As this was our first time visiting, we randomly ordered 1 spicy bowl and 1 mushroom bowl. The soup base for these 2 bowls were different and I personally preferred the mushroom noodles. It felt that the more expensive noodles generally are tastier. Our food arrived quite quickly, though the restaurant was at least 80% occupied with customers even at our time of arrival at around 9am. The noodles were sold off rapidly as the name board gets updated almost instantaneously even before we finished our food.
Read moreThe Nanjing West Road branch has 2 floors, I believe. For breakfast, only the ground floor is opened to customers, and has a maximum capacity of around 50 people. My mum was delighted to discover an annexed shop full of vegetarian pastry sold under the same restaurant. There was also another small counter with a rather long queue opened for selling freshly made buns, vegetarian duck and other lunch food for takeaway only. We bought many moon cake pastries and 1 bun, and my mum simply loved the bun!
This branch is conveniently located near People’s Square train station. As our hotel is within walking distance to this restaurant, we spent around 30 minutes walking from our hotel. However, we had to repeatedly asked for direction as the walk is not straight forward and the building is not easy to locate.
Updated from previous review on 2020-07-25
Pros: Cheap breakfast, Efficient and prompt service, Sells freshly made buns
Cons: Delicious noodes tend to be slightly pricey, Location is too far from my hotel, Customer service slightly crude
Guest
Gabi95
Points +221
Extensive menu and nice mock meats - Edit
Good range of mock meats and personal faves are the kungpao chicken 宫保鸡丁 and pork floss 肉松
Read moreGuest
·X·
Points +18987
Godly - Edit
I walked 40 minutes (round trip) to Godly for dinner tonight and arrived at 7:45PM. Even though there were people in the restaurant and other people ordering food, I was turned away ... they just said to me “closed”. They wouldn’t even let me order takeaway. Um, OK... Happy Cow lists this restaurant as being open until 9PM.
Read moreGuest
feministtraveller
Points +114
Disappointing, yet surprising - Edit
I am utterly confused - in the reviews it seems that this is a restaurant. However, this is a weird kind of take-out!
Read moreI was surprised by the vegetarian chicken feet they had (the staff assured me that they were vegetarian though). I decided not to go too crazy and ordered a serving of a satay-sauce seitan dish. You pay per gram, and I paid around 14 RMB for a rather big portion. However, the food was cold - so be aware that this is not a convenient to-go option. I had to throw it away since it did not taste good as cold as it was.
They also have a variety of vegetarian baozi that are around twice the normal Shanghai price. Paid 3,5 RMB for a warm spinach-tofu baozi, which was ok.
I felt slightly depressed after this sad food experience to be honest.
Pros: 100 % Vegetarian, "Interesting" fake meat options
Cons: Staff only speaks Chinese, menu only in Chinese, Cold food, No seating
vegaanistadissa
There’s a restaurant (on the left) and a shop (on the right) with separate entrances. I almost missed the restaurant because I saw the shop first. The restaurant has opening times for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the shop is open all day.
Read moreGuest
Koby
Points +277
Good! - Edit
Big and old restaurant in a big and old building.
Read moreprofessional waiters, large round tables with maps, like in the old days.
Food's very good, lot of faux meat, extensive menu, a bit pricey.
...and they charge 2RMB for the napkin towel ... :)
Recommended at least for one visit.
Guest
Cha80
Points +21
Yuck - Edit
Much exhalted restaurant was highly disappointing. Service was terrible. I had to go in search of waiting staff twice to get their attention. No basic niceties, tea, napkins etc. Ugly cheap looking restaurant interior like a Thai beach bar. Food was awful. It all has poetic names on the menu “dancing fish” and “bundles of straw” so you’ve no idea what it is unless you’re prepared to engage the uninterested wait staff. I ordered a supposedly braised ‘fish’ fish expecting the famous mock meat/fish and got a frankly inedible soupy thing of sliced unpleasantly textured mushrooms in a colourless tasteless snotlike sauce. The other was another soupy thing slightly less repulsive. I can eat almost anything in china and never waste food but this was sicky burp material..:(
Read morePros: There were none.
Cons: Awful food, Terrible service , Quite expensive
Guest
chinka666
Points +85
Not very good food and expensive - Edit
It was such a disappointment this restaurant. Small portions if you compare it to other veg. places in China. And food was nothing special. We had 5 different diches and each of them had similar taste. Just salty and...yep, that's all. Tottaly not worth to go there.
Read morePros: In the city center
Cons: Expensiv, Food is not very tasty, Small portions
Guest
juliotnunes
Points +744
Gong-de-lin-Godly - Edit
Friendly staff and willing to help even though I didn’t speak Chinese. The portions are decent but have to say it is a little oily and salty. If you’re looking for something all vegan then I would say have a stop here.
Read moreThe restaurant is on the corner but it’s the wrong address written. If you go around the corner you will find it.
Pros: Friendly staff
Cons: Oily, Salty
Guest
michiemich315
Points +60
More like unGodly restaurant. - Edit
Honestly I would give this one star if I could. We went after a long day out excited to finally get a satisfying, stress-free vegetarian dinner for three. But although the place seemed like a lovely atmosphere the inside was anything but.
Read moreFirstly, even though we even arrived earlier than opening time, most the dishes on the menu we wanted to order had apparently run out, and as we tried to order alternatives we were frustratingly told various others were not available either. Forgive me, but if you put out a menu, as a customer I expect it to be available and not have to feel like I am choosing from remains. Also, no apologies were expressed, instead the waiter just said some of the dishes of choice was not in season or the ingredients easily spoil so they aren’t making it. Not my problem, if it’s not readily available you shouldn’t have it on your menu.
The food itself was mediocre too, very oily, salty, and mostly all similarly just drenched in a tonne of flavoured sauce. Might be personal taste but I prefer lighter dishes with more variety with vegetables. Would definitely say, if you are not into mock meats then don’t come here.
Pros: Pleasant decor
Cons: Terrible customer service, Half menu missing, Oily, salty food, mostly mock meats
Guest
HelenWoods
Points +387
Oldest vego restaurant - Edit
Easy to find, cheap and comfortable. A must visit for vegans in Shanghai.
Read morePros: Huge variety.
Cons: Live fish on display 😢
Guest
Hans
Points +115
Don’t miss this one - Edit
Old classic - in an old classic building and busy
Read morePros: Almost hundred years and going
Guest
los_tofu_hermanos
Points +97
A must visit - best food I had in Shanghai - Edit
Really delicious. We asked the waiter for a good selection of food for our group and agreed a very reasonable price of 60rmb/head. The waiter brought us two bottles of rice wine for free (I think it was a promotion at the time). Waiters speak some English, but it helps if you have a mandarin speaker in your group.
Read moreThe selection of mock meats is mad, everything from Jellyfish and Sharkfin, to pork ribs. They have some none mock meats available too (tofu/mushrooms/dumplings/etc.)
Pros: Delicious, Unusual mock meats
Guest
oneokrock
Points +159
Local restaurant with history, vegetarian duck is 👌 - Edit
My uncle often comes here to get vegan food for my grandma. This is a very traditional restaurant, winning hearts of locals, especially the older generations. When you mention vegetarian food, this is the restaurant they will think of right away.
Read moreThey have really nice packaged soy foods, veggie mantou's, and vegan moon cake. I really like their 素鸭 ("vegetarian duck" -- it's more of a soy food that a mock meat).
Guest
AlexAitken
Points +26
Good - Edit
Mock meat based restaurant with some veg based options. Menu in English too!
Read moreFood was good but not amazing
Guest
Scottishvet
Points +456
Average - Edit
Again it was ok. Food a little oily. Staff were helpful. Not many other vegan options in town
Read moreGuest
oskeewowwow
Points +889
Large Vegan Shanghai Style Restaurant - Edit
I really enjoyed the extensive menu and local style food. A large assortment of mock meats and veggies in a convenient location
Read morePros: Large dining area, Extensive mock meats
Cons: Service is a bit difficult
Guest
thevegscram
Points +52
good if you like mock meat or miss real meat - Edit
I had the spring rolls (6RMB) and the Peking duck (30RMB). It was good but nothing amazing, probably really cool for vegans/vegos who miss meat or just wanna try it out. Fully vegan which is nice.
Read moreGuest
DiogoFariasRodrigue
Points +18
Great Surprise! - Edit
Wasn't expecting such a good restaurant after reading some reviews. The food is great! I came here with omnivore friends and everyone loved the food. Ask them to recommend dishes, they'll point you to the best!
Read morePros: The food is all vegan.
Cons: nothing to add
Guest
veganagnes
Points +32
Delicious mock meat! - Edit
I've been here 3 times and enjoyed the food every time. They specialize in mock meat like chicken, duck, beef and fish. Many dishes use mushroom or vegetables to simulate the meat texture. My favorite dishes are Sesame chicken, fish in sweet and sour sauce and Mock duck (names of dishes might be slightly different). Also enjoyed the meatballs with vegetables. I'm impressed every time at how tasty the food is and how closely it resembles the actual meat.
Read moreDefinately recommend!
Guest
XOXO
Points +1776
Goos stufff - Edit
Mock meats, not my thing but all tasted good.
Read moreEnjoy
yup
They have a lot of dishes various protein sources that do not contain mock meats.
Read moreGuest
yup
Points +112
These negative reviews are wack - Edit
So I read through most of these reviews before I went today. All of the negative reviews critique chinese customs/shanghai cuisine. If you want some overly seasoned food, ice water, and ordering in english, stay in a western country! If you actually want good, shanghai cuisine done veg, come here. I have been craving a good beijing style duck since I went veg, and this place finally sated that need. The "skin" was amazing, and it was the kind of fake duck that's marinated, rolled up tofu skin. The tofu with "crab roe" is flavored impeccably. The taro with wood ears has the best consistency. The [insert the name of the thing that's related to a water chestnut but is kind of shaped like horns], ginkgo nut, and peppers is delicately seasoned, as not to overpower the subtle flavors of the ingredients. This is the point of shanghai cuisine; to not overpower or cover up the flavors of the ingredients. Plain veggie dishes can be seen as "oily", but the oil gives them the fat they need to have oomph. Sugar makes appearances in places westerners may not expect, but give it a chance. Liquids here are not cold, as cold liquids are thought to hamper digestion. Respect native cuisine and customs, guys. If you're not willing to, just stay home.
Read morePros: Shanghai cuisine done veg, Great prices, Juices are good, too
Cons: It's a CHINESE restaurant in CHINA, Sorrynotsorry it's not westernized enough for you
Guest
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