Free-from restaurants in Shanghai

Gongdelin

Huang Pu Qu · Vegetarian · Chinese · €⁠€

Gongdelin is a 100% vegetarian restaurant with over 100 years of history, serving Buddhist-inspired vegetarian dishes. Multiple sources confirm that no meat or animal products are used. The restaurant is described as 'fully vegetarian' and 'vegetarian Shanghai cuisine,' and it holds a Michelin award.

ZAO ZI Shu

Shang Hai Shi · Chinese · Vegan · €⁠€

The restaurant is a dedicated vegetarian chain, known as Jujube Tree or Zao Zi Shu, built around a founding philosophy of smoke-free, alcohol-free, egg-free, and meat-free dishes. The Shanghai government guide identifies it as one of the first vegetarian restaurants in the city, founded in 2001. Multiple HappyCow reviews and the Wanderlog listing consistently describe it as fully vegetarian. The kitchen is structurally dedicated to vegetarian cuisine.

Vegetarian Lifestyle

Jing'An · Chinese · €⁠€

100% vegetarian restaurant chain (Zao Zi Shu / Jujube Tree) – no meat, fish, or poultry on the premises. Dedicated vegetarian kitchen, confirmed by multiple listings and reviews. No accreditation required because the kitchen is structurally meat-free.

Chunfeng Songyuelou

Shang Hai Shi · Vegetarian · Vegan · €⁠€

Chunfeng Songyuelou is a 100% dedicated vegetarian restaurant. No meat is kept on the premises. Multiple sources confirm that the restaurant is entirely plant-based or vegetarian. The editor's description on SmartShanghai calls it "strictly plant-based." Numerous HappyCow reviews describe it as "all vegetarian" and a "100% vegetarian/vegan only restaurant." The restaurant has operated as a dedicated vegetarian kitchen since 1910.

Jixiang Cao

Huang Pu Qu · Chinese · €⁠€

Dedicated vegan restaurant with no animal products on the premises. HappyCow lists it as a vegan restaurant, and multiple community reviews confirm no meat, dairy, or eggs are used. The Culinary Backstreets article and Wanderlog list also classify it as vegetarian/vegan. Reported closed as of Jan 2019.

Da Shu Wu Jie the Bund No.22 Rest.

Shang Hai Shi · Chinese · €⁠€

Listed as a vegetarian/vegan restaurant on SmartShanghai; editor description confirms dishes are made without meat (mock meats like tonkatsu and lemongrass chicken 'without the rou'). Implies a dedicated vegetarian kitchen (no meat on premises).

Ru if Vegan

Jing An Qu · Fast food · €⁠€

The restaurant is 100% vegan, with no animal products on the premises, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. Multiple sources confirm that all dishes are plant-based, and the kitchen avoids the five pungent spices, specifically garlic and onion. It is a dedicated vegan kitchen.

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Pure & Whole

Shang Hai Shi · Vegan · Vegetarian · €⁠€

100% vegetarian kitchen — no meat, fish, or poultry on premises. Multiple sources confirm the venue is a dedicated vegetarian restaurant. Venue reported closed as of August 2022.

Pie Society • Canteen

Shang Hai Shi · Vegan · €⁠€

Pie Society • Canteen has been described as a "popular vegan and meat-free eatery" by Wanderlog and hosted a dedicated Vegan Thanksgiving event, as noted by SmartShanghai. This suggests a kitchen that operates without animal products on site.

Yeye Bodhi Shanghai Vegetarian Flagship Shop

Xu Hui Qu · Chinese · €⁠€

This restaurant operates as a fully vegetarian establishment; no meat is present on the premises. HappyCow, Wanderlog, and Slaylebrity consistently describe it as a vegetarian or vegan-friendly fine-dining option. The kitchen is structurally 100% dedicated to vegetarian cooking, which eliminates any possibility of meat contamination.

Mingsheng Vegetarian Restaurant

徐汇区 Shang Hai Shi · Chinese · €⁠€

Vegan Delights is a fully vegan restaurant. Its kitchen uses no animal products whatsoever. Multiple HappyCow reviews and the venue's own category confirm that all dishes, from mock meats to desserts, are vegan. Staff confirm that everything is vegan. This is effectively a 100% dedicated vegan kitchen.

Linhu Vegetarian

Shang Hai Shi · Chinese · €⁠€

HappyCow lists the Shanghai branch as a Vegan restaurant. Multiple user reviews confirm that everything is vegan. The kitchen is entirely plant-based, which makes the presence of animal products structurally impossible. No external accreditation is cited, but the dedicated kitchen meets the Tier A threshold.

Cuncaoxin Yizumu Homemade Vegetarian

Pu Dong Xin Qu · Chinese · Vegan · €⁠€

On HappyCow, the venue is explicitly listed as a 'Vegetarian' restaurant, with a description stating it serves 'Chinese veggie dishes with mock meats'. Multiple HappyCow reviews confirm it is a vegetarian restaurant. The venue's name includes 'Homemade Vegetarian'. The Shanghai government website recommends it as a vegetarian restaurant. The venue is a dedicated vegetarian establishment.

Va Bene

Huangpu · Italian · €⁠€

Va Bene to-go in Haan, Germany offers gluten-free pizza, which requires a 24-hour advance order, and pasta prepared with care by a knowledgeable chef who understands coeliac disease. The kitchen is not dedicated gluten-free, and cross-contamination risk is acknowledged. Two coeliac reviewers report positive experiences. The venue is not listed on Coeliac Australia's accreditation page, which lists Australian venues only.

The Press

Huang Pu Qu · · €⁠€

The Press Wine Bar in Tremont, Cleveland, had a chef who marked gluten-free items on a menu. Multiple options were offered. The venue is not a dedicated gluten-free facility and is now archived or closed. No accreditation or dedicated kitchen evidence is present.

Bella Napoli

Shang Hai Shi · Italian · €⁠€

Bella Napoli offers a dedicated gluten-free crust prepared separately to reduce cross-contamination, and pasta can be made gluten-free with advance notice. Staff are accommodating. No accreditation or dedicated kitchen exists. One source, a blog, suggests reasonable safety for coeliacs, though verification remains limited.

Mercato

Huang Pu Qu · · €⁠€

Multiple community reviews report AIC (Italian Celiac Association) accreditation. A separate gluten-free menu is available, along with a dedicated fryer, dedicated kitchen space, a dedicated pizza oven, a dedicated pasta pot, and separately packaged cutlery and plates. Staff are knowledgeable and food is flagged. This is not a dedicated gluten-free facility, but strong structural safety measures are in place.

Goodfellas

Waitan · · €⁠€

Goodfellas is not a dedicated gluten-free facility. Community reports confirm the restaurant uses a dedicated gluten-free pasta pot and water, employs knowledgeable staff, and marks allergens on menu items. Multiple coeliac diners report no adverse reactions across several visits, with staff accommodating gluten-free pasta and other items. Some risk remains from a shared general kitchen and a possible shared fryer (only one report of a dedicated fryer exists). The venue’s menu is clearly marked for gluten-free options, and staff demonstrate strong allergen awareness.

wagas

Huang Pu Qu · Cafe · €⁠€

Wagas is described as serving western-style plant-based dishes and appears in a 'vegan restaurants' list for Beijing. Menu likely marks vegan options but uses shared kitchen equipment. No dedicated fryer or kitchen reported.

Bottega

Shang Hai Shi · Italian · Pizza · €⁠€

Bottega appears on Find Me Gluten Free with a 'GF Menu' tag and 5 safety ratings out of 9 total. A featured review notes a knowledgeable staff member who could identify safe dishes, including salads, meat, and mozzarella. The venue is a pizza restaurant serving Neapolitan pizzas made with 00 flour in a shared kitchen, and no dedicated fryer, dedicated kitchen, or accreditation is noted. Cross-contamination risk is present.

The Fellas

Waitan · Italian · €⁠€

The venue offers a gluten-free menu with marked items (GF pasta, salad, dessert) and staff who discuss allergies with diners, but no dedicated fryer is noted and the establishment is explicitly not a dedicated gluten-free facility. Two community reviews from gluten-intolerant/sensitive individuals report positive experiences after speaking with the manager. No dedicated prep area or fryer is noted; shared kitchen cross-contamination risk is acknowledged.

Beef & Liberty

Shang Hai Shi · Burgers · American · €⁠€

Vegan options at the Hong Kong airport branch, the Impossible Burger, falafel burger, vegan bun and cheese, are clearly marked with (VG) on the menu, and staff can advise on modifications. The same marking is assumed for Shanghai. There is no dedicated vegan preparation area, as the kitchen is shared with meat. Vegan options are limited but clearly communicated.

Mammamia (Shanghai Branch)

Shang Hai Shi · Italian · Pizza · €⁠€

Mammamia offers a full menu of Napoletana-style pizzas, handmade pastas, and grilled items, many of which are naturally vegetarian (e.g. Margherita pizza, pasta with tomato sauce, salads). The menu is not explicitly marked for vegetarian dishes, but the venue's description of 'classic Italian comfort food' and 'family-friendly trattoria' suggests a standard Italian menu where vegetarian options are available. Staff are likely able to identify vegetarian dishes on request. Shared kitchen with meat dishes means cross-contact is possible.

Scena

Pu Dong Xin Qu · Pizza · Cafe · €⁠€

Several restaurants in Scena provide gluten-free options, including Lido Schenna with its gluten-free pizza, Alpenrose Hotel Café offering what it calls cuisine without glutine, Emmi Café & Bistro with gluten-free dishes, and Konditorei Bäckerei Höfler selling gluten-free cakes. No dedicated gluten-free kitchen, accredited certification, or separate fryer and preparation area has been noted. The common Italian practice of using a shared oven and shared prep space is implied. One community comment concerning Ramilia-Waldschenke mentions a same-oven caveat, noting a cross-contamination risk. The overall arrangement of a marked menu alongside shared facilities places the location in Tier D.