13 venues in Shanghai rated S to B for vegan, every tier backed by cited sources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ZAO ZI Shu is a vegetarian chain that promotes itself as 'smoke-free, alcohol-free, egg-free, and meat-free'. Multiple HappyCow reviews from vegan diners confirm that staff repeatedly stated 'everything's vegan - no dairy or eggs' and that the menu marks dishes as vegetarian rather than vegan. The Shanghai government guide notes the founder is a well-known figure in the vegetarian community. While the restaurant has no formal accreditation, the owner-led ethos and staff awareness suggest a strong structural commitment to vegan options.
The restaurant serves Buddhist-inspired vegetarian food. A vegan diner described a meal as 'vegan' and noted the food was 'delicious'. No source explicitly confirms the kitchen is 100% vegan, for example no honey or dairy in all dishes. The restaurant is primarily known as vegetarian. It is likely vegan-friendly, but the evidence is insufficient for a higher tier.
Vegan options are clearly marked on the menu and staff are aware of vegan requirements, but some dishes contain egg and there is no dedicated vegan preparation area. Multiple reviews note that vegan options are clearly marked and ingredients clearly listed, with staff described as helpful in identifying vegan dishes. Several reviews, however, warn that some dishes contain egg, and one HappyCow reviewer explicitly states the food is "not vegan or vegetarian" due to crab powder. Cross-contamination risk with egg is acknowledged.
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.
The standard tasting menu is mostly vegan but includes dairy in dessert. Reviews on HappyCow and Wanderlog confirm a fully vegan meal is available on request ('ask for it'). However, the kitchen is shared with lacto-vegetarian dishes that include dairy, so cross-contamination risk exists. Staff are reportedly aware and accommodating.
HappyCow lists the venue as 'Vegan-friendly' and 'Vegetarian'. Multiple HappyCow reviews explicitly warn that not all dishes are vegan: 'Be aware of the non-vegan dishes' (JakobBosch, Jul 2020), 'Obviously not all vegan, Many dishes containing eggs' (sam31786, Nov 2019), 'It's vegeterian, you have to ask for vegan option' (rszewczyk, Jun 2019). One reviewer advises using Google Translate to tell them 'no egg' (NonstopDan, Oct 2018). The venue is vegetarian with vegan options available on request, but cross-contamination risk exists and vegan dishes are not marked on the menu.
stockMarked menu identifies vegan, vegetarian, and Buddhist dishes. Multiple reviews confirm most options are vegan, but a few dishes contain dairy. Shared kitchen with vegetarian items; no dedicated vegan fryer or prep area reported. Venue reported closed as of August 2022.
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.