Vegan-friendly
Chinese
Buddhist
龍門樓 is a Chinese Buddhist eatery beside the waterfall in the Nan Liang Garden. Very busy, pre-booking urged. Nearest MTR Diamond Hill Exit C2, then follow signs. Open Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm, Mon-Sun 6:00pm-9:00pm, Sat-Sun 12:00pm-5:30pm.
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Long Men Lou, Nan Lian Garden, 60 Fung Tak Rd, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, Diamond Hill
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- Wheelchair accessible
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Last update on 04 Oct 2018 by Thejenwong
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Added by orchid53 on 01 Mar 2008
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25 Reviews
First Review by JohnnySensible
Natbar
Points +1055
Many options, busy at lunch time - Edit
If you want to sit next to the waterfall windows you either have to book or get there early I guess, we went around 12 (opening time) and we were seated on the second floor with no view. The food is really good and there are many vegan options.
Read moreGuest
jennyc32
Points +4064
Tasty Dishes in Lovely Location - Edit
It was really pleasant to combine a walk around Nan Lian garden and Chi Lin nunnery with a meal in this restaurant. We made a reservation - the restaurant wasn't super busy at 6pm, but did fill up quite a bit after that. We were a group of four and ordered four main dishes and one side to share, plus dessert.
Read moreWe ordered the braised porcini with "water ghost" bean curd casserole from the chef's recommendations section of the menu. I really loved all the mushrooms and tofu in this, and it tasted delicious.
The Singapore noodles were not very spicy at all. They were standard Singapore noodles, not mind-blowing but perfectly pleasant.
The braised bean curd patty filled with enoki mushrooms was tasty. There were four little parcels in the serving. They were generously filled, but a little tricky to bite through. There was some broccoli on the side of this dish too.
Our favourite dish was the braised eggplant and wheat gluten with sweet and sour "Yan nim" sauce. The eggplant was cooked perfectly so it was nice and tender. Usually I don't enjoy sweet and sour sauce, but this was really flavoursome and well balanced.
We also got a side dish of bok choy, which were pleasantly small and tasted fine.
The steamed brown sugar and ginger cake was really tasty! It's not a sponge cake, it's quite gelatinous in texture. The ginger taste is so strong, it's got a really great kick to it. I loved it!
The menu is in English and staff were attentive and helpful. There were quite a few dishes on the menu that I've never tried before, so it was a fun opportunity to try something a bit different.
There's no vegan labelling on the menu, you just have to hope that only the dishes that obviously list cheese/egg in the menu are non-vegan.
Updated from previous review on 2024-08-08
Guest
MayaKapila
Points +230
Fantastic!! - Edit
Loved the asparagus and lily bulb dumplings; they were delicious! Mango soda was also very good. Restaurant staff were helpful; they said everything is vegan except the items labelled with ‘milk’ or ‘cheese’. (Not ideal for those who do not like mushrooms — my fungus-hating friend was disappointed.) Would definitely recommend!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-08-05
Pros: Amazing dumplings
Cons: On the expensive side
Guest
yumchadong
Points +5588
Serene setting - Edit
Located within the tranquil grounds of a Buddhist temple complex, this visit offers a peaceful escape from the bustling city. The gardens alone are worth a visit.
Read moreLots of options, some are quite nice. The beancurd patties are my fave.
Updated from previous review on 2024-06-29
Guest
umu
Points +126
Okay - Edit
Went primarily to see the Chi Lin nunnery and gardens that it's located in (they are beautiful and absolutely worth visiting!). We went at noon on a Sunday and got a table without any wait. We didn't actually enjoy the set meal that much, although the portions were very generous for 2. While I didn't ask to confirm, the taste of the meal makes me think they don't use the pungent spices (garlic, onion, etc) as is done in the Buddhist tradition. That's fine, but I've enjoyed other fully Buddhist restaurants significantly more. Mostly vegan. Perhaps worth noting that the staff speak limited English so badic
Read moreGuest
KadiHarmon
Points +8562
Delicious!! - Edit
I wish I was hungrier while I was here bc I woulda loved to try more things! The nice guy sitting next to me gave me one of his dim sum, and I loved the braised bean curd and the greens and cordyceps I ordered. Everything was so fresh and healthy!
Read moreGuest
vegan_cara
Points +301
Simple Veggie Chinese Food - Edit
Really enjoyed our meal here! We had the steamed enoki mushroom and vegetable dumplings and the mushroom wonton soup, both were very tasty and freshly cooked. We also tried the steamed brown sugar and ginger pudding. The service was good and the staff were very hygienic. It is very busy and make sure to ask if food contains dairy if you are vegan, as some dishes contain milk. Overall a really nice experience!
Read morePros: Wide variety of food, Excellent service
Cons: Minimum spend limit
Guest
Ar31ss
Points +20
Stunning location yummy vegan food - Edit
Love the location within a buddhist nunnery. Friendly staff, spacious seats, vegan, clean space and yummy vegan food. Nourishing compassion towards all beings
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-06-04
Pros: Lovely, calming ambiance , Vegan , Spacious seats
Guest
JessPeirce
Points +647
Cute restaurant under a waterfall - Edit
The food was really yum but they do have a minimum spend of 120HKD person.
Read moreIt wasn’t that busy when we went and the tea was yum as well.
But the location is gorgeous
Guest
fleabo
Points +20
Delicious! - Edit
I was taken here by a local guide and she picked our food. It was soooo good! The appetiser was amazing to taste, and beautiful to look at too. I tried a few different soups, and some tofu dishes, all were really good. Very good value for money. I loved the tea they served with the meal too. The place was busy, it's clearly very popular. The setting itself is very peaceful. Be sure to walk around the garden and visit the Buddhist nunnery. I had struggled to find vegan food in the area and had skipped a few meals because I couldn't find anything to eat, so this place was a godsend! Next time I am in Hong Kong I will be going back for sure!
Read morePros: Lovely menu, Beautiful setting, Good value
Cons: The restaurant itself wasn't that stylish, I think you might have to wait for a table at time
Guest
Dazbris
Points +875
Excellent Chinese vegan food - Edit
I would highly recommend this place for authentic and quite unusual Buddhist style food. No mock meat and mostly vegan. Worth booking ahead otherwise a bit of a wait for a table.
Read moreGuest
mcquinten2
Points +231
Wouldn't go again - Edit
When you enter they put signs on that you have to spend a certain amount or else you will pay a kind of "tax" so if you go alone you really have to see that you can eat a lot. This is the first time I see this (or maybe some restaurants also say this but I have never noticed in Asia xD )
Read moreBut beside that some people asked a waiter to take a photo of them and he wanted to do that until of his seniors saw it and said to him no no no photos... I was like okay >_
Cons: expensive, no photos, have to spent a certain amout of money
Guest
MarsiaMS
Points +269
Good but pricey - Edit
Good food, although some dishes were very Western. A bit pricey too. The location is fantastic.
Read morePros: Tasty food
Cons: Expensive
Guest
KarimKanfoudi
Points +275
Very pleasant... - Edit
The restaurant itself is situation in the beautiful gardens of Nan Lian, when inside your able to see the waterfall outside, giving the restaurant a very unique and lively experience.
Read moreAs a vegan there are choices, but felt slightly limited with dishes available. That being said, almost everything is sourced locally and organic.
Guest
Citizen Wren
Points +283
too popular! - Edit
we called about a week before for a reservation on Saturday night but they were already booked. we wanted to see the gardens anyway so popped in for afternoon tea, but everything was sold out except the sticky rice cakes! still enjoyed those, the complimentary pu-erh tea, and two juices (minimum $50 per person so we had to get the drinks even though we would have preferred tea and snacks). it was a nice experience and the gardens are beautiful, but I wish it wasn't so popular so we could have tried more of the food!
Read moreCons: sold out of everything
Guest
nafanc
Points +1615
Fantastic meal in a beautiful setting - Edit
This restaurant offers wonderful food in delightful environs. We ordered the 5 course set meal, which included a soup, fried termite mushrooms, sweet and sour wheat gluten, watercress, and agarics with chestnuts in brown sauce. The meal also included tea, rice, and fruit.
Read moreI especially enjoyed the sweet and sour wheat gluten. I was pleasantly surprised - I am usually wary of sweet and sour dishes, as they often come up goopy, cloyingly sweet, or imbalanced in some other way. This dish blew my preconceptions out of the water, offering balanced flavors and crisp yet chewy wheat gluten. I also really liked the termite mushrooms, which were delicately battered and fried to perfection. Those were the highlights, but in truth, the entire meal was superb.
Although the meal was pricier than most meals we've had in Hong Kong, we found this to be some of the cleanest, tastiest, and most wholesome food we've had during our stay.
Note: reservations are highly recommended, as they fill up their dining room quickly. However, it is possible to get a seat as a walk-in, if you're lucky. We happened to be lucky and were able to get seating for two without prior reservation.
Pros: Delicious, Beautiful setting, Wholesome
Cons: Pricey
Guest
Stevie
Points +11765
Chi Lin Vegetarian, Hong Kong - Edit
I attended today as part of a group of 20 with the Meat Free Hong Kong meetup.com group. I found it very enjoyable as the others appear to have also.
Read moreIt's very popular and so they don't take reservations for any old time that you want. Instead they have pre arranged sitting times. They had a set lunch deal for 120 HKD which when we ordered a small extra meant the deal came to 130 each. It seemed pretty reasonable to me. The food was very pleasant, the decor is similarly perfectly pleasant, no issues with service and the surrounding garden is beautiful.
One word of caution is on my previous attempt to visit was for the mid afternoon short menu between lunch & dinner. For that they didn't have anything that was vegan friendly.
Updated from previous review on Sunday October 19, 2014
Pros: Vegan friendly, Tasty food, Beautiful setting
Guest
JChan
Points +110
Zen experience - Edit
The restaurant is at the north end of the famous and beautiful Buddhist garden in Diamond Hill. A walk in the quiet garden before dinner calms the mind. Dishes at the restaurant are thoughtfully designed and prepared in Chinese vegetarian style. Food is tasty and innovative. The service is excellent and helpful. The place is bright (not much atmosphere,) clean, efficient with a large window toward the park under a waterfall. No liquor is served here, as usual, as in all Buddhist restaurants. There's a nice dark "beer" made from malt you could order.
Read moreOn one occasion I had a banquet of three large tables on the second floor of this restaurant and the chef designed a special menu for the celebration. This was the best vegan banquet feast I had anywhere in Hong Kong. Very well thought thru, elaborate and meticulously prepared. The cost came to about $400 per person.
There's also a fabulous teahouse in the park that is very exclusive but the lowest price for an individual order of tea (the selections of which are superb) is more than HK$100. Yet you are invited to sit in a splendid room, with almost no other guests, surrounded by exquisite ceramic paintings and superb service. A few dim sum choices are available and they are exquisite and delicate and inexpensive. A Zen experience indeed.
Updated June 3, 2014
Guest
Spamelula
Points +33
Best meal of the holiday - Edit
brilliant setting behind the waterfall, exquisite food, definitely the best meal of the entire holiday!
Read morePros: stunning setting, exquisite food, great value
Guest
eatinggreen
Points +608
Lovely location, limited flavour - Edit
Loved the setting - the walk through the garden to get here was the perfect antidote to a chaotic business trip in HK.
Read moreThe other good things about this place were that the food wasn't overly oily and that it is possible to get a meal without MSG... but you may have to ask as we did - hard to say what would have come out otherwise. The food we ended up trying was all pretty much devoid of flavour. We are natural foodists and can handle subtle flavours but this was almost beyond that and in the realm of zero. As I write this I am starting to think that maybe our no MSG request may have had something to do with that. hmm...
The other difficulty we had here was that there weren't many vegetables on offer. Typical in Asia, I know, but still not appreciated. If you're not eating 80% vegetables and you are vegetarian I seriously think you need to rethink things. In this restaurant though, it was the usual carbs and dumplings (all containing the same filling) and not much else.
Service was polite and attentive - but you're paying for it too as the prices are certainly not cheap. Probably would come back just because of the nice location but the food wasn't anything to write home about.
Pros: location / ambience, not too oily, no msg on request
Cons: no flavour, expensive, not enough veges
Guest
+++VeGaNiSaToR+++
Points +1004
Lacto-VG - Edit
Nice place but it's expensive and they don't understand what is the veganism.
Read moreGuest
Blue Cloud
Points +98
Exquisite - Edit
The view is lovely outside, a really pretty place with lots of dishes to choose from. The food tastes amazingly great, really delicately made. Although initially the restricted minimum amount to spend for each diner kind of shocked me, its the right amount of money for a good lunch I guess with the location in mind. Definitely would come back! The dumplings are awesome too.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Great scenery
Cons: Possible queue for half an hour
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3081
Amazing dining experience - Edit
Came here as a group of four for dinner. We ordered the appetizer platter and a couple of main dishes. Everything was delicious, portions were generous too. On the health side, they only use grapeseed oil in cooking. Simple but elegant decor, quiet relaxing atmosphere, tasty healthy food, attentive staff, what more could one ask for?
Read moreGuest
veggieyogini
Points +61
relaxing and yummy - Edit
went for sunday afternoon dim sum after taking a walk in the wonderful park. we had steamed bun with vegetable filling, vegetable dumpling in soup, glutinous rice balls with cashew nut filling and vegetable fried rice. all was very good and tasted light and healthy. i think they have a proper dinner menu as well which is worth trying.
Read moreGuest
JohnnySensible
Points +7596
A step back in time - - - Edit
Well worth a visit - http://www.nanliangarden.org/facilities.php
Read more.
Chi Lin Nunnery is a Buddist organization established in 1934. It began at the foot of Diamond Hill. At the time, Diamond Hill was not a place for the well-off people. Most were housed in simple wooden huts. With its limited resources, Chi Lin started to provide food food the needed and shelter for the elderly and the small. Chi Lin's major objective was to tender support to the poor and the helpless. With its primary function as a Buddist monastery, Chi Lin has now developed into a non-profit making charity establsihment.
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The food provided by Chi Lin is healthy. Chi Lin is responsible for operating the Long Men Lou and will strive for quality. The equipment and layout of the kitchen, as well as the interior design of the restaurant is all in line with the modern highest requirement. The staff members working in the kitchen are well-trained. The cooking methods they used are practical and innovative. On the basis of its well-established foundation, Chi Lin aims at further improving its service in providing vegetarian food and sharing with people its experience and pleasure. Long Men Lou is situated in the Garden. Customers enjoying food inside the Long Men Lou have the Silver Strand and Moon Wash in their full view through the windows. The Mill, Pavilion Bridge and Song Cha Xie are also in the neighbourhood. Long Men Lou has an environment which is hard to come by.
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JohnnySensible
Thank you whoever added "Long Men Lou" - it was on my "pile" of places to add - I am really happy to see it up on HappyCow.
Read more.
Long Men Lou / the Tang Gardens are one of the sanest areas of Kowloon.
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The above is not a real Review but I wanted to make the info more public.
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I look forward to reading other members reviews as they visit & enjoy the wonderful teas / snacks!
Guest
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