Vegan-friendly
International
Organic
Juice bar
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Asian
Cafe serving world-inspired dishes with most menu items being vegan suitable. Sources unprocessed and organic ingredients as possible. Est. 2012 at 2-14 Fuk Sau Lane and re-opened here in 2015. Rebranded 2019; previously Grassroots Pantry. Reported closed Jan 2020.
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108D Hollywood Rd, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, China
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 18 Feb 2020 by peggygp
Update business info -
Added by peggygp on 10 Jun 2012
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52 Reviews
First Review by Grande Poobah
LaureneD
Points +98
Better take a la carte - Edit
We like to go there because of its location and nice decor but last time we went there the lunch menu’s main dish was average: kimchi rice (maybe because we dont like spicy food). Yet they were nice enough to exchange it for something non spicy.
Read moreThey have a good choice of dishes a la carte with some hit or miss.
Guest
josephsuar
Points +1745
Underwhelmed - Edit
Firstly, I was very excited to come here, and made a reservation a few weeks in advance. I arrived early, and was told I may not have a table and to sit at the bar!? I said I would have a drink at the bar, but I made a reservation for a table, and the host couldn’t care less. I was given a wine list and chose a glass. They were out of that Wine, so I asked what do they have and there was only one choice.
Read moreOrdered it and waited for my table and by a miracle the host said he had a cancellation and a table is available!?! I said I have a reservation!!! You’re not doing me a favor!
The menu arrived, they had a special “holiday” menu too. I asked the server for some guidance and she said Popcorn Chicken for sure and the Porcini Dumplings. I said great. The Popcorn Chicken was great! Frighteningly exactly like Chicken!
The special Dumplings were beautifully plated, but were room temperature (nearly cold). There were 6 TINY dumplings on the plate. Beautiful but not amazing flavor, needed salt. They asked if I wanted to order more, but didn’t think it would be worth it. So I left, hungry and dissatisfied because I was very much looking for this meal to be amazing.
Pros: beautiful plating, nice space , some helpful staff
Cons: host with attitude , small portions, not amazing
Guest
TomBlacker
Points +200
Nachos and Snow Swallow Fungus for Dessert - Edit
A bit pricier than I’d normally like to pay, but good quality food and very helpful service. I hadn’t booked and I was seated at the bar, which turned out to be fine. I peaked over another diner’s shoulder and was intrigued by her Nachos and pulled jackfruit platter. I had the same followed by a mango and snow swallow fungus dessert which I was informed by another bar diner was very good for me. It was very pleasant. Their veggie/vegan menu was easily navigable and the only doubts I had were about the biscuit accompanying the coffee (I was assured it was indeed vegan). Worth going for a treat and the excellent vegan company at the bar 😜
Read morePros: Very pleasant ambience, good service and in the he
Cons: A bit pricey -HKD 249 for nachos, dessert and coff
Guest
Stevie
Points +11765
Grassroots Pantry, Hong Kong - Edit
Small portions. Overpriced. Service seems to be hit or miss. One friend told me he bit into food there that had a metal staple in it. This wasn't good news as he was there to eat, not take care of some paperwork.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-11-15
Cons: Small portions, Not for the budget conscious, Underwhelming service
Guest
helloimines
Points +101
Clap clap clap 👏🏽👏🏽 - Edit
Grassroots is one of those places you want to eat everything from the menu.
Read moreThe menu itself has a list of all the ingredients at the end, and it's made in a fun and interesting way.
The food is incredible, I started with an acai bowl but ended up with the pancakes, a juice and the eggs with avo - all really really good.
Another plus is how the place is decorated - wonderfully!
Pros: Decor, Informative menu, location
Guest
오화택
Points +23
혁신적인 채식 요리 - Edit
여기서 먹은 음식들은 채식이면서, 동시에 채식이 아닌 거 같은 느낌을 강하게 줍니다. 그만큼 기발한 음식이 많고, 맛있습니다. 잘하는 음식점에서 뭐든 먹는 느낌. 개인적인 체질상 이유로 고기를 먹을 수 없지만 가끔 그리워질 때가 있는데 여기는 짧은 홍콩 여행 중 일부러 다시 찾아가서 몇 번이고 먹은 곳입니다. 몇 가지 메뉴는 고수 맛이 있긴 하지만 나는 잘 먹으니 상관 없음
Read moreGuest
ashleeeyyx
Points +23
My Favourite for Vegan in HK!! - Edit
I literally love this place SO SO much - words cannot describe! The food here is amazingly innovative and creative, fun, beautiful plating, perfect portion sizes. Almost every dish is vegan, gluten free, and many are buddhist friendly, nut friendly, and even raw. A great selection of not only foods but also drinks, perfect for anyone reflecting multiple cultures all around the world - from western, to Chinese, Nepalese, Thai, Japanese, you name it.
Read morePeggy, the owner, head chef, is an amazing, wonderful, talented boss lady. So inspiring, and constantly driving to empower youths to change the way for a better future.
A lovely, lovely place. A MUST TRY if you are into veggie, and even if you're not, bring a friend there, and I promise the hedhehog mushrooms will blow you away with it's chicken-like texture. Its a gem, a veggie dream.
Pros: Pretty much every dish is V.GF. or BF.NF.R., Great portion sizes, Innovative and different
Cons: A little pricey - but it is fine dining. , Limited seating - book early!
Guest
FlokiTheCat
Points +882
Mostly vegan food in Sheung Wan - Edit
Grassroots pantry is a very nice (and expensive) vegetarian place in the heart of Soho.
Read moreVegan items are explicitly indicated in their menu and, as June 2017, conform the huge majority of it. The staff is friendly and the place is quite busy, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance.
The food was very nice, especially the vegan Chicken Popcorn, made out of mushroom as the staff kindly told us and the vegan canoli. The chicken popcorns were buttery and the taste was quite similar to non-vegan chicken, being the texture the main difference with the animal counterpart. The canoli was simply delicious, especially when combined with the great Happy Cow ice cream that was also a part of the dish.
In general I would recommend this place for a fancy evening as it is quite expensive, but if you can afford it and want to try a new experience it is definitely worth trying.
Pros: Great food, Mainly vegan
Cons: Expensive
Guest
TerriChrisman
Points +304
Didn't like it - Edit
It was weird basically. Everything seemed to have these strange chewy mushrooms that were supposed to replicate chicken. It was expensive and not very well done.
Read moreCons: just not good food, expensive
Guest
Ashni
Points +2290
Innovative, creative, delicious, high end, sophisticated vegan food and venue - Edit
This is my favourite special date night spot for vegan food in Hong Kong. We save it for a treat as prices are steep... but that is the only con.
Read moreVenue:
They used to have a smaller venue and expanded a couple of years ago to this larger spot. It is spacious with high ceilings, and gorgeous decor (wooden and metal utensils hanging off the walls). The menus are artistic, with quirky, annotated drawings of the dishes. Love the look and feel of the bronze cutlery.
Food:
Most importantly, the food and drinks are delicious. Creative. Nice presentation. I don't think there is currently anywhere else like this in HK. I have tried most of their dishes over the years, which they change from time to time.
Starters/sides
- "Popcorn chicken" made with hedgehog mushrooms - texture apparently like chicken - funky and fun served in a little stripey packet, stringy and chewy and moreish, and the sauce (coconut kefir and galangal) is so creamy and buttery (and vegan)!
- Signature kale salad (little overpriced) - I like the macadamia cheese and unique dressing.
- Teff injera and daal makhani (Ethiopian style) - used to be part of a main dish but now seems to be available as a side.
Mains
- My favourite is the kelp noodle salad - I don't find these noodles very often, love the crunch! It used to be served with crunchy spring rolls, whilst the current version is with wide mung bean noodles. They have the flavour combinations down perfectly. At one point, I felt the portion size was a bit small but on my last visit, it was a good serving.
- Japanese donburi dish was good but a bit heavy on the rice (be careful mixing in the chilis if you can't eat too much spice).
- I like the Indian tikka flatbread - it's not particularly Indian(!), could up the spices, bit tangy from the mango chutney, and creamy from the pine nut cream.
- Tried a gnocci dish on one of their previous menus (I think it was orange so made out of a squash rather than the current teff version) - that was delicious.
Desserts:
- Rum raisin cannoli - wow. Perfect with crunch, coconut whip is so light (and alcoholic) and chewy from raisins, Happy Cow salted caramel ice cream completes it nicely.
- Various cakes at the counter: Chocolate cake is RICH - recommend for sharing.
Think they have a lunch deal at around HKD 160 (not been able to try this yet tho)
Updated from previous review on 2017-06-11
Pros: Great flavour combinations, Unique dishes, Simple and sophisticated decor
Cons: Expensive....!
Guest
Dr.Sven
Points +30
Like it a lot - Edit
As a starter we had the sprouted tuna roll, main course was macrobowl and panzetta bolognese. The food was real fun, tasted very well maybe a bit oily (the pasta, but thats the way it should be anyways). It was somewhat pricey but thats what you know before. And: this restaurant has the nicest cutlery I ever seen :)
Read moreGuest
Nieve
Points +4353
Fantastic food, but expensive - Edit
Ate here last weekend as a special treat. Be prepared for some high prices and small portions. The food was fantastic though. Great combinations of flavours and textures. All very healthy, and plated beautifully. Didn't leave with a full stomach, but my taste buds were very happy.
Read morePros: Delicious
Cons: Expensive, Small portions
Guest
VickyMan
Points +176
Nice place for brunch - Edit
(i.e. go on a weekend or public holiday between 9am to 4pm.. as they have a separate menu!) Serves vegan and lacto-ovo vegetarian food too. The kelp noodles with hedgehog noodles and spring rolls dish was very tasty. fresh ingredients and flavours. Quantity was good! price a bit exp: 178 HKD.
Read morethe raw banana crepes weren't good at all. they're gluten free and vegan.. but not tasty at all. had a very weird taste. couldnt finish it. HK$ 118 bucks for this.
I love the ambiance, music, staff, and the vibe of the restaurant.
Updated from previous review on 2016-09-23
Pros: Nice ambiance and staff
Cons: Expensive, right in the middle of Sheung Wan and Central
Guest
Abdulaziz
Points +206
Worse dinning experience in Hong Kong - Edit
The food is horrible, it's oily and lacks flavor. We ordered 7 things, and everything was bad. The tiramisu cake is really really bad, we couldn't finish a one bite The chocolate dream milkshake is a chocolate nightmare. Not recommended at all!
Read moreCons: Food lacks flavor
Guest
Aawtk
Points +48
I want to love this place but it falls short of the mark - Edit
GREAT space, great location but the food is somewhat underwhelming. It just lacks a bit of flavour. Highly recommend the breakfasts, and I have ordered a fantastic cake from them, which was delicious, but all my lunches and dinners have been on the bland side. I'll keep going but just wish they would rethink their lunch and dinner offerings.
Read moreGuest
waveruss
Points +243
Incredible food - Edit
We have been travelling around Asia for four months and this was hands down the best meal we have had. We ordered many small sized dishes, dessert and a couple of drinks, our favourites being the turmeric chai latte, popcorn chicken and chocolate, oranges and cream dessert. Was very full and we seemed lucky to get a place on the bar so make a reservation if possible, it's well worth it. Wonderful waiters. Very much on the pricy side, but you get what you pay for!
Read moreGuest
OrganicBeauty
Points +37
Top 5 Restaurants for Eating Vegan/Gluten Free in HK - Edit
I am actually sitting in this lovely vegan cafe in Soho as we speak at this moment! Their new pantry in Soho is a two-storey large space in a very nice setting. Even if you are not a vegan, you can still still a coffee/dessert/drink on a weekend day and hang around a bit.
Read moreFrom all the vegan restaurants I've visited in HK (and trust me I've been to A LOT) Grassroots Pantry probably has the most extensive menu. This can perfect attest to the fact that a vegan diet can be anything but boring. I was literally astounded at the creativity of the owner of this vegan eatery for coming up with such a variety of choices for not just vegan but also gluten-free and nut-free choices here, especially considering the fact that HK is not as mature as the US or Europe in terms of its vegan customer market.
So what do they offer here. Anything on a traditional vegan/healthy eating restaurant of course including salads, kelp noodles, acai bowl, and all that jazz. But you'd be surprised when you can find creative dishes with Southeast Asian and Japanese/Korean influences in their creations. Kimchee pancakes, "tuna" hand rolls, curry spring rolls, vegan green thai curry, Szechuan stir-fry, Unagi, etc. And 90% percent of them are vegan and gluten-free! I have yet to try all these amazing looking dishes but from the salads and a couple brunch items I've tried including their tofu scramble, gluten-free bread and cashew nut butter, none of them ever disappointed!
Don't forget to check out their dessert selections as well. They have selections of vegan gluten free cakes, cookies and pralines to choose from. Personally I didn't care much for the taste and texture of their pastries but they are definitely healthier than others.
My ratings:
Flavor - ★★★★
Environment - ★★★★★ (It's actually pretty much a nice sit-down restaurant and can be a spot for special occasions.)
Price - ★★★ (Most items are above $100HKD and it could be slightly lower IMHO.)
Location - ★★★★★ (in the heart of central SOHO)
Vegan/gluten-free options: ★★★★☆
Overall - ★★★★
Recommendation: Kale Salad and brunch items
See relevant photos and the full list of my Top 5 Restaurants for Eating Vegan/Gluten-Free in Hong Kong: t.cn/R5f7GjD
Pros: Variety
Cons: Price
Guest
Idiosyncratinom
Points +564
A fine place to go if you're in the area - Edit
We ordered just one dish, and had the accompanying free glasses of water (refilled by waiters as soon as they were emptied!) and starter (spiced/pickled vegetables, peanut butter, and two small slices of toasted bread) - keeping the cost to an affordable ~100HKD.
Read moreI think we bought some milk and snacks from a 7-eleven later on, but the flavours were definitely worth coming to experience, and the price wasn't prohibitive at all. Come to enjoy some new flavours, not a full belly!
Pros: Free starter , Free water (lemon), Tasty!
Cons: Expensive (but most of HK is!)
Guest
Lydi
Points +28
nice location and good food - Edit
Came here the first time - the restaurant has a nice lunch menu for 128 hkd including a starter, a main course and tea or coffee. Not the biggest variety: Two different vegan starters, only one vegan main course but very good quality and really tasty. Definitely worth coming back !
Read moreGuest
beckettthedog
Points +272
Nice Brunch - Edit
I was there for brunch on Sunday December 7, 2014. Small but varied brunch menu selection in a beautiful space with outdoor seating available. I had the Sunday Tartine, which was ok. Unfortunately I asked for the mushrooms to be well done, even though the server warned me that it was a baked dish, but I insisted and ended up with a rather dry tartine. I had iced coffee with maple sirup and it was splendid. Easy to find with the Happy Cow app.
Read moreGuest
happybull
Points +22
Two green thumbs up! - Edit
Hard to locate if new to the area, but like most good things in life, it's well worth the time and effort once yon find it.
Read moreExcellent ambience, small cosy cafe set-up with very good service. Their Burdock fries are a fantastic must-try! Also sampled the quinoa-falafel and thai green curry, both did not disappoint.
I'll definitely be back!
Pros: Good service, Fantastic food, Excellent small cosy ambience
Cons: Just a wee bit hard to find
Guest
veganinseattle
Points +183
Exceptional Food and Service - Edit
I've dined at many of the top veg restaurants around the world. I'm always on the lookout for exciting new restaurants whenever I travel.
Read moreWhen visiting relatives in Hong Kong during the New Years break, we decided to splurge and try a 5 course menu at Grassroots Pantry. The sparse reviews reflected the relative newness of the restaurant.
But the few reviews I found here and elsewhere were uniformly positive. And the set menu for New Years Eve seemed very imaginative and creative.
We were able to get a table on short notice and had a lovely table for four reserved for us upstairs. The hostess/server greeted us graciously even though we arrived earlier than our reservations.
All our courses were exquisite except perhaps the forth course which lacked the high level execution of the first three courses. The dessert course, presented on a rectangular black slab, was simply divine and made up for the slippage in quality of the previous course.
If you are looking for an exceptional (mainly vegan) dining experience while in Hong Kong, Grassroots Pantry is a must visit.
Pros: Stunning Food, Gracious and Thoughtful Service, Focus on Local and Sustainable
Cons: Tricky To Find, Higher End Price Point, Small Dining Room
Guest
William Thomas
Points +16
Great food, great service, great people - Edit
My wife and I had lunch at the Grassroots Pantry during our recent stay in Hong Kong. We had just arrived that morning and, after checking into the hotel, Grassroots Pantry was the first place we headed. We were not disappointed.
Read moreThe restaurant is a little bit out of the way; it's hard to describe exactly where it is as it is sort of off the street in a sort of cul-de-sac of small shops. The restaurant is small, it has two floors but the upper floor has only one table that can seat four at most. Because it is small, reservations are requested but although we did not have any (again, it was our first day in Hong Kong), we were able to be seated upstairs. The decor is nice, earthy and clean.
The menu is limited but mostly vegan and very good. The menu itself has hand drawn pictures of the food, which adds a certain artistic flair to the restaurant. An interesting and nice touch!
It has been a few weeks since my wife and I were at Grassroots Pantry and I confess that I don't remember exactly what we had but I believe I had the tofu and potato crouquettes and another tofu dish while my wife had the green curry veggies. Both dishes were quite delicious. For dessert we had Happy Cow non-dairy ice cream, raspberry if I remember correctly, and our only regret is that we did not ask for more.
What really set the place apart, however, was the service. When we told our steward (Michael?) that it was our first time in Hong Kong, he made his recommendations for things to do and see and also recommended that we download the MTR (Hong Kong subway) app for our phones. He even told us how to access the restaurants WiFi (although I hope I have not broken his confidence by telling everyone that the Grassroots Pantry has free WiFi).
Our hostess and chef (Peggy?) was also kind enough to ask us how we were doing and if we enjoyed the food. We learned that she was born in Canada, raised in California and has a most interesting "Valley Girl" Californian accent that I confess I did not expect to hear on that side of the Pacific Ocean. Oddly, her accent made us feel at home.
All in all, we very much enjoyed the Grassroots Pantry and plan to return the next time we are in Hong Kong. The food is good and the service is great and there is something about it -- the food, the decor, the ambiance, and most of all the people -- that I really, really like.
Pros: The staff and the service is top notch!, The food is delicious, "Happy cow" ice cream get's special note
Cons: Location, in a side ally or cul-de-sac
Guest
jre8995
Points +403
Like being in San Francisco - Edit
Very bijou, friendly cafe serving Californian style veggie food. Tasty and wholesome food, with very attentive service, but more expensive than a 'local' restaurant
Read moreGuest
Grande Poobah
Points +14
My lovely local - Edit
This is my local, and I love it.
Read moreThe menu is fairly short, but perfectly formed. The food is sourced locally, supporting HK's local organic farmers. Most food is vegan, or the dishes can be prepared for vegans. I can very highly recommend the Japanese noodles and then the blueberry cheesecake. Juices also good.
As well as the food the ambiance is fantastic. Grassroots is down a small side street, very quiet and private. It's a small cafe - maybe 30 covers - over two floors. The decor is cute, sophisticated and welcoming. I particularly like the crockery, but that's just me.
I've been here for lunch and dinner, with committed vegans and steak eating rugby players, and everyone's left happy. And you can't really ask for more than that.
Pros: great local food, friendly staff, lovely space
Cons: menu is quite short
Guest
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