Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Manhattan since the 2000s. Offers extensive menu of vegetarian/vegan versions of traditional dishes as well as dim sum items, priced per dish. Food appears to be mostly or all-vegan. Fried rice, steamed buns, fried rolls, different mock meats, pan-fried dumplings, and much more. Open Mon-Sun 10:30am-9:00pm.
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24 Pell St (at Manhattan Chinatown), New York City, New York, USA, 10013
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Last update on 27 Dec 2023 by htalina
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82 Reviews
First Review by Poundie
raverz
Points +15
Decent vegetarian fare - Edit
Quite an extensive menu. Servers are very knowledgeable and helpful. Food was amazing although the interior is a little dated. Not sure if they take reservations but they do not have space for large parties.
Read moreIf there's a party of 3-4, the appropriate amount would be 3 dishes as the servings are quite large. For 1-2 people, stick to the dimsum or the servings for a single person.
Reminded me of the vegetarian food I used to get back in Malaysia & Singapore.
Overall, a reasonable family dining experience. Will totally go back for more!
Pros: Good Food, Friendly staff, Large Portions
Cons: dated interior
Guest
danielmillr
Points +42
Go Here! (often) - Edit
When I'm not in NYC, I'm thinking about Vegetarian Dim Sum. When I'm in NYC, I'm thinking about Vegetarian Dim Sum. If I could, I would move next door and eat at this place every day.
Read morePros: huge menu, amazing dim sum, staff
Cons: dated interior
Guest
shineonyou
Points +941
Cash only, inexpensive - Edit
I have very little to add to the many other reviews, but I can't believe none of the other reviews seem to mention that it's CASH ONLY! Not a value judgement, we just would have saved a few minutes had we known beforehand.
Read moreThe menu is huge and cheap. We ordered a ton of dim sum and small soups and it was still only $15 a person.
Guest
Cam
Points +2089
Lots of options - Edit
I'm always frustrated when I go to a dim sum restaurant: as a vegetarian you have basically no choices. So every time I'm in NY I go to this place: you can choose between 30 or so options. You're not sure what you will get but surprises are part of the experience. Dim Sum are 3 to 4$ for 3 or 4 pieces. Two people can eat for less than 20 dollars.
Read moreService is fast but not friendly.
Updated from previous review on Saturday October 31, 2015
Pros: Cheap, Fast, Surprises
Cons: Surprises, Unfriendly service
Guest
pistol_pete
Points +261
Amazing - Edit
So worth the walk to get here. Amazing food, super cheap, super tasty. You get 3/4 dumplings for like $3/4. There were some weird items on the menu I avoided.
Read morePros: Affordable, Tasty, Lots of vegan options
Cons: Not 100% vegan, Some weird items on the menu
Guest
Oscar M
Points +199
Vegetarian dim sum - Edit
A lot of options. Food is alright.
Read morePros: Cheap
Guest
Michael Tait
Points +149
Good food, fast service - Edit
Enjoyed an evening meal Sept 7. Attentive waitress, nice meal
Read morePros: location, price, good food
Guest
cookiem
Points +5888
Veg dim sum and Chinese food! - Edit
This is a vegetarian institution in Chinatown, and the decor may be showing it. The dim sum is awesome and veg, so you can rest assured when you eat here that there is no pork lard, chicken broth or oyster sauce in or on anything. The menu is in 3 parts: specials, dim sum and the menu book.
Read moreOn the specials list, the snow pea shoots and watercress dumplings are highly recommended green dough wrapped triangularly around snow pea leaves and shiitake mushrooms. On the dim sum list, consider items like the taro, rice rolls with kale, rice rolls with crueller, sticky rice in lotus leaf, turnip cake, and the steamed fake BBQ pork buns. Delectable vegan yum!
For the main menu, it is divided into sections like mock meats, tofu, mushrooms, noodles and rice dishes. They also have traditional congee! My favorite dishes are probably the noodles dishes- pan fried, thin rice or thicker rice noodles. There is also a pumpkin and beef and bell pepper dish. The mushrooms do a delicious job of flavoring the choy.
The staff are very friendly and attentive, kindly answering your questions. Sometimes, it can be hard to get the staff attention. On the more than a dozen- two dozen times I have been here, the staff is always running around.
Great food that is affordable!
Pros: Vegan dim sum, Vegan noodles, Mushrooms and tofu
Cons: Cash only, Decor
Guest
binjones
Points +87
wow great dim sum - Edit
While it took a but of time to find, the good was excellent!
Read moreStaff had limited English comprehension but servers was really decent
Pros: options
Guest
slo0go
Points +2179
Best vegan roast pork buns - Edit
I grew up as a meat-eater in Flushing. I basically grew up on dim sum, and I loved roast pork buns. When I became vegan, I went to Buddha Bodhai in Flushing and in Chinatown. Their dim sum is pretty good, but their roast pork buns cannot compare to Vegetarian Dim Sum House. The rice rolls are great, and I also enjoy the treasure balls, which are like constituted potatoes mashed into balls and fried. Put some hot oil sauce on there and bam! Delicious. The only downside is the restaurant is cash only!
Read morePros: Vegan roast pork buns, Vegan dim sum, Dim sum all day everyday
Cons: Cash only
Guest
sirhin
Points +161
Great Variety of Vegetarian Dim Sum - Edit
I love dim sum. I wasn't always vegetarian and I remember I would scarf down everything at a dim sum place, but that changed once my diet changed. In Houston, we only have a place that sells a limited amount of vegetarian dim sum items (maybe around 5-7), so coming to this place (smack dab in the middle of NYC's Chinatown) that boasted a fairly extensive dim sum menu.. I was in heaven! The only thing missing were the rolling carts that can be seen at those get-the-full-experience dim sum houses and a larger dim sum dessert menu, but the place was packed, as per usual at dim sum houses. Note: the English translations of the items were odd so I stuck with the Chinese.
Read moreIt's a normal Asian place. The service is decent and the bare minimum (they seat you, take your order, and you're left to your own devices until it's time to pay), the cleanliness is passable, and the food greasy (it's DIM SUM - it's not healthy and it's not meant to be eaten regularly, so even though I tend to go towards healthy food, this is my Asian comfort food). We ended up choosing 7 items for two people with a pot of tea, which came as soon as we sat down. The tea is necessary to digest the oils in the food. It also turns out that from what we could tell (we also asked), a good majority of the dim sum items are onion and garlic free. Score!
We ate it and we soon found ourselves full with a little less than half leftover and ready to be taken out for that day's dinner. It was cheap and enough for an entire day's meals for two people! All I have to say is where are the egg tarts?? Other than that, this place is a winner. Don't expect spotless conditions or perfect service. You're in Chinatown and the food is enough. They do have another regular Chinese menu, but I was there for the dim sum so I ignored that.
New York, you're spoiled! NOTE: For vegans, dim sum (and Asian food in general) is primarily vegan. The only thing you might need to worry about are the desserts and items with eggs, but from what I could tell, it is largely vegan.
Pros: large variety of food, delicious
Cons: needs to come to Houston
yup
dim sum at basically any place that doesn't explicitly say that they're veggie friendly is most definitely not primarily vegan. my cousin is all about dim sum, and the omni place we went to satisfy her dim sum cravings only had two things that were vegan: a steamed vegetable, and a sweet silken tofu dessert. all of the savory dishes except for that one vegetable contained some form of meat, and many of the desserts had egg.
Read moreGuest
GaborSzoke
Points +37
Out of luck... - Edit
Unfortunately we felt a bit out of luck when we finally got to the Vegetarian Dim-Sum House in New York City. My wife is vegan, I am vegetarian, but when we tried to explain this to the waiter (who 30 minutes later fought an epic battle with the dirty dishes on our table, and got almost defeated by them), it turned out that he does not understand English, other than the usual phrases ("Take a seat", "What would you like to drink?"), etc. As we couldn't explain what "milk" or "diary product" is, we gave up, and my wife haven't had anything. I tried the hot and sour soup and two different kind of dim-sums, but all of them were boring, way below the average.
Read moreThere are so many better places to go in NYC - unfortunately I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. I don't really understand the almost 4 stars...
Pros: Big portions, Huge variety
Cons: Difficult communication, Lack of atmosphere, Not very tidy
Guest
steveveg
Points +2368
Perfectly fine - Edit
This is a fine vegetarian restaurant, with a plentiful menu. It offers dim sum, and there are many dishes for mock meat fans. The setting is comfortable, service is good. We had the snow pea leaves dumplings as appetizer. They were good. The vegetables in the Shredded Vegetable with Bean Curd Skin were mostly bean sprouts. The Black Mushroom with Soy Sticks did not have a preponderance of mushrooms. Nevertheless this was a good vegetarian dining choice.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Monday October 21, 2013
Pros: many menu options, have dim sum, comfortable
Guest
kennyp353
Points +1692
Avoid the worst vegetarian Chinese place ever - Edit
I've been to dozens of this sort of place over the years. This is hands-down the worst I've been to. We had mock pork and mock duck appetisers - the former was inedible, the latter bearable but without the usual plum sauce and pancakes to make it nice. The sesame chicken was burnt to a cinder, but that was at least digestible compared to the sweet and sour chicken. I've never seen a veggie Chinese place mess up sweet and sour chicken - but I've never spat out food in one either, until here. One of the most gross things I've ever eaten. Decor old and tired, almost dirty as others say. Expensive, and rubbish. I wish I'd checked HappyCow instead of other shills before I went.
Read moreGobo, Vegetarians Paradise 2, Zen Palate are all excellent. Avoid this place like the plague.
Pros: absolutely nothing
Cons: disgusting food, really disgusting food, no I mean it, really really disgusting
Guest
vegankiwis
Points +316
Excellent food, cheap, tasty - Edit
We've missed dim sum since going vegan, so it was a real treat to find this place. Very authentic food, and centrally located in vibrant Chinatown.
Read moreLoved the entire vegan menu - it was a big menu and really cheap. We ate a lot and it was great value for money. The servers were very helpful and able to answer all of our questions.
We'll definitely be back next time we visit New York.
Pros: Vegan dim sum experience, authentic, cheap
Guest
HappyYogini
Points +72
Unhealthy and lacks significant/noticeable variety - Edit
I had dim sum. I was disappointed as most of my dim sum selections were covered in rice flour and constituted 70% of a single dim sum making the food heavy. The shrimp dumpling was rice covered in rice flour and steamed. It lacked a variety of tastes. The wontons consisted of fried flour with something in it that was in such a small amount that it can't be given credit for being a part of the wonton--almost non-existant. It took me 2 hours to get there and find the place from the upper east side via subway. The crowds in China town slowed my transit time down as well.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Monday November 12, 2012
Cons: Poor service, Lacks variety, Lacks taste
Guest
zaphod
Points +103
Just Awesome! - Edit
We were a little hesitant to eat here after reading some of the reviews... We are REALLY glad we tried it! We chose all steamed Dim Sum, therefore nothing was fried nor greasy. Everything was great. Some of the best Dim Sum ever, and we have had it all over the country. Just ask which ones are steamed when you order, and you can not go wrong.
Read morePros: Flavor, Value
Guest
Landry
Points +38
Great Dim Sum But That's All! - Edit
Whenever I am in Chinatown I go here for the vegan dim sum which I love but I recommend you stay with the dim sum because every single time I have ordered from their regular menu I have been disappointed.
Read moreThey have a good hot and sour soup too.
I wish the food was healthier though. They have a lot of fried food and processed white flour. It is hard to eat healthy there.
Try the spinach dumplings!
Pros: Dim Sum!, Fast Service, Lots of Room
Cons: Mostly Unhealthy, Regular Menu Not Good
Guest
pandora_13
Points +80
Bring your appetite and sense of adventure! - Edit
Vegetarian Dim Sum House is awesome. They have a decent sized menu filled with various types of dishes - vegetable-based, faux meat-based, noodle-based, etc. But we hardly even look at that. The REAL fun here, as you might guess by their name, is in the dim sum.
Read moreEach table is given a dim sum card, which is separate from the regular menu. We typically choose two items per person, three if we're really hungry and/or can't make up our minds. Much of the time we have no idea what we're ordering. Often we can't tell which item is which once they reach the table. But that's the fun of it all! You end up with a table full of deliciousness for the sharing - and spend about ten or twelve bucks per person, including tip. How can you go wrong?
Some of our favorite items to date: Fried Turnip Cakes (definitely get them fried, not steamed - the texture is all wrong if they're not fried); Treasure Balls (crispy deep fried balls of mashed taro, awesome drizzled with soy sauce and chili oil); Rice Flour Rolls with Mock Ham and Cilantro; Rice Flour Rolls with Chinese Kale (they're slippery and hard to get into your mouth with chopsticks, but the rice flour rolls are oh so tasty); Steamed Buns (the Roast Pork Buns, Sesame Paste Buns, and Preserved Cabbage Buns are all wonderful - remember to remove the paper circle from the bottom!); Pan Fried Dumplings and Steamed Spinach Dumplings (nice "safe bet" items, which you need to balance out some of the more bizarre offerings); anything with White Fungus (definitely one of the more bizarre offerings).
Now, this is not health food. Be forewarned - much of the dim sum offered is starch-laden, and much of it is deep fried and/or oily. And you will want to eat a lot of it. Sometimes we try to balance this out by ordering a dish of sautéed Chinese broccoli in a light, gingery brown sauce, which usually calms the conscience... but honestly, with food so fun, you really have to just let go and enjoy the ride. :o)
Pros: Intriguing menu items, Super cheap, FUN!
Guest
jagreene3
Points +59
great place to take meat eating man - Edit
As a longtime vegan/vegetarian, I'm always happy to find places like this that offer a total vegan menu. And as a former lover of traditional Chinese dim sum, I was happy for the nostalgic experience. Here the food was tasty but yes, a bit greasy in keeping with Chinese-style. My hungry 6'2" omnivore man loved it. My favorites (& the less greasy options) were the spinach bao & turnip cake. Like another reviewer said, food is probably not organic & the sticky rice certainly wasn't brown, but the food was plentiful, filling, inexpensive, & served quickly.
Read morePros: all vegan, fast service, inexpensive
Cons: on the greasy side
Guest
serenacarey
Points +294
Great Vegan Dim Sum - Edit
Every year I'm in NYC, I walk down to Chinatown and get some vegan Dim Sum here...it's EXCELLENT! Lots of different types...all have been so tasty and filling! I have never been able to find another vegan dim sum restaurant like this one - YUM!!!
Read morePros: Vegan Dim Sum, Lots of Choices, Not very costly
Cons: Too far from Las Vegas
Guest
markc7
Points +99
Good, but did not live up to the hype - Edit
Vegetarian Dim Sum House was highly recommended on Happy Cow and elsewhere, and I was very excited to try it. Although it's a pretty good restaurant, I was disappointed. (Perhaps this was due in part to the fact that I had just eaten at Buddha Bodai restaurant earlier and wasn't terribly hungry). Regardless, the menu was not too extensive and the food was not too appetizing. It was crowded and the service was just ok. Given that there are other excellent vegan Chinese restaurants in the neighbourhood, I wouldn't choose to come back here.
Read morePros: Reasonably priced
Cons: Food just ok
Guest
Chandra
Points +60
My favorite strictly vegetarian Chinese food - Edit
I highly recommend this place. The first time I ate there, the service wasn't that great (it was busy and they forgot to bring us our food and then didn't discount the cost for the delays and confused orders) but the food was so amazing that I had to go back. I now go whenever possible and have been impressed by every menu item I've tried so far. It is also favored amongst my non-vegetarian friends and family. They will eat there without me. You can eat very cheaply there as well because the portions are large enough to order one or two dim sum items and feel quite full. You can easily share a portion of a meal as well. If you are used to having to choose from the few menu items that are vegan or vegetarian, you will look like a deer in headlights for the number of choices they offer. The service is fine during slower hours. Go for the food. Just try it if you are in NYC. You will crave it.
Read morePros: Excellent Food, Inexpensive, Broad Menu
Cons: Service slow when busy, You may be seated with strangers
Guest
queenarmadillo
Points +53
Awesome! - Edit
This is my favourite restaurant in the whole world. I have never been offered so much choice, the food was delicious, the portions large, and the prices very fair.
Read moreGuest
marcelina
Points +29
If the monks go there, it must be good - Edit
I can honestly say this was an enjoyable experience... to dine next to Buddhist monks! There were 2 of us and we all stuffed our faces with everything that sounded delicious and it only cost us $21. Thats a DEAL! The food was great. The service was great and I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot.
Read morePros: Great food, Cheap food, Cute set up
Cons: Creepy Chinatown
Guest
philjdomm
Points +945
DIVE AND HOLE IN THE WALL - Edit
Being spoiled by west coast and canada vegan/vegetarin dim sum, this is by far worst than san francisco hole in the wall in chinatown.
Read moretheir sticky rice banana wrap was a big ball of rice.
poor quality and very typical old school east coast vegetarism.
Guest
captown
Points +60
A favorite - Edit
I make a point of going here every time I go to New York. The food is fantastic and super cheap.
Read morePros: awesome food, unique dining experience, very cheap
Cons: finding it in chinatown
Guest
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