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Style/ Leisure

We review 10 vegan burgers in Hong Kong – which one was the best?

Vegans enjoy burgers even if they don’t eat meat, so we sampled offerings from eateries such as Kind Kitchen, Veggie SF and Loving Nature to find a winner

Dandy's Organic Cafe’s fried tofu burger with sautéed aubergine and lettuce, served with salad, potato wedges and soup of the day, was one of 10 burgers we tried, but which was our favourite? Photos: Kayla Hill

Burgers are something I never stopped loving after going vegan.

This probably rings true for most plant-based eaters, too. I often get asked: “If you’re vegan, why do you continue to eat foods that resemble their meat counterparts?”

It’s simple: I didn’t stop eating meat because I didn’t like the taste of it. I stopped eating meat because I didn’t want to contribute to the cruelty and environmental devastation it causes.

Luckily in Hong Kong, there’s an abundance of vegan burgers – so many, in fact, that it was hard to choose only 10 to review.

With the famous Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger having already launched in Hong Kong and featured on many menus, it’s quite easy to enjoy these “mock meat” burgers.

Writer Kayla Hill, who was on a mission to find the best vegan burger in Hong Kong.
Writer Kayla Hill, who was on a mission to find the best vegan burger in Hong Kong.

For this list, however, I chose one Beyond Burger and one Impossible Burger, instead favouring places that create their own home-made vegan patties. I rated them on three categories: taste, presentation and value.

The Beyond Meat burger, served at Hemingway’s in Discovery Bay, is available in many restaurants in Hong Kong.
The Beyond Meat burger, served at Hemingway’s in Discovery Bay, is available in many restaurants in Hong Kong.

Check out the list to get some ideas on where to get your next burger fix in Hong Kong!

Kind Kitchen

The Beyond Burger Double Cheese (HK$155)

Kind Kitchen’s The Beyond Burger Double Cheese, which is essentially a vegan Big Mac.
Kind Kitchen’s The Beyond Burger Double Cheese, which is essentially a vegan Big Mac.

One of the first places to introduce the Beyond Burger (as well as the Beyond Sausage), Kind Kitchen has a rotating menu which switches up different versions of the Beyond Burger every few months.

The Beyond Burger Double Cheese is essentially a vegan Big Mac. The burger has lettuce, tomato, and vegan cheese, and is served with fries and salad.

Overall, I’m a fan of the Beyond Burger and this is a filling meal which will satisfy your craving.

I wouldn’t say this is my favourite burger on the list, however, as the cheese smells and tastes quite processed, and the burger itself could use a bit more flavour

I wouldn’t say this is my favourite burger on the list, however, as the cheese smells and tastes quite processed, and the burger itself could use a bit more flavour (maybe a special sauce?).

Kind Kitchen by Green Common, Shop 1, 1/F, Nan Fung Place, 173 Des Voeux Road Central, Central

Veggie SF

I Am Fabulous (HK$158)

Veggie SF’s I Am Fabulous burger, which is made with a beetroot cashew nut lentil mushroom pâté.
Veggie SF’s I Am Fabulous burger, which is made with a beetroot cashew nut lentil mushroom pâté.

This burger definitely kills the competition with the presentation factor. Made with a beetroot cashew nut lentil mushroom pâté, when this burger arrives at your table, you’re going to be astounded and wonder how you’ll be able to fit your mouth around this to take a bite.

With tomato, sprouts, and a special vegan sauce, this burger is easily customised. You can add avocado or vegan cheese to make it even more fabulous. There are many burgers on the menu, but this is the only one that’s home-made. It comes with giant potato wedges and a side salad, so you’ll be very full after eating this.

Seeing as this is a pâté and not a patty, it falls apart quite easily. After a few bites, I felt as though the whole burger was crumbling into a soggy mess before my very eyes

Seeing as this is a pâté and not a patty, it falls apart quite easily. After a few bites, I felt as though the whole burger was crumbling into a soggy mess before my very eyes. Delicious – yes – but I’m not a fan of eating a burger with a knife and fork out of necessity.

Veggie SF, 10/F, 11 Stanley Street, Central 

Loving Nature

Tofu Burger (HK$60)

Loving Nature’s Tofu Burger, is a pan-fried square-shaped piece of tofu, served with vegan cheese, lettuce, cucumber and mayonnaise and a small side order of potato wedges.
Loving Nature’s Tofu Burger, is a pan-fried square-shaped piece of tofu, served with vegan cheese, lettuce, cucumber and mayonnaise and a small side order of potato wedges.

Part of the LN Fortunate Coffee group of restaurants, Loving Nature offers really affordable all-vegan lunch sets in the middle of an industrial neighbourhood. They have several burgers which rotate on the daily lunch menu.

The Tofu Burger is a square slab of pan-fried tofu on a soft bun with lettuce, cucumber, and mayonnaise. You can order this with vegan cheese for an extra HK$6 (US$0.76). This comes with a small side order of potato wedges and a choice of the soup of the day or a drink.

This burger is tasty, but not extraordinary. I enjoy a soft, juicy burger, but the tofu is dripping in juice with each bite, so it’s quite messy to eat.

This burger is tasty, but not extraordinary. I enjoy a soft, juicy burger, but the tofu is dripping in juice with each bite, so it’s quite messy to eat.

The flavours are good, but very basic. But for such a good price, you can’t be too picky!

Loving Nature, Shop 107, 1/F, Edge, 30-34 Kwai Wing Road, Kwai Chung 

Little Bao

Impossible Bao (HK$98)

Little Bao’s Impossible Bao is served with pepper teriyaki sauce and salted lemon kombu sala and fermented tofu sauce.
Little Bao’s Impossible Bao is served with pepper teriyaki sauce and salted lemon kombu sala and fermented tofu sauce.

This small but popular burger joint is famous for serving its burgers on Chinese steamed buns – aka “baos” – and one of the first places to launch the Impossible Burger in Hong Kong.

Served with black pepper teriyaki sauce, salted lemon kombu salad, and fermented tofu sauce, this burger has a variety of flavours and textures. The meaty taste and feel of the Impossible Burger will make you question if you’re eating real meat or not.

The meaty taste and feel of the Impossible Burger will make you question if you’re eating real meat or not. Although I quite like the taste ... I wasn’t full after eating this

Although I quite like the taste and concept of this burger, it’s not my number one choice.

I wasn’t full after eating this, and it’s quite pricey for what you get. My friend and I ordered the truffle fries (you can veganise it by requesting truffle oil instead of truffle mayo) to feel satiated.

Little Bao, 66 Staunton St, Central 

Lucy Coffee & Food

Lucy’s Veggie Burger  (HK$108)

Lucy Coffee & Food’s Lucy’s Veggie Burger features a quinoa patty, with a generous helping of salad
Lucy Coffee & Food’s Lucy’s Veggie Burger features a quinoa patty, with a generous helping of salad

A tiny coffee shop tucked away in Cheung Sha Wan, Lucy Coffee & Food has been a hidden gem for vegans in Hong Kong, offering vegan desserts, main dishes and coffees.

Slathered in a home-made vegan sauce, this burger is very photogenic and comes with a generous helping of salad. The veggies included on the burger are lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

Although I enjoyed eating it, I wasn’t incredibly impressed. The quinoa patty was quite spicy and mushy, which fell apart almost immediately after the first bite

This burger was recommended to me by my vegan friends and although I enjoyed eating it, I wasn’t incredibly impressed. The quinoa patty was quite spicy and mushy, which fell apart almost immediately after the first bite. A good effort at a home-made burger, but not the best on this list.

Lucy Coffee & Food, Shop C1, G/F, Block C, Merlin Centre, 55 Po On Road, Cheung Sha Wan 

Dandy’s Organic Cafe

Tofu Burger (price not listed)

Dandy's Organic Cafe’s Tofu Burger, which features fried tofu, sautéed aubergine, and cos lettuce and comes with salad, potato wedges and a soup of the day.
Dandy's Organic Cafe’s Tofu Burger, which features fried tofu, sautéed aubergine, and cos lettuce and comes with salad, potato wedges and a soup of the day.

With a new location in Central, Dandy’s Organic Cafe is bursting with vegan options, including this burger. This is a great place to relax, have a healthy lunch, or get some work done.

The Tofu Burger is gluten-free and has fried tofu, sautéed aubergine, and cos lettuce. The bun is seeded, and the meal comes with a generous portion of salad, potato wedges, and a soup of the day.

The fried fillings were tasty, but quite greasy; the burger itself lacks flavour ... it’s good value for money (you won’t leave hungry!) but not my favourite

The fried fillings were tasty, but quite greasy; the burger itself lacks flavour as there is no sauce and minimal seasoning. It’s good value for money (you won’t leave hungry!) and a good effort, but not my favourite on this list.

Dandy’s Organic Cafe, 32 Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan

Confusion Plant Based Kitchen

Hawaiian Bean Burger (daily special)

Confusion Plant Based Kitchen’s Hawaiian Bean Burger contains a bean patty, veggies and a slice of pineapple and comes with tofu fries.
Confusion Plant Based Kitchen’s Hawaiian Bean Burger contains a bean patty, veggies and a slice of pineapple and comes with tofu fries.

Confusion Plant Based Kitchen provides affordable, tasty, vegan fusion food with a daily board of specials which changes regularly. The Hawaiian Bean Burger is one of its specials and is served with tofu fries.

This burger looks great in a photo and contains a bean patty, veggies and a slice of pineapple.

Unfortunately, the chipotle mayo completely overpowers this dish – it’s slathered all over the burger and is the same dipping sauce for the “fries”.

The chipotle mayo completely overpowers this dish – it’s slathered all over the burger and is the same dipping sauce for the “fries”

Although this burger ranks high on presentation and value, it falls apart pretty easily after the first bite. This is an overall good burger, but not at the top of this list.

Confusion Plant Based Kitchen, G/F 103, Jervois Street, Sheung Wan 

The Globe

Vegan Bean Burger (HK$170)

The Globe’s Vegan Bean Burger, which comes with pickled carrot and beetroot, hummus and a choice of salad or chips
The Globe’s Vegan Bean Burger, which comes with pickled carrot and beetroot, hummus and a choice of salad or chips

The Globe is a perfect example of British pub that caters to everyone. With multiple vegan options on its à la carte and lunch menus, the chefs understand the need to accommodate all dietary preferences.

The interior is spacious and the staff follow many sustainable/green practices in their restaurant.

The Vegan Bean Burger comes with pickled carrot and beetroot, hummus, and your choice of salad or chips.

The patty is home-made, the pickled veggies are pleasant, and the burger bun is huge and soft. The flavour is a bit lacking, however, as the toppings are pretty standard, and a thick layer of hummus on a burger is a bit strange. The fries are chunky and absolutely delicious, however.

The patty is home-made, the pickled veggies are pleasant, and the burger bun is huge and soft. The flavour is a bit lacking, however, as the toppings are pretty standard

For HK$170 it’s quite pricey for what you actually get.

I’m happy there’s a vegan burger offered here, especially if I’m with a larger group of non-vegans, but I wouldn’t purposely come back here just to eat this burger.

The Globe, Shop A, G/F, Graham Street, SoHo, Central 

POP vegan

Barbecue Vegan Chicken Burger (HK$158)

POP Vegan’s Barbecue Vegan Chicken Burger, which features hedgehog mushrooms, avocado, tomato and a layer of pineapple and comes with fries and salad.
POP Vegan’s Barbecue Vegan Chicken Burger, which features hedgehog mushrooms, avocado, tomato and a layer of pineapple and comes with fries and salad.

This new burger addition on POP vegan’s menu (which doesn’t have any garlic or onions) is definitely a hit. With deep fried hedgehog mushrooms, avocado, tomato, and a layer of pineapple, this burger has a wonderful combination of textures and flavours.

Although I would normally avoid a deep fried patty, with all the extra veggies on this burger, it doesn’t feel greasy.

For HK$158, this burger comes with a generous portion of fries and salad. The idea of forming a burger out of hedgehog mushrooms is not only creative, but it gives the burger a truly “meaty” feel without using mock meats.

This burger comes with a generous portion of fries and salad. The idea of forming a burger out of hedgehog mushrooms is not only creative, but it gives the burger a truly “meaty” feel

Although this is incredibly messy to eat, it’s totally worth it.

POP vegan, 1/F, 28 Elgin Street, SOHO, Central 

MANA! Cafe

The Ottoman (HK$90 for burger, HK$150 for combo)

MANA! Cafe’s The Ottoman is a home-made burger patty with lentils and walnuts, topped with caramelised onions and vegan tzatziki sauce
MANA! Cafe’s The Ottoman is a home-made burger patty with lentils and walnuts, topped with caramelised onions and vegan tzatziki sauce

Having changed its menu to mostly burgers, Mana! Cafe is a great place for lunch. You can sit outside in a hidden quiet corner of Sheung Wan and enjoy mostly vegan food.

It has several burgers, in addition to a build-your-own-burger option.

The Ottoman comes with a home-made burger patty with lentils and walnuts, topped with caramelised onions and vegan tzatziki sauce. This burger is quite affordable and you can add on yam fries if you still feel hungry.

I absolutely loved the taste of the patty and the crunch of the onions, balanced with the creaminess of the tzatziki. This burger is messy, but delicious. But I wish there was less grease

I absolutely loved the taste of the patty and the crunch of the onions, balanced with the creaminess of the tzatziki.

This burger is messy, but delicious. I do wish, however, the there was less grease (the burger bun had grease all over it even before I took a bite!) and that the patty was less crumbly.

MANA! Cafe, 8 Tai On Terrace, Sheung Wan

And the winner is …  POP vegan’s burger! Although I wouldn’t recommend ALL of its burgers, the Barbecue Vegan Chicken Burger definitely is a winner. If you like mushrooms and have a big appetite, this burger is for you!

This story originally appeared on Greedy Vegans.

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