A Light, Virtuous Sensation: Fairy Su Vegetarian Restaurant at Lama Temple

Presumably, Fairy Su is named for the light, virtuous sensation attained after a vegetarian meal prepared according to Buddhist precepts. The first floor offers simple but nutritious set meals and fresh juices for a quick stop after a Lama Temple tour. Even the cheapest set (RMB 21) comes with pickled radish, stir-fried pea sprouts, tofu slivers, and tomato and mushroom soup.

On the second floor, one finds cushioned booths and a fancier menu to boot. Fake meat options abound, including vegetarian sausages made of mushrooms and gluten, studded with chunks of “fat”(RMB 8 each), a delectable spicy dry-fried “pig intestine” (RMB 38) and konnyaku sushi (RMB 58). The house specialty is a red-braised fish (RMB 88), carved up tableside. Almost every dish is coated in too much viscous sauce, but it’s cooked fast, portioned generously, and served competently.

It’s worth paying more to eat at Xu Xiang Zhai across the street, but for a quick tasty lunch, Fairy Su will fill you up with your recommended daily allowance of vegetables.

Also try: Xu Xiang Zhai

Standout dishes: Pig intestine

Daily 10am-10pm. 30 Yonghegong Dajie, Dongcheng District (no tel) 东城区雍和宫大街30号

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