All this month, we’ll be introducing 50 picks for some of the best family-friendly restaurants in Beijing. These reviews originally appeared in the January/February 2013 issue of beijingkids (see end of post).
Type of cuisine: Vegetarian, vegan
English menu? Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: Portions vary from small to medium and the spicy foods (such as chili and curry) have a mild option
Best dishes for adults: Moroccan-style couscous (RMB 60), hummus (RMB 28/38), mushroom burger (RMB 62)
Kids’ menu? No
Best dishes for kids: Chili spaghetti (RMB 62, can be made mildly spicy), vegan pizza (RMB 65), grilled PB & J (RMB 22)
Kids’ play area? No
Play areas nearby: Ditan Park and Lama Temple
Kid-friendly staff? Yes. English-speaking and attentive (just flag someone down)
Bathroom: Public squat toilet outside a couple buildings down; fairly clean, but a little smelly. No changing table
Seating: Cozy indoor couches, no highchairs
Price: RMB 250
Credit card accepted? Only Chinese credit cards
Parking? Limited parking in the hutong; try the main street near Yonghegong Bridge (both free)
Must-order item: One of their veggie burgers
In a nutshell: The Veggie Table is more like a cafe than a restaurant, with cozy purple couches and green pillows, wooden ceiling fans and soft rock humming in the background. The laid-back atmosphere, combined with bowls of fruit and potted plants, give it a hippie kind of vibe well-suited to lounging around all afternoon after a tasty vegetarian and mostly-organic meal.
Also try: 7 Pure Veggies, Beijing Vegan Hut, Gingko Tree