V Rating: Super V
Where: 18-4 Dafosie Dongjie (I an unmarked hutong one block north of Qianliang Hutong, which is directly north of Sanlian Bookstore on Meishuguan Dongjie), Dongcheng District , Beijing.
Tel: 86 10 6400 8941.
Price: Entree 8-20 chinese yuan. Main: 20-40 chinese yuan

Still Thoughts is tucked away in a hutong down a hutong but is well worth the search. Run by Buddhists this restaurant serves excellent dishes with no meat, onion and garlic. A range of faux-meat dishes are on offer, and it is an excellent way for vegetarians to get a taste of traditional Chinese dishes without actually eating the meat versions.

Our favourite dishes include entree serves of “pork” sausages (complete with fake fatty bits), which were described by my carnivorous dining partner as the meatiest non meat food he had ever eaten, and muslim style lamb shashliks deep fried and covered in cumin.

For the mains we had a wonderful eggplant dish served on a sizzling plate stuffed with “mince meat” and “pork” bits and a dish of “beef” coated in cumin and sesame seeds deep fried and served on a cow shaped hot plate with fresh coriander.

Still Thoughts is a newcomer to the Beijing Buddhist vegetarian scene and rated as one of my favourites. The staff were very helpful and the menu had both photos and english descriptions. A range of herbal teas are available very cheaply at 8 yuan a teapot.

- Anth from Temporary Dwellings.

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