King'S Joy

Unclaimed

It's is a stunning vegetarian restaurant tucked away in the ancient Chinese quarter of Wudaoying Hutong, just across from the Lama Temple. This was the first restaurant I ate at when I first arrived in Beijing and also the first 3-Michelin star restaurant I ate at in China. For me, this is the best vegetarian meal I have ever had, simply amazing – far surpassing all the Michelin starred vegetarian restaurants in Japan and Europe. Located across from the iconic Yonghe Temple, the restaurant’s entrance is shrouded in mist and harp music emanates from the center of the dining room. It may be a bit odd, but it fits perfectly with the excellent design, elaborate menu and beautiful atmosphere of the place, which turned out to be one of the most outstanding meals (including non-vegetarian dishes) I've ever had in China. The restaurant has 5 types of menus: Seasonal Tasting (¥999), Imperial Grand (¥1399), Comprehensive Set (¥1999), Indulgence Set (¥2588) and Luxuriant Set (¥3999). I chose the latter set, which has a total of 18 steps from appetizer to dessert, all using seasonal vegetarian products. The dishes showcase a variety of cooking techniques, from pan-frying, steaming, stir-frying, braising and even slow cooking. From the strong flavour of the Sichuan mushroom jerky, to the complex texture of the Malay vegetable curry served with rice crackers, my sister and I nodded to each other in silent appreciation for every dish on the menu. Not only did the chefs use excellent ingredients with rich flavours, but they also enhanced the dishes with their professional marinating and fermentation skills. The space was beautiful, the food was delicious, yet unfortunately the service was lacking. The only downside to this lunch was probably the poor staff training. It was basically non-existent. However, I was reminded by my friends that this is quite common in Beijing, even in high-end places. The main job of the waiters is simply to bring food from the kitchen and bring back empty plates. As a result, the staff had little to no knowledge of the ingredients, or the order of the dishes, so my order was messed up – one of the main dishes ended up right before dessert, while a cold appetizer was served alongside the main course. When I told the senior manager that they really needed to pay more attention to the order of the dishes, her response was: “All the dishes were served at the end, isn’t that the most important thing?” She wasn’t rude at all, just really clueless about how the menu worked. However, both my sister and I agreed that, in the context of such great food, the frustration with the service team was a minor issue. I will definitely come back here whenever I am in Beijing, as it is hard to imagine anywhere else in the world that can create such a delicious meal without using meat. ¥3999 / 1 person ~ 14 million VND (US$560)

My dinner here is one of the best meals I've ever had. Each dish is rich, flavorful, and delicious, awakening my palette. King's Joy has my favorite way of eating - small dishes of variety. Plus the service is simply impeccable. Our head waiter (Romas) did a wonderful job providing professional attention and great details. I am looking forward to coming back next time I'll be in Beijing.

As a vegetarian restaurant, this place is bound to have polarizing reviews. Personally, I really enjoyed it—the dishes were light and flavorful, and the tableware was beautifully curated with great taste. However, my friend wasn’t a fan, finding the food bland and lacking flavor. Food is always a matter of personal preference, but this spot is definitely worth a try to form your own opinion!

Good food in a lovely place, near the Yonghe Gong. Although I am not vegan or vegetarian, I have appreciated the menu created by the chef and the quality of the ingredients. I have lived a great experience with my family (children are welcome, with a dedicated menu) in this country with a food culture very different from mine, with good service and lovely music. Prices are adequate.