Best restaurant in Melbourne with a such extensive menu and fully vegan right in the middle of CBD. Friendly and quick service plus it’s open all year round. What more can you ask for.
Food: Magnificent Chinese vegetarian cuisine. Very fresh!
Service: Brilliant service.
Ambience: Nice and chill with ample seating.
Value: This... was the only thing that got me. It was pricier than I expected. Overall great experience though!
Im a well traveled person who's eaten many different types of food from all over the world and I'd have to say that Gong de lin has to be one of the best restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of dinning. Every dish I tried (ate here five days in a row) was flavorful, fresh, and culinary well put together! The banana fried with ice cream was my favorite though. Now to mention the staff, everyone one here will greet you with a genuine smile and grateful appreciation for your decision to dine here. I received complementary tea (probably because I'm here everyday) which they have a nice variety of. This place is a 12 out of 10 in my opinion!!!!
Delicious vegan place. Heaps of mock meat options.
Would be nice if they had more mushroom options.
Although it’s not expensive, it’s not cheap either and you’d expect for the atmosphere to be a bit nicer. It’s quite bright and loud at the moment.
The noodles used in Luohanzhai fried noodles here are now pulled, the taste is very good, the ingredients are rich, the service is very good and very friendly. Their family's meat tastes sweet and sour, and the outside is crispy and tender. After eating it, I want to eat it again. 5 stars praise!
We are not actually vegetarian but felt like trying this place as you don't often see many of them especially in the city. The place is very narrow and we got lucky seated in the booth when we also have a pram. Any other time I wouldn't recommend coming with toddlers. Food itself is very good, tasty and we wouldnt be able to tell it's fake meat if to be blind tasted. The potato noodle wasn't that great though
My husband & I are vegan but even we were hesitant to try the mock meat dishes at first, as we were skeptical on how they would taste. We had the beef in black bean sauce and the sweet and sour pork with special fried rice and could not fault either dish. The taste and texture were spot on, and they were delicious. We will definitely be back.
my favourite chinese restaurant in melbourne, hands down. excellent food, the sweet and sour "pork" is a particular favourite, and the people that work there are absolutely lovely. would recommend to anyone, whether vegetarian/vegan or not!
Jessica Sargeant (Unbeleafablefood)
+4
I love Gong De Lin! Always so packed and lively and for good reason.
They have a WIDE selection of vegan Asian cuisine. Whether you are after some fried mushrooms/tofu, some marinated eggplant, noodles, mock meat, soups or veg, there is something for everyone.
It always smells amazing inside and tastes just as good. Definitely recommend to vegans and meat eaters alike!
Such excellent food and service that our family dined here four times out of our five day trip! There is a wide variety of dishes to choose from and we especially loved the hotpot/ steamboat the most. The soup bases (mushroom and mala) were excellent and the ingredients were fresh. The service crew and manager were very warm and friendly. We will surely be missing the food here. Will highly recommend our vegetarian/vegan friends, who are travelling to Melbourne, to dine here!
Sweetest staff & incredible food! So much variety, everything was 11/10, definitely coming back! And you wouldn’t believe everything is vegan! Best fake meat we have ever tried!
While I love to eat vegetarian I usually stay away from imitation meats because they freak me out a bit. Here the menu is chock full of them but I was still able to find a lot of things to order without them. We had quite a spread of food and it was all delicious! The best dish was the Sichuan eggplan. and The only thing that took away from the experience was that at the end the waitress randomly made fun of me for going red in the face (it was really hot in the restaurant!). I thought it was a really odd thing to do! Anyway it wasn't especially mean spirited but it was a bit embarrassing in front of everyone... I would still probably come back (especially with vegan friends, great for us all to be able to eat together!).
A mind-boggling amount of menu options to choose from here, so much so I nearly had a nervous breakdown! Everything looked so good!
I ordered M50 (Braised shiitake mushroom and edamame with steamed bean curd roll and it was really delicious). The sauce/braise with it was not too salty and had a lot of flavour. The mushrooms had a really nice, soft but chewy texture and the bean curd was really good.
My friend had M19 (Sauteed diced vegetarian chicken with peanut in hot and spicy sauce) and she said it was really delicious and had so much flavour. I tried a little bit of the vego chicken and it was really delicious, and had one of the nicest textures of meat substitutes that I've had.
Service was incredible. Really professional and kind and willing to help. We asked if they could rush our order as we were going to a show and were more than happy to oblige, our meals came within about 5 minutes, which we really appreciated.
Definitely would recommend!!
A few of my vegetarian friends have moved away/ started going out less, so it’s been a bit of time since I’ve headed to an exclusively vegetarian restaurant. Gong De Lin hits an awkward niche as it’s Chinese food served vegetarian but with mock meats so it almost tastes like meat. I am fan of products like Quorn but eating out and having this feels different. It made for a different experience but I think it’s not quite for me.
Me and my wife have been coming here since 2015. So far the best vegan food we have tried. We don’t feel dull after eating at this place expletive is very uplifting and we go home happy. The staff are very nice and welcoming Bonnie and staff are amazing and always looks after you. They know I like spicy so they give me fresh chopped chilies. Our picks are the hot and sour soup, pancake, sizzling Sichuan and hot paper, tai chi soup, and also the peaking dish. Foods always fresh . Highly recommend for people looking for vegan and vegetarians cuisine in City.
My favourite vegetarian restaurant! Dishes are on the pricey side, but everything is so delicious. The mock meats taste really nice but my favourite has to be the tofu dumplings! Such a unique dish!
Joanne | Melbournecitay
+4
It was Chinese New Year and I was vegetarian for the day. The family dinner I had here was very yummy and heartening. I would recommend the sweet and sour vege pork, the claypot tofu and the curry dish were delicious! I would skip the appetisers. I thought service wasn’t great because they only brought the appetisers much later, even after plenty of reminders. Otherwise, an enjoyable dinner!
The food here is seriously delicious, and the menu is so large I'm always surprised everything comes out fresh, hot and extremely tasty! It probably has one of the largest selections of food out of all the vegan restaurants in Melbourne- a good selection of healthier 'greens' and some more indulgent items like the chicken nuggets! The staff are so friendly, always quick to help and suggest food, service is fast, and they have the best juice that I can't find anywhere else!
Gong De Lin always reminds me of my hometown cuisine. It’s authentic and delicious! The best you can find in the city.
The staff are very friendly and accommodating for people with allergies and dietary sensitivities.
The ‘steak’ and Chinese spinach are my favourite and I recommend the tea.
This is my favourite vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Melbourne.
There are so many choices on the menu and its all very delicious. I recommend the fried rice with moss and pine nuts or the Chinese spinach for something light and fresh. There are also many yummy mock meats options.
It's been a hit with both my vegan and meatlover friends and family.
Also wine and beer is now available.
Pleasantly surprised to find Gong De Lin hidden on level 3 along Swanston Street - clean and elegant interior, friendly and attentive service, a unique and tasty menu - even late on a Sunday night. There was so much to choose from, we were very happy with the assistance we received and quality of food and drink we ordered! Will definitely be coming back to try more.
Quality! It Shouldnt Be That Hard! Love A Wonderful Mouth Full Of Wholesome FOOD!
+4
I came here on Sunday 9th December. I got out of the lift and was greeted my a older chines lady. I asked for a table for one she said oh your very lucky tonight very busy take a seat and pulled the chair out for me to sit on. It was packed... I was questioning why???
I was looking at the menu, and there is so much choice. This Chinese restaurant was mind blowing.
I asked for a class of water. The lady brought a glass bottle of water that had mint leaves in it. And a glass!! So refreshing!!!
For a entree I had pan friend dumplings it was full of green leafy Asian vegetables,🥬 it was nice they are filling!!
For a main I ordered the curried chicken! This was so amazing. Full of flavour and good textures through the meal. I ordered also ordered steam rice but the forgot to bring it to the table. Thank god because after the dumplings I was full.
I asked for a take away container for the curried chicken and when the waiter said sure I said oh can I also get a steak rice for take away!!!!
The lady who greeted me was very apologetic about the rice. It was cheap the food tasted amazing highly recommend this restaurant.
food is excellent and sevice is very Good and friendy,the atmosphere is warm and happy.I find out my favourite restaurant .
Rod and Tiffany.
The food there is awesome and the service is excellent. I can eat all my preferred dishes there without considering hurting the animals. This is the reason that I choose to have my meal there. The food is yummy and with various types. All the food is designed delicately by the chef, which is really good!!!
The stir fried rice noodles with veggies was a nice one. I wish I knew it came with capsicum so that I would have asked to remove them all. Overall it is worth a 4 out of 5
Great food, great services provided by the manager today.
It is very hard to find great vegan food in Melbourne CBD.
However Gongdeling has provide a lovely place for vegan people have a happy and peaceful meal time.
We had a wonderful lunch together with our team. Thank you. Kim Wen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ MUST TRY! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hands down the BEST Chinese eats in Melbourne for vegetarians!
Everything on the menu is delicious, and vegan! All the “meat” is extremely authentic and full of flavour. The service here is impeccable and the food is very affordable for the portion size. I take all my family and friends here when I’m in the city, and I’m always greeted by the manager, Bonnie, with a smile. I live out far west in Melbourne, but always have time to come here and enjoy a fulfilling and satisfying dinner.
Must try dishes: Curry chicken, spicy fried noodles, fried salt ‘n’ pepper squid, fried chicken and fried pork noodles!
There’s never been a better time to be a veggie lover in Melbourne. 5 stars for Gong De Lin！！great service and taste！The environment of the restaurant gives sort of nice warm feeling sort of warm and cuddly. MUST TRY：pea sprout（pic1） Ordered it every time I went there❤️
My favorite restaurant in Melbourne CBD, nice environment, friendly service. Food is delicious, especially pea sprout is perfectly fresh and tender compared with another restaurant!!! My friends and I always like order sweet & sour vegetarian pork, eggplant and stir fried string bean to take away.
Amazing food! Particular vegetarian sweet and sour pork, curry Chicken! The manager Bonnie served us with professional manner! Thank you so much and we will be back soon:)
Lovely food at very reasonable price. I like the sweet and sour mock pork very much. The wonton soup was lovely with plenty of green vegetables. Lovely cozy ambience.
Alice In Wonderland X Icebear
+4
If you feel like fancier handmade gluten vegetarian mock meats, this is the place for you. The price will reflect the skill that goes into crafting meats.
Icebear recommends:
- Sweet and sour vegetarian pork
- Spicy fried noodles with vegetarian char siu pork
- Spicy vegetarian pork and vegetable stir fry
Basically get all the ‘pork on your fork’ or chopsticks hahaha it’s juicy, tender and the texture is so meaty that even those carnivore friends will enjoy it.
Good food, good service, good variety and best of all good efficiency. Shouldn't disappoint any vegetarians or vegans. The killer dishes are the appetisers, some of which are vegetarian interpretations of Chinese classics.
Great food! Excellent staff and an amazing place for all new vegans and vegeterians craving something craving something meaty!
Must try the sizzling "lamb" in Sichuan sauce and Kung bao vegetable chicken for the meaty craving. Apart from that the vegeterianstir fry and other vegan foods without any of the mock meats are really great.
A Must try!
My friend took me here. I love that it’s a vegetarian restaurant. I was spoiled with choices that I couldn’t decide. Luckily my friend had to help me out 😂. Anyway the only downside was feeling boxed in as there were no windows. Apart from that it was pleasant enough.
Good veggie Chinese restaurant upstairs on Swanson street. Large selection of food to choose from. Cash only though so make sure you are prepared.
Melbourne Food Monkeys
+4.5
1. Appetiser: deep fried shiitake mushrooms
2. Main: Clay pot tofu with mock seafood
Both dishes were delicious and what stood out most was the generous servings. Service was great, we didn't have to ask even once for our tea to be refilled and food arrived quickly. Will definitely come back to try more dishes.
Food is delicious and I haven't had anything bad here before, the staff are also very lovely and helpful. The only issue is sometimes they are very busy so you may have to wait awhile but that just shows how popular it is. Prices are really good too :)
By far one of my favourite vegetarian restaurant. The sweet and sour pork is my favourite. Ordered shark fin soup too which taste great with some vinegar on top of it.
However, didn’t give it a full rating because ordered the sweet lotus dessert which is way too sweet and I didn’t like it.
Located on level 3 on Swanson St between Little Burke and Lonsdale, above the noodle shop on ground floor.
The main branch in Shanghai has apparently different menu to this one and so is the one in Hong Kong which has more yum cha food.
Lots of vegan choices on the menu.
Shark fin soup was ok. The herbal soup was very tasty.
Egg tofu claypot was good but would have been better with plain tofu.
Stir fried bean sprouts was very fresh with shredded mushrooms on top.
For lunch or a quick meal my favourite is the wonton soup!!
Very busy on Friday nights so booking is recommended.
I'm visiting here for the 3rd time. This's one my favourite Asian Vegetarian restaurant in Melbourne. My usual favourites includes Fired noodles, Spring rolls, fried dumplings etc..food, ambience and service are amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. Don’t miss their hot and Sour soup!
Enjoyed it so much! The special fried rice is one of my personal favourites! I'm always craving it now and I just need to go back as soon as possible! Highly recommend Gong De Lin! Probably my favourite places to eat ever. The staff was also so kind and accommodating !
Tried their Chef recommendation moss fried rice. Rice came in chunky, a little cold at some parts and lack of fragrance. Hedge mushroom with macadamia nuts was average. While the crispy goose dish was awesome, worth ordering.
My friend and I don't usually have lots of vegetarian meals. However, the dishes at Gong De Lin were surprisingly tasty. We especially enjoyed the fried rice with mock luncheon meat. It was full of the wok's breath aroma, and loved the slightly charred spring onion that drizzled the top of the rice. Simple but executed perfectly. The only downside was the honey marinated lotus root with glutinous rice. it was a little too sweet for our liking. We didn't quite understand it. Looking forward to trying other dishes on the extensive menu.
We returned for lunch. What a lovely place! The ambience is relaxed. Our group of 13 was seated in a comfortable round table that also had a 'lazy Susan'! Lovely food! Each dish bested the previous one! If you are a big group, best to order a number of different items and share. The serving sizes are generous! $250 for 10 adults and 3 kids! Amazing place, highly recommended!
Located on the swanston street opposite china bar and right above kwok on the 3rd floor this places serves some amazing vegan chinese food at decent prices, the portion sizes are huge and staff pretty courteous and helpful. Have had their mapo tofu and noodle stir fry dish on 2 occasions and never got disappointed. Highly recommend for vegetarians if you are in the area.
I met up with Brendan below the sign for Gong De Lin on bustling Swanston Street, before taking the lift up three floors and stepping into the smart and tranquil environment of the restaurant. Most of the tables are in booths and we were seated at one of these. There weren't too many other diners on the Tuesday which complimented the peaceful vibe. The menu is large and features a range of vegetarian dishes, we both picked ended up picking from the noodle and rice dish section which worked well for lunch.
This place is all vegan which I hadn't known until I arrived. Nice quick service and delicious food. I shared the shiitake mushroom with Bok Choy and the lemon chicken. Both very tasty dishes! Not gong to lie, lemon chicken is something I have definitely missed since going vegetarian and then vegan. As someone who hasn't eaten meat in a decade or so this hit the spot. Definitely similar to how I remember. Would go back! I want to try the sweet and sour dishes and so many others on their menu! No alcohol or byo and is reasonably priced.
Full Time Wholesomeness
+4
Great Chinese vegan restaurant❤ I really appreciate a Chinese restaurant could cook 100% vegan food. I even learned that ginger, green onions and garlic are considered meaty vegetables. Interesting info. Need to reserve before come for a window luxury seat ;) will def come back again!!!
It’s no secret that I prefer fake meat to real meat (read about past fake meat dining experiences here and here), which is how I found myself at Gong De Lin mid-last week. Accessible only through a ramshackle lift to the third floor of the same building that houses rooftop bar Goldilocks, the restaurant is tightly contained, pared back and cosy.
A vegans heaven!
All meals we tried were an absolute delight and tasted so much like real meat!
Quick service too.
Can't wait to go back!
Best vegan meal in Melbourne so far :)
Okay so I was initially a bit iffy about a vegan Chinese place in Melbourne - such a rare find and I was doubtful that they'd do it justice but WOW I was so happy and satisfied! The interior was surprisingly quite quaint and lovely (easy to miss because you have to take the lifts up to the third floor) and service was quite fast as well. We had numerous dishes including the seven flavoured noodles, sizzling hot plate chicken, gong pao chicken (all vegan of course) and a few of the starters. Mmmm who knew vegan chicken could taste so good? The Fried sweet and sour mushroom for entree was my favourite - tasted exactly like sweet and sour pork haha
Would definitely return (with multiple groups of friends) - highly recommend if you're looking for a nice vegan restaurant in the city! A bit on the expensive side in terms of serving size compared to other Chinese restaurants but to be expected given that it's vegan!
Vegetarian restaurant, plenty of mock meat dishes, but we had the Szechuan aubergine and potato curry. It didn't specify gf or df, but I made assumptions. It was really delicious and filling. Really nice atmosphere. Wheelchair access but a bit small. Hard to notice from the street as it is up an inconspicuous lift, but there is a sign from the roof of the arcade.
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Came here on a Thursday night after making reservations for two in the afternoon. Our friends decided to join us at the very last minute. Thought it shouldn't be an issue changing this when we arrive at the restaurant, but man were we wrong!
The restaurant was filled to the brim. Luckily for us, the table that they've originally reserved for us could easily fit 4. :) Dinner was again - another surprise. Everything tasted great! We had the shanghai noodles with assorted sauces. The noodles were really different from anything we've ever had. It was starchy and heavy but it went really well with the sauces and condiments.
We also ordered the tofu dumplings as well as the sweet sour pork. All of which were amazing. The flavor of the dishes here are real. Coming only from the ingredients, and worked so well together in harmony. We didn't leave feeling bloated or thirsty, like we would sometimes in places that have used too much artificial flavoring.
The desserts however, were a different experience. Had the highly recommended glutinous rice balls and we all didn't enjoy it. It felt (for the lack of a better word) odd... it didn't feel like a dessert, but more like... well, rice to go with dishes instead. Would just stick to the mains and entrees the next time.
Service was okay - depending on who serves you. Some were really nice and sweet, some a little rude and cocky. So here's hoping that the next time we come around - we get the nice Malaysian girl! :)
After reading the other reviews on here we decided to try the vegetarian sweet and sour pork and it did not disappoint! The stir-fried noodles with spicy vegetarian pork and cabbage were also pretty tasty. Will definitely come back for those dishes! We also tried the vegetarian pancakes and special fried rice and were pretty disappointed with these dishes. Both were bland and the small amount of flavour in the fried rice was somewhat unpleasant.... If you're looking for tasty faux meat and quick service this is the place for you!
Imitation sweet and sour pork is superb as well as the vegetable dumplings. Gong De Lin is a real gem in central Melbourne for all your vegetarian cravings!
We came here for a friend's birthday who is vegan and a devout Buddhist. This is one of the very few vegetarian restaurant that meet her dietary requirement as she couldn't take onion and garlic due to religious reasons. Gong De Lin is located right in the heart of the city, on Swanstons street near Lonsdale yet it is easy to miss this place as you will have to take the elevator next to Noodle Kingdom up to Level 3. The vegetarian dishes are very delicate and tasty. The highlight for me is the Cold Noodle with Seven Sauce. It is so light and refreshing, especially good for summer. The waitress is very friendly and I will definitely come back.
My absolute favourite place! The staff are incredible. They always make room for you even if they are busy. They check to see if you need your water topped up and see how your doing regularly. They are just amazing. Every dish is great! I always get the sweet and sour pork!
Food was good but the fact that people go through the restaurant to access the rooftop is a bit dirty... otherwise good service and tasty food
Loved this place. Central location, can be tricky to find the first time though. Persist, and one finds a great vegetarian menu. Good food, cosy, quiet.
Will surely keep coming back.
This restaurant is up a few floors in a building in the middle of the city, just to give it an extra authentic Asian metropolis eatery vibe. The menu is ex-ten-sive in the extreme but I haven't found a bad one. As a long time non-meat eater I genuinely think the mock meat dishes are identical to real meat, but it's probably not the truth. Even the dishes that don't purport to be imitation meat are worthwhile.
Sometimes I'm too shy to whip out my phone and start photographing my food when around new people and then feel my reviews are illegitimate.
Highly recommend this vegetarian restaurant in Melbourne CBD.
Although I am a meat eater, the dishes in this vegetarian restaurant are full of flavors. Absolutely loved it.
The sweet and sour pork was so delicious, which i think it tasted better than real meat by less chewy and oily.
Other dishes were nice too but the chicken nuggets were disappointing. They were very hard and salty.
We love the Chinese food without MSG, which was hard to find these days.
Service was excellent and efficient. The lady knows the menu very well. She can explain every item clearly about the ingredients and method cook so you can ask for recommendations with confidence.
We will be back for the sweet and sour pork for sure.
If you happen to be in the cbd especially chinatown, and craving to have chinese style pure vegetarian food with variety of fake meat with no onion and garlic due to religious reason perhaps? This place can be your choice. It has wide range of mock meat, vegetables and bean curd dishes to choose from. Location can be easily missed out as it's located on the 3rd of a shop house right the opposite of Nelayan Indonesian eating place at Swanston st. Food was fairly good and avoid peak hours if you come without booking
We found this address via google . It's on the third floor and the elevator opens right in the restaurant. The atmosphere is very relaxing. We ordered different dishes to share and a flower tea which was delicious. The waitress was a bit stressed but very friendly and gave us really good advice. The food was definitely surprising and delightful. I wouldn't expect a vegan restaurant to have such an interesting menu. The is my new address for a Monday night dinner! Totally recommend!
A little hard to find this venue as its very discreet, however its fantastic to see a vegetarian restaurant right in the heart of the CBD. Venue is quite small and basic in appearance, bookings will help you skip a heavy wait in que on a busy weekend. Service could use some improvements; minimal waiting staff for such a busy venue - i found our waitress becoming very flustered with orders and missing essential basics that should be served at the table ie. water and cutlery.
On another note, the food is authentic chinese cuisine and flavours are strong - a great place to introduce to meat eating friends as the mock meats are amazing! Presentation of food is simple but plesant otherwise. We were rushed by staff to leave the venue - but im my experience, this is quite common and effective for small, busy asain restauarants in order to cater for other customers and long waits.
My happy place! This place has one of the most extensive vegetarian menu. It gives you so much satisfaction! Definitely coming over and over again..
Cyrene Patricia Leonard
+5
Came here on my first day in Melbourne and was not disappointed! We stumbled upon this restaurant and could not have asked for anything better. So much to choose from, everything was vegetarian/vegan! The salt and pepper squid is amazing and tastes just like squid, as well as the sweet and sour pork!! Have been back once since and will be back again and again!
I accidentally came across this place when friends wanted to go to noodle kingdom downstairs which turned out to be currently closed for renovations! I took another friend here on Thursday night and we were seated in a cozy section with a lovely view of Swanston st. The service was friendly and the food arrived quickly.
We ordered so much food and it was also so cheap! We had spring rolls, dumplings, shanghai noodles and a veggie fried rice dish. Even though my friend isn't vegan she loved everything we ordered, so we were both very happy and will be back again.
Hidden away on Level 3 above busy Swanston St is this gem. It’s really next level vegetarian Chinese food that would appeal even to meat-eaters. Quality ingredients and very skilfully cooked. Perfect restaurant for special occasions - birthdays, anniversaries and small groups.
5 stars for food, 2 stars for the service and 3 stars for the price of their menu. We didn’t feel welcomed as we are tourists and we are only spending AUD42. The staff are more incline to serve local who are paying more and are frequent visitors. I give it to this business as they are serving vegetarian food. But all customers should be treated fairly.
Amazing vegan place in CBD. We go always when in Melbourne. Long menu with heaps of options, just veggies, tofu or mock meat. All super delicious.
Book table as they tend to be busy.
This place is out of this world.
We were taken here by a local, and we were very impressed.
Service was outstanding, food was impeccable and the restaurant was very clean.
The waitress helped us picked some meals and she was absolutely correct. Every dish came out hot and delicious. And she spoiled me with a scrumptious dessert for my birthday.
Thank you Gong De Lin, we will be back ♡
Delicious and varied vegetarian and vegan Chinese food, highly recommend!
Would recommend booking especially if you have more than 2 people in your group. They seem to prefer payment by cash, but they do accept card/contactless.
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