King’s Joy

King's Joy is Beijing's best-known vegetarian restaurant, set in a converted courtyard house at 2 Wudaoying Hutong, beside the Lama Temple. It holds two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide Beijing 2026, which describes the dining room as having muted, Zen-inspired decor. The restaurant's Chinese name, Jingzhaoyin, and its stated philosophy, built around joy, harmony, precious vegetables and slow food, set the tone for a calm, unhurried meal.

The food is lacto-ovo vegetarian, and all three tasting menus can be made vegan on request. Each runs to more than ten courses. According to the Michelin Guide, the kitchen relies on gentle techniques such as steaming, slow-cooking and sautéing, and uses seasonal produce from local organic farms, so the menus change through the year. There is also a wine list that the guide singles out as interesting.

Sustainability is part of the restaurant's identity. The Michelin Guide notes recycling, a ban on disposable items and community activities. The setting includes a garden and a terrace as well as the indoor dining room.

This is a special-occasion restaurant with prices to match, at the top of the Michelin Guide's price scale. It suits vegetarians and vegans looking for a serious tasting menu, couples, and anyone who wants to try refined Chinese vegetable cooking. The Michelin Guide lists opening hours of 11am to 10pm daily, so lunch is an option as well as dinner. Credit cards are accepted, there is wheelchair access, and valet parking is available.

Book ahead, and mention any allergies or the vegan option when you do. Online reservations are available through the restaurant's Michelin Guide listing, or you can call +86 10 8404 9191. The neighbouring Lama Temple is worth combining with lunch here: its Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses holds an 18-metre Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of white sandalwood, a gift from the seventh Dalai Lama to the Qianlong Emperor.

The location makes it easy to combine with sightseeing. The Lama Temple is next door and Yonghegong Lama Temple station on Lines 2 and 5 is nearby, while the Confucius Temple and Imperial College are a short walk west along Guozijian Street.