Chinese food lovers & vegans/vegetarians alike will love this place! I have been here so many times over the years and Nature Vegetarian always delivers on the taste, portion and satisfaction! The service and ambiance is pretty standard for a Chinese restaurant. Nothing to report here. Nature Veg offers plant-forward dishes as well as dishes with mock meat (mostly seitan and tofu, nothing crazy processed). Whatever you would typically order at a Chinese Restaurant you'd be able to order here and be pleasantly satisfied. I usually will randomly pick a noodle and rice dish + one vegetable main. Sorry no detailed reviews on the dishes here as everything I've tried has been great. I just move on to the next thing I haven't tried on the menu! We usually order extra to have leftovers. read more

If you didn't know better, you'd swear you were eating real meat. This place is hands down one of the best vegetarian spots in Oakland, especially if you're used to traditional meat dishes. Every dish we ordered had that rich, savory, "where's the meat?" flavor... but it's all vegetarian. The just made steamed buns came out soft, fluffy, and packed with flavor, with that slightly sweet and savory filling that hits immediately. Simple, but done right. The pan-fried dumplings had that perfect golden crisp on the outside and juicy filling inside. I kept reaching for "just one more"? Yeah... that good. And the standout for me? The sweet and sour "chicken." Crispy pieces coated in that glossy, tangy sauce with bell peppers and pineapple... it looked like your classic takeout dish and tasted just as satisfying. Everything came out fresh, hot, and well-seasoned. No bland bites anywhere. Service matched the food. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and even suggested adjustments based on what was made fresh that day. He was not wrong! Parking is street parking on a one-way street in downtown Oakland, right on the edge of Chinatown. Pricing was very reasonable for the amount of food we got. We ordered multiple dishes, left full, had a doggy bag and felt like we got a great deal. 10/10 for the entire experience. read more

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Very very good Chinese restaurant, it is almost difficult to determine that the restaurant is vegetarian since the quality of the cuisine and imitation dishes is so high. They have a a large menu and a standard Chinese restaurant decor. Otherwise the price was very reasonable and the service quick and attentive. I would very much recommend. read more

Solid veggie food!! Our whole family had banquet style food for our family event, and we all loved it vegetarians and meat eaters alike! They have a lot of different soy based veggie meats to choose from as well has vegetable options as well. Service was friendly and prompt. read more

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Just out of this world amazing vegan food. Yes yes yes yes yes. The beef and broccoli was a favorite.

The most variety I've seen for a Chinese restaurant that specializes in vegetarian items. Some dishes really dont look vegetarian. You will have a chance to eat meat that's not really made of meat, but actually soy or tofu or starch. Interesting experience Can accommodate large groups since has lots of large tables with lazy Susan's Favorite is honey walnut prawn with nuts (the prawn is vegetarian!) read more

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The location is in a really bad part of town It feels unsafe The inside was a weird layout and they told me to scan the QR code for the menu even though they had paper copies at the front The outside looks very run down and made me question the they I want to eat here I got Thai fried rice and it was very weird. Not what you think it is. It's a rice covered with a soggy thin noodle. It was gross I got spicy green beans too They were greasy and not spicy Was not a fan although portions are enormous read more

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Loved the array of spices and flavors! Service was fast and friendly I loved all the dishes and every dish was crafted well in my opinion as a meat eater! The honey walnut shrimp tasted like honey mayonnaise walnut shrimp minus the seafood taste. The roast pork texture was interesting but you can taste the same flavors, just not the salt that comes with pork so add salt! It works well I loved the sesame sauce with our sesame chicken. Family vibes and very filling. Thank you! read more

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My older sister has been vegetarian for over 30 years, and now that I'm in the Bay Area, it's great to meet up for dinner. We visited this restaurant on a Saturday around 6:30 PM and found it relatively quiet, with just a few other tables occupied when we arrived. Parking options include street parking and a nearby deck, which is convenient. The service was commendable; our waitstaff were attentive and efficient. We appreciated the variety on the menu and ordered dishes like roasted duck, chow mein, shark fin soup, and basil string beans for our group of four. I'm pleased to say we enjoyed every dish and finished everything. One suggestion for improvement would be to enhance the restaurant's ambiance since it felt a bit subdued during our visit. It seems many places in downtown Oakland close by 7 PM, even on weekends, which contributes to a quieter environment. Overall, it was a satisfying experience with tasty food and good service. read more

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant - Veggie Roast Duck - Vegetarian Near Me - Oakland, California

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 I have been looking for a go-to Chinese restaurant for many years and this will definitely be my new spot! Not only was the food absolutely delicious, the service was warm, friendly, and polite. I was happily surprised that everything that we ordered had the perfect flavor and texture. I have been vegetarian for over 10 years and I will say this has to be one of my best experiences for both vegetarian food and Chinese food. Both of my children are meat eaters, and could not even tell the chicken wasn't actual chicken! They have specific taste buds and this place had my kids happy and wanting more! Also, the portions and pricing is good. We had lots of leftovers even with full bellies Thank you to the staff for your kindness and delicious food! We will definitely be back for many visits and lots more food read more

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I last wrote a review here in 2017. I hadn't been here in a few years. I am glad my beloved and I went here for dinner recently. Friendly service. Humble setting. We ordered family style the Mixed Vegetable Deluxe with Wood Ear Mushrooms and Baby Corn and Braised Tofu with Vegetables. We had this with a side of brown rice and spring rolls for a starter. Everything was delicious. We will definitely return again soon. read more

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Get it to go yummy fake meat traditional old style Vegetarian Buddhist Chinese (American) menu. My favorite is the sweet-and-sour pork. I order ahead on Friday night sometimes and pick it up on my way home. I usually get sweet and sour veg-pork, chow mein and hot and sour soup and eggrolls. read more

Friday night with my friends, I hadn't seen them in a while. No one was in cooking mode, my friends suggested this place because they are regulars. They always order the chow fun without brócoli. That was pretty good! The tempura was amazing!!!!! The orange chicken was good, the rice was good! We picked up to go, but I liked the experience despite the to go instead. Restaurant had a huge Buddha statue right at the door, soft music and not many people sitting. The front had a lot of plants and some spare chairs. Some people would consider this messy. I would say this may be rather a way to mitigate security, as you can't see from outside into it. Minimal details but good was good!!!!! 4.6/5 read more

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant - Veggie Beef Chow Fun / with no meat - Vegetarian Near Me - Oakland, California

Nature Vegetarian is truly the best vegetarian restaurant in the Bay Area. I pre-booked two large tables after my dad's funeral service with a selection of dishes. The service was prompt, and the dishes came out at the perfect pace. Even guests who usually only eat meat complimented how delicious everything was. I was genuinely amazed that every single dish was so flavorful and well prepared. Thank you, Nature Vegetarian, for making the ordering process so simple and for providing such a wonderful meal. It was greatly appreciated! read more

Ive only ever ordered from here online, so I can't speak to the customer service or ambience but the food is very tasty and I would say well priced too. Great veg spot, available on DoorDash for delivery. My only feedback is that the portions on the fried rice and sesame chicken can be inconsistent read more

Food is excellent and you really can't beat the prices here - it feels like pre-inflation prices. I ordered takeout and I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture (: but here are the things I ate: Sautéed lotus root - 10/10 you have to like lotus root and I love lotus root. It was cooked perfectly. It includes black mushroom and snap peas Veggie beef chow fun - 9/10 flavored well and cooked well Veggie General tsaos chicken - 8/10 flavored well but the veggie chicken was slightly dry Veggie Beef with broccoli - 10/10 saucy and delicious read more

Accidentally posted a review for Souley Vegan on the wrong page, whoops! Fortunately, Nature Vegetarian is definitely the greatest Chinese restaurant around! Location is so unassuming considering how delicious the food is. You'll usually see a line, but they're fast and they'll get you out quickly. Served family style, with generous portions. Everything is amazing, but standouts for me are the honey walnut prawns, salt and pepper chicken, pork fried rice, and lemon chicken. Decent layout, with a good amount of tables and a classic old school Chinatown aesthetic. read more

This is a quaint little restaurant located conveniently close to 12th St BART; I went during lunchtime on a Saturday and there was street parking too. There's complimentary hot tea to enjoy throughout your meal, which is nice. Items I ordered: - honey walnut shrimp (ABSOLUTELY ORDER THIS) which was perfectly battered and fried, and not too sauced - salt and pepper chicken that was delicious and had an excellent crunch - basil green beans which were exactly what you'd expect--good and simple - roasted duck (everyone's least favorite dish; you'll want to pass on this one. It's got a strange texture and tastes of dehydrated mushrooms) Service is quick and friendly and there's a bathroom in the back. It's a great place to have a leisurely meal with friends or family! read more

Definitely one of our go to take out restaurants if we're in the area. Seems like they also opened recently again for inside dining, which is exciting!! Basically we always ALWAYS get the salt and pepper chicken. It's the perfect salty snack as we watch a movie. Then usually every time we order, we change up the remaining dishes to try different things. I don't remember ever ordering anything I particularly disliked, it's always delicious. read more

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant - Veggie Chicken Chow Mein, Salt & Pepper Veggie Chicken, Veggie Pork with Sweet & Sour Sauce, Fried Mixed Tofu with Chinese Green - Vegetarian Near Me - Oakland, California

Exceptional vegetarian meal! I was most impressed with the vegetarian honey walnut prawns, which mimicked the texture and taste of shrimp perfectly with a yummy creamy sweet sauce, fried wonton strips adding a nice crunch, and candied walnuts. The tofu dish was delicious and very soft. The mushroom soup was savory goodness. Fried rice was impressive, tasted very meaty/umami. The fried cauliflower mimicked calamari and was fun to snack on. It also came with imitation roast pork, which didn't taste like pork but mimicked the crispy skin and fat pretty well and was fun. The servers were friendly and it's a great place for large groups. Our vegetarian companions said this is the best vegetarian restaurant around, and I believe it! read more

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Fast, friendly and solid vegetarian/vegan Chinese food in Oakland. Good portions, and not too oily. read more

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We are moving towards a vegetarian diet as a family and so we are trying to find veggie friendly takeout/delivery and dining options. I can't speak to the ambiance or service as we had our meal delivered m, but I can't speak to the food. The menu is quite large and literally has something for everyone. We ordered the "pork" fried rice, lemon "chicken", stuffed eggplant and wontons. This was definitely an over order for two adult and a child, there will be enough food for 2-3 meals. However, everyone had a different favorite. The child who generally LOVES fried rice, did like it, but reported that the lemon "chicken" and the wontons were her fave. The wontons were stuffed with what I would describe as fake ham and came with a delicious dipping sauce. My husband loved the stuffed eggplant. The eggplant was cooked very well, and they made the crust look like crispy pork skin. While my husband loved the bean paste it was stuffed with, the child and I weren't super fans of the texture. I loved the fried rice, it was epically smoky. All in all. We were happy to try it and will definitely add this to our restaurant rotation. read more

Tasty, creative vegan takes on Chinese dishes. The mock piglet was tasty and interesting. We also enjoyed the bean curd rolls. Also good were the wonton soup and spicy eggplant! We'll be back to try more of their menu! read more

best vegetarian restaurant! Good taste! very fast! perfect service! reasonable price!

We LOVE it here. It's what many refer to as a "hole in the wall" but those who know, know that many of them have the best food!! Food and service are both top tier. Ling is the best! #themHines read more

An absolute GODSEND! I'd mostly given up on Chinese food after becoming vegan UNTIL Nature Vegatarian came along. This place has an incredible menu of all veggie and mostly vegan classic Chinese dishes, from vegetarian crispy duck to claypot 鱼香茄子. The imitation meat is some of the best I've ever had, genuinely I had moments eating the chicken chow mein where I was convinced that they had snuck real meet in there after all! The dishes are also priced very reasonably and have great portion sizes, one of the last places in Bay Area where eating out doesn't break the bank. Love love this place, hope they stay open forever! read more

Food was amazing! Ordered the general tso's chicken, pad see ew, and spring rolls. Service was quick and friendly! Definetly coming back when I'm in the area! read more

Okay. This place should actually deserve 5 stars EXCEPT that i think they put a lot of MSG-equivalent thing that makes you really thirsty afterwards. That being said, I don't think it would stop me from going again. Just...to be intentional when I want to go to this place. Anywho, the stuff we ordered: 1. Honey Walnut "Shrimp" - Like many reviewers, i found this very delighful. It literally tastes like shrimp and SMELLS like seafood. WILD. Would get again. 2. Sauteed Lotus Root - Quite salty but quite yum. Lotus Root is annoying to peel (imo) so I like that I can go here for this traditional veggie dish 3. Sesame "Chicken" - Probably the most underwhelming dish (but still decent). A lot of people said this was a must try. I think it was just alright. Didn't really get the sesame flavor and the texture of the chicken was definitely meh. 4. Chao Style Fried Rice - come for the rice people! This was 10/10. 5. Yang Chow Fried Rice - also excellent!! The rices were what I would come back for!! Note: This place is cash only. You can order online but you ultimately pay in person in cash. They do pick up very punctually too! read more

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Oakland, California

I used to like this place a lot. So great to have a good Chinese vegan joint in the heart of Oakland. Their fake crispy pork was amazing. But guess the years haven't been kind to it, and COVID didn't help. They aren't open for dine in and it looks gloomy. Maybe, hopefully, their to go business is still going well. I ordered the veggie cod fish steak with eggplant, the veggie roast piglet appetizer, and veggie Peking style ribs. Of those the "cod fish" was ok and acceptable. But the other 2 were lame. The "ribs" was chewy with a thick batter and wayyy too sweet. The "piglet" had no resemblance to the meat version. The guy who took the order was very nice, kind and patient (based on how he handled another group who were ordering and being a pain). So the stars are mainly for that. But really really hope their quality of food improves dramatically and soon. read more

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Let me start off by saying I'm a huge meat lover, all my pizzas will always have extra pepperoni and I'm a big advocate for KBBQ. So it's clear I'm not even a vegetarian but this is where I bring all my friends to celebrate my birthday. The food here is sooo good. The seasoning and substitutes for protein are unique and yummy! Come here with an open mind and empty stomach. This place is accommodating if large groups. Fast service, friendly staff, delicious food. Seriously such a gem! My go to: pan fried curry noodle, nature fried rice, cod fish clay pot read more

First, spring rolls were perrrrrrfect. Crisp, fresh filling, piping hot. Sesame chicken was good, but the broccoli was a little past it's prime and slightly overcooked. Definitely ordered wrong with the Mixed Tofu with Greens. I just didn't understand what this was and didn't ask. The mixed tofu was actually in a batter and deep fried, like a fritter. The greens were bok choy (though I was expecting more of a Chinese broccoli type green, why not just write bok choy?). Based on these dishes, it wasn't my favorite. read more

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant - Veggie Sesame Chicken / - Vegetarian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Their Vegetarian dishes are good, and price is reasonable, but only for takeout no dine in. I'm recommended.

This may well be the best Chinese-style vegetarian restaurant in the Bay Area. Steep in traditional southern China cookery, fusioned with modern Taiwanese mock meat (best in the business), and a creative chef, this unassuming dining place offers a dignified peaceful atmosphere and a surprising menu that other Asian vegetarian restaurants do not have. If you believe in the connection of food with the wellness of your body as well as your mind, this is the place. A subtle suggestion of the Buddhist peacefulness and the good karma of practicing non-killing of animals is always a meaningful experience dining here. You eat but do no harm to the Planet! read more

Ordered takeout for 7 ppl dinner. The order was ready in under 30 minutes and I was able to drive up and call them to bring out the order. Excellent service. The food was quite good but quality has dwindled from years prior. But previously was dining in hence couldn't compare to be fair. Prices are also 2019 prices. Heard they own the building and hence do not have to comp for rent increases. read more

One of my favorite spots for vegetarian food in the Bay Area. Great variety and so tasty

Food: 9/10 Service: take out only as of April 2022 Portion size: large Value: 8/10 Wait time: 10 minutes for pick after placing a phone order This vegetarian place shocked me!! My husband needs meat in all his meals but he was satisfied with this vegetarian meal! I feel like that definitely says something! We ordered the veggie beef chow fun and Chao style fried rice. The Chao style fried was is one of the best fried rices I've ever eaten! Such good flavor with seaweed, green beans, veggie meat pieces and sesame seeds. So simple, but sooo good! I don't know how they do it! The veggie beef in the chow fun was a little weird for me. The texture and flavor just didn't sit right with me. I did like the flavor of the dish and noodles were fresh and bouncy but maybe next time I'll try just the veggie one or veggie chicken? Also they are not accepting indoor dining yet. So take out only! We were able to eat each dish twice which means the portion size was pretty good for being only $10 per plate! Definitely give this place a try! read more

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant - Chao style fried rice (the best!!!!!) - Vegetarian Near Me - Oakland, California

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The dishes were all quite good. The portions are generous. The staff were friendly and helpful -- the takeout setup was easy to navigate with a table at the front for pickup orders. read more

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Long overdue review!! I've been coming to Natures Vegetarian for a while now. Now I have to tell you, there is absolutely no where to sit in here. They no longer do dine-in BUT the quality of the food makes up for that. To me, this is the BEST vegan Chinese food in the Bay Area. I've tried the green beans, beef chow mien and salt & pepper chicken. Amazing! I 100% recommend ordering the salt & pepper vegan chicken if nothing else. Food always comes out quick too!! read more

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Great veggie won ton soup! It's our go-to and my mom's favorite! I've tried a few other dishes, but the soup stood out. I liked their tofu in dishes but not the fake meat substitutes. I'll keep coming back for their soup tho! :) read more

Happy Lunar New Year! It's customary to eat vegetarian on the first day, but why not make it a lifestyle change for your health and environment? I visited Nature Vegetarian on a complete whim when another nearby vegan restaurant was closed over a holiday weekend. Lucky for me, they had an incredible array of options for vegetarians and vegans alike that even all my meat-eating friends enjoyed the meal. Their Bean Curd Appetizer (4 in each order) was one of our favorites. A deep fried bean curd roll with lots of filling and a tangy sauce. We also really enjoyed their Salt & Pepper Chicken, which was one of the closest to taste with real chicken that I've had in a long time. The seasoning is what really made it and it was a fabulous entree. The most surprising for me was their BBQ Pork Fried Rice, which was the most realistic looking cha-shu I've seen in a vegan fried rice dish. Despite the restaurant saying 'vegetarian,' most (if not all) of their items are vegan as they don't use egg. If you're unsure, don't hesitate to ask as their friendly service really left me feeling good about placing my order. Pricing is fantastic too. For four entrees and two appetizers, our total came out to roughly $60 which feels like a steal in today's age. It helps dismantle the assumption that vegan food is expensive because it certainly doesn't need to be. As of December 2021, they are still to-go only. You can order via phone ahead and get your food quicker than walking in and placing your order. read more

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant - Bean Curd Appetizer, Salt & Pepper Chicken, Sauteed Spinach, and more - Vegetarian Near Me - Oakland, California