Gong De Lin

Delicious food and great service. The place was a bit hard to find but luckily one of my friends brought me here before so I came with my family this time. I love meat and would 100% eat this everyday cause it’s THAT GOOD. Good value for 5 people ($228.90).

Highly recommended:
🟢Sweet & Sour Vegetarian Pork
🟢Assortment of Three Appetizers (Deep-Fried Shredded Black Shiitake Mushroom with Sweet & Sour Sauce, Wheat Gluten Stewed with Brown Sauce and Crispy Vegetarian Goose)

Let me start with saying that I’m a meat eater and request you all to not hold that against me. There’s also a story at the end of the review.

This is a true hidden gem in CBD, amazing food at central location which is kinda actually hidden as it’s so so hard to find that name sign. I would never have found this place if my friends didn’t tell me about it. I was also expecting a half empty restaurant and was plenty surprised to see it almost full on my first visit. At the time of this review, I’ve been there 3 or 4 times if my memory serve right. Also I’m reviewing this as a restaurant that happens to be vegan/vegetarian, not the other way around.

Food:
Top class! That’s the whole review. If you think vegetables are bland, boy you’re so wrong and this place will show you how. Every single dish on the menu is a flavour bomb. Absolutely phenomenal. Stop reading this post and go eat there already (once you find that hidden entrance through a dodgy elevator)

Staff:
Very helpful and friendly. And I do apologise for my last visit where we came in close to closing time and don’t leave until 5 minutes to 10. Didn’t mean to be those guys but we were having a farewell dinner for our friends who are moving out of Victoria.

Story time: I tried to bring my girlfriend here twice and both times she refused to come as this place doesn’t have any meat options, until finally one day she came here and told me “I should have listened to you last time when you told me the food here is amazing”
And every man alive knows, that happens like once in a zillion years 😁

Great vegan place in the heart of Melbourne. It’s a bit hidden from the noisy street inside a building. Hotpot is on a different level than the main restaurant.

The food we tried was fantastic! I really enjoyed the dumpling soup. My friend had the Shanghai style fried noodles. The spring rolls were good, too (but I’ve had better).

Portion size was good and prices as well. I went with a non-vegan friend and she loved it as well.

We went early but the place did get packed shortly after. So I suggest you make a reservation if you want to go during peak times.

Amazing vegan Chinese food, with amazing authentic selections. Really nice vibes. If you guys are on the hunt for an amazing vegan hot pot. Recommend to head down to Level 1, where it’s $33pp all you can eat hot pot, with amazing soup selections (highly recommend the Tom yum). The best vegan Chinese food in Melbourne. Having tried many vegan Asian places across Australia, this by far the best. Definitely give it a go whether or not you’re vegan.

This place offers many vegan options in the Chinatown hood.
Their business is on both the 1st and 3rd floors, elevator access from the sidewalk.
This was a superb find during a visit to Melbourne in May 2024.
Cozy atmosphere with friendly staff.
Vegan-friendly.
Right on the tram line with many tram routes passing by.
Would certainly return.

Excellent Vegan Restaurant! We went to so many expensive restaurants in cbd but this place stands out with absolutely delicious food and affordable price. Food was ready fast and the chef herself came with the food to greet us 😌

Food was great and did not miss meat at all! Portions are pretty big. We ended up packing the left overs for eating later as we couldn’t not finish the whole thing in one sitting.

Strongly recommended this Chinese vegan restaurant. I had the mini vegan hotpot buffet. Great selection of soup base and vegetables. It's a healthier vegan choice. The food here is absolutely delicious!

The staff are very friendly, especially Bonnie is very sweet and attentive. Thank you.

It's our first time there, was warmly welcome by the staff, and run through the steps thoroughly with so much patience and care, showing how much they care for their customers. Food was great, good range and variety, all you can eat, love it, will definitely come back, highly recommended.

This is a place I would continue to come back to for vegetarian meals.

The menu contains a variety of flavours including sour, spicy, salty, sweetness, to produce a blend of praise-worthy dishes.

I have tried many before, although I do think that shared dishes in the menu are better than just individual noodle soup in this case.

Not easy to find parking, so recommend walking or tram in CBD.

Be mindful of the sign on the street before you find the elevator entrance to level three.

Our go-to vegan place for a succulent Chinese meal...

Everything we've tried here has been fantastic - from the sweet & sour 'pork' to the shredded shiitake (both pictured). I'd go on but I would basically be listing the whole menu.

A secret vegetarian gem tucked away in Swanston Street and accessible by elevator. The menu is all things Chinese/Asian but in vegetarian form. Prices are very reasonable and staff are accommodating and friendly without being intrusive. The place is a time capsule 50s or 60s in design, with some booth seating by the windows.
A must do place and thanks to a friend, I've discovered another vegetarian option in Melbourne's CBD. Also licensed.

How could I missed this place every time I came to Melbourne. The moment I step into this restaurant, I noticed the staff here are very friendly, even among themselves can feel the harmony.

Most importantly, the whole restaurant gave me a very good vibe and energy. I feel comfortable and at ease, you know… some restaurants when u entered, u just feel cramped, uneasy, uncomfortable…

Thank you so much! Going to be my next must eat place!

The first Vegan that my friend recommended and she invite for her birthday. almost 100% of the dishes was delicious and can changed meat lover to fall in love with. Salt n pepper squid 🦑 so good. And the rest in the photo. will come back again soon.

Homely decor, and food did not disappoint. Their shanghai noodles are delicious 🩷

2019
Crazy good vegan meat dishes, had a really great experience! Personal favourite is the lemon chicken.

Really pretty interior and kind, friendly staff!

2021
Food's still delicious, staff are friendly and accommodating as always! Thank you :)

Our first restaurant dining after giving birth. This was a special moments and we were grateful to have the extremely loving staff, Huang Jie who took care of our table and our little one. Please extend our thanks to her! We also love the hotpot!

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.

Really, really flavourful Asian vegetarian dishes. Creative use of ingredients too! Wish I had more time here to explore the rest of the menu. We had a dish called Hat Trick which was braised tofu in a numb and spicy broth. Shanghai cold noodles was good too and perfect for two people! We ordered for three to share.

Amazing food and super friendly service! Never thought I'd eat at a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. Loved all the dishes especially the sweet and sour fish fillet. Thank you for being so considerate with our dietary requirements also.