- Only about 1.3 per cent of city’s 681,300 residents are vegetarians, but survey shows nearly a third eat at least one meat-free meal a week
- Kaito Si’s eatery, which promotes animal protection, recognised this year for its range of international plant-based creations with iFood Award
Macau is not well-known for its vegetarianism – few residents follow a strict plant-based diet – but the creative, meat-free dishes served at one of the Chinese city’s restaurants in Hac Sa Van, an unassuming residential district just a short walk from the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, attract locals and visitors alike.
“We are not near any tourist attractions, but we are very close to the entry and exit point of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, so many Hongkongers make us the first stop on their trip here or the last one before they leave,” Kaito Si, owner of Vega Vega, says.
Only about 1.3 per cent of the city’s 681,300 residents are full-time vegetarians, but nearly a third of them – 31 per cent – eat at least one vegetarian meal each week, a survey published by Macau Association of Vegetarian Culture shows. The association has even launched its “Vegetarian Map Macau” to help people locate the city’s dozens of cafes and restaurants offering plant-based food choices.
Upon entering Si’s restaurant, with its cosy, split-level, natural-toned interior, featuring long wooden tables and bamboo-backed chairs, you will be immediately impressed by the floor-to-ceiling vertical garden, generous scattering of assorted potted plants, and shelves stacked with ornaments and books that highlight the restaurant’s anti-animal-cruelty motto.