Making the shift to a vegetarian diet is difficult, especially when there are plenty of tempting culinary offerings that all seem to be based on chicken, pork or beef. At JV, however, located beside Longhua temple, you'll never be stumped for choice.

The all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffet (RMB 158 lunch/178 dinner) offers more than 200 dishes, including Chinese, Japanese and Italian cuisine. (Be warned, some foods are high in calorie content, including sushi, French fries and pasta.) For those with a smaller appetite, order a la carte: xiang chun chao fan (fried rice, RMB 20) and yan xun sue (diced mushrooms rolled in tofu sheets, RMB 18) are both light and tasty.

JV features a spacious and attractive interior, though the square bottles of olive oil placed artfully about the room add an unintentionally amusing touch. Not so the waiters, who need to learn how to serve with a smile.

Jendow Vegetarian
Location: No. 2787 Longhua Lu, by Tianyaoqiao Lu
Opening time: Daily 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9pm. All cards. 
Cost for two (excluding drinks): RMB 122
Tel: 021-64572299