Day 14 of eating at 100 Asian restaurants in Maryland, and this one had both me and Minje walking out seriously impressed. Today we’re at Yuan Fu Vegetarian in Rockville, a fully plant based Chinese spot tucked into one of those unassuming little strip malls you could easily drive right past.
Real talk, I wasn’t sure what to expect from an all mock meat menu, but the crispy eggplant and moo shi we shared were so good I stopped second guessing it about two bites in. It was my first time here, and I’m kinda mad I waited this long to go. If you’re vegan, veg curious, or you just want really tasty Chinese food that happens to skip the meat, this spot’s a gem you gotta know about! Their weekday lunch specials are an absolute steal too, so keep reading for the full rundown.
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What to Know About Yuan Fu Vegetarian in Rockville, Maryland
What sets Yuan Fu apart is that everything on the menu’s made from vegetable products, and they’ve been at it for decades, so the mock meats aren’t an afterthought, they’re the whole craft. Their duck’s built from layers of tofu skin, their squid’s made from Japanese white yam, and the textures are legit impressive!
Nothing’s cooked with MSG or dairy, everything’s fried in vegetable oil, and there’s even a non fat steamed menu plus a gluten free section. What I loved most is they’re not trying to trick you into thinking it’s meat. The food just stands on its own as really good Chinese food. Rockville’s low key one of the best Chinese food towns in the area, from the dim sum at Far East to soup dumplings, and Yuan Fu’s the fully plant based piece of that puzzle.
What to Order at Yuan Fu Vegetarian
Crispy Eggplant ($11)
This was one of my two standouts of the day, and it’s SO yum! The crispy eggplant was exactly the kind of dish I’d happily order again, so if you’re an eggplant person, don’t leave without it. It’s an easy one to share, but you might not want to.
Moo Shi Vegetables ($11)
My other standout of the day. The veggies are stir fried to perfection and keep a really nice texture. But the real treat is the wrap it comes with, super thin yet somehow chewy, and you roll everything up yourself, which makes it a genuinely fun eat. If you like a little hands on action with your food, this one’s for you.
Pineapple Chicken ($15)
Their mock chicken doesn’t taste like chicken, and the thing is, they’re not pretending it does. It was pretty tasty, and Minje actually called this her favorite of everything we ordered. Mary the owner even told us it’s one of their most popular dishes, so clearly a lot of people are into it.
Don’t Skip the Starters
We kicked things off with two hot and sour soups and their stuffed curry dumplings (part of their lunch special deal), and both were a great start to the meal. We genuinely enjoyed everything we ordered. If you love dumplings, Rockville spoils you, the soup dumplings at Bob’s Shanghai are still a DMV favorite of mine, and these curry ones at Yuan Fu are a fun plant based change of pace. Beyond what we tried, the menu runs deep, appetizers, soups, tofu dishes, noodles, fried rice and a bunch of chef’s specials, so there’s plenty to keep coming back for.
What Is Mock Meat, and Is Yuan Fu *Actually* Vegan?
Yes, Yuan Fu’s fully plant based, so vegans can order anything on the menu without asking a single question. Mock meat, if you haven’t had it before, is a big part of Chinese Buddhist vegetarian cooking, where cooks recreate the look and feel of meat and seafood using ingredients like tofu skin, soy protein, gluten and yam.
At Yuan Fu that means the duck is layered tofu skin and the squid is Japanese white yam, and it’s genuinely impressive how close the textures land. They also skip MSG and dairy entirely and cook everything in vegetable oil. One heads up, they do use nut products in the kitchen, so flag any allergies when you order.
The Vibe and Experience
Like a lot of the best Maryland spots, Yuan Fu lives in a low key strip mall, so don’t expect anything fancy from the outside. Inside it’s clean, simple and comfortable, the kind of no frills place where the food’s clearly the priority. Service was great, and Mary the owner was so, SO kind, the type of host that makes you want to come right back! My one tiny wish? It was reallllly quiet in there, no music playing, and a little background sound would go a long way for the ambiance.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 798 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
- Hours: open 11am to 9pm daily
- Lunch specials: weekdays except holidays, 11am to 2:30pm, an app plus rice and an entree for $11 to $15
- Price range: budget friendly to moderate, most dishes land around $11 to $15
- Dietary: 100% vegan, no MSG or dairy, plus a gluten free section and a non fat steamed only menu (they do use nuts, so mention allergies)
- Dine in and takeout are both available, and reservations are a smart idea on weekends
- Parking: free lot on site plus free street parking
- Payment: cards accepted with a $10 minimum, no checks
- Menu: browse the full menu at yuanfuvegetarian.com
Would I Go Back to Yuan Fu Vegetarian?
Oh, 100%. This was such a great experience, and I’d happily bring anyone here, vegan or not. Get the crispy eggplant and the moo shi, take advantage of those weekday lunch specials, and you’ll walk out a fan like I did! It’s a true hidden gem, and I’m so glad I finally got to check it out. If you’re building out a plant based hit list, my guide to the best vegan food in Maryland has plenty more of my go-tos.
If you’ve been putting off trying vegan Chinese food, let Yuan Fu be the spot that changes your mind. Have you guys been yet, or is there another plant based place I need to hit next? Let me know in the comments, Nomsters, and if you know someone who’d love this one, send it their way.