With the recent opening of the Sai Ying Pun MTR station, it seems that everyone is now exploring this new hot neighborhood. Sai Ying Pun really does have it all, from traditional Hong Kong dried seafood vendors next to brand new modern eateries, with a fantastic wet market to boot. For those looking to make healthier choices, fret not! The ‘hood is packed with organic grocery stores, vegan restaurants and healthy treats- all in one handy Green Queen Guide below. Time to plan your next visit! You may find you just don’t want to leave.

Where To Eat

Best for Gourmet Vegan – Grassroots Pantry & Prune Organic Deli (Closed as of August 2015 – Moved to 108 Hollywood Road)

Using seasonal and organic produce sourced locally, the plant-based menus at Grassroots Pantry and Prune Organic Deli offer exquisitely crafted dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner that have earned them consistently high praise all around town.

Green Queen Loves: The ever changing mains at Grassroots Pantry showcase the gourmet side of vegetarian dining with unique and interesting twists on classic Asian and Western flavours- from their Bun Cha bowl to their Raw Nacho Platter, Chef Peggy Chan’s haute cuisine roots are heartily felt.

12 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun. Tuesday through Saturday 12:00 – 15:00, 18:00 – 22:00, Sunday 10:00 – 16:00.

August 15 2015 Update: Grassroots Pantry and Prune Organic Deli are now closed and have relocated to 108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan. 

Best for Lunch – Light Radiant Food (Closed as of October 2015)

This hidden gem offers 100% vegetarian lunch and dinner options including salads, sandwiches, pastas and fried rice dishes. Light Radiant Food uses organic produce whenever possible and dressings and sauces are made in house.

Green Queen Loves: We have said this before, but it is worth repeating: the black bean burger may be the best in Hong Kong!

1 Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun. Tuesday to Saturday 12:00-21:00 and Sunday 12:00-15:00.

Best for Take Away – La Rotisserie

Serving French style rotisserie chicken and sides as well as quiche, desserts and baguette sandwiches. The free range corn-fed hormone free chickens are sourced directly from France and we can taste the difference.

Green Queen Loves: The family style meal for two or four people is a great deal and includes a whole roast chicken and sides. Also, the smell of roast chicken wafting through the ventilation system has made delicious as they circulate the smell of roast chicken through the ventilation system.

G/F, 71 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun. Open daily 12:00 – 21:00.

Best for Health Conscious Omnivores – Locofama

This chilled out restaurant serves a variety of sustainably sourced meat and seafood dishes. They also use organic produce where possible and the menu is packed with vegetarian friendly and gluten-free options.

Green Queen Loves: Locofama’s Kale Con Guacamole Salad is so yum as is their Oolong Tea Mushroom Soba and the 48 Hour Short Rib- sure to leave you very satisfied.

Best for Post Workout Refueling – The Awakening (Closed as of August 2015)

The chef-owner of just relaunched The Awakening is focused on offering hearty, healthy paleo-friendly food. Think lean meats, fiberful sides and lots of crunchy veg! Did we mention that the entire menu is also gluten and processed-sugar free? Plus, they make a mean cup of bullet coffee.

Green Queen Loves: For those with a sweet tooth,  The Awakening has a fantastic selection of indulgent-but-healthy desserts such as chocolate mousse with hazelnuts and chocolate cake with chocolate ganache.

G/F, 1-6 Ying Wa Terrace, 63 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun. Tuesday to Friday 12:00 – 15:00, 18:00 – 22:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:30 – 15:00, 18:00 – 22:00.

Where To Shop

Best for Organic Fruits and Veggies – A Tao’s Vegetables Organic Corner

Having recently expanded,  A Tao’s Vegetables Organic Corner now takes up a multitude of stalls in the Sai Ying Pun wet market where the friendly owners are always on hand to help you find the perfect produce for your next venture in the kitchen.

Green Queen Loves: A Tao’s offers a choice for everyone no matter what your budget, from imported Aussie & European fruits & veg to locally grown organic produce plus the usual conventional selection from China.

Stall 17-19, Sai Ying Pun Market, 45 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun. Open daily 9:00 – 19:00.

Best for Sustainably Sourced Meats – One Stop Food Supply Company

This gourmet cold storage grocer stocks a large selection of frozen and chilled meat (from steaks to mince to chops), seafood, cheeses as well as having shelves full of specialty pantry ingredients like organic Maddon sea salt, cured anchovies and sun dried tomatoes.

Green Queen Loves: Their name really does say it all- One Stop Food Supply Company has everything from organic chicken and pork, grass fed New Zealand beef and lamb and ethically sourced fish and shellfish- both wild and organic.

No. 59 High Street, Sai Ying Pun. Monday to Saturday 9:00 – 19:00 and Sunday 10:00 – 18:00.

Best for Organic Spices – Spicebox Organics (Closed as of April 2018)

Focusing on organic dry goods, Spicebox Organics stocks a variety of grains, pulses, teas and other specialty organic products. You can also pick up your weekly local & organic produce delivery from Eat Fresh too!

Green Queen Loves: Definitely the best place in town to source everything you need for homemade Indian food- plus we always stock up on the Organic India tulsi (holy basil) teas and Ayurveda supplements.

72 Third Street, G/F. Shop K, Fook Moon Bldg, Sai Ying Pun. Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 20:00 and Sunday 12:00 – 18:00.

Best for International Brands – Cabinet Organic (Closed as of December 2016)

The newest health food store on the block, Cabinet Organic has shelves full of new to Hong Kong European and US organic groceries, all of which are by turn gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, yeast-free and vegan plus a whole section of personal care and beauty products.

Green Queen Loves: Cabinet Organic has many cult UK health food brands that we love like Rude Health, inSpiral, Higher Living and Green People.

G/F, No. 27, High Street, Sai Ying Pun. Open daily 10:00 – 21:00.

Best for Organic Baby – Organic Plus

The ever-expanding Organic Plus has just moved into the ‘Pun and with it comes an array of grass fed meats, organic chicken and eggs, organic farm produce, organic snacks, pantry items, personal care products and most impressively- a fantastic range of baby foods both wet and dry.

Green Queen Loves: This awesome health mart stocks our favourite vegan ice cream aka Happy Cow!

G/F, 233 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun. Open daily 10:00 – 20:00.

Best for General Groceries – Marketplace by Jason’s

The yuppie’s answer to supermarkets, Jasons Marketplace shops have been popping up all over town. The Sai Ying Pun store, housed in upmarket residential tower Island Crest’s ground floor, has in recent months become incredibly well stocked in all things healthy, sustainable and organic.

Green Queen Loves: They have an extensive selection of earth-friendly cleaning and laundry products including hard-to-find biodegradable paper plates/utensils for parties, loads of MSC-certified frozen fish and seafood, a pretty impressive range of organic Asian condiments from GMO-free soy sauce to sugar-free fish sauce plus loads of organic baby foods. Oh and one more thing- they have Happy Cow Dairy Free Ice Cream. Need we say more?

Shop 8, G/F, Island Crest, Second Street, Sai Ying Pun. Open daily 8:00 – 22:00.

May 2015 Update: Since we posted this article, we have found two more health food/organic grocery stores in the ‘Pun: Manna Organic Station (closed down as of April 2018) at Shop 6, G/F, 83 Third Street and Green Dot Dot in the basement of the Sai Ying Pun MTR station. Will this be HK’s most organic ‘hood?!

October 2016 Update: Genie Juicery has also opened in Sai Ying Pun! For cold-pressed juices, smoothies, nice cream, acai bowls, salads and raw treats, visit them at Shop A, 1/F Fook Moon Building, 56-72 Third Street.

Photo credits: Locofama, Grassroots Pantry, Cabinet Organic and Lacruland Global.