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Beijing's Top Veggie Gem Off-Limits to Officials
15 Jun
Summary
- Officials banned from dining at Beijing's three-Michelin-star King's Joy.
- The exclusive vegetarian restaurant is known for luxurious vegetable dishes.
- The ban might stem from anti-corruption efforts targeting high costs.
King's Joy, a prestigious three-Michelin-star vegetarian restaurant in Beijing, is reportedly no longer accessible to Chinese officials. The establishment, renowned for its elevated vegetable dishes and considered a benchmark in vegetarian dining, has been discreetly placed off-limits to government personnel since last year.
This ban potentially aligns with President Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which targets lavish spending and excessive costs. A meal at King's Joy can exceed $250 per person, a significant sum compared to the average government worker's salary.
The restaurant, situated near Beijing's historical Lama Temple, has become a cultural destination, attracting celebrities, foreign dignitaries, and the rising middle class. Its high-end dining concept, focusing on locally sourced Chinese ingredients prepared with sophisticated techniques, earned it both Michelin stars and a Green Star for sustainability.
While restaurant executives have heard rumors, they haven't officially confirmed the ban. This directive affects King's Joy as one of several dozen high-end venues in Beijing subject to similar, unpublicized restrictions aimed at curbing lavish lifestyles among officials.
