China’s restaurant industry is embracing plant-based dining on an unprecedented scale, with major chains committing to transforming their menus this year and the next. This movement, facilitated through partnerships with Lever China, represents one of the largest coordinated shifts toward sustainable dining in global restaurant history.

Yang Guo Fu, the world’s largest Malatang hotpot chain, has become the first Chinese restaurant company to adopt a formal plant-based foods policy, pledging to make 60% of its menu plant-based by 2025. This commitment spans nearly 7,000 stores across 20+ countries, including Japan, Korea, and Singapore.

“Yang Guo Fu is committed to delivering the highest standards in ingredient quality and consumer experience,” the company stated. “Through continuous innovation, we aim to increase plant-based offerings to 60%, providing more diverse choices while contributing to environmental protection.”

Additional industry leaders have joined this transformation as a result of Lever China’s work. Hotpot chain Da Long Yi has targeted 45% plant-based options across its 400+ outlets, including locations in the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, Big Pizza, a self-service pizza chain with 300+ restaurants, has pledged to make 30% of its menu plant-based by 2026.

Together, these commitments will impact over 7,700 locations—equivalent to every restaurant in Los Angeles or Manhattan adopting plant-based policies simultaneously. This shift signals a broader trend toward sustainability in China’s rapidly evolving food service sector.