I love meat, and I want to let you know about a vegetarian restaurant in Fortitude Valley that is well worth a look, even if you love meat as much as I do.

It’s the Kuan Yin Vegetarian Tea House, on Wickham St. It’s directly opposite the end of Chinatown Mall (Duncan St - click here to see a Google Map of the exact location).

You can see the meal I had last night in the picture. It’s 100% vegetarian, and it cost me only $16. That got me:

• Taiwanese Fried “Chicken” (at the back - mildly spiced) - $5.50.
• Vegetable and Cheese Pancake - at the front - $4.50.
• ‘Simmered Eggs’ - 3 strongly flavoured eggs that had been given a dark colour when they were simmered, in halves on a plate. (I’d already eaten one when I took the photo) - $2.50
• ‘Coconut Flirtatious’ drink - a sweet, coconut flavoured drink with pieces of coconut meat in the glass - $3.50.

 The meal was great. The “chicken” was crispy and hot, the pancake was nice and cheesy, the eggs were filling and the coconut drink was sweet, with the coconut meat making it more interesting than most things that come in a glass.

No matter how much you love to eat meat, you should give the Kuan Yin Tea House a try. Every time I go there, I find out more about how great vegetarian food can taste when it’s done just right. There’s a big range of flavoured teas (milky and black) and frappes, with a few strange special drinks thrown in.

They are not open late - they close at 6pm most weeknights, and at 8pm on Fridays. They are open during the day on weekends, but once again, not late at all. You can call them on 07 3252 4557 to check their current opening hours. And you can click here to see reviews of the Tea House at the Queensland Vegetarian Society’s website.