The refectories at Lingyin, Jingci and Faxi each have their own character. Do all three in one visit and the genealogy of Jiangnan temple cooking is essentially clear.
Lingyin leans towards the Jiangnan literati — clear noodle soup cooked in Tianzhu spring water, with a few small dishes, all about measure. Jingci leans on West Lake produce — water shield turned into a vegetarian roast goose, borrowing both shape and flavour from local ingredients. Faxi leans on ritual — the most ceremonial of the three, where eating is itself the content, but it needs booking in advance.
The best way is one temple per meal: breakfast at Lingyin, lunch at Jingci, dinner at Faxi. The two walks between them — Lingyin to Jingci, Jingci to Faxi — take about forty minutes each and fit neatly between meals.
Two reminders: follow the refectory rules, do not photograph and do not leave food; and Faxi requires advance booking, especially at weekends.
If you go to only one, choose Lingyin. If you want the ritual, choose Faxi. If you want to eat the produce of the region, choose Jingci. All three sit around the West Lake scenic area, and linking them makes a comfortable day with a stretch of lakeside walking in between.