Go Vegan in Tokyo

Sep 29, 2021

Go Vegan in Tokyo

Choices for dining out in Tokyo are nearly limitless. You can eat your way around the world and dine on almost anything humans consider edible (even the most questionable) here in Japan’s capital. One type of cuisine that has seen a recent boom is vegetarian and vegan food. Although many establishments offer meatless options, they may still include things made from egg and milk in the ingredients, which may not agree with some diets. However, finding vegan food is just a matter of getting informed; you can even find options in just about any convenience store if you know what to look for.

An App for That

Chances are you’re already used to tapping through your smartphone to figure out dining options in your home country. Many of the apps you’re already using likely will have Tokyo area restaurants listed. Specialized apps like Happy Cow have you covered. My primary weapon when showing my vegan friends around town, though, is simply Google Maps. You can find many places that don’t advertise much in Japanese through crowdsourcing, let alone English. If you’re using an iPhone, Apple Maps sources its locations and reviews from Japanese restaurant listing apps like Tabelog and Hot Pepper, in addition to others.

Remember the Basics

Historical gastronomists know Japan’s diet was mainly macrobiotic and vegetable-based before modern conveniences like refrigeration, mass fish farms, and open sea trade. Even meat from fish, boar, and other game was considered a treat for the average Japanese due to both being restricted religiously (Buddhists) and simply being poor. The diet mainly consisted of rice, seaweed, radishes, squash, and other savory greens. Before refrigeration, salting and pickling were the main methods used to keep food fresh.

Fast forward to the modern era, and many of these same foods are still eaten as a part of Japanese cuisine. Tsukemono, various pickled vegetables that are eaten with a bowl of rice, can be eaten on the go as onigiri, commonly found in a triangular form wrapped in seaweed. Meats such as tuna and salmon are usually found in the middle but pickled plum (umeboshi) and fermented soybean (natto). Another staple of the Japanese diet: soy. Believe it or not, Starbucks had a soy latte option here in Tokyo before you could find it in many places in the States! Soy milk (tonyu), ice cream, and donuts are a few common foods found in most stores.

Dining Out

Thanks to increasing inbound tourists to Japan with varied dietary needs along with the Japanese themselves wanting new dining choices, there are lots of places to pig out, sans pork. beef…or any other meat. Here are some of the ones I’ve tried myself over the years:

T’s Restaurant/T’s Tantan

The first time one of my friends visiting Tokyo hit me with the “by the way, I gave up eating meat, so can you help me eat out in Japan” conundrum, I found out about this place. The main shop in Jiyugaoka is well known for its spin on tan-tan men, curry, and gyoza dumplings, swapping out soy and veggies for the usual meat that goes in their preparation. The location includes a store where you can pick up some of their dishes in a heat-and-eat version to-go. T’s Tantan locations also serve a small subset of their menu, focusing on their tasty spin on noodle soups. You can find them in both Tokyo and Ueno JR stations.

Address: 2-9-6 Jiyugaoka, Meguro, Tokyo 152-0035
Access: Jiyugaoka Station, Tokyu Toyoko, Oimachi Lines [TY07] [OM10]
Hours: Everyday 11 am ~10 pm
Website: ts-restaurant.jp
Phone: 03-3717-0831

Vegan Cafe

This very appropriately named cafe located in the Hiroō district does exactly what it says on the tin: serve some of the best vegan spins on Japanese and other world cuisines. I was actually headed to the McDonald’s nearby when I spotted their signboard advertising curry, and decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed! There’s a loco-moco dish and a vegan take on sushi that will create confusion between tongue and brain as well.

Address: 4-5-65 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tōkyō-to 106-0047
Access: Hiroō Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya line [H03]
Hours: Everyday 11:30 am ~9 pm
Website: vegan-cafe.jp
Phone: 03-6450-3020

AIN SOPH.journey/Heavenly Pancake

My day job as a university coordinator and teacher means I come into contact with a lot of young people, and they all usually have part-time jobs somewhere in town; one of them works (worked?) here. Somehow I was able to remember that the next time I had a vegetarian at the party and needed to find a spot close to Shinjuku station. This place serves some great sandwich wraps and other usual vegan fares, but the PANCAKES…I can’t believe there’s no dairy involved. Even though I’m not a vegetarian, I kinda made it my breakfast spot more than a few times.

Address: 3-8-9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022
Access: Shinjuku 3-Chome Station, Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin, Marunouchi Lines, Toei Shinjuku Line. [F13][M09][S02]
Website: ENGLISH | AIN SOPH. Vegan Restaurant (ain-soph.jp)
Phone: 03-5925-8908

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— By Jason L. Gatewood

Images:

Kawasaki Farm by Jason L. Gatewood

One from each shop listed’s website