Vegan
Japanese
Shojinryori
Temple setting, Shojin Ryori style food, but a special style which is Fucha Ryori. Two days advance booking for party of 2 minimum is required. Address in Japanese: 〒603-8146 京都府京都市北区鞍馬口町寺町西入新御霊口278. Removed January 2023 - not vegan friendly.
11 Reviews
First Review by slo0go
OtakuMel
Points +80
this place is not really vegan? - Edit
Please be careful folks. I don't know if it's just fish or something worse. But getting sick far away from home is never fun.
Read moreI've been to Kyoto before as a vegan and had a blast. This temple was on the top of my list for when I finally got back. I made a reservation over a month in advance through My Concierge Japan, the site that handles their English reservations. My reservation was not honored. because the restaurant says they cannot accommodate a strict vegan (which i defined in the comments fields as no dairy, no eggs, no meat, no fish, I didn't even mention about bugs or shared cooking surfaces).
This is word for word the email response I got back. I am also including a screen shot of the email.
"※ Please note: We cannot respond to requests to check other dates or times from replies to this message!
Dear [my name removed],
Thank you for your request for a reservation at KANGA-AN.
This email is from KANGA-AN's official representative, My Concierge Japan.
Please be informed that the restaurant is not able to accommodate guests with a strict vegan diet and so a reservation cannot be made.
The restaurant would also want to inform guests that there seem to be a misunderstanding regarding the restaurant's
courses, which is called "Shojin Ryori" a type of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. This is in fact not vegan as most blogs and website seem to indicate.
Kanga-an will not be able to accommodate guests with a strict vegan diet and asks for the understanding regarding the matter.
Sincerely,
My Concierge Japan Team"
Also I can't leave 1 star because this place is falsely listed as vegan =(
Pros: looks beautiful
Cons: not vegan
Guest
BlankSpace
Points +912
Incredible setting, beautiful food - Edit
The best of Japanese Buddhist temple food
Read moreGreat service, quality, presentation
The temple is an incredibly beautiful setting for a restaurant
It's not cheap (we picked the ¥10,000 Zhu Zhen meal, the 2nd most expensive) but not crazy either for the quality you get
We had to book through a Japanese friend: no English on the phone
Pros: Fantastic food
Cons: Not cheap, Need to book in Japanese
Guest
PatrickGroenen
Points +19
Excellent vegetarian Japanese vegetarian food - Edit
Exquisite dinner with many small items, tasting very well and beautifully arranged. Not cheap, but a fantastic experience.
Read moreGuest
hokusai77
Points +13612
The best food experience in my life - Edit
I have been here many times, and I cannot think of going to Kyoto without having dinner here at Kanga An. Hosted in a 17th century temple, you can savour the best of fūcha ryōri in private rooms overlooking the private Japanese garden.
Read moreThe menu is made up of several beautifully presented dishes, that really look like small jewels: from small appetisers to vegan sashimi and sushi, from delicate tempura to fluffy goma dōfu, from fake chestnuts to vegan eel, everything is a joy for the sight and the palate.
Definitely the place to be when in Kyoto.
Pros: really everything!
Guest
GoldenTurtle
Points +117
高いけど、素晴らしい経験 - Edit
私の21歳の誕生日ディナーとして、お父さんと一緒に食べに行きました。一人8000円だったので、日常的に行けるレストランではないけど、京都にいれば少なくとも一回行くと素晴らしい経験になると思います。
Read morePros: 美味しい、個人室、サービス
Cons: 高い、予約が必要
Guest
philblais
Points +388
Probably the best meal I have ever had - Edit
I didn’t know what to expect... So perfect, dining in a temple, in a private room, with exquisite food. Mind blown.
Read morePros: The food is incredible , Outstanding setting , service is impeccable
Guest
Xanato5
Points +76
Beyoncé has left the building.... - Edit
This place was just.... yeah. Shell it out and don’t look back.
Read morePros: Magical experience
Cons: The ephemeral nature of reality
Guest
Ajolote
Points +1327
Perhaps the best meal I've had ever - Edit
I didn't know what to expect, it was hard to make the reservation because the website is only in Japanese, so we had to ask someone to RSVP for us. They welcomed us by my name as soon as we arrived and showed us to our private room with big, comfy office chairs. After that, the staff proceeded to quietly bring in dish after dish until we ate 12 course of beautiful food that was a party in your mouth. I had no idea how time passes so fast, but all of a sudden it had already been two hours of feasting.
Read moreGo if you are in Kyoto. If you can only choose one last meal, choose this one
Guest
Diggity
Points +91
must experience royalty once - Edit
I concur with the previous reviews. This is an experience and not simply a meal. From the time you are ushered into your private dining room you feel special.
Read moreWe had 13 courses over 2.5hrs and it felt like only an hour had passed. Our waiter, who we later discovered was one of the temple monks, spoke good English and explained each dish as he brought it out. Each dish so different from the last. Presentation was excellent. So much detail and artistry. There was not one dish we disliked. The flavours were subtle and not overbearing. The perfect blend of ginger and spices.
How much are you willing to pay for the greatest meal of your life. Our Y38,000 was worth every Yen.
Pros: atmosphere
Guest
eatinggreen
Points +608
Possibly the best in Kyoto - Edit
Eating at Kanga An costs an arm and a leg but we can't keep ourselves from going back again and again anyway. Easily the most extravagant of the shojin ryori options in Kyoto it's also open at night, which is unusual for temple food which tends to be a lunch affair.
Read moreThe gardens are stunning and utterly unique, with lavish rock garden formations that are dramatically lit up at night: a brilliant view to accompany a magnificent meal.
The decor is a little Chinese in feel - very over the top compared to traditional Japanese tastes. Our room was punctuated by an over-sized Western style black chandelier and the colour scheme features a lot of strong colours: red, black and gold. It's luxury meets stoicism - like a runaway rogue monk - and provides for an unexpected and yet entertaining cultural blend. The hybrid theme is continued by the inclusion of a Western style bar on the premises - far from the usual temple setup but if you'd like to cap your night off with a whiskey, you've come to the right place.
The food is as indulgent as temple food never gets. No austerity here, this is a feast and no less. The flavours are robust, presentation is ornate. Admittedly it feels a bit altered to suit modern sensibilities but when it looks and tastes like this, it's hard to really care. The previous reviewer mentions it's not too tasty - unless she's in the habit of eating Big Macs every day this puzzles me to no end, but each to their own I guess!?
Book in advance (we always order the most expensive one - if you're going to do it, do it in style, right!?), take your credit card and try not to look too hard at the bill. You won't forget your meal at Kanga An in a hurry so if you think of it that way, it's worth every yen.
Pros: stunning setting, open at night, a fulfilling, amazing meal
Cons: it comes at a price, a bar in a temple - not sure about this, menu doesn't change much seasonally
Guest
slo0go
Points +1884
Extravagant! - Edit
When you get out of the train station (Exit 6, I think?) turn right. When you reach a street where there is a photo shop and a barber shop on either corner, turn right onto the street and walk down a few hundred meters. You will see Kanga An.
Read moreThis restaurant is where I've had the most expensive vegan meal ever. I wouldn't say it was the tastiest meal I've ever had, but it was definitely an experience well worth the money. This restaurant serves shojin cuisine. If you've ever been to Kajitsu in New York City, this is the restaurant Kajitsu is trying to emulate, I think.
We had the eleven course meal (there are three choices: 9, 11, and 15 courses, I think). NOTE: when making your reservation at least two days in advance, you have to choose which course you want, without know what will be prepared. Each course looked small, but after eleven courses, you can believe we were very full. Each dish was beautifully and elegantly prepared (see the pictures!). There was a tempura assortment that included hibiscus, lotus root, and a basket made of seaweed. There were also gold flakes and beautifully cut vegetables abound. The meal cost 23,100 yen, or about $282.00 USD for eleven courses for two people.
I don't know if it's true, but the materials placed next to the place mats claim that Kanga An was previously a temple frequented by the Imperial Family, back in the day. It is in Kyoto, the Imperial Family's former stomping grounds, so it could be true. In any event, the building and grounds are absolutely beautiful. We went in November, and the foliage was amazing. P.S. when you dine here, you sit in your own private dining room.
There is also a bar at the restaurant, which overlooks a beautiful garden. All the drinks there are 1000 yen. They serve wine, beer, and sake. I think the best thing about the bar is the view.
I don't know if I would go back, but I definitely would recommend going at least once. Be sure to call at least two days in advance to make a reservation. They take credit cards!
Pros: Beautiful food, Beautiful place, What an experience!
Cons: Expensive!!!
Guest
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