• 5
• Great Traditional Japanese food

This is the only vegetarian restaurant in Nara and you really shouldn't miss it because the food is really great. What is special is that it serves traditional Japanese dishes, which is not easy to find as many vegetarian restaurants in Japan serves either Indian or Western style dishes. The owner speaks English and explains all the dishes. She also speaks Mandarin pretty well. I stayed in Nara 2 nights and had 3 meals there. The lunch sets were 1500Y plus tax, which comes with 4 dishes, a drink, organic brown rice and fruits. I found the organic brown rice very fragrant and tasty -- so good you can it on its own. Dinner is by reservation only. I didn't reserve, but I was told during lunch that the restaurant would be opening in the evening because she had two reservations. I decided to drop in when I came back from my temple tour in evening. I was glad I tried the dinner. It was a multiple course dinner, including rice, miso soup, udon, salad, tofu, nuggets, "fish", burdock root etc, all served on beautiful little plates -- more than 10 dishes in all. The dinner was expensive -- 5000Y inclusive of tax. But it was really satisfying and well worth it. It's just a short walk from the JR station/central bus station, so it's quite conveniently located.