• 3
• A nice change from typical Japanese

Located in a corner of a strip mall and unremarkable from the outside, we like that this is more than just a noodle shop. It compliments the two other Japanese places in town, which are more sushi-oriented. Like most Japanese restaurants, you can usually find vegan stuff, but this one has some that are specifically labeled vegan. Ask when in doubt, and beware of bonito flakes which are in some dishes. Also, as mentioned in another review, their tempura batter normally has egg in it, which is a bummer. Most of the dishes are simple with just a few ingredients, but some unusual flavors that make them more of a treat. The [censored] app is simple, basically marinated pieces of tofu with interesting pickle and ginger minced on top--it's a semi-soft tofu texture, which normally is a turnoff, but we liked it. The flavored rice balls are just that, but only $2.50 each and so a good deal for fairly filling items. The stir fried noodles were good, but not enough veggies for me. The Tofu-don was nice... spiced, firm tofu chunks on rice with a lot of scallions. The cold noodle salads are enjoyable as well, as are a number of sides to choose from. The portions are modest, so expect to order more than two entrees for two people. I don't see that as a con, it's nice to try lots of different things rather than fill up on one. We usually ask for soy sauce and red pepper flakes to add salt and heat, as the overall flavor approach can be a little subtle. For example, we found the miso soup really bland, but with a little soy sauce was good. The place can be *very* noisy. Twice there was live music--a really good jazz band but too loud for the space, which has tile floors that add to the resonation. Another night there was anime playing on a screen, which was really annoying. We asked them to turn it down. Call ahead to see what's going on that night. The owner of the place is often there and is friendly and amenable to comments. Overall, not enough offerings to be an actual destination for the vegan crowd, but a nice departure from the same old same old. When in New Paltz be sure to visit Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, about 20 minutes away.