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• Great Indian Food with Friendly Owner

This restaurant is owned and run by a former chef from Veggie Herb Saga. When I heard he was opening his own restaurant I hoped it would be a large, posh restaurant in another area of Tokyo, so that the two South Indian vegetarian restaurants would complement each other. So I was a bit disappointed that he opened it a few minutes walk away, essentially competing for the same Jain (or other Indian) clientele. Of course this probably won't concern the Tokyo customer, but since they're so close I might as well compare and contrast them. On the positive, the Veg Kitchen is much more comfortable, being a first and second floor instead of a cramped basement. It has more staff, and food comes out faster. And you're guaranteed your own seat with the party you brought (a good or a bad thing depending on what you want, as many of my most interesting conversations with strangers in Tokyo have been at Veggie Herb Saga). Staff are equally friendly and welcoming at both. As the first reviewer pointed out, the owner is careful to explain what's vegan, however it's necessary to ask and make sure, whereas vegan items are labelled on the menu at Veggie Herb Saga. Where Veggie Herb Saga wins hands down is on the quality of the food. I found my only Chinese dish at the Veg Kitchen oily and salty, and even the dosa and curries were a little on the over-done side, but still fine and delicious. So it's very good, and would be a life saver anywhere else in Japan than up the road from Veggie Herb Saga. My theory is that because Veggie Herb Saga order fresh spices from India, which they roast themselves (I've seen it) their food is probably the best I've had anywhere (including India). I think the Veg Kitchen uses standard curry powders/mixes (like virtually everywhere else) so just doesn't compare for taste, but it's still a very pleasant place to enjoy a delicious South Indian meal. Prices are fairly similar, but the Veggie Kitchen has a wider range, including Chinese Indian dishes. It's also sometimes open on Sunday, and may have more reliable hours (but it's too early to say since it hasn't been open long). Of course I visited soon after the Veg Kitchen opened, and the quality of their food may improve with time and eventually reach VHS. But for now Veggie Herb Saga has the best food hands down, and the Veg Kitchen wins on venue. I hope both restaurants will do well and keep serving up South Indian veg food!