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• Simple noodles in Todaiji area

There is very limited vegetarian options in Nara, so I was glad I found this place by chance. Yes, there is the very nice Kinatae restaurant, but you may not want to make your way to the other side of the city if you are enjoying yourself in Nara Park. This is a simple noodles house within the Todaiji compound. It's one of the few shops/restaurants along the path from the Todaiji main shrine to Nigatsudo. If you go into the restaurant, on the table, you find there is a note showing an item "Thick Japanese wheat noodles for Vegetarian. All material derived from plants!" It was just 700Y nett including a cup of green tea. It's simple and satisfying. There is some vegetables and seaweed in the noodles. On the menu, there were also a few mushroom soba/udon items. They look vegetarian, particularly the soy sauce broth one, but it is unclear if the broth has fish stock. I don't speak enough Japanese to clarify, so I just went with the vegetarian noodles. Besides noodles, the restaurant also serves a few desserts that are vegetarian, such as rice cake with adzuki (red beans). This restaurant is convenient if you are feeling hungry within the Todaiji area. I stayed in Deer Park Inn nearby and had my early dinner here at 4:15pm.