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Vegan
Japanese
Beer/Wine
Serves vegan dishes made from vegetables, seaweed, and kelp. Has tempura, udon, soups, and bento platters. Owner speaks some English, and there is a menu also in English. Closes after 12 sets are sold. Reported closed November 2022.
97 Reviews
First Review by Mattstoia
misovegan
Points +51
Best experience - Edit
The best food the best host. Please don’t miss it.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-01-29
Pros: The best food, Lovely attentive genuine service , Beautiful location
Guest
AndrewBlazevic
Points +27
Cosy little family restaurant - Edit
A lovely little place serving bento. The owner used a translator app to describe the history behind the food to us, it was a great experience.
Read morePros: Cosy, Memorable, Friendly staff
Guest
MiladyM
Points +18
A little gem! - Edit
Saved the day by all the reviews. Amazing food, great experience all together. A bit small portion so I was slowing down to enjoy it longer. And while it may seem a bit pricey, it's was worth it. The best vegan food in Japan trip 2019. Prepared with care, love and quality ingredients. Also the most tourist-friendly place ever, and from the old generation Japanese family. The place is tiny, and the wait may be longer than expected, so leave yourself enough time to call in.
Read morePros: high quality ingredients, tasty, vegan
Guest
VeganTravellers2020
Points +24
Best Japanese Food - Edit
My Husband and I came here after a disappointment in an other Restaurant in Tokyo and We have to say We are very very Happy to have found this Place. Highly Recommended. Thank You for Your Service
Read morePros: proper and tasty japanese dishes
Cons: none
Guest
KevinPierson
Points +34
Expérience Inoubliable - Edit
Une expérience inoubliable, le propriétaire est d une extrême gentillesse et nous a expliqué énormément de chose sur le cuisine traditionnelle japonaise.
Read morePros: Vegan, Propriétaire extrêmement gentil , Explication de la cuisine traditionnelle japonaise
Cons: Aucun
Guest
sasasasa
Points +107
Delicious food and intimate vibes - Edit
The food was amazing and the owner was so nice. He used an iPad to translate, taking time to tell us about the neighborhood and the meal. 2500 yen for the lunch set when I was there.
Read moreGuest
AndySG
Points +450
Good food, cosy environment - Edit
Nice cosy place run by an elderly couple. The uncle emphasized that the food is traditional and does not use seasoning. On tasting the dishes, it did taste to be so. The set has many dishes.
Read moreThe uncle is friendly and communicative, and will share about Japanese traditions while the food is prepared. He's not conversant in English but uses translator to let you know what he's saying. Not too hard to find the place, look for the sign board that says 岚山馆.
Pros: Good food
Guest
collink
Points +51
Kind Owner, Tasty Food - Edit
The owner was very kind and periodically during the meal mention some local history or information about the food through Google translate. He mentioned he grows and harvests the rice himself.
Read moreGuest
AngelaAleksoska
Points +23
Amazing food and owner is super lovely!! Would definitely recommend 🥰 - Edit
Really good experience. Would come back again
Read moreGuest
PaigeAtyeo
Points +431
Lovely Host & Bento Boxes - Edit
Only seemed to be one real lunch option, but the Bento Box was great! About 12 different items on the tray, all interesting and delicious.
Read moreThe host spoke only a little English, but he was very friendly and used google translate to tell us about the food and the Arashiyama area and history.
Would definitely recommend!
Pros: Friendly host, Delicious food, Close to tourist area
Cons: Not many options, but built in variety in the box
Guest
AlisonPutland
Points +35
Wonderful food - Edit
We ordered the 2500 yen bento boxes, the food was delicious, tempura, tofu cooked in various ways, I particularly liked the fermented radish. The owner was incredibly helpful and used google translate to communicate and tell us a bit about Japanese cuisine.
Read moreGuest
RoshniGandhi
Points +61
Cute little place - Edit
The owner is so cute and friendly. English skills are minimal but he uses his ipad and google translate to help communicate. We were lucky a customer fluent in Japanese and English was dining at a neighboring table. She helped translate for him. He spoke very passionately about the cooking methods and how their kitchen prides itself on allowing each ingredient to shine on its own without altering the taste with spices. The food itself is okay - however I don’t really like Japanese food so take my comments with a grain of salt. I enjoyed the experience and the ability to have a vegan bento box meal. A very Japanese experience indeed.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Friendly owner, A/C
Cons: Expensive, Cash only
Guest
cj81914
Points +621
The must have lunch of Arashiyama! - Edit
Not only will you have the most delicious, hand-made fresh, beautiful, traditional bento of your japan travels; but you will most likely receive a free tour of a neighbouring temple by the owner while you wait for your food!
Read moreA truly wonderful experience. I visited once myself and will remember it for a long time. I have since recommended it to friends and they all received a free tour also by the lovely owner. A must try!
Pros: Fresh, hand-made, authentic bento, Free temple tour from the owner, Great value for money
Cons: small (seats maybe 15)
Guest
jbfolson
Points +34
Amazing owner, food and location - Edit
Our group of six (with 2 of us completely whole food plant based) we needed a lunch in Arashiyama. We found this in HappyCow. We were initially concerned about the price, but our concerns were without basis. The owner took us for a walk and explained the temple next to his shop and showed us the best view in Kyoto. And then the food! Oh the food! Amazing pure Japanese cuisine. Cannot recommend it enough.
Read morePros: The owner, The food, The location
Guest
Vilmaata
Points +175
Shojin Ryori (Japan’s Sophisticated Buddhist Cuisine). - Edit
Great and unique experience. Extremely delicious.
Read moreThey serve only 12 people per day. One should go earlier or pay before hand and reserve.
Pros: Homemade.
Guest
yazzos
Points +92
Slice of life experience - Edit
The 80 year old man (who has better health than I do it seems!) runs this quaint little store amongst the business of the area. It is clear that he is very passionate not only about Japan, but about traditional Japanese cooking. It really shows in the bento set, too. The flavours were unique yet complimented each other well. I especially loved the tempura and the agedashi tofu - they were both the best I’ve ever had. It was also very filling, and well presented. I tried his homemade apple juice too, which was amazing and had a tart taste. If you want to experience truly traditional Japanese cuisine and feel welcomed by a charismatic and passionate Japanese local, you should try this place out.
Read morePros: Delicious traditional Japanese cuisine , Excellent service , Great value for money
Guest
Kosherinveggieout
Points +39
Special experience NO credit card - Edit
As others have noted the elderly man running the place is quite a character in the positive sense of the word. He uses a translation app on his iPad to tell you about the history of Japanese food. He is the husband of the original owner's granddaughter, which is cool. Plus, he took us to the nearby temple while we were waiting for the food to be prepared. The emphasis is on the taste and texture of each item, so you get a lot of variety and a little of nearly 20 different foods. However, he does NOT take credit card despite what is written here. Expect minimal 2500 per person
Read morePros: Unique experience of being guided by owner, Quiet, friendly, peaceful atmosphere, Special food combo we didn't find elsewhere
Cons: No credit card
Guest
ldd_happy
Points +581
Good vegan Japanese food - Edit
It was nice to be able to have authentic Japanese food that is vegan. The owner is a sweet man who was very keen to tell us about the history of the food and the area (and showed us the temple behind the restaurant).
Read morePros: Authentic
Cons: Only one lunch bento box
Guest
lindacz1
Points +173
Amazing - Edit
Amazing experience, delicious good, history lesson, visit to the nearby temple guided by the restaurant owner - he is a legend!
Read morePros: Zen Buddhist cooking
Guest
SimoneSif
Points +779
not good - Edit
went on a friday at 11. it was closed. came back later in the day and had the tempura which sadly was undercooked.
Read moreGuest
CanÜnan
Points +46
Experiencing this traditional menu is a must! - Edit
Since you will probably be hungry after doing all the routes in the vicinity, this is the best vegan spot to eat at. Very nice owner trying his best to translate everything with his iPad and I believe his wife in the kitchen is preparing all this amazing food. Go support this little local business, which is trying to keep a wonderful gastronomic tradition going. Mind however that there is one lunch option, which for me was not enough after climbing all the way up to see the damn monkeys:) taste on the other hand will be incredible and hard to forget
Read morePros: Family owned business, traditional Japanes cusine
Guest
rpolak
Points +28
Wonderful - Edit
This is a terrific place. It might even be the best place we've eaten at in Japan. Very very small place. Only one option for lunch but that’s okay. There was a little bit of everything. Outstanding. Highly recommend it.
Read morePros: Only one option for lunch, Family owned, Truly delicious
Cons: Only one option for lunch
Guest
Anyaa
Points +88
Cute restaurant with great food - Edit
The owner is really friendly and explains everything via google translate. The lunch set was amazing and it was lovely to hear about the history of the food and nearby temple. A must if you’re visiting Arashiyama!
Read morePros: Great food, Friendly owner, Great location
Guest
JennaMinchin
Points +112
Taste of history - Edit
The food was exquisite and the elderly gentleman running the shop was fascinating. We were fortunate to be the only people in the restaurant and we had a great time speaking with him while we waited for our meal. The shop has been in his family for generations and the bento box remains unchanged for over 100 years. It is more than good food, it's a taste of a different time. Amazing experience.
Read moreGuest
lilith.talila
Points +42
Such a lovely little place. This is the best vegan bento box I have ever tried - Edit
The man was lovely and talked to us through google translate and while we waited for our food he took us to a shrine behind the restaurant that we didn’t no about and the shrine was so beautiful! The bento we received was fabulous and to this day is still the best I have tried. There was so many flavours and was all presented so lovely in a big bento style box. Will definitely be going back when we visit Kyoto again!
Read morePros: Amazing food, Wonderful owner, Best vegan bento ever!
Guest
agric3
Points +206
Definitely worth the visit - Edit
How cool is being vegan and finding places like this. Loved the flavours of the bento box and the charm of the restaurant.
Read morePros: Food
Cons: Cost
Guest
Claremveg
Points +629
Incredible! - Edit
Possibly the best vegan eating experience in Japan!
Read moreWe were waiting for it to get dark to enjoy the bamboo forest so walked up to this little place and fell in love immediately. There was nobody else in the cafe (which appears to be built on to the home) the lovely host was very friendly and immediately seated us, gave us a menu and started to translate onfo into an apple iPad. He had large laminated maps and while waiting for the food to cook he translates the nearby attractions for us (focusing on the non commercial temples) then the bento box arrived and WOW it was incredibly tasty and very large! We got one each but did not regret it, absolutely delicious. My only disappointment is not getting to meet the lady who made this dish! They advertised cooking classes, unfortunately we wouldn't have had time so didn't enquire, but I can only imagine how good this would be!
Pros: Amaxing food , Unbelievably friendly service , Authentic vegan food
Cons: None
Guest
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