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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
daoriginalhero@gmail.
Points +30
A real find. delicious experience - Edit
Very friendly owner who is keen to share lots of sites and information with you. I had the best food I've had in Japan so far. Good value too, probably because it's a very small and humble place. The dessert is also a must have!
Read morePros: Entirely vegan and seems a lot is organic too.
Cons: small and basic decor.
Guest
edwardbc
Points +1035
Excellent local experience - Edit
This is a local shop that has been open for around three generations according to the owner. The bento is conformed by a good variety of tofu and some vegetables. It's a very interesting plate.
Read moreIf you're lucky, the owner might accompany you to take a stroll to the nearest shrine. He's a really nice person. I'm really glad I found this restaurant.
Guest
SauceMac
Points +8
Delicious - Edit
Off-the-beaten path, but perfect. The fixed priced bento is worth every penny.
Read morePros: Quality, Variety, Attention to detail
Cons: Naming on storefront is a little confusing
Guest
kelly_n
Points +19
Delightful and delicious - Edit
As many previous reviews have stated, this restaurant is absolutely delightful! The owner is eager to communicate via the google translate app on his iPad, and talked to us about the food, the restaurant, and the history of Kyoto (did you know Edison used Kyoto bamboo filaments in the lightbulb?). He also took us up to the temple while we waited for our food.
Read moreThe main reason we came here was for the food, which also did not disappoint! We had the lunch bento box, which was delicious and varied. The owner happily described any ingredients we didn't know, and the variety of textures and tastes were incredible. This is located nearby the monkey park and bamboo groves, and serves as a great place to eat in between.
Guest
slopez
Points +59
Wonderful food and experience - Edit
The food was vegan, authentic and delicious. The owner told us about the town history and places we should visit (he used his ipad to translate). While the food was prepared, he showed us a hidden temple just steps from the restaurant with a great panoramic view of Kyoto.
Read morePros: great food, authentic Japanese - not just for tourists, memorable experience
Cons: None
Guest
JasCarpenter
Points +199
Total Experience - Edit
A lovely experience - cozy atmosphere, delicious traditional food, and a wealth of knowledge. The owner used his iPad to translate for him as he told us all about the local area and sights worth seeing. Although there was only one option for lunch, it's a traditional and local meal. Overall, a worth while experience!
Read morePros: traditional food
Guest
Leylnaz
Points +152
had a real vegan Japanese cuisine - Edit
The food is all prepared with love and care and so authentic Japanese style. Loved every bite of my food.
Read morePros: amazing food
Cons: so yummy 😍
Guest
citizensanjay
Points +16
Great experience - Edit
The food was delicious and the owner was a gracious and entertaining host. The food has been prepared the same way for 100 years.
Read morePros: all vegan
Guest
PreciousFlower
Points +18
A charming experience and delicious bento. - Edit
Firstly, the bento, the tempura, the coffee and tea were all delicious and made with great care.
Read moreAside from that, we visited when the cafe was very quiet in the late afternoon and were treated to wonderful personal service by a delightfully eccentric attendant. They even went as far as to take us to see a temple around the corner whilst the food was being prepared.
They also gave some detail as to what each item in the bento was, explaining about the history of the dishes and sources for certain ingredients, and using an google translate where needed.
Dining this well in my native UK would cost many arms and many legs, but everything was reasonably priced and the atmosphere was very casual and relaxed.
It was a real experience to take home with us. Top notch!
Guest
bulma
Points +56
One of the best experiences in japan - Edit
As already mentioned the owner is a ridiculously nice old man who communicates via iPad and Google translator. He shows you the nearby temple and then explains the ingredients of the bento set. The food was simply awesome and the quality was really very good! All in all a wonderful experience!
Read moreGuest
JenStrickland
Points +19
A true delight! - Edit
As others have said, this place is a hidden gem. Once you enter the small restaurant, you will be greeted by the delightful older gentleman who owns the place. Once he takes your order, he invites you to the small temple around the corner and tells you about the history of the area. He prays with you at the temple and brings you back to the restaurant for the most delicious vegan Bento box! He speaks English using an iPad with a translator function and is happy to tell you what each dish in the Bento box is made of. It is a wonderful experience that you can't put a price on! Luckily, the food is very affordable. Go here if you can! Just a few minutes' walk up the street from the base of Monkey Park (away from the river). Has a big paper sign in the window that says VEGAN FOOD.
Read morePros: Delicious, Authentic, Affordable
Cons: Nothing!
Guest
KonstigHest
Points +21
Hidden gem - Edit
We entered this small restaurant for lunch as the first customers of the day, and a small older man emerged from the back of the room. He immediately started telling us about the history of Japan and the role food played over the centuries. We sat down and ordered, and then he urged us to get up and follow him outside. Confused but intrigued we followed this Japanese stranger on a private tour of a nearby shrine with a great view of Kyoto city. We returned to the restaurant and soon after the food arrived and it was incredible. The bento, completely vegan and meticulously designed small dishes, blew us away. We left feeling like we had been offered a piece of the true Japan.
Read morePros: traditional vegan Japanese food with subtle but in
Guest
TobiLoftus
Points +13
An experience money can’t buy - Edit
I went with a group of four people and the host treated us like an old friend. Not only did he explain the local Arashiyama history to us, but while our food was cooking he took us to a temple close to the restaurant and showed us how to pray. It was the best food experience I have had not only in Japan, but of anywhere I’ve been in the world!
Read moreGuest
St3Vino
Points +55
very friendly - Edit
Got the udon noodles with tempura and my boyfriend got the tempura with rice. Both were delicious! Would highly recommend. Traditional and delicious definitely. The man was very kind and helpful. He seemed to want to talk but we don't speak Japanese unfortunately. The menu was in English too! Great customer service. 😊
Read morePros: located around tourist attractions, traditional, vegan
Guest
Aliwg
Points +421
very cozy, great experience - Edit
The food was great, the owner was super sweet and gave us a little history lesson while waiting for the food. Definitely recommend!
Read moreGuest
Wolke
Points +281
Should be 6 stars - Edit
Amazing food with very unique flavors! The owner is very kind! He showed us the temple around the corner and was really sweet.
Read moreIt was a great experience, don't miss out if you are in Kyoto.
Guest
getsuda
Points +2237
Charming little place run by friendly owners with amazing temple cuisine bentos. - Edit
The reviews are all true, this place certainly has one of the best bentos I've tried in Japan. Everything tastes really fresh and prepared with lots of care. There are no preservatives in the food and they only use kombu dashi (kelp broth) to season the food instead of salt. The old owner running the restaurant is super friendly and attentive. He does not speak much English but uses an iPad to communicate with foreigners, going as far as to bring them around the local neighborhood as well as entertaining customers with little nuggets about Japanese history. Overall I highly recommend this place for its delicious bento lunch sets and fantastic service.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-08-03
Pros: Very delicious temple cuisine inspired food, Super friendly owners, Located near the station, always open
Guest
ava_g
Points +16
Best Vegan Restaurant in Kyoto - Edit
We ordered a traditional Japanese plate along with noodles. The food was fantastic and exactly what we wanted to experience in Japan! The owner provides a trip-changing experience with his hospitality. He is quite adept at using google translate with his Ipad so communication is easy. While the food was being prepared, he took us on a tour of a nearby temple and explained some of its history. We had some good laughs and left very full and satiated!
Read moreGuest
HaileyPoLa
Points +1118
One of the best meal experiences - Edit
I love this place not only because of its natural, delicious cuisine, but also because of the lovely owners - an old couple who were super friendly and attentive, and the sweetest I've ever seen. I had a bento box that came with various types of veggies, which tasted really fresh.
Read moreHighly recommended to anyone who comes to Arashiyama. English menu is available.
Pros: food is amazing, owners are lovely, location is good
Guest
Christi
Points +174
Great food from a charming host - Edit
The food was delicious! An amazing vegetarian set menu. The host even took us on a short tour of the local temple while we waited for our food. It was one of our favorite meals during our time in Japan. Highly recommend.
Read morePros: vegetarian options, location , Welcoming host
Guest
KevinAlcorn
Points +18
A rare find ran by a lovely couple! - Edit
We dined here on the 29/07/17 so can confirm the restaurant is still running!
Read moreWe ordered the vegetarian set bento box (later to be confirmed vegan) and it has been one of my favourite meals in my time here in Japan. Such a wonderful combination of side dishes that all contribute to a satisfying dining experience.
The elderly couple were lovely, and the charming old man was full of information of his home town.
Highly recommend :)
Guest
lilyflower
Points +20
wonderful and delicious, family run! - Edit
We enjoyed our meal here SO much. A fantastic and authentic, all vegan bento box. The guy who owns it went out of his was to help us. During the 10 minute wait time for our food to be cooked, he took us next door to an old temple, and informed us of all the specialty behind it through Google translate on his iPad. We also had kudzumochi for dessert which was so fresh and tasty. The wife also makes beautiful handicrafts. This place is a short walk from the main tourist area, and 100% worth it!
Read moreGuest
KarenPoppeliers
Points +22
great! - Edit
This was soooo nice. We took a japanese bento meal, which was super satisfying and had all kinds of nice flavours. It was 2000 yen for the meal and about 500 for drinks, however you get water for free. The man is kind and very friendly and explains a lot about the food and neighbourhood via google translate on his iPad. He even led us to the most nice place with a temple and moss gardens :) would definitely recommend and I would go there again! It's nice to talk to the man and his information and the food pas perfect.
Read morePros: everything vegan extremely nice and kind service, great food
Guest
JessTravelsALot
Points +64
Perfect! - Edit
The man was so friendly. He spoke to us via iPad for the meal and explained everything in detail. It was the best meal I've had in Japan so far
Read moreGuest
TahliaChloe
Points +68
FANTASTIC - Edit
The guy that runs this place is SO nice, he spoke to us via google translate on his iPad, told us about the food and the area. He even brought out a map and told us where we should go and the important sites in Arashiyama.
Read moreThe set was delicious, there was so many different things to try and we left satisfied without feeling bloated. Definitely a great experience and would recommend to anyone going to Arashiyama
Pros: Cool old man, Cool old food, Cool old area
Cons: This man is not my grandpa
Guest
misusyaya
Points +510
A Peaceful Meal - Edit
The host was super friendly and knowledgable. He explained to us the principles behind Shojin Ryori - Buddhist Cuisine. We tried the tofu & leek donburi (¥950) and Shojin Ryori Bento Set (¥2000). The donburi was simple yet heart-warming. The bento set blew my mind. Every item was made with pesticide free ingredients grown locally on the purest land & water of Kyoto. Each item was cooked meticulously to bring out its flavor without using additive. I've never felt so at peace after a meal. This is the kind of food you need to eat in order to reach enlightenment.
Read moreThe only problem I had was the opening hours. On their website said they are from 9am - 5pm. But it opened at 10am. I passed by the place at 6pm and was able to get seated.
Pros: English Menu, Friendly Host, Delicious Food
Cons: Confusing opening hours
Guest
Brieeeeayy
Points +69
Friendly traditional spot - Edit
Super friendly mom and pop small shop. Not sure why the description says "vegetarian". I did not see anything with milk or cheese. The man made it clear what we were eating was only made with plants. The gentlemen didn't speak good English but tired very hard and used a translator. He brought us and taught us about the temple next door. Traditional Japanese food. Very unique experience, so happy we went!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-06-15
Pros: Traditional Japanese , Friendly staff
Cons: Off the main drag
Guest
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