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Vegan
American
Beer/Wine
Take-out
American-style burger joint featuring full bar and open kitchen and sports played on TV. Its signature dish is the "Superior burger” and there are also other burgers made with a house-made vegan patty and vegan cheese sauce. The owner will answer questions you have and also make local recommendations. Last food orders 9pm. Est. 2019 and switch to being fully vegan in 2020. Reported closed June 2025.
163 Reviews
First Review by HeidiDørrSkinstad
VeganJapan
Points +118
Best Vegan Burger in Tokyo!! - Edit
HANDS DOWN BEST VEGAN BURGER IN TOKYO!
Read moreI finally got to check out Great Lakes (it’s about a 30 sec walk from Meiji Dori) and wow! I ordered the Superior Burger (got the double) and it’s easily the best vegan burger in Tokyo. Everything in made in house (patties, cheese, etc.) aside from the bun, which is made bespoke for them. The flavor of this burger is what I have been missing in every other vegan burger in Japan. (I think it now makes the Mos Burger offering taste like paper, because the Great Lakes burger has that much flavor!) The vegan cheese was great too! Even tho the double filled me up, I was curious about the milkshake, once flavor is available, vanilla but it’s good and really creamy.
The shop is owned and run by an American from California, the staff is all cool Japanese people.
This place is great! Like nothing else in Tokyo.
This is a place you can bring your non-vegan friends to and they will not have a single complaint!
Pros: Totally vegan , Place you can easily bring non-vegan friends too, Delicious
Cons: Limited food menu as of 08/2020 3 burgers& sides
Guest
AyanaYanaura
Points +26
こんなに美味しいヴィーガンバーガーが食べられるなんて - Edit
スペリオルバーガーのシングル
Read moreフライドポテト
ミルクシェイクを頂きました。
ヴィーガン100%のハンバーガー屋さん
パティもお肉のような食感で、ソースもしっかりしててジャンクな味わい✨
ルッコラの香りがとてもマッチしてました🌿
最初バンズはぱさっとしてるかな？と感じたけど、中身と合わさるとちょうどよかった✨
.
そして何よりバニラシェイクが！！！おいしすぎて！！
高田馬場駅から少々歩くんだけど、行く価値アリ！です✨
My order is Superior Burger,French fries and vanilla shake.
This is an all vegan food Restaurant.
Those were very delicious.
Guest
JackieJans
Points +1228
Soooo good!! - Edit
Loved their burgers and their vegan cheese. 10/10 recommend
Read moreGreatLakesJP
We love that you loved your meal! Thank you!!
Read moreGuest
PabsPablo
Points +51
100% vegan - Edit
Following the Outbreak of Corona they decided to stop serving 'flesh'... Great call
Read moreDelicious double superior burger... If it could be a little bigger
Guest
ForAnimalsJapan
Points +5485
W O W - Edit
English below👇 高田馬場駅から10分程の所にある『Great Lakes』に行ってきました。
Read more店内は小さめで多くても12名程しか着席出来ませんがとても清潔感があり、リラックスできる雰囲気でした。また、今回はコロナ禍の3密回避の為、カウンター席などが使えない状態でした。
今回は『スペリオルダブルバーガー』と『フライドポテト』と『ミルクシェイク』を注文しました。
スタッフはひとりだったのにも関わらず、注文から5分ほどで出来上がり、久しぶりのヴィーガンバーガーの到着に喜びと感動を覚えました。
バーガーは自家製のバンズとパティ、驚く程のボリュームと美味しさで、加えてフライドポテト、トマトソースも自家製で不揃いで細いカリカリポテトとトマトソースがとてもマッチして美味しかったです。
〆のミルクシェイクは紙ストローで飲みました。これまた久しぶりのシェイクで懐かしさを感じつつ、動物の犠牲が無くこんなに美味しいものが食べられる事に感動しました。
このレストランはひと月程ですが、是非また行きたい素晴らしいレストランです。会計時、対応してくれたスタッフの女性に『Happy Cow』のステッカーを差し上げたらとても喜んでくれました。
現在はテイクアウトをメインにしているようですが、機会があれば是非リラックス出来る店内で、ボリューム満点のバーガーを堪能してみて下さい！
Great Lakes had been on our radar since they opened last year, but once we heard that the Covid19 pandemic had inspired them to go 100% vegan, we knew we had to pay them a visit.
The restaurant is on a quiet side street about 10 minutes’ walk from Takadanobaba station. The space is small, but charming, with three tables at a safe distance from one another. I also appreciated the 90s alternative music on the speakers and 90s Pokémon anime on the tv. The restroom was nice and clean.
There was just one staff member present, but she was a superstar, taking the orders and cooking the food. And what food it was!! We went all-out and got the Superior Double Burger with fries and a milkshake.
This is easily the best burger I’ve had in Japan. The (vegan) meat was moist and flavorful, the cheese sauce was cheesy, and the homemade tomato sauce was a nice touch. The fries were nice and crispy too, just like I like em.
And the milkshake? It tasted a lot like the McDonald’s milkshakes of my youth, in the BEST way. The entire meal was A .
The prices are a little high, but totally worth it given the quality of the food. In a recent interview with The Japan Times, the owner of Great Lakes said that Covid has seriously harmed their business. So people of Tokyo, please support them! We think you’ll be glad you did. 🍔
Pros: Amazing food, Friendly service, nice space
Cons: Not cheap (worth it, though)
Guest
dwmerlin
Points +896
When you miss burger in Japan, this is the place! - Edit
Great burgers, fries, ice cream
Read moreThey also have beers
Everything is vegan
The owner is American and a super nice dude!
Pros: Everything is vegan , Different that the food served in other restauran, Staff is great
Cons: A bit expensive
Guest
Vurz
Points +367
Amazing burgers and milk shake - Edit
Go there to get your burger fix! I see people complain about the size, but to me it is just a typical Japanese portion. Didn’t expect anything else. I love the patty and the caramelized onions. Milk shake was really surprising - it tasted so good. And they are now fully vegan, too! Please support this restaurant, I highly recommend it!
Read moreGuest
RichCarey
Points +436
Way surpassed my expectations✨ - Edit
The superior burger is the best vegan burger I've had in Tokyo so far. 10/10 flavour is just amazing kind of like herb sausage, super satisfied. (Just a little too much oil maybe) definitely go for a double patty.👌
Read moreAlso the whole shop is vegan now apparently!!!
So pleased to find this not too far from where I live!
Pros: Amazing flavour, Filling and satisfying, Friendly staff
Cons: SO MUCH OIL YO.
Guest
selena
Points +410
Upping the burger game - Edit
I've had a chance to try all three burgers now, vegan-style. I think Ontario is my favorite, but it's hard to choose. Love the handmade sauces and caramelized onions. Also another vote for a chocolate shake, please! I didn't find the portion size to be small at all.
Read morePros: Special sauces, Fair prices, Good music
Guest
Eliezer
Points +11
And the biggest surprise - THE MILKSHAKE - Edit
I visited Great Lakes with a friend for lunch. the place is clean and inviting. stuff/owner is kind and communicative.
Read moreI ordered the "superior burger" set with fries and the milkshake.
even though I am not a vegan it was still a wonderful bite. the bun was excellent, nice overall taste, plenty of added veggies, and tasty sauce that dripped from the burger, of which I used as a dip for my fries.
The portion is a bit small but for me, it was perfect, though my friend ordered the double patty in order to be full and satisfied.
The fries were also nice, reminding the Mcdonalds' but surly much healthier.
The biggest surprise was THE MILKSHAKE. On the first sip, you can feel it does not contain milk (which I didn't like) but after the second sip, it felt and tasted wonderful. I was told the ice cream used is homemade and they put a very generous amount of it. Knowing it is vegan was a great feeling and I am sure that next time I am around I will stop by for a bite, or at least for the milkshake. I wonder if they have it in chocolate flavor as well...
Overall great experience.
Pros: Wonderful shake, clean and welcoming, great bun
Cons: small portions, a bit pricey
Guest
Nimo
Points +88
In my case, expectations were too high - Edit
I really support this store and will visit it again soon, but the burgers didn't meet my (high) expectations. A friend of mine is a fan of this shop, and told me the burgers in this shop were "even better than Ain Soph's burgers". I took the train, ordered a "superior burger", and had to disagree. With the exception of the bread (which was oh so good) it all tasted like something that could be made at home with some vegan-cooking skills. And improved.
Read moreThe burger uses a seitan patty, and for those who haven't tried seitan I imagine it could be quite interesting. In my case, I found the patties a bit bland and dry. They were screaming for some ketchup or mustard, and it would have been amazing that dressings were available for free, but it wasn't the case. I really hope they will add some oil and seasoning to the patties. Or salt, at least. And it would be amazing if they put ketchup/mustard/mayo-dressing on the counter or on the tables.
The "cheese" is basically a nutritional yeast sauce. I don't dislike nutritional yeast, but I was expecting something different. There are many recipes online that are better alternatives than what is being offered.
Lastly, the store was messy, with a lot of clutter on one of the tables. I don't really mind, but I think other customers may be put off.
The portion is large, and one burger was enough to make me feel full. The milkshake was very, very good! Though the paper straw made it a bit hard to drink.
Pros: Visually beautiful burgers, Very nice milkshake, Amazing burger buns
Cons: Patties are a bit bland and dry, No dressings available, Cheese was a bit poor
GreatLakesJP
We’re so sorry that your meal didn’t meet your expectations! We appreciate your kindness and intent to visit again. We hope we can “wow” you on your next visit!
Read moreThank you so much for your thoughtful review. I’d like to clear up a couple misconceptions for other guests:
Because of COVID-19 we have drastically limited our seating in the shop. Our bar and two tables are currently closed. We have placed our take-out materials on the bar and table to keep customers from sitting there. We look forward to gradually reopening our all of our space as the situation improves.
While our patties do contain wheat gluten as a binder, we don’t consider them to be seitan. The primary ingredients are shiitake mushrooms, brown rice, and onions. They’re also loaded with an assortment of herbs, miso, and more. We generously salt them and they’re cooked in oil.
The Superior Burger features our homemade tomato jam as well as vegan mayonnaise and onions marinated in oil. The Ontario Burger has our homemade burger sauce, which is similar to 1000 Island. The Michigan Burger has no sauce but is covered in juicy caramelized onions and cheese.
We do have ketchup, mustard, and a variety of hot sauces available for free. Normally we keep these out, but in order to disinfect the bottles for safety we have them available on request currently. There is a sign which says what we have available and we’re happy to cater to everyone’s tastes.
Our cheese sauce does contain nutritional yeast, but it is a minor ingredient. We use a special process to ferment our cheese for over 24 hours to create a taste similar to how dairy cheese is made. Our off-menu cheese fries are very popular!
Lastly, we just found a new supplier this week for paper straws. The new ones hold up for at least 40 minutes, but most people finish our homemade milkshakes much faster than that :)
Thanks again for your visit and sharing your thoughts! We’re always striving to be even better!
Guest
D.Flo
Points +1491
Good but small burger joint - Edit
I visited with a friend and his family, so five people in total. The restaurant was full with just us because we couldn't sit at two tables put together; social distancing meant we had to eat separated. It could make sense for five people not living together, but I'm not seeing the point of separating a family of four. If anything, I should have been the one eating on my own.
Read moreAnyway, that's not a big deal, what matter is the food, right? I tried two of the signature burgers - the Superior and the Ontario, single - both very good. Portions are too small though, but it's Japan, so...
Another thing that could be improved is the smell and the menu. Getting out of the restaurant, you will be smelling like grease for the rest of the day. I never experienced that in other burger places in Tokyo, so I suppose there is something that can be done about it. As for the menu, it doesn't say at all what's in the paddy - being a plant based paddy, it would be great to know what we're getting, if it's soy based or bean based, for example. The place went fully vegan only recently, so I hope an updated menu will arrive soon!
Overall, I would go back with friends when I'm in the area.
Pros: Good food, Nice staff, Price is ok for the area
Cons: Small quantities, Greasy smell that sticks to your clothes and hair, Vague menu
Guest
zoe_
Points +117
tasty burger - Edit
I had the "superiority burger", but now all of them are vegan so you can order any. I ordered a simple, wondering how people can eat a double but when it came it wasn't that big so if you have a big appetite maybe order a double. The fries have to be ordered separately, although they are slightly less expensive with a burger than on their own.
Read moreThe burger tasted quite good, thanks to the tomato jam and the onion mainly. Sadly I didn't taste the cheese sauce too well as it didn't have too much of it. Still a really nice burger. The fries are nothing special in my opinion.
The room is quite small and probably due to the virus going around not all tables were in use, so when I came I had to wait a little for people to leave before I could get in.
Pros: all vegan, tasty
Cons: have to order fries separately , small room
Guest
AlineBonn
Points +38
I'm so happy - Edit
I couldn't have asked for a better hamburger and milkshake! I just love it.
Read moreGuest
Yukismaster
Points +134
Best vegan burgers! - Edit
The double superior was the best vegan burger I've had anywhere in the world. I love that all of the elements are made in house which makes it even more unique. The milkshake was so good. The ice cream is also make in house. So good! I wish I could visit more often and if I could give 5 stars I would!
Read morePros: Best vegan burger ever
GreatLakesJP
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so happy you liked your meal?Making everything in-house is a labor of love for us—we hope to inspire more styles of vegan food in Japan! Hope to see you again!
Read moreGuest
keikohosoi
Points +23
Definitely worth checking this place out! - Edit
We chose to go to this place based off it's Happy Cow reviews, and we were not disappointed. It's a cute little shop tucked away in a side street off the main road. My partner and I both go the Superior burger with fries, the vegetarian burger option and a milkshake. The burger was delicious; it satisfied our burger cravings without giving our stomaches that instant feeling of regret from any greasiness. For the milkshake, vanilla is their only flavour, and OMG I couldn't believe how delicious it was. I have searched long and far for a vegan milkshake that didn't taste, well, like a vegan shake. I had to double check the menu to make sure it was vegan, and then even asked the cook what the ingredients were because I couldn't believe how smooth and creamy it was. 10/10 highly recommend. (Also super impressed with their ice cream ingredient list since it only had about 5 ingredients.)
Read moreThe server and chef both also spoke english which was a bonus for us. Super friendly and even helped us with directions to our next destination afterwards.
Pros: Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly , Great Service , Clean Space
GreatLakesJP
Thanks so much! It was great meeting you both and we were so happy you enjoyed your experience here. It's true! There are only five ingredients in our homemade ice cream: soy milk, refined coconut oil, agave syrup, cashews, and vanilla! We hope the rest of your time in Japan was wonderful :)
Read moreGuest
emilyjacqueline
Points +305
delish! - Edit
My bf and I loved eating here! The burgers were very good and the fries were by far the best we have had in Japan. Also the milkshake was divine! Would recommend😄
Read morePros: everything can be vegan, simple and english/japanese menu
GreatLakesJP
Thanks so much for your visit and your kind words! We hoped you enjoyed the music festival and the rest of your time in Japan!
Read moreGuest
NicoleDalton
Points +49
Best burger I’ve had in Tokyo - Edit
I can’t recommend this place enough! The food was amazing and the owners were so nice. I’ve tried a lot of vegan burgers in Tokyo and this was by far the best, I’ll definitely be back 😍😍
Read moreGreatLakesJP
Thanks a ton! We were so happy to host you and your friends. We're thrilled you loved your meal and hope to see you again soon :)
Read moreGuest
macrobi_mous
Points +41
vegan burger - Edit
low-priced！
Read moredelicious！
ヴィーガンバーガーは本当のお肉みたい！
★★★★★
GreatLakesJP
ありがとうございました！We really appreciate all of your support!
Read moreGuest
Blakewp
Points +17
Great for a burger and a beer - Edit
It’s really nice to have a place you can go and have a vegan burger and a beer. The only problem I have with being a vegan is the difficulty sometimes of getting food out. this place is going to be a regular stop.
Read morePros: Definite vegan choices , Clean and comfortable space, Friendly and helpful staff
Cons: A little pricey, but quality is never cheap
GreatLakesJP
Thanks so much! We're happy to become your regular stop for burgers and beer :)
Read moreGuest
SydneyStarfruit
Points +173
Delicious food and great staff. - Edit
Great vegan options. Every burger can be made vegan for free, the vegan milkshake was also delicious. It was shockingly affordable for Tokyo too. The staff was really friendly. The burger is delicious too. They also use a separate pan for cooking the vegan burgers too. The fries seemed like they were gonna be a waste of money (I think they usually are), but I got them and thought they were delicious. I dont like fat fries so them being skinny was great and better than McDs. I'll definitely go back.
Read morePros: Great and affordable vegan burgers
GreatLakesJP
Thank you!! We're so happy you enjoyed your meal. It was great meeting you and chatting?We hope you're traveling safely!
Read moreGuest
VickiNewMath
Points +979
Superior indeed! - Edit
Absolutely amazing! Friendly staff and speaks English. A lot of tasty vegan options. All straws and cutlery is biodegradable. Takes credit cards.
Read morePros: A lot of vegan options
Cons: Has some meat
GreatLakesJP
Thank you so much for your visit and kind words! We look forward to seeing you again :)
Read moreGuest
carles.lorente
Points +455
Tasty and delicious homemade vegan burger - Edit
I came because we were near the place and no other vegan restaurant appears in the hood. We also want something different than ramen, noodles or tempura, while ir was our 7th day there.
Read moreThe place is cozy and the waiters / owners, so kind and friendly.
I’ve ordered the Vegan burger and.... it is amazing. You must taste it if you’re near, really! Taste like meat, in a better way even than beyond meat (how does they do that!!!!???).
Pros: Super tasty veg burger, Nice price, Cozy place
Cons: Only 1 option for meal
GreatLakesJP
Thank you so much for coming! We think our vegan patty is magical too! While we do only sell burgers, all of our burgers can be made vegan at no extra cost and customized in many ways so there are actually quite a few meal options?We hope to see you again sometime!
Read moreGuest
zakkkkkk
Points +217
Top class burgers - Edit
Little place, vegan owner, tasty burgers ! All sides, sauces and burgers can be vegan.
Read moreEven have vegan milkshake and ice cream. Both great !
Pros: Everything can be made vegan for no extra cost
GreatLakesJP
Thanks for dining with us and for the kind words :)
Read moreGuest
Idiosyncratinom
Points +580
Clean and tasty - Edit
Nice fries, nice burgers - I like that any burger can be made vegan for free!
Read moreGreatLakesJP
Thank you so much for visiting!
Read moreGuest
ianob
Points +32
Bring your own ketchup - Edit
Vegan burger is definitely not bad, fries are on the thin side which is ok if you like that I guess. Here’s where it went wrong - I wanted to swap out vegan ‘cheese sauce’ for sliced cheese as I am vegetarian and cheese sauce is not my cup of tea. Seeing as they are listed at the same price as ‘extra toppings’ I assumed one was being substituted for the other - and asked as much (I speak Japanese) - but instead of substituting they charged extra ¥150 for a measly slice of cheese and , even worse, another ¥150 for some ketchup plopped onto a piece of cardboard - after my burger turned up I asked for ketchup they said ‘sure’ - not ‘sure, that will be extra’ that’s not so cool. So...single patty burger, fries come in one size (small) no drink - ¥1420. That’s pushing it even for Shinjuku prices. I guess it’s fine if you’re on holiday, but if you’re veggie and on a budget then just go to Saizeriya across the road or in Takadanobaba station itself - you can get pizza/pasta garlic bread and free soft drink refills for half the price.
Read moreGreatLakesJP
Hi! Thank you for your visit. I'm glad you enjoyed the burger :)
Read moreOur customers' experience is the most important thing to us, so I wanted to take the chance to clear up any misunderstandings so we can ensure you and our other patrons have a great time dining with us.
We definitely can swap vegan cheese for regular cheese (among other substitutions) at no additional charge. I checked your ticket and we didn't charge you extra for regular cheese. Our menu does list additional cheese for ¥125, but that is for customers who are looking to add more than what already comes on the burger. Our menu is very flexible and we hope to meet everyone's needs without any additional charges. Our vegan and vegetarian customers are our priority and we are firmly against the "vegan tax" that many restaurants impose for veg substitutions.
This is our second week of business and we're listening and responding to our customer's needs. I'm sorry that your interaction with our staff felt deceptive—it has been addressed. You are correct that we were charging ¥100 (plus tax) for ketchup, but we have since changed this pricing and now offer ketchup, mustard, and bottled hot sauce at no additional charge. Because of the feedback of customers like you we can better serve our community, so thank you for that.
We feel our prices are in line with other non-fast food burger shops in the area, but we do offer burgers as low as ¥500 (+ tax) to cater to customers of all budgets. All of our burgers can be made vegan/vegetarian at no additional charge. Our fries are hand-cut and prepared in house which is extremely rare in Japan. The majority of our products, including our vegan patties, pickles, sauces, and vegan ice cream are made on-site and we try our best to keep prices reasonable despite high food cost.
Thank you again for your feedback as it's already making us a better restaurant for our customers. I'd love to invite you back so I can make up the ketchup charge for you and offer you a burger on me for your helpful feedback and criticism. Feel free to get in touch!
Guest
sadjad
Points +39
とても美味しかったです。 - Edit
肉のハンバーガーを含めて、こんなにうまいハンバーガーは食べたことがないです。
Read moreI've never had such a delicious burger before. And that includes all meat burgers as well.
Pros: うまい
Cons: 肉のバーガーもある。
GreatLakesJP
ありがとうございました！
Read moreGuest
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