Uses fish stock, vegan options available. All-you-can-eat buffet where you pay after the meal (separate cost for coffee and juice). Milk, cheese, honey, and fish stock are used in some dishes, including some complimentary desserts. Staff do not speak English but most understand "vegan" and can assist with food choices. Directions: near Tempozan pier and Osaka Aquarium, the restaurant is directly opposite the ferris wheel. English sign on front awning saying "Greens Vegetarian Dishes.". Note: In Japan kitchens often stop serving 30-60 minutes before closing time. Call ahead to confirm. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm.
Categories: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, Japanese, Buffet, Non-veg
17 Reviews
First Review by squirrelgaijin
Contributions +69
A giant salad bar - Edit
My family planned a trip to the aquarium and upon arriving at the station, I was happy to find that this restaurant was placed basically right across it.
(As a side note, I felt so sad that I supported an organization like an aquarium "to raise awareness about these sea animals we must take care of," when in reality, I'm just supporting the torture of these beings I love.)
The place wasn't too hard to find, the veranda is a nice shade of bright green.
When we did go inside, the workers there greeted us and advised us to look first, because I guess not too many are satisfied with what they find. Although it is essentially a glorified salad bar. There is a nice selection, however, with some sort of bean curry soup thing (it was more of a soup than curry), spaghetti, and bread. They do serve honey as a topping for the bread.
We were given complimentary corn soup and yummy dessert at the end, which I have no idea is vegan or not.
Another thing to note is that since it's super tiny, the food often runs out fairly quickly, but the servers do replenish the food equally as fast. There was also only lettuce as a sort of "vegetable base" and I would've liked if there were kale or spinach.
Overall, it was a nice place and I would definitely go there again if I'm around that area.
Pros: knowing/fast service, easy to locate, nice design
Cons: needs more variety
Contributions +22
Best in Japan - Edit
Definitely my favourite place, very tasty buffet with a good selection of sauces, even came with a little dessert!
Contributions +17
Delicious - Edit
This place was, great! That's all I can say, the food was really delicious, plentiful with 3 different tofu dishes, the curry was yummy.
The bread, like other people have mentioned, was very very good.
With it being all you can eat it satisfied my still westernised stomach and a had a few servings, which I think the staff were surprised at, as I am quite small.
It is only open a few hours a day, but I'd say it's definitely worth at least one trip if you're near by.
Contributions +17
Great Veggie Cafe - Edit
Great little cafe in this tourist area. Staff speak only a very little English but are super friendly and welcoming.
The buffet is mostly a salad complimented by two main dishes. I had some type of tofu soup dish with tempura vegetables which was delicious.
Nice atmosphere, free wifi and no rushing. I would definitely come again.
Cons: little selection
Contributions +46
lifesaver - Edit
Even if the buffet isn't big I was very happy!
Everything for a big salad which was very needed after many days in Japan without a proper amount of fresh veggies. The ciabatta bread was delicious with the curry / kind of chilli sin carne dish and there was also plain rice. If I was here for longer I would definitely come back a few more times.
Pros: fresh veggies, nice staff, ALL YOU CAN EAT
Contributions +61
great price, good food - Edit
Though I wouldn't say the selection is very large and the food isn't blow your mind, just the price ($850 for all u can eat) is such a great value. And the food is very good actually - the tempura is light and flavorful, and the buffet has lots of fresh cooked and raw veggies which is so oddly rare in Japan. Dish of the day was curry and was pretty good.
Contributions +553
Abundant Veggie Buffet - Edit
This is a great vegetarian buffet, with all you can eat for only 850 yen! Most things are vegan (including the bread, margarine, and soup), but they do use dashi, honey (in the desserts!), and milk products in some dishes, so you have to ask if you are vegan. Not much English is spoken, but they will take you seriously if you try to explain you are vegan. They have gone out of their way to make soy milk gratin (usually made with dairy) especially for me when I told them I don't eat animal products. The atmosphere is simple, bright, and quiet, although sometimes the staff can feel overly attentive (watching the buffet and customers, for example). It's definitely worth a visit, plus a stroll along the harbour promenade or into the small nearby park afterwards.
Pros: Cheap, Lots of veggies, Very fresh food
Cons: Overly attentive service, Potentially challenging for vegans
Contributions +45
Rare Vegan Find in Osaka Bay - Edit
Directly opposite Osaka Bay's giant ferris wheel, Greens Vegetarian Dishes serves up a veggie buffet with a few good options.
Apparently this place is run by lovely volunteers for a disability charity which is so amazingly awesome and makes the food taste even better.
A good inexpensive option after exploring the Osaka Bay Area.
Contributions +14
delicious all you can eat - Edit
Best vego meal we've had in Japan so far. And the cheapest! 850 can get you a healthy and delicious vego meal. Worth the trip out here. Walk off the meal by the Ferris wheel or at the aquarium. Will def come back!! Service is exceptional
Pros: price, taste, variety
Cons: none
Contributions +241
great buffet , but onion, garlic - Edit
Best place near Osaka aqualium.
Cons: have onion, garlic.
Contributions +15
Take the trip to this restaurant, it's worth it. - Edit
My husband and I were NOT going to the aquarium, we just decided to have lunch at Greens and it was worth the subway ride. Lunch was generous, fresh and delicious and amazing value. It was a modest sized buffet but consisted of everything you could want, bread, soup, mains, salad and pickles etc. I could eat at this place everyday if I could. Highly recommend it,
Pros: Amazing value, Delicous and fresh , Friendly staff
Contributions +662
Only vegetarian buffet in Osaka! - Edit
Located next to big Ferris wheel and Kaiyukan 海遊館 aquarium (poor ocean creatures they are locked up in there for good....) First the waiters will bring you a soup and hot tea, meanwhile pick the food you want and at about the end, the waiter will bring you a small gelatin-free dessert, such as agar-agar coffee jelly, soy pudding, etc. if you want some beverages, it's an additional 300 yen. Please pay 850 yen after meal. Very good quality, clean restaurant.
Contributions +151
awesome place! - Edit
I planned to come here as part of a day in Tempozan and was relieved and happy to find them open. The food was delicious, the atmosphere lovely, light and relaxing, and the staff so friendly. You must have lunch here when visiting the aquarium or Ferris wheel!
Pros: all you can eat, great value, delicious, enjoyable place to be
Contributions +22
This place is a savior!! - Edit
I absolutely love this place.In the meat-eating society that is Japan, a place like this is a savior for long-term vego residents. I was fortunate to live a 5 min walk from Greens for the past year and ate there very regularly (at least a couple of times a week). The food is great and varied and the value is fantastic - all you can eat buffet for 700yen (if you buy 5 token packs) or 800yen per visit. What I love most is the staff, they are so sweet and all volunteers. Greens is a non-profit org that supports people with disabilities and trains them to wait and cook etc. What better people to give your money to. Not that you need a reason other than the value for money and great selection (rotating) menu. If you are in the area...please support these guys. They deserve it and you do to!! It's also non-smoking which is hard to find in Japan and the atmosphere is pretty quiet and laid back. So dive in there and pig out I say. PLEASE: do not be put off by the remark saying "no english spoken" , its a buffet, no english needed for ordering, besides a couple of the staff certainly understand enough to get your point across.
Updated from previous review on Wednesday June 01, 2011
Pros: value for money, non-profit org, great menu
Contributions +26
Great value - Edit
Small salad bar but everything is very filling and nutritious. One of the hot dishes had cheese and upon hearing I was vegan the kitchen cooked a cheese-free version of the dish. Exceptional value. Best vegan food I had in Osaka.
Contributions +155
Great value - Edit
I would rank the food a little below most of the other vegetarian restaurants I've been to in Osaka, but still quite good, and the best value I've seen in Osaka (800 yen if you don't order a drink). They had a salad bar, two main dishes, soup, and dessert. Directions: Leave Osakako Station from exit 2 and just go straight. After several blocks it will be on your right.
Pros: good value, English signage, friendly staff
Contributions +37
Great bread! - Edit
If you plan to visit the area around Osakako and Tempozan (there is a giant ferris wheel!) then you should definitely check this place out.
Their buffet lunch is good value although there isn't a huge selection. They did have a lot of nice fresh salad to choose from and some tasty dressing. Their bread, however, was out of this world! I wanted to buy a loaf to take out but unfortunately they didn't have any left.
I wouldn't make the trip out to that side of Osaka just for this restaurant but if you're in the area, it's worth a look.
Pros: cheap, friendly staff, amazing bread!
Cons: not a huge selection, closes early
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