Vegan
Japanese
Macrobiotic
Organic
Beer/Wine
Kyoto-style Japanese organic restaurant at 恵美須ビル, near Jingu Marutamachi Station. Serves vegan meals plus sake and herbal refreshments. Hosts music and events. Reported fully vegan January 2025. Open Tue-Wed 12:00pm-7:00pm, Fri-Sun 12:00pm-7:00pm. Last orders 6:00pm.
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8 2-1 Shimotsutsumicho, Sakyo Ward (at Emisu Building Second Floor), Kyoto, Japan, 606-8396
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- Cash only
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Last update on 22 Jan 2025 by VeganWithAPassport
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Added by kakusandha on 28 Mar 2015
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70 Reviews
First Review by kakusandha
Nancy Cadet
Points +1149
Cozy neighborhood place with river view - Edit
Padma Zen Food offers more than peaceful rice in its current location on Kawabata-dori at Marutamachi -dori, overlooking the busy street and the Kamogawa River. Open from noon to 17:00, the restaurant serves lunch till 15:00, with a choice of several vegan sets, gluten free or not, with deep fried items or not. After 15:00 the space becomes a bar serving drinks and “night meals” though I don’t know what those might be.
Read moreThe lunch set was so generous , with 10 small plates, including chilled tofu, grilled pumpkin, veggie croquettes , veggies in kanten, nori rolls, stuffed baked tofu , barley salad, julienned carrots, rice, dal etc.
Ambiance and menu:This is a comfortable place with big windows overlooking the street, colorful vintage furniture, wooden tables, an open kitchen and counter. There is an English menu. When we asked, we were told all the lunch sets were vegan. The meals come out slowly; there was a 2-person staff when we visited, so customers may need to be patient.
Directions : Take Exit 2 of the Keihan railway Jingu-Marutamachi station . The café is on the second floor, above Lawsons. There’s a sign on the street level “vegan café Padma.”
Updated from previous review on Wednesday October 07, 2015
Updated from previous review on 2019-11-05
Pros: Vegan, Fresh , Easy to find at Keihan subway stop
MyVeganJoy
Nancy, that does not sound like Padma AT ALL. first off all, there is no "tattered nori curtain over the entrance". There is NO couch, and they have 2 floors. There is NO way the set meal was 500 yen... I haven't seen prices like that in Kyoto/Japan at all, it doesn't even sound realistic. Padma would be at least 1200 yen per person... Did you meet the owner Hisano-san? She would be your only chef and would definitely take your order... and she might have another lady with a bob haircut serve you... I don't know if you are completely confused or being malicious, but there door is wooden, their layout is completely not what you've described, and they don't have anything for 500 yen for sure... If you didn't actually go to Padma, and know for sure it was Padma (impossible from your description) then please remove your false review so you don't confuse others.
Read moreMyVeganJoy
You are reviewing MURAYA, and NOT Padma. Muraya is an eatery nearby that shows up on Google Maps when you search for Padma, but it's a mistake. Muraya serves a 500 vegan lunch, but it's still NOT Padma. You got the wrong place.
Read moreGuest
Melissa39
Points +136
Delicious variety in the set! - Edit
Don’t follow Google’s directions! It’s on the second floor of the building off the Main Street, google takes you to the back of their building.
Read moreI was very impressed how different the flavor profiles were for all items in their set. I got the “peaceful” and it was so good and filling. The set came with tea. Highly recommend! One of my favorite places I ate in all Japan.
Updated from previous review on 2026-02-01
Guest
steveveg
Points +3196
Easygoing Dining Spot - Edit
We had a very relaxing lunch here. The Buddha Bowl and the Peaceful lunch set were both very good. The décor is shabbily chic and very pleasant. Don't follow Google map instructions - they will lead you to the back of the building while the entrance to their stairway is really just on the main street.
Read moreGuest
Rita_37
Points +79
Peaceful restaurant and great lunch set - Edit
The restaurant has a lovely, peaceful atmosphere and the food was great and very filling. Would definitively recommend this place!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-12-07
Pros: Complimentary tea, Great atmosphere , Nice view of the river / park
Guest
eien
Points +470
Peaceful place and lovely service - Edit
We ordered the Peaceful set and the Buddha bowl. Both seemed mostly similar so it might just be a matter of whether you prefer your food all together or split up into smaller dishes.
Read moreThe lady there was lovely and polite. She served us some complementary hot tea after we got in.
The environment was the best... It was facing the park and lovely soft vinyl music was playing in the background. Lovely place to just hang out with a coffee/tea as well after your meal.
Updated from previous review on 2025-10-03
Guest
stolper
Points +42
The best vegan restaurant in japan - Edit
The food is just perfect! So much thought was put into the flaevers of every dish.
Read moreI tried "peacefull", the curry dish and the vegan style cheese cake. It just one wonderful lady and she's doing everything there.
She's so kind and know good English
Pros: Size of the meal, Good service, Great food
Cons: It's kinda expensive but totally worth it
Guest
JessMurfin
Points +477
Lovely setting & good food - Edit
Gorgeous place to have lunch, the food was warming & tasty. Decent portion size for lunch as well
Read moreGuest
SouthernmostVegan
Points +2198
Solid food - Edit
Healthy and delicious. Away from the tourist action, the ambiance was calm. Also served Indian dishes which was a nice change.
Read moreGuest
VeggiLulu
Points +4170
Good lunch set - Edit
The calm set plate was good. I did not find it outstanding but it was definitely not bad.
Read moreThere was an pumpkin seed shell in the tofu patty.
Even though the set does not come with fried food like tempura, they still use a LOT of oil which was a slight letdown.
The dumplings aswell as the summer rolls had a lot of dough and only a small amount of filling.
Friendly service
Updated from previous review on 2025-05-27
Pros: Nice presentation
Cons: Seed shell in tofu patty, Bit too oily
Guest
Ksis
Points +1398
Worth the visit—FYI cash only! - Edit
We ordered the peaceful set and I have no idea what a lot of the dishes were but they were SO good. My favorite kind of meal—lots of various dishes!
Read moreWe also got the cheesecake and it was delightful. ☺️
Guest
ndamato
Points +58
Delicious vegan sets - Edit
Padma was a standout meal for our time in Kyoto. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was cozy.
Read moreMy wife ordered the Peaceful set, and I ordered the 5 vegan dishes of the day. We both thought the food was excellent. The tempura was especially good!
Guest
ElSalmon
Points +227
What a place! - Edit
First meal in Japan, and what a treat! Loved every bite, loved the unique restaurant style. Well worth the trip!
Read morePros: Lunch set, Decor
Guest
Tsukimi
Points +7965
One of the best in Kyoto! - Edit
Macrobiotic at it's best!
Read moreI love that they have a plate without fried foods, which is so hard to find.
Most places have fried foods as their main. Soy meat ect...
Very cozy , and chill music like Stevie wonder. 👌
The only downside is, the smell of oil here is really bad.
Updated from previous review on 2025-03-08
Guest
ritarao
Points +190
One of my favourite places in Kyoto - Edit
I ordered the vegan platter after a crazy long day! Was open around 5pm, couldn’t initially find it, but it’s tucked away and you’ll need to go up a flight of stairs to enter. The food was so good, it has a nice variation of traditional and fusion. The platter included, spring rolls, dumplings, aubergines, fritters and popadom.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-08-23
Pros: Food variety on platter , Very cheap , Quiet and vibey atmosphere
Guest
Birgit
Points +2269
Love in every bite - Edit
We alerted the owner chef about the unsuccessful google and Apple Maps links. Happy we were able to find Padma though. What a charming alternative vibe place on the second floor. We had the peaceful lunch set. The presentation is a work of art in the cutest Japanese dishes and every bite was delicious and gave us indeed a peaceful and happy feeling for body, mind and soul. The chai and coffee latte were both very enjoyable and flavorful. This place is a hidden gem and fills up quickly. Cash only.
Read moreGuest
cga203
Points +87
Good food, though it would be good if it close later and have more space - Edit
Food was really good. I got the “calm” and my husband the Buddha bowl. Everything was good and tasty.
Read moreWe arrived at 5:45pm and we barely make it. If you want to come arrive even before 6 pm.
Pros: Good food
Cons: Only one chef so limited spots, Close early , Hard to find
Guest
shesupplypi
Points +24
Best vegan food in Japan - Edit
This was was hands down the best vegan food I had in Japan. The restaurant was so quaint, the ambiance was beautiful, and the food was amazing. The chefs are very skilled. Also the entire menu is vegan.
Read morePros: Food, Ambiance, Vegan
Guest
NaomiN
Points +17
Great vegan options - Edit
We had a really lovely Buddha bowl with a mix of veggies, tempura, rice etc. Staff were friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Restaurant is on the second floor so look up. Please note that last orders are at 6pm, I’d recommend getting there by 5pm for a relaxed evening meal.
Read moreGuest
teriimiuu
Points +131
One of my favorites - Edit
I really love the delicious food of this restaurant and the overall feeling of the place. My favorite is one of the options that server lots of small pieces on small plates! I love to go here to enjoy slow paced lunch.
Read morePros: The food, The atmosphere, The options
Cons: Not fastfood so take your time!
Guest
p.skillz
Points +639
Quirky cafe that does tasty vegan food - Edit
We went for a late lunch and enjoyed it. It's a quirky cafe that does vegan food. We got a set of the day and it was all quite tasty. The lady who served us was nice too. I would go again if ever in Kyoto.
Read moreBe aware that it's cash only.
Guest
sumitsharma
Points +82
Second time lucky - Edit
We couldn’t make it the first time, but luckily the second time midweek early lunch worked. Fresh food, we even saw the veggies being delivered. As it’s a two member team, and everything is cooked fresh it can take time, but the end result is truly amazing. Loved it!
Read moreGuest
McMallory
Points +2855
Wonderful, beautiful, and still vegan - Edit
Don’t let the disclaimer that this place may no longer be vegan dissuade you. When we asked the staff they said everything is in fact vegan.
Read moreThe set lunches are absolutely beautiful. Everything on the tray was amazing. That’s good because the menu changes based on what’s in season and available, but you are guaranteed several small veggie dishes, a few tempura items, some fried soy meat, and a “tofu burger” that is more the size of a meatball. It’s a lot of food without being totally overwhelming or leaving too much behind (I didn’t finish my rice or soup, but finished everything else).
Definitely recommend! One of my favorite meals in Japan so far!
Guest
narnold113112
Points +32
Delicious food - Edit
The host was generous enough to seat us even though last orders had just happened. The peaceful lunch set and the curry were both delicious. One of our favs in Kyoto.
Read moreGuest
swaninspired
Points +466
Peaceful and calm - Edit
We had the peaceful and calm lunch set. There are two ladies who seem to run this place alone so you might need to bring some time. We enjoyed our food a lot. It seemed to be cooked with love and mindfulness. The place has a special vibe, you wouldn't except it where it is on the second floor around the corner from the station exit.
Read moreGuest
QueenH
Points +94
Good food - Edit
We had a good time here and really enjoyed the meal set. Closes early, it seemed last order was even a little earlier than written here.
Read moreGuest
LilyFae
Points +135
Amazing - Edit
One of the best food places in Kyoto. We had a lovely meal and well worth the money. Environment was peaceful also.
Read morePros: Value for money , Environment , Taste
Guest
LangdonAlger
Points +47
Healthy and homemade! - Edit
A cozy little restaurant tucked away near a train station - but definitely worth looking for, if you're after a homemade assortment of delicious foods. All of the sets looked delicious - I had one with dumplings, and I was very full afterwards, despite it not looking like much from the photos!
Read moreThe owner is a very kind lady, who is very happy to speak English as well as Japanese, and is a big fan of books (made more obvious by the stocked bookshelf near the entrance!). The cafe has a very Murakami-esque feel to it, especially thanks to the jazz records and greenery. A beautiful spot to relax for a while.
Guest
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