Café-restaurant and tourism hotspot located on Dotonbori's shop street a block from the canal. Dishes include takoyaki, yakisoba, deep-fried skewers ("kushikatsu"), vegan cutlet rice bowls ("katsudon"), fried gyoza dumplings and more. Cold Shio Ramen is available from June 2025. Open Mon-Sun 11:30am-10:30pm. Public holidays have Sat-Sun hours.
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1F Nakaza Blvd, 1 Chome-7-21 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Japan, 542-0071
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- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 14 Nov 2025 by pivotbase
Update business info -
Added by pivotbase on 31 May 2024
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Featured Review
FrogSoda
Points +957
Awesome Cafe in the Heart of Dotonbori - Edit
Pivot Base is fantastic! Dotonbori is like a huge shopping area and food Mecca for non-vegan so the fact that there’s this amazing vegan restaurant in the middle of it is pretty awesome. The food is so delicious—we visited twice! The Ramen option I got was so incredibly creamy and rich. The noodles were extremely flavorful and the veggies were just as tasty. I also loved the fried Takoyaki. They have a few different flavors (we sampled all of them) and they bring a house made mayo you can add to it! It’s so good! Everything else we ordered was superb! Everyone here speaks English, and I believe the owner hangs out at the restaurant as well. He’s very kind, as are the servers. This place is 10 out of 10 incredible—we highly recommend it!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-11-03
Pros: Delicious food , Clean restaurant and great service
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant.
Read moreOur restaurant is located in Dotonbori, a tourist area in Osaka, and we offer Osaka specialties such as takoyaki and kushikatsu in vegan versions.
The vegan ramen you enjoyed is one of our most popular menu items!
All of our staff speak English, and we are fully cashless. We hope that guests from all over the world enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine and Osaka specialties.
Thank you very much for leaving such a detailed review.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
437 Reviews
First Review by feebz1986
KennyVdm
Points +86
Decent vegan Osaka food - Edit
Good selection of vegan food, vegan variants of classic japanese and osakan dishes. I had the takoyaki and gyoza, which were alright.
Read moreMy main gripe is that they are a cashless place that only allows orders through a QR code, which is pretty annoying.
More of a quick lunch place.
The couple next to me had allergies, and they seemed quite accomodating.
Guest
E.R.
Points +112
Great food - Edit
Food was super good! Very friendly staff.
Read morepivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words! We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
moho123
Points +30
Great spot - Edit
Service is great and food is superb
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-10
Pros: Food, Location , Drinks
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words about our food and staff. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
WeitingCai
Points +13
Delicious - Edit
- Excelent spot if you are in dotombori
Read more- Staff very kind ♥️
- Has plenty variety
- Delicious takoyaki 10/10
Updated from previous review on 2026-02-10
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words! We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
BaMuCeta
Points +457
Vegan spot in the caos! - Edit
I was happy to find this place in the middle of Dotonbori and closed to my hotel. The food is traditional, good and cheap. The crew is kind. The space is big
Read morePros: Traditional Osaka food, Enough available tables, Cheap
Cons: The toilet is at another floor of the building, Fast service
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant and for your wonderful words.
Read moreWe are truly honored that you enjoyed our food and service.
We will continue striving to ensure that all our guests can have a pleasant experience.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
notlola
Points +13
the best - Edit
so good we went twice in good day. also bonus that they play every taylor song😉
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-01
pivotbase
Thank you very much for your wonderful review!
Read moreWe’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed our dishes.
Please feel free to visit us again the next time you’re in Osaka. Our entire staff sincerely looks forward to welcoming you.
Guest
faboburgos
Points +31
Out of this world! 🤯💚 - Edit
Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. Highly recommended! English spoken.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-01
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words. Our entire staff sincerely looks forward to welcoming you again, and we truly appreciate your review.
Read moreGuest
Julesibug
Points +15
Best vegan eats in Osaka!! - Edit
The staff were awesome and everything we tried was incredible! We look forward to coming back next time we are in Japan. We tried the takoyaki, gyoza, tonkatsu ramen, and katsu curry. All 11/10!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-31
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored to receive a rating beyond perfect! We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
Sazasizzler
Points +14
Delicious vegan food with lots of options - Edit
Got the lunch set menu skewers the takoyaki. Everything is delicious!! As an added bonus they also do coffee and matcha with alternative milk 😀
Read morePros: Lots of options, Friendly staff, Great location
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words. Our entire staff sincerely looks forward to welcoming you again, and we truly appreciate your review.
Read moreGuest
TashaEvans
Points +36
Very Tasty - Edit
Very tasty all vegan japanese cuisine in the heart on dotonbori.
Read moreDishes are a good sizes and great way to try a few different items.
Staff and friendly and cafe is cosy inside.
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-30
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant and for sharing such a wonderful review.
Read moreWe are truly delighted by your compliments about our service and food.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
AmyDug
Points +22
Amazing experience! Delicious vegan food! - Edit
This is my third time at Pivot BASE. There is a reason I keep coming back anytime I’m in Osaka. It’s absolutely delicious and the staff are wonderful! I had the soy silk ramen, salt bread, takoyaki and sweet potato pudding this time. Every single dish was perfect. Very flavorful, perfect textures, came out very fast. I love being able to safely order at an all vegan spot. The Takoyaki was incredible. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Ramen was so flavorful, noodles were great. Salt bread was so delicious. I loved the pudding! I wish I wasn’t so full because I would have eaten two haha. I hope to be able to come back again some day. (Pictures features my Stray Kids kpop obsession haha)
Read morePros: Friendly staff, Excellent food, Lovely vibe
pivotbase
Thank you very much for returning to our restaurant.
Read moreWe are honored to receive so many kind words.
We are truly pleased to receive your review along with your wonderful photos.
All of our staff sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
DiegoNicolasUlloa
Points +6
Traditional Japanese food, with all Vegan ingredients - Edit
Great food. All Vegan substitutes of fish and meet. Great atmosphere. Staff speaks great English
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-24
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant and for sharing such a wonderful review.
Read moreWe are truly delighted by your compliments about our service and food.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
OwenFall
Points +64
Gorgeous 🌱💚 - Edit
Gorgeous vegan food right in the heart of Dotonbori. We had so much fun and our taste buds danced with delight.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-23
Pros: Everything was wonderful
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We truly appreciate your kind words about our food. Your kind review encourages us to continue doing our best. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
HoKokHong
Points +67
Have to go to this place if you are at Dotonbori River. - Edit
One of the vegan restaurant open over the new year and I had to personally find out for myself why they also received Happycow Award. Went there for dinner 2 consecutive days. Here's my rating:
Read moreTantan Ramen - Recommended by the Japanese guy. Spicy, creamy, finely chopped ingredients, love every spoonful of it.
Takoyaki - Was softer than expected, but it goes well with the vegan cream served. It's served hot.
Matcha Latte - Not on the sweet side but is still acceptable.
The deep fried skewer thing - Love every aspects of it, goes well with the sauce that the wait staff had to introduce. (Look at picture for reference)
Hamburg - The Italian guy introduced this dish as his favourite. Although I know how it came from, but nonetheless when deep fried with quality batter and oil, I would nonetheless introduce to people here.
Gyoza - Was softer than expected, but perhaps I have not eaten enough gyozas in Japan to be able to comment on this.
Yakisoba - Tasted soya sauce on the very sweet side, perhaps this is how it's cooked in Japan, would recommend as sharing plate instead of taking it down alone like me.
The food is not only memorable, the wait staffs including the Burmese ladies are some of the most genuine people I spoken to, I wish I could come back again in near future with my loved ones rather than myself.
Pros: Friendly Staff, tourist-centric guide available, Respite from the heavy crowd at Dotonbori, Excellent Food
pivotbase
Thank you for visiting our restaurant and for sharing your wonderful review with us.
Read moreIt is truly our pleasure to hear that you enjoyed our dishes.
We also appreciate your kind words about our staff.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
taiwanesetexan
Points +13868
Nice variety of Kansai staples - Edit
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Read moreI tried the takoyaki and yakisoba on my first full day in Osaka. They were filling and satisfying! The honey sweet potato pudding (doesn't actually contain honey) made by Mercy Vegan Factory was also delicious. The lunch menu seems fairly limited compared to the dinner options. I'll have to return later in the day to try more of their offerings, like kushikatsu. Very accommodating to English speakers. Free wifi available. Restrooms are somewhere outside of the restaurant, but I didn't go looking for them.
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Returned 10 months later to find that the dessert options had expanded to include two flavors of dorayaki and prices had increased by 20%. The tonkotsu ramen was nice though. The broth was very flavorful, the noodles were exactly the right texture, and the chasiu had a nice bite. I’d recommend submerging the chasiu in the broth for a bit though: mine came out slightly cool. I still have yet to try their dinner service: next time!
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-21
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant and for sharing such a detailed review with us.
Read moreWe hope you will enjoy a variety of Kansai staple dishes, including our dinner menu, when you visit Osaka again.
All of our staff sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
BigGEats
Points +27
Absolute Tourist Trap - Edit
Really friendly service, pleasant staff and well spaced tables.
Read moreBUT obviously not authentic. Ordered takoyaki, arrived within 5 minutes - a clear sign of a pre-made, frozen and deep fried product.
Ordered fried gyoza, arrived within 6 minutes. I kind of expected pre-made as they're time intensive, but these were steamed and not fried.
Ordered a katsu curry, WHAT ON EARTH passes for katsu here? A lumpy sauce, much too thick. Couldn't spoon it over the 'meat free cutlet'. Also, PLEASE STOP USING MEAT REPLACEMENT items and use aubergine/tofu/mushroom. I don't eat meat, so why would I want something that replicates the sensation of eating meat?
Overall, quite poor and not what was expected, based on the ratings. The location is designed to hook passing tourists, and they had a guy on the door working the passers-by on a Sunday night. All the food plus a plum wine and large beer = 7100 yen. Good value by UK standards but expensive for Japan, backing up my suspicions.
I appreciate any place that specialises in my dietary needs, but the food doesn't back it up. Left full, but not satisfied.
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-18
Pros: Service speed and friendliness, Menu choice, Decor
Cons: Suspected premade/frozen food, Weird Katsu, Music- Spice Girls!
Guest
birthdayvegan
Points +134
It Really Is That Good - Edit
When a vegan spot is so popular and well reviewed, it usually comes down to either 1) vegans over-hyping a spot just because it's vegan, or 2) it is actually good. Pivot is certainly the latter.
Read moreThe ramen was delicious, smooth and creamy with a hint of spice. The katsu was very good as well.
Lovely atmosphere with friendly staff and soft blankets!
Cons: Yakisoba is a bit sweet
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words! We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
BoogieBoi
Points +95
Ok food for an ok price - Edit
I have to give credit, where it's due: Offering vegan Takoyaki and Dorayaki is pretty cool. However the food is probably the definition of mid.
Read moreWe had a Avocado and broccoli salad, the Takoyaki, the Ma Po Eggplant, Gyoza and the Katsu. All were edible, non were phenomenal. If you're vegan and want to try japanese food in the center of Dotonbori, this is the place for you.
I however will probably not return, due to a high density in good vegan food around.
If you want a good vegan Ramen and Gyoza I reccomend Kyushu Ramen Kio Tani 9 ^^
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-15
Pros: Waitresses speak english well, English menu, offers japanese dishes
Cons: really no bad aspects just no great ones either, pretty pricey
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant and for taking the time to share your valuable feedback.
Read moreWe sincerely apologize that the food did not meet your expectations.
Please be assured that we take your feedback seriously and will use it to improve our service and menu.
We hope to welcome you again if you have another opportunity.
Guest
Cassvege
Points +17
Best vegan tantan ramen - Edit
The tantan ramen was super creamy with a good amount of spice. Menu has lots of variety with vegan takes on popular street food!!
Read morePros: Fully vegan menu, Perfectly cooked noodles
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We truly appreciate your kind words about our food. Your kind review encourages us to continue doing our best. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
Gali.E
Points +72
Great vegan restaurant - Edit
We came twice thanks to delicious food.
Read morePerfect location, nice big space with comfortable sitting.
The staff is very friendly and fully English speakers.
The ramen is amazing.
The katsu Curry and the tokoyaki are really good
Pros: Food, Friendly English speaking staff, Nice cozy place
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly delighted by your repeat visit. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again when you are in the area.
Read moreGuest
andrearesti
Points +13
Amazing food and amazing service - Edit
This is a safe heaven for all vegans in Osaka.
Read moreEverything were amazing. Tasted yakisoba and vegan tinkatsu curry.
Top
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words. Our entire staff sincerely looks forward to welcoming you again, and we truly appreciate your review.
Read moreGuest
TeliaJ
Points +39
Unforgettable food - Edit
Unexpectedly stumbled across pivot base while in Dotonbori. I felt like I had won the lottery after living on the classic rice and salad from Konbinis. If I ever find myself in Osaka again I would run to this place
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-09
Pros: Flavour , Options , Dessert
Cons: Kimchi could have been tangier
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant and for leaving such a wonderful review.
Read moreWe are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed our dishes.
At our restaurant, we prepare every meal with care so that not only our vegan and vegetarian visitors, but also all other guests can enjoy their dining experience.
Please be sure to stop by again the next time you visit Osaka.
Guest
MerIncorvaia
Points +1053
Delicious Japanese food - Edit
I’m happy I found this place that has all the typical osaka’s street food and a delicious ramen. The staff was very friendly and the prices were ok for the area. Would definitely repeat.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-06
Pros: Japanese street food
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words. We are delighted that you enjoyed Osaka’s traditional dishes. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
AntoniaSchrauth
Points +21
Lovely Dotonbori Street food - Edit
This is a nice and calm place where you can finally enjoy the famous Osaka foods.
Read moreThe staff is always smiling and welcoming.
I can really recommend the tonkatsu, takoyaki and the soup of the day!
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-06
Pros: Soup of the day, Skewers (Eggplant!), Lovely smile of the staff
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words. We are delighted that you enjoyed Osaka’s traditional dishes. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
Gregodeck
Points +18
Good food et super service! - Edit
Quel bonheur de trouver ce restaurant vegan à Osaka, j’ai rarement eu ce bonheur en Asie depuis des années de voyages. Chez Pivot Base le service est souriant et amical, et c’est vraiment très très bon !
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-04
Pros: La variété de nourriture , Le service amical, L’emplacement
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant and for sharing such a wonderful comment.
Read moreWe were truly delighted to read that you enjoyed our food and were satisfied with our staff’s service. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Guest
katiecustardo
Points +13
Fantastic restaurant with entirely vegan menu! - Edit
I loved it here. Walking through Dontonbori, I was struggling to find ANYTHING to eat and I then I found this gem. The team were friendly and helpful and the food was delicious. I recommend the ramen and gyozas. The cocktails are also very nice!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-01-01
Pros: The menu is entirely vegan , The ramen is delicious , The gyozas are a yummy side
pivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words. Our entire staff sincerely looks forward to welcoming you again, and we truly appreciate your review.
Read moreGuest
kameisha4eva
Points +18
Pivot Dotonbori - Edit
Amazing service, Amazing food! I had the hot and spicy Tam Tan Ramen. Amazing flavours and perfect level of spice. I also had the gyoza which were delicious. This place is fully vegan and the owner himself greeted us and was very sweet. This is a must have when visiting Dotonbori.
Read morepivotbase
Thank you very much for visiting our restaurant. We are truly honored by your kind words! We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again.
Read moreGuest
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