Vegan-friendly
Ovo
International
Japanese
Organic
Korean
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. 16 seat restaurant and small shop located one minute walk from Tanimachi line Nakazakicho station, exit 1 or 2, next to the bakery. Offers international dishes including some with mock meat. Menu items are accompanied by photos. Menu also in Chinese & English. At lunch time, lunch box or burgers only. Reported March 2020 to now serve meat. Navigate using GPS to a perfect map marker used in HappyCow. 中崎町にある16席の小さなレストラン兼ショップ。地下鉄谷町線「中崎町」駅 1、2番出口より徒歩1分。細い路地にあります。お肉の代替品を使用した各国料理が楽しめます。 有機野菜などを材料に使用。写真付きのメニューがあります。ランチタイムには週変わりのセットメニューが2つから選べます Reported closed November 2021.


Venue map for Aju
© OpenStreetMap contributors

51 Reviews

First Review by Vegeiko

GabrielleDoman

Points +33

Vegetarian
04 May 2022

Really delicious yakitori (all vegan menu!)

Loved being able to eat Japanese food while I’m in Osaka. We had taco rice, which was nice but the yakitori was really exceptional. So meaty and such variety. The owner also gave us a slice of gluten free matcha bread, which was lightly sweet, beautifully moist and delicious. The all vegan menu was in Japanese but I think they have it in English too. There was English signage in there.

roquerynn

Points +423

Vegan
01 Oct 2020

Don't understand the hype

I'm sorry to say, but we didn't enjoy the food here at all. During our trip to Japan we always had great food and I would say I never ate so much good food than in Japan! But this place was sadly disappointing. The atmosphere wasn't so nice eighter. We had some yakitori and some vegetables but it didn't taste good. Additional to that the portions were small and therefore it was too expensive.

(We visited on the 22nd september 2019)

Cons: Small, bland portions, Salty

sarita.p

Points +426

Vegan
28 Mar 2020

Bit overhyped

I chose the karaage, which was a bit bland and boring. I heard so much good about this place, so I was a little disappointed. But maybe the other options here are good.

BethS76

Points +281

Vegan
21 Jan 2020

Good food but not very friendly

The location is good for when you're out in Umeda / Nakazakicho and the food was pretty good.
But the owner seemed a little grumpy with us. I thought maybe it was because I'm foreign but my boyfriend, who is Japanese, said he was also grumpy with him when he went before. Several friends also said the same thing...

Pros: Convenient location, Pretty good food

Cons: Grumpy owner

philip.s

Points +68

Vegan
25 Dec 2019

Great food, mild atmosphere

The owner isn't a man of many words and the restaurant doesn't look like much but don't let that put you off. The food is great and all vegan with a nice variety of options.

Pros: Full vegan menu, great food

Cons: Atmosphere is so-so and is relatively expesive

Suireiki

Points +22

Vegan
30 Nov 2019

Delicious food

The vegan food was delicious, especially the lasagne. A very big menu to choose from. The restaurant wasn't the prettiest altough there was enough space. Quick service but no english. Overall a very good place to eat vegan.

Pros: Big vegan menu

Faz

Points +971

Vegan
24 Nov 2019

Unmissable

This place is phenomenal. I wish we went there sooner so we could go back again and try the rest of the menu. We had the yakitori which consisted of what appeared to be three different mock meats, all delicious, the rice paper lasagna which was less of a lasagna and more of a bowl full of sauce, cheese, mince and vegetables; tasted amazing anyway, and the carbonara, which was the best my girlfriend and we have ever had, vegan or not.

Pros: English menu, All vegan, Super tasty

Cons: You may spend more than you expect ^_^

KimyFoli

Points +91

Vegan
02 Nov 2019

Vegetarian Bar Aju lunch

I had a soy milk cream stew set at the vegetarian bar Aju today.
The food is delicious.
The price of lunch was nice and cheap.





Updated from previous review on 2019-11-02

Pros: The food is delicious., The price of lunch is affordable.

Cons: Nothing in particular.

epowers

Points +413

Vegan
22 Oct 2019

Excellent vegan Japanese food

My partner and I are here last Thursday evening. There was only 1 other couple dining and the service was quick. The okonomiyaki was phenomenal. I would go back for that alone. The yakitori was decent but not amazing though my partner ranks it higher. The lasagna was pretty weird but good. The dessert parfait was only ok. The cake seemed old and perhaps dethawed from frozen. The restaurant was cozy and the service somewhat surly but I’d still recommend it for a tasty vegan Japanese meal.

Pros: Vegan okonomiyaki , Vegan Japanese food that traditionally has animal

RoganHarwood

Points +19

Vegetarian
05 Oct 2019

Best Lasagna I have ever had

If you have nothing else in Japan, you need to try this rice paper lasagna! My girlfriend swears by the Okonomiyaki but the lasagna really puts this place far beyond ones expectations. As a non-vegan this was absolutely exceptional! 12/10 would eat again.

Pros: Friendly staff, Quiet restaurant, Delicious food

Cons: The restaurant itself is small but still cute, Literally nothing else

TamarKadouch

Points +18

Vegan
26 Sep 2019

Amazing restaurant

All the menu is vegan, many options and very good prices. The owner is really nice, i highly recommend!
Also the neighberhood is really cool

Pros: All the menu is vegan

KathrinNetzer

Points +119

Vegan
21 Sep 2019

Great Japanese food, friedly people

Nice place, very friendly, english speaking and English menu, very tasty

Pros: Super tasty, reasonable price, friendly, english s

Cons: None

Nat238

Points +49

Mostly Veg
19 Sep 2019

So glad we found it!

Lovely cafe, just off the main road walking north east from Nakazakicho station (there’s a bakery on the corner)

Pros: Lots of vegan options - all delicious!, Great service

Cons: None!

Plume5085

Points +764

Vegetarian
04 Jul 2019

Absolutely amazing vegan food!

My partner and I ordered the okonomiyaki, the squid sashimi, the yakitori, the fish and chips, the mushrooms escargots, the kimchi pork as well as soy ice creams and we were blown away! Out of all the vegan places we visited in Osaka, it was the best one. It's a must!

brrrandl3s

Points +303

Vegan
29 Jun 2019

Delicious and nice variety

Really love Aju, I’ve been here a few times. Many options from “fish and chips” to pasta. Sometimes they have cool season specials such as cheeze burgers. Their lunch set is also one of my favourites.

Pros: All vegan, Lots of fake “meats”, Variety of cuisines

Cons: Depending on what you order, you may leave hungry

Stefaan

Points +54

Vegetarian
05 Jun 2019

Close the (Jaimie Lee) curtains and snuggle up

Do you remember that movie with John Travolta and Jaimie Lee Curtains, where they walk around in spandex all movie and some romantic plot thickens until it ends up in a regular old happy ending? Well, imagine the spandex being food. Vegan food that is, and you and your travel buddy are having lunch at Aju, you can be John or Jaimie, doesn't matter. Anyhow, in reference to the movie the struggle is finding the place. The comic relief you trying to order in your best Japanese. Where this review is heading? Well, I can ensure you that after the second act you've had just about enough of old movies bud did have had a decent good old lunch and/or dinner (I had lunch, loved it). The ingredients were fresh, an original menu and a spoon full of sweet old vegan loving. Thanks for a great lunch!

Pros: Live cooking, no pre fab anything, Original dishes, Great place to sit and enjoy

yukina

Points +28

Non Veg
19 May 2019

OISHI😋😋

They have many unique fake menu!
and taste is good.
Far from UMEDAsta.

Pros: reasonable, cozy

Skutbag

Points +116

Vegetarian
16 May 2019

Absolutely worth a visit

Wide range of options including veganized local specialities eg okonomiyaki. Lunch set menu good value but you can also order from the main dinner menu. Pizza and burger options. If you go for okonomiyaki or yakitori I would probably recommend having a starter or side as well. Brown rice. Choice of beers and wine list. Desserts inc soy ice cream. Small but not cramped. Some shop items sold too. Price good for quality and variety. Close to museum of Housing and Living. English menu. Modern interior. Planning to go a 2nd time.

splashseal

Points +41

Vegan
02 May 2019

Pretty good meal

Cozy setting and nice staff. The food is quite good, though some of the items are a tad rich. Love the avocado fritter and yakitori.

Pros: Tasty, Lots of vegan options

Cons: A tad pricey

林子鈞

Points +15

Vegetarian
03 Mar 2019

お好み焼き/おこのみやき Okonomiyaki is yummy

適合素食者,來大阪一定要吃大阪燒

konradson

Points +447

Vegetarian
02 Mar 2019

great!

amazing authentic japanese food. loved it.

Vegeiko

Points +2950

Vegetarian
17 Feb 2019

Lunch/dinner opens only Thu, Fri, Sat and Sunday

One of the best vegan eatery in Osaka!! But please be careful they are NOT open on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday!!

Try vegan soy beef jerky (¥400) as an appetizer!!

How to get there, go to subway purple colored Tanimachi Line Nakazakicho 中崎町 station, exit no.1 go inside the arcade (shotengai) walk about 100m until you see the nail/cell phone decoration (with swalovski stones) salon then turn left for about 40m. and you will see a small signboard says "あじゅ” should be 5 min. from the station.

EDJ28

Points +350

Vegetarian
29 Dec 2018

Absolutely delicious

So nice to be able to participate in okonomiyaki! Absolutely delicious, as was the vegan berry parfait - so good!! Highly recommend 👌

LucyWilkie

Points +137

Vegan
04 Dec 2018

Delicious food

The food was fabulous aside for the overkill of kewpie mayonnaise on the Okonomiyaki pancake! Lots to choose from on the menu. Location a little out of the way and a bit hard to find.

trouvien

Points +289

Vegan
25 Nov 2018

Great restaurant!

Lovely vegan spot in Osaka. It's a small restaurant, and maybe I've been lucky, but I've never had trouble getting a seat. The lunch menu is a bit more limited, with a choice between two meal sets that change each weekend as well as desserts. I would recommend going for dinner, as you can try the okonomiyaki and many other dishes. We were surprised that the okonomiyaki sauce seemed to have a cinnamon taste; it was good, but since I've only had it once, I'm not sure if this is their usual recipe or if this also varies. The vegan yakitori and deep fried vege chicken were very good, as were the cakes. The ice cream leaves a bit to be desired, with the ice cream sauce having most of the flavor, but that's probably just my sweet tooth talking. Great place, definitely recommended.

Pros: Good food, Reasonable price

AdrianaKJ

Points +73

Vegan
26 Aug 2018

Yum!

We tried the soy and tofu burger, okonomiyaki, 4 cheese pizza, carbonara, berry parfait and soy soft serve with choc sauce for dinner! Was all yummy but not to-die-for amazing and okonomiyaki had a bit too much mayo for my liking. 5550¥ for all that so $68AU which isn’t *too* bad considering we got 6 meals and they’re all filling. The man who I assume is the owner was working alone (taking orders, making meals, washing up) so just an FYI it’s a nice, cosy place to dine in and relax and enjoy your meal and he works surprisingly quick and we didn’t wait too long for service and meals. He also has a button on the table for you to press when you need him. Definitely worth a try! There’s a big menu and a wide variety of dishes you’re unlikely to find elsewhere! :)

julie6458

Points +25

Vegetarian
19 Jul 2018

Awesome food. Lovely service

Loved the food here. We came for lunch and got the salad set and the soy meat patty set. Both were so good we came back for dinner. There is a much larger menu to choose from for dinner. They make vegan okonomiyaki as well as Yakitori. This is a great opportunity for vegans to try some traditional local dishes that you won’t be able to have elsewhere. It’s right near Nakazakicho station (take exit 1). They have a website with more accurate opening hours (you should check the website because the owner said the happy cow details haven’t been updated). Highly recommended :)




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