Serves fish, vegan options available. A family-owned vegan Japanese restaurant serving meals centered around yuba (thin tofu skin made from tofu milk that is arranged in different ways - boiled, sautéed, deep-fried). The cuisine is very close to Shoujin-ryouri (temple cuisine). Served in a restaurant next to the yuba factory. Has several menu sets which consist of at least 10 plates (and more). Mostly veg but uses dashi made from fish. Open Mon-Sun 11:30am-6:30pm. Closed during New Year's celebrations.
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Minami Ward, Karahashi Keidenchō, ７湯葉に, Kyoto, Japan, 601-8454
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- Reservations required
- Cash only
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Last update on 12 May 2023 by WorldVeganTravel
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Added by flapijoule on 23 Apr 2023
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4 Reviews
First Review by flapijoule
IronJuice
Points +1445
Nice experience - Edit
Note that they do not respond to email/online reservation. You’d have to call in to book a vegan meal in advance.
Read moreAlso note, you can have a factory tour on the day of your reservation, but they don’t speak English, so you’d need to at least understand Japanese to engage in conversation with the staff.
I had Yubani Kaseiki, and my partner had Ume Gozen.
I like the presentation, very Japanese which I truly enjoy. Different plates had vastly different tastes: sour, sweet, spicy, salty, bitter, wasabi spicy. Almost all dishes are a form of soy, very innovative. But I have to admit, some samplers are just not to our taste: a bit too salty even when having with rice. And I miss soy rolls(equivalent to Japanese egg roll 玉子烧, more prominent in Chinese cuisine).
The meal is definitely worth 6600 yen.
But if I were to visit again, I will order something other than kaseiki.
Updated from previous review on 2025-04-03
Guest
swaninspired
Points +466
Memorable experience - Edit
The staff were so kind and welcoming! You choose between different dinners with lots of courses, around 10 or more different dishes, all made with yuba. I made a reservation in advance on their website. We were led to a separate room with a low table (you take your shoes off before going upstairs). They even laid out a futon to sleep on for our baby. We enjoyed the different textures and flavors, it was a great meal. But be aware that there might be fish broth in some of the dishes, you might need to specify what vegan means in advance. Still a unique experience we wouldn't have wanted to miss!
Read moreGuest
vege_li
Points +152
Perfect Kyoto experience - Edit
Firstly, this is NOT a fully vegan restaurant. They use fish stock and you need to contact them in advice to accommodate you if you’re vegan or vegetarian. They will replace the fish stock with kelp stock.
Read moreThe restaurant started 60 years ago and the yuba company over 100 years ago. It is run by a family and a very sweet old lady is cooking the dishes she developed herself. The atmosphere is very traditional but the good part is that they have chairs so you don’t need to sit on the floor as in many Japanese restaurants. It’s a great experience and a must visit if you’re in Kyoto! It’s a little difficult to access by public transportation but they can call you a taxi after the meal.
Guest
flapijoule
Points +47
An unforgettable culinary experience in Kyoto - Edit
Yubani is a restaurant you wouldn't stumble upon in a regular trip to Kyoto. It is situated two blocks away from Toji temple, a famous spot, in a quiet street.
Read moreWhat it lacks in scenery it makes up for in the kitchen.
This is a family-owned restaurant coupled to a shop and a factory where they produce the main ingredient of their cooking : yuba. This typical japanese confection is made from tofu milk skin which is employed in different ways.
The restaurant is essentially a big family house. Different generations are working in the kitchen, or serving meals. You can feel the warm & friendly family atmosphere while you're eating .
The cuisine is kaiseki style : loads of small plates presenting yuba in all its possible declinations. Fried, steamed, in a soup or tempura style. Up to the desert which is also made of yuba.
No animal ingredients are employed (in the shoujin-ryori spirit, i.e. temple cuisine), only yuba and different kinds of vegetables, accompanied by tea (green tea, Houjicha and matcha for desert).
The tastes are on par with that kind of cuisine : subtle and not over the place. This is an invitation to meditation through food. Relax and enjoy the way each plate is presented and centered around a particular fragrance, that is sure to surprise you in a way with its taste or texture. The food is cooked and served with love, in a typical japanese fashion : it's humble and goes directly to the heart.
You could think that the same ingredient served in each plate would be a little boring, but I assure you it's not the case, and by the end you wish you had more (though honestly I was really full after the ten course meal !).
The price is quite reasonnable for Japan though more expensive than a simple lunch break (the entry level menu is at 3200 yens for ten plates). It's considerably less expensive than the equivalent in temples. The other menus range from 4400 to 6600 yen depending on the number of plates you wish to eat.
English menu is available.
It's best to book your table three days in advance through the form on their website.
The last entry for the restaurant is at 6pm. So there is not really a proper evening service. I went at that time and got out by 7:30pm, it was fine by me (especially after a day of walking in Kyoto!) but can be a little early for some, I'm sure.
When I left, the entire family waved me goodbye on the doorstep, it was really a touching moment...
Guest
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