5/30/2007

Being vegetarian in Japan can be quite tough. Everything ‘vegetarian’ includes dashi stock which is made from fish flakes. But fret not as now, there are many vegan eateries sprouting around and you can grab your favorite veggie version of Japanese food. Going vegan is a healthy option that many are opting for these days.

Here’s a list of Vegan eateries i found from Metropolis complete with directions. I hope it’ll come in useful to you in the future. Perhaps keep this list at home by printing it out and strapping it to the fridge with a fridge magnet.

Here goes:

Brasserie Chaya
This elegant brasserie sits in marked contrast to its plastic food-displaying neighbors on the seventh floor of Shinjuku’s Isetan. Formally dressed tables and a large stylish bar give the place a sophisticated air. The menu eschews meat, egg, dairy and sugar, but the ethos here is macrobiotic, so seafood appears in around half of the dishes. Still, Chaya offers perhaps the chicest vegan dining in the city, and one of the priciest options, with lunch sets at ¥2,625 and à la carte dinner dishes about the same. The English translations of the dishes aren’t always appetizing—flour gluten and millet hamburger, anyone?—but fortunately the chef does a far better job than the translator.

7F Isetan Main Bldg, 3-14-1 Shinjuku. Tel 03-3357-0014. Open 11am-10pm. Nearest stn: Shinjuku San-chome. www.chayam.jp/restaurant/shinjuku.html

Eat More Greens
Azabu-Juban’s Eat More Greens (above) is the most overtly vegan joint on our list. The menu proudly marks two thirds of the dishes as pure vegan, and there’s not a trace of fish, egg or meat. But the eclectic crowds that have been flocking here since it opened in March probably don’t care. Menu highlights such as the falafel plate or salad of rice and 16 cereal grains are worth crossing town for, and the setting—an attractive collision of industrial shell and pop visuals—is the perfect blend of casual and comfortable.

2-2-5 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku. Tel 03-3798-3191. Open daily 7:30am-11pm. Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban. www.eatmoregreens.jp

Little Maman
This curry and soup pit-stop inside Shinagawa station’s Queen’s Isetan supermarket looks just like myriad other fast food counters across the city. But closer inspection reveals a menu that’s both vegan and macrobiotic, eschewing also white sugar and artificial seasonings. This is slow food—served fast. The menu is limited, but great value, with curry or soup sets for ¥600. Little Maman also sells an impressive range of vegan groceries, from tempeh blocks to heat’n’eat soup packs.

3F Queen’s Isetan, Atré Shinagawa, 2-18-1 Minato Minami, Shinagawa-ku. Tel: 03-5462-1551. Open daily 10am-8pm. Nearest stn: Shinagawa. www.little-maman.jp

Pita the Great
The yin to Little Maman’s yang, Tameike Sanno’s long-running pita joint serves fast food slowly. The meals are portable and filling, but it’s all cooked to order, and you’ll damn well wait for it. And wait for it. But all good things come to those who don’t mind a few extra minutes of drooling anticipation, and these meal-sized pita pockets are full to bursting with pure vegan fillings. Falafel is the top pick here, but there’s also crispy fried tofu, hummus and battered broccoli spears, among several other options.

2F ATT New Bldg, 2-11-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5563-0851. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-6pm, closed Sat-Sun and hols. Nearest stn: Tameike-Sanno.

Deva Deva Café
Tokyo Walker magazine recently rated Kichijoji the best place to live in Tokyo for its wealth of funky independent cafés and affordable eateries. Casual vegetarian diner Deva Deva fits right in with a pristine white interior and a tasty menu that specializes in veggie burgers, served in a bun with potato wedges for the Western palate, or as “hamburg steak” in a veggie gravy for the local take. The restaurant guarantees at least one vegan plate at lunch or dinner, clearly labeled on the menu, and offers a range of vegan desserts.

2-14-7 Kichijoji-Honcho, Musashino-shi. Tel: 0422-21-6220. Open Fri-Wed 11am-8pm, closed Thu. Nearest stn: Kichijoji. www.devadevacafe.com

Shojin Bento
Shojin ryori typically means budget-busting kaiseki-style fare in fancy settings. Dinner courses can cost up to ¥18,000 a sitting in the formal restaurants. But Daikanyama lunchers can enjoy Zen vegan cuisine in the more accessible, and affordable, bento of Buddhist monk Tenkai Miki. Each lunchtime, Miki offers bamboo boxes of delicately flavored Japanese veggies and rice for just ¥1,200. The kaiseki rituals might be missing, but the beautiful packaging more than compensates.

Daikanyama station exit. Available Mon-Fri from noon.

Brown Rice Cafe
Stuffed tofu pockets, vegan curries and miso soups at this charming cafe just off Omotesando.

5-1-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5778-5416. Open daily noon-9pm. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.brown.co.jp

Cafe 8
One-time favorite of the Aoyama crowd, now relocated to an Ikejiri backstreet.

3-17-7 Aobadai, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-3585-6333. Open daily 11am-10pm. Nearest stn: Ikejiri Ohashi.

It’s Vegetable
Grammatically dubious name (the restaurant is also known as Ling Ling Saikan), but interesting menu of mock meats, with 90 percent of dishes vegan.

4-1-9 Kinshi, Sumida-ku. Tel: 03-3625-1245. Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm (LO 2pm), 5-10pm (LO 9:30pm), closed Mon. Nearest stn: Kinshicho.

J’s Kitchen
Delicious macrobiotic vegan fare in a two-story Hiroo restaurant.

5-15-22 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5475-2727. Open Mon-Sat 11am-10:30pm, Sun & hols 11am-4:30pm. Nearest stn: Hiroo. www.js-kitchen.com

Pure Cafe
Nutritious vegan soups, sandwiches and salads in small portions.

5-5-21 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5466-2611. Open daily 8:30am-10:30pm. Nearest stn: Omotesando.