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| Follow Ups | Post Followup | Back to Discussion Board | VegSource |
In Reply to: Cheap Western Veg food in Japan. posted by Ricky on April 12, 2001 at 2:16 pm:
Tokyo area veg/veg-friendly eating opportunities:
Gaienmae -- Tochi no ki -- 3403-5375 -- Minami-Aoyama 3-2-7
More low-key and relaxed than the average izakaya, with lots of
vegetable-oriented dishes.
Open to 11:30pm (LO 10:30). Closed Saturdays, Sundays.
Jingumae/Harajuku -- Mominoki House -- 3405-9144 -- Jingumae 2-18-5, YOU
Bldg. 1F
Simple, healthy Japanese-style fare, with fish and meat as well as
vegetarian dishes. Seating is
on several levels, with platforms and sunken pits making the room seem
more spacious. In
spite of their health food claims, there are ashtrays (and smokers)
everywhere. Open 11am to
11pm. Closed Sundays.
Harajuku -- Gesshinkyo -- 3796-6575 -- Jingumae 4-24-12
Expensive kaiseki-based vegetarian cuisine. Dinner Y10,000. Open to
7:30pm (LO). Closed
Sundays.
Omotesando -- Crayon House -- 3406-6409 -- Kita-Aoyama 3-8-15
The basement of Crayon House has an organic vegetable shop and two
separate
natural-food restaurants: "Hiroba", serving Japanese food, and "Home",
with French cuisine.
"Hiroba" offers a buffet lunch for Y1,200. (walk down Omotesando
towards Harajuku, turn left at
the Hanae Mori Building and walk one block) Open 11am-10pm daily.
Gaienmae -- Natural Harmony -- 3405-8393 -- Jingumae 3-38-12, Puzzle
Aoyama Bldg. 1F
The seasonally responsive menu includes meat and fish dishes as well
as vegetarian fare. The
"Harmony Set" is a good place to start - it's an assorted platter with
various vegetable dishes
of the day. No smoking. (open to 9:30 Saturdays.) Open noon-10pm (LO).
Closed Sundays and
holidays.
Shibuya -- Shizenkan II -- 3486-0281 -- Shibuya 3-9-2
Surprisingly flavorful Japanese-style vegetarian cuisine. There's also
a natural-foods grocery
store. Open 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays.
Ichigaya -- Healthy Kan -- 3263-4023 -- Rokubancho 4, Asahi Rokubancho
Mansion 2F
A tasty assortment of healthy Japanese dishes and excellent Belgian
beer. Open to 9pm (8 on
Saturdays). Closed Sundays.
Ogikubo -- Guruppe -- 3393-1224 -- Ogikubo 5-27-5
Various Japanese-style dishes. Non-smoking. Open 11:30-2, 5-9pm.
Closed Sundays.
Kichijoji -- Monk's Foods -- 0422-48-3977 -- Gotenyama 1-2-4
Healthy Japanese food with some vegetarian meals, and jazz on the
sound system (it's named
after Thelonious Monk, not the Buddhist variety). (southwest of the
station) Open 11:30am-9pm
(LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Shimo-Kitazawa -- Alicia -- 3485-3681 -- Kitazawa 2-9-23, Dai-ni Suzuki
Building 2F
Delicious food, funereal atmosphere. Open 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-8:30pm
weekdays,
11:30am-7pm Saturdays. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-8:30pm. Closed Sundays,
3rd Monday.
Shimo-Kitazawa -- Gu -- 3485-2187 -- Kitazawa 2-26-8, Cony Building 2F
Laid-back, homey atmosphere and late-night hours. The food's a little
bit too deep-fried, but
the fresh-from-the-oven cookies are great. (Located above Anna
Millers.) Open 6pm-2am M-F,
2pm-2am Sat.,Sun. Closed Wednesdays.
Tofu Ryori
Note: Japanese restaurants specializing in tofu are often not completely
vegetarian.
Gaienmae -- Ume no Hana -- 3475-8077 -- Kita-Aoyama 2-14-6, Bell Commons 6F
A tofu and yuba specialty restaurant with branches throughout Japan.
Full-course dinners
range from Y2,300-Y6,500; lunch from Y1,800. Open 11:30am-3, 5-10pm
daily.
Ebisu -- Shunsenbo -- 5469-9761 -- Hiroo 1-1-40, Ebisu Prime Square
Plaza
Full-course kaiseki-style dinners priced at Y3800, Y4800 and Y6800.
More delicate flavors
than most tofu restaurants, with creative seasonal dishes featuring
their silky, smooth
homemade tofu and nicely textured yuba. They also specialize in
shabu-shabu. Open 11:30-3,
5:30-11pm daily.
Hamamatsucho -- Atagoya -- 3578-1279 -- Shimbashi 6-13-12
Tofu kaiseki, reasonably priced. You must call ahead to order. Open
11:30am-10pm, Sat. 4-9pm.
Closed Sundays.
Akasaka -- Akasaka Tofu-ie -- 3582-1028 -- Akasaka 3-5-2, Sanyo Akasaka
Bldg. 1F
Tofu dishes are the specialty here, with skillfully prepared dengaku,
ganmodoki, natto tofu
and gomadofu, but there's plenty on the menu to keep non-vegetarians
happy too, including
excellent sashimi and grilled fish. Generally one or two of the five
lunchtime selections are
vegetarian-compatible. Open 11:30am-1:30, 5-10:30pm (LO). Closed
weekends.
Uguisudani -- Sasa-no-Yuki -- 3873-1145 -- Negishi 2-15-10
Open 11am-9pm. Closed Mondays.
Hakusan -- Goenmon -- 3811-2015 -- Hon-Komagome 1-1-26
Excellent tofu cuisine in a beautiful garden setting. They have a
private teahouse which can be
reserved if you call far enough in advance. Reservations absolutely
necessary. Open 5-10pm
(LO 8pm). Closed Mondays.
Shojin Ryori
Shojin-ryori is Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. It's rather elaborate and a
bit on the expensive side, but
very good. Call ahead for reservations, and confirm prices beforehand.
Onarimon -- Daigo -- 3431-0811 -- Atago 2-4-2, 2F
Lunch 12,000 yen, dinner 14-18,000 yen. Open 12-2pm, 5-8pm. Closed
Saturdays, Sundays.
Shiba-koen -- Karo -- 3454-0311 -- Shiba-koen 2-5-3, Tokyo Grand Hotel
Lunch 2,500 yen and up, dinner 4,000 yen and up. Open 11:30am-2pm,
5-9:30pm daily.
Iriya -- Bon -- 3872-0234 -- Ryusenji 1-2-11
Beautifully prepared temple cuisine. Lunch/dinner ranges from 7,000 -
10,000 yen. Open to
8:30 weekdays, 5pm weekends. Closed Tuesdays.
Hakusan -- Bon -- 3947-1525 -- Hakusan 4-37-19
A branch of the Bon in Iriya, with the same excellent food.
Reservations are required, and
dinner is served at 5:30, 6, and 6:30pm. Closed Tuesdays.
Chinese
Shinjuku -- Agurarou -- 3351-5975 -- Shinjuku 3-6-9
Food prepared with traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. Open 11-2,
5-11:30pm (10:30 LO). Closed
Wednesdays.
Gaienmae -- Nichigetsutan -- 3408-8558 -- Minami-Aoyama 3-3-3
Chinese food prepared with medicinal herbs. Open 6pm-midnight. Closed
Sundays.
Mita -- Bodaiju -- 3456-3257 -- Shiba 4-3-14
Chinese temple cuisine. A lot of people rave about this place, but the
food seems rather
heavy and greasy. Open 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9pm. Closed Sundays.
Nakano -- Korinbo -- 3385-7005 -- Nakano 5-52-15, Nakano Broadway 2F
Vegetarian Chinese. Open 11:30-3:30, 5-8pm. Closed Sundays.
Indian subcontinent
There are dozens of Indian restaurants in town, so here are just a few to
get you started.
Shinjuku -- Taj, The -- 3354-2305 -- Shinjuku 3-14-1, Isetan 7F
Satisfying food and friendly service. Open 11am-9pm (LO). Closed
Wednesdays.
Shinjuku -- Khazana -- 3352-9455 -- Shinjuku 3-30-11
Friendly service and lots of vegetarian dishes. (Across from Isetan,
on Shinjuku-dori) Open
11am-10pm daily.
Nishi-Shinjuku -- Maharaja -- 5323-4215 -- Nishi-Shinjuku 6-5-1, I-Land
Tower B1F
Part of the "Spice Road" ethnic restaurant complex. Open 11am-2:30,
5-10pm (LO) daily.
Omotesando -- Ghungroo -- 3406-0464 -- Minami-Aoyama 5-6-19
Critically acclaimed curries, on the little street parallel to
Koto-dori. Open 11:30am-10:30pm
daily.
Shibuya -- Raj Mahal -- 3770-7677 -- Udagawacho 30-5, 5F
Good curries. (across from koban on Inokashira-dori) Open 11:30am-3,
4-10pm daily.
Ebisu -- Ajanta -- 5420-7033 -- Ebisu 4-20-3, Ebisu Garden Place 39F
A popular branch of the excellent Ajanta in Kojimachi. Open 11am-3,
5-11:30pm (LO) daily.
Roppongi -- Moti Darbar -- 5410-6871 -- Roppongi 3-12-6, Roppongi Plaza 3F
Open 11am-midnight (Sun 12-11). Open every day.
Nogizaka -- Ganga Palace -- 3796-4477 -- Roppongi 7-4-8, B1F
Expensive Indian food in fancy surroundings. Open to 5am (LO 4am).
Closed Sundays and holidays.
Akasaka -- Moti (honten) -- 3582-3620 -- Akasaka 3-8-8
The main branch of one of Tokyo's most popular Indian chains. Open
11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.
Ginza -- Ashoka -- 3572-2377 -- Ginza 7-9-18 2F
Open 11:30am-9:30pm daily.
Kojimachi -- Ajanta -- 3264-4255, 3264-6955 -- Nibancho 3-11
A huge menu, great food, a surprising variety of different breads, and
extremely convenient
hours. (Across from Nihon TV.) Open 24 hours a day.
Nishi-Shinjuku -- Court Lodge -- 3376-7733 -- Yoyogi 2-10-9
Curries and other Sri Lankan fare in a brightly lit, coffeeshop-like
setting. Full multi-course
meals from Y2,000-Y4,000. Open to 10:30pm daily.
Other cuisines, salad bars
Nakano -- Karma Foods Booze -- 3387-0602 -- Nakano 5-32-9
Intriguing music, thought-provoking dishes and staff. Try out the
Tibetan dumplings and the
ever-changing "thunder tofu," and explore the original drink menu.
Open noon-10pm (LO). Closed
Mondays.
Ekoda -- Shamaim -- 3948-5333 -- Sakaecho 4-11, Art Bldg 2F
An Israeli restaurant and pub, one minute from Ekoda south exit. They
serve falafel, humus,
salads, stuffed pastries and soups, plus shish kebab and one or two
other meat dishes. 50
seats; reservations recommended. Open noon-midnight Saturdays and
Sundays. Open
5pm-midnight. Closed Mondays.
Daikanyama -- Down to Earth -- 3461-5872 -- Sarugakucho 2-5
Inexpensive international cuisine in an unpretentious, laid-back
setting. Original dishes like
couscous salad and deep-fried California rolls, plus pastas, pizzas
and numerous vegetarian
dishes. Close to Namiki-bashi and accessible from Shibuya, Ebisu and
Daikanyama. Open 11:30am-3:30,
6-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Kichijoji -- Soybean Farm -- 0422-21-0272 -- Kichijoji Honcho 2-15-2
An interesting "miso and miso soup" restaurant, with seasonal dishes
like kimchee nabe and
several varieties of cabbage rolls. Many dishes are vegetarian. Open
11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9pm (LO).
Closed Mondays.
Takadanobaba -- Victoria Station -- 3205-0844 -- Toyama 3-16-5
Extensive salad bar and mediocre roast beef. (Meiji-dori between
Waseda-dori and Okubo-dori)
Open 11-4am daily.
Nishi-Shinjuku -- Sizzler -- 3342-5814 -- Nishi-Shinjuku 2-1-1, Mitsui
Bldg.
They have one of Tokyo's best salad bars, but try to avoid the huge
crowds and hour-long
lines on weekends. Open 11-3, 5-10pm (LO) daily.
Harajuku -- Sizzler -- 3475-5130 -- Jingumae 1-13-9, 2F
Huge salad bar. (above J.Crew on Omotesando) Open 11am-11pm (LO 10pm)
daily.
Shibuya -- Victoria Station -- 3463-5288 -- Udagawacho 13, Chitose Kaikan
Salad bar and roast beef. Open 11am-2am daily.
Roppongi -- Victoria Station -- 3479-4601 -- Roppongi 4-9-2
If you're in Roppongi and must have a salad bar, this is the place to
come. They also have a
large no-smoking section. Open 11am-midnight (to 11 Sun.). Open every
day.
Ekoda -- Sizzler -- 5982-4441 -- Eharacho 3-32-2
Worth going for the huge salad bar. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
--------------------------------------
For your other questions regarding the number of vegetarians in Japan, the Japanese Vegetarian Society should be able to help.
You can contact them at: Japanese Vegetarian Society Dr.Mitsuru Kakimoto, Director General Department of Environmental Sciences Osaka,
Shin-Ai College 2-7-30 Furuichi, Joto-ku, Osaka 536 Japan
jpvs@ivu.org
And here's their home page: http://www.jpvs.org/ep/index.html
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TL