From vegan burger joints to plant-based izakaya (Japanese pub) fare, vegan restaurants in Tokyo are not as rare as they once were.
Despite washoku (Japanese cuisine) being comprised of lots of seaweed, legumes like soybeans, and vegetables, Japan was never quite known for being vegetarian or vegan-friendly. Many traditional Japanese foods include invisible ingredients like dashi (fish stock) despite being otherwise dairy or meat-free.
However, Japan is also home to shojin ryori, the vegetarian food of Buddhist monks. It’s a simple cuisine served without any fish, meat, or animal products, though shojin-style cuisine is not commonly found on the average restaurant menu.
So, while this is by no means a definitive list, we’ve compiled this guide of where to find some of the best vegan Japanese food in Tokyo to get you started!
14 Best Vegan Restaurants in Tokyo
Here are some of the best vegan restaurants in Tokyo for all your plant-based cravings:
- Great Lakes Tokyo
- The Nuts Exchange
- Soup Stock Tokyo
- Narisawa
- Noeud.Tokyo
- T’s Tantan
- Kyushu Jangara Ramen
- Vegan Bistro Jangara
- Alternative
- HealthyTokyo CBD Shop & Cafe Harajuku
- Meu Nota
- Ballon
- Izakaya Masaka
- Ain Soph. Journey
Discover vegan burgers in Tokyo
Finding a vegan burger in Japan isn’t always the easiest task, but when you find one… it’s often worth the wait! Here’s where you can sink your teeth into a plant-based burger in Tokyo.
1. Great Lakes Tokyo
Located between Waseda and Takadanobaba Stations, Great Lakes Tokyo is an American-style vegan burger joint with their own original patty blend and three unbeatable burgers to choose from.
According to their menu, the patty contains a “blend of shiitake mushrooms, brown rice, onions, herbs, spices, and wheat gluten.” And for all you fermentation nerds out there, the custom-made buns are made using rice koji.
Great Lakes’ signature Superior Burger (not to be confused with Superiority Burger) is made with marinated onions and a thick tomato jam to perk up every bite with sweet acidity.
The Michigan Burger is another solid choice, featuring caramelized onions and crinkle-cut pickles. But the Ontario Burger is a personal favorite — a vegan homage to California’s cult favorite In-N-Out burger chain, with a thousand island-style dressing. The raw onion, tomato, and lettuce combo gives a nice crunch and makes this burger the freshest-tasting of the three options.
As an alternative to French fries, order tater tots for a bit of all-American cafeteria nostalgia. They even have cashew nut ice cream and milkshakes, including a refreshing mint shake as a nice palate cleanser.
2. The Nuts Exchange
For some quick nibbles you can feel good about, The Nuts Exchange, should be your go-to natural food stop in Yoyogi Park.
Their caramel nut tart has that gooey stick-to-your-teeth quality, chock full of protein-rich nuts like almonds and macadamias, best washed down with a sip of their refreshing iced macadamia nut milk.
We highly recommend their “egg” muffin, made with a convincing plant sausage and yuba cheese, a tasty little package that would make the perfect breakfast sando or afternoon snack.
Also on the menu are donut balls (choose between sweet and salty varieties), pasta of the day, seasonal fruit tart, cornbread, and granola. As for drinks, get juiced up with their Macada Banana, Macada Mango, or Macada Berry beverages, or enjoy some coffee, including a Macadaccino (Australian-style cappuccino).
Discover vegan soup in Tokyo
For those rainy or cold days when all you want is a cozy, warming meal, nothing hits the spot quite like soup. Search no more — the best vegan soup in Tokyo is right here!
3. Soup Stock Tokyo
Soup Stock Tokyo has branches all over Tokyo, stretching from Setagaya in the west to Ikebukuro in the north and Sumida in the east, not to mention countless more central locations.
Although finding your favorite vegan soup may be tricky, with Soup Stock Tokyo’s menu changing every week (including varying menus by store), they’re well known for their accessible dishes.
You’ll find gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan soups and curries on offer, from gluten-free Lobster Bisque and Chicken Salad Soup to vegetarian Green Vegetable Minestrone and Spinach Curry, not forgetting their delicious vegan Ratatouille Curry.
Discover Michelin star vegan food in Tokyo
For vegan Japanese food that even the Michelin Guide can’t resist, explore these Michelin star vegan restaurants in Tokyo!
4. Narisawa
With two Michelin stars, a Michelin Green star, and a spot at #19 in 2024’s Top 50 best restaurants in Asia, Narisawa deserves a spot on your to-do list for Tokyo vegan restaurants!
At the age of 19, Narisawa Yoshihiro left home and honed his craft for 8 years in some of the most famous kitchens in Europe. After mastering the skills required in a Michelin-recognized restaurant, he turned his eye to creating something undeniably his, now known for his innovative, geographically inspired dishes.
Dive into a new world of flavor and flora at Narisawa, where the line between nature and ingredient becomes truly blurred, such as in the enigmatic ‘Bread of the Forest’, a gorgeous wreath of flowers and fruits.
Make it allergy-free, vegetarian, or vegan: Narisawa’s course is not automatically vegetarian or vegan, but ingredients can be swapped out for dietary or allergy restrictions, so make sure to leave a note at the time of booking.
Book your table for Michelin star vegan food at Narisawa!
5. Noeud.Tokyo
Noeud.Tokyo isn’t afraid to fight for the spotlight when it comes to Michelin star vegan food in Tokyo, having both a Michelin star and a Michelin Green star for their sustainable practices.
“Nœud” translates to “connection” in French, representing how their menus are designed to harmonize with the seasons, only serving up dishes that connect with the natural cycle of the ecosystem. Not only that, but they hope that while enjoying their premium dishes you’ll also have a quiet moment to connect with yourself, your mind and body, and the people around you.
Take a look at their Michelin star vegan menu and then get ready for an evening at a Tokyo vegan restaurant with purpose-driven French fusion cuisine.
Make your meal vegetarian or vegan: To enjoy their fully vegetarian or vegan lunch and dinner course menus, you must book at least three days in advance and let the chef know at the time of booking.
Book your table at Noeud.Tokyo for vegan food in Tokyo!
Discover vegan ramen in Tokyo
Everyone wants to try ramen in Japan, and why should vegans have to miss out? With these vegan ramen restaurants, they don’t need to!
6. T’s Tantan
T’s Tantan is a vegan ramen restaurant in Tokyo with multiple locations, giving you delicious vegan ramen in Chiyoda’s Gransta Tokyo (Keiyo Street), Ueno Station’s Ecute Ueno, and Ikebukuro.
While they’re most famous for their wide range of vegan ramen — creating plant-based versions of all your favorite ramen broths — they all cook up a storm of vegan Japanese curries, vegan gyoza, vegan desserts, and so much more.
As if that weren’t enough, they also pour quite an extensive drinks menu, including natural wines, craft beers, cocktails, and hot drinks (including an oat latte!).
Not coming to Japan anytime soon but craving T’s Tantan vegan ramen? Get their instant vegan ramen delivered directly to your door!
Tips for finding T’s Tantan: T’s Tantan is quite often located inside a train station behind the ticket barriers, meaning you’ll either need to be traveling through the relevant station or spending money to enter and exit the area where the restaurant is based.
7. Kyushu Jangara Ramen
As one of my personal favorite vegan ramen spots in Tokyo, I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t include the plant-based ramen menu of Kyushu Jangara Ramen, with branches in Harajuku, Akasaka, Ginza, Ikebukuro, and Akihabara.
This cozy ramen restaurant has three flavors of ramen broth, varying by location:
- Vegan Kumamoto ramen (tonkotsu flavor)
- Vegan shoyu ramen (soy sauce flavor)
- Vegan yuzu-shio (citrus-salt flavor)
On top of this flavorful bowl of plant-based perfection is a juicy slab of soy-meat, soaking up the flavors of the broth and giving you all the pleasure of a meaty texture without the actual meat.
There may be a slight wait to get in as their restaurants tend to be on the smaller side, but it’s an experience worth waiting for — that much I can promise you.
8. Vegan Bistro Jangara
Vegan Bistro Jangara is sitting right above the Kyushu Jangara Ramen shop in Harajuku, run by the same Jangara brand, so you already know it’s not going to disappoint.
This has to be one of the most extensive vegan menus in Tokyo, featuring vegan fried chicken, vegan ramen, vegan curry, a vegan burger, and even vegan mentaiko — the latter of which is especially rare, as not many restaurants are attempting to recreate Japan’s traditional dish of spicy fish eggs for vegan diners.
Many of their dishes are also gluten-free and even Buddhist-friendly, making sure that none of the five pungent roots are present (garlic, onions, leeks, chives, and shallots).
Discover vegan French food in Tokyo
French food is famous all around the world, even reaching the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. So, if you’re looking for vegan French food in Japan, you won’t go hungry!
9. Alternative
Alternative is true to its name, offering innovative French-inspired gastronomy for those with alternative diets, including vegetarian and vegan-friendly options crafted by the talented hands of chef-owner, Saito Takayuki.
Putting vegetables in the spotlight with seasonal ingredients and eye-catching presentation, Alternative has two course menus we need to tell you about…
Alternative Course Menu: Chef Saito concocts a 6-item course menu that changes with the seasons (and even the day’s available ingredients).
Saito’s Wonderland Course: This 7- or 8-course menu never serves the same thing twice, allowing Chef Saito to unleash his culinary creativity in a new way every day. Usually served at the counter, you’ll have an uninterrupted view of the magic as it happens, but this unforgettable menu can also be served at a table.
Confirm any allergies or dietary restrictions: To make sure that your experience is perfect, make sure to confirm any allergies or dietary restrictions at the time of booking.
Discover vegan cafes and cakes in Tokyo
Tokyo has some of the most stylish cafes and desserts in the world. That also extends to the wealth of vegan cafes and cakes available in Tokyo, just a few of which you can be tempted by here.
10. HealthyTokyo CBD Shop & Cafe Harajuku
Vegan food meets CBD at HealthyTokyo CBD Shop & Cafe, one of the three spots featured in our Shibuya cafe video.
A pioneer in CBD, HealthyTokyo is the first shop in Japan specializing in the popular natural remedy, offering CBD oils, gummies, edibles, and more at their cafes in Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Daikanyama (Shibuya).
Their cafe menu is organic, plant-based, and mostly gluten-free, with the option of adding your choice of CBD oil to just about everything.
Sip homemade sodas like HealthyTokyo's Ginger Sparkle with a few drops of yuzu CBD oil, or a cafe latte infused with mint CBD oil. The matcha latte, using grade A organic matcha, is also imbued with the bright, citrusy scent of yuzu CBD oil, a combination that’s gently uplifting as well as calming.
HealthyTokyo’s vegan and gluten-free lasagna (made with rice pasta) is a favorite, as well as their cakes like the rich chocolate gâteau and cheesecake (also gluten-free).
11. Meu Nota
Meu Nota is a vegan cafe in Koenji serving up colorful, fresh plates with enough variety to keep every bite exciting. The cozy space, with ceilings adorned with bouquets of dried plants and counters cluttered with curated knick knacks, feels like home, and the food is just as comforting.
For lunch, choose from a few options including a south Indian-style coconut curry lunch set, 30-ingredient taco rice, and a veggie and grain deli plate with soup. For dessert, we highly recommend getting the vegan crème brulée, which is creamy and custardy and totally plant-based, with that lovely shell of torched sugar on top.
The dinnertime menu is more extensive, featuring tapas dishes, falafel, pasta, and more; while course menus are also available with reservation.
Discover vegan falafel and ice cream in Tokyo
Two vegan delicacies for the price of one! Get ready to start craving vegan falafel and ice cream in Tokyo, adding two more vegan foods to the menu while you’re exploring Japan’s capital.
12. Ballon
Promoting an environmentally-friendly, healthy style of eating, Ballon in Nakameguro is a 100% vegan falafel restaurant offering some incredible vegan soft serve. Made entirely without eggs, dairy, or sugar, their vegan soft serve comes with 9 different topping options.
At Ballon, they pride themselves on light but satisfying organic food that nourishes the body. Their falafel is light and fluffy, with a slight spiciness, and is wrapped in a pita pocket with seven kinds of vibrant, organic veggies which give a pleasing crunchiness to the sandwich.
This cozy little shop is a great place to grab a bite to eat if you're in the area, and it's just a short walk away from the world's largest Starbucks, the Nakameguro Starbucks Reserve Roastery, opened in late February of 2019, in case you want to wash it down with a soy latte.
Discover vegan karaage fried chicken and gyoza in Tokyo
Worried that you’re missing out on traditional Japanese foods like karaage (fried chicken) and gyoza? Not anymore. Get your crunchy vegan chicken and gyoza fix!
13. Izakaya Masaka
Located in Shibuya Parco’s basement-level Chaos Kitchen, Izakaya Masaka, literally “Impossible Izakaya,” offers standard gastropub fare done vegan.
Their karaage comes with a few different sauce options; tartar sauce being a fan favorite. Uniquely, Japanese tartar sauce is often made with chopped boiled eggs, like a cross between Western tartar sauce and egg salad, and Izakaya Masaka mimics this texture incredibly — some might say impossibly — well for a vegan restaurant in Tokyo.
Along with karaage, this vegan joint serves classic Japanese pub food like gyoza and pickled veggies, while slinging drinks like lemon sour and ume sour.
Discover vegan Japanese home cooking (and pancakes!) in Tokyo
Japanese home cooking is all about warm, homely dishes that will keep you satisfied. Vegan Japanese home cooking is all of that and more with plant-based alternatives!
14. Ain Soph Journey
While Ain Soph’s beloved casual burger joint, Ain Soph. Ripple in Kabukicho, has permanently closed, the brand has continued to offer wholesome and delicious vegan food in Tokyo.
Ain Soph. Journey Shinjuku also offers vegan comfort food alongside an extensive array of course meals and beautifully presented desserts, with an emphasis on fresh produce. The cozy, warmly-lit space makes for a cute date spot to take your plant-based (or vegan-curious) partner.
One of the highlights at Ain Soph. Journey has got to be their Heavenly Pancakes, which are made fresh upon ordering using vegan cheese, and served with homemade soy ice cream, walnuts, and seasonal fruits.
For savory options, Ain Soph Journey offers everything from gluten-free pasta to vegan hamburger steaks to green curry.
They also have other spots, including Ain Soph. Ginza and Ain Soph. Soar Ikebukuro, meaning you’ll be able to find delicious vegan food in Tokyo, no matter where you are in the city!
Thankfully, the culinary scene in Japan has been expanding to acknowledge more food restrictions and embrace diversity. One of the effects of this has been the much-needed increase in vegan restaurants in Tokyo. Support the movement towards sustainability and plant-based food by using this guide as a starting point for discovering the world of vegan cuisine in Tokyo.
There are so many vegan restaurants still waiting to be found, so check out all our vegan restaurants in Japan or brush up on your language skills for ordering vegetarian and vegan food in Japanese.
Heading to Kyoto? You’ll need our guide for the best vegan restaurants in Kyoto!
Vegan food in Tokyo FAQS
Can I find vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Tokyo?
You can! Vegetarian and vegan restaurants are becoming easier to find in Tokyo every year. From this article alone, we’ve pointed you in the direction of Tokyo’s:
- Vegan burgers
- Vegan soups
- Vegan ramen
- Vegan fried chicken
- Vegan gyoza
- Vegan cakes and ice creams
- Michelin star vegan food
Explore our full list of vegan restaurants in Japan and you’ll be picking up something plant-based in no time.
Is Tokyo vegan-friendly?
Yes! Every year, Tokyo becomes more vegan-friendly as veganism and dietary restrictions are better understood. Although it can still be difficult to make sure that your dish is entirely vegan at older establishments, there’s been a significant increase in vegan restaurants, cafes, and options in Tokyo lately.
This will likely only continue to improve as Japan welcomes tourists from all walks of life.
What is the vegan capital of Japan?
As the former capital and the inarguable center of Buddhism in Japan — boasting over 1,600 Buddhist temples — Kyoto is often given the title of Japan’s vegan capital. This is mostly as a result of the proliferation of shojin ryori (vegan Buddhist cuisine) in the area, where the focus is shifted from meat (forbidden) to seasonal vegetables and tofu.
Hungry to learn more about vegan food in Kyoto? Read our Kyoto Vegan Guide.
