Kyoto has a growing vegan and vegetarian food scene. The city is already well known for a focus on farm-to-table and organic ingredients, so it’s no wonder that these restaurants are taking off. Here are some recommended vegan restaurants in Kyoto:
AIN SOPH. Journey
The name of this store derives from Kabbalistic philosophy, concerning the concept of infinite divine light, and reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of offering food that is both nourishing and which offers a connection with nature.
Their menu is appealing for vegans and meat-eaters alike, and includes salads, burders, sandwiches, pasta, curry, and a variety of desserts, all of which are vegan. The store also has branches in Tokyo, but the Kyoto location is popular for its delicious food, friendly service, and warm and inviting interior. This is my personal favorite vegan restaurant in the city.
Veg Out
This vegan café offers delicious, whole-veggie plates in a pleasant space on the Kamogawa River where you can truly “veg out.” Their menu offers a lot of raw vegan cuisine, including desserts. The interior is sunny and natural. Located a ten minute walk from Kyoto Station, this is a great spot to come enjoy some locally sourced veggie food.
Mumokuteki
For a traditional Kyoto-style set menu, but all veggie, check out Mumokuteki, located inside Teramachi shopping area. They offer such amazing things as tofu hamburg steak, miso fried cutlet, and vegan “fried chicken.” Each set comes with a variety of side dishes, soup, and rice.
The store’s mission is to serve things good for the body and the environment that convey the relationship to nature, the source of the ingredients, and a connection between people. They also offer amazing soymilk parfaits, tiramisu, and cheesecake, in case you were missing out on partaking during your time in Kyoto!
Premarché Alternative Diner
This unique, organic restaurant reminds me of a stylish, NYC veggie cafe. They offer a big menu which caters predominantly vegan, with some meat options and quite a few gluten free options as well. During lunch, they have burgers, rice bowls, a d curry, and at dinner, introduce even more items such as fried “chicken” and a long list of vegan-friendly pizzas. They also have a wide selection of organic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Vegan Ramen Towzen
A Kyoto restaurant list wouldn’t be complete without a choice of ramen, so I recommend Vegan Ramen Towzen, an all-vegan ramen shop that serves a few flavors of ramen, most famously, a soy milk ramen. They’re also famous for their eggplant sushi. The interior is welcoming and homey, and the shop offers the option to make reservations through Line.
It’s within walking distance of both Kawai-jinja Shrine and Kyoto Botanical Gardens, in a small residential area, so it’s a great little spot to stop and enjoy some ramen on a peaceful Kyoto day.
I hope this list of vegan restaurants in Kyoto could inspire veggies and meat-eaters alike!
For more lunch ideas in Kyoto, check out these spots near Kyoto Station or this general recommendation list of my favorites.
