Taiwanese

Taiwanese vegetarian restaurant, located in the 2nd floor of the Nakano Broadway complex, close to the North Exit on Waseda Street. Est in 1980. Food is all oriental vegetarian, so it does not contain onions, garlics, leeks, etc. Some menus contain eggs, but you can ask to exclude it. Address in Japanese: 東京都中野区中野5-52-15. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-3:00pm, 5:00pm-8:00pm.


Venue map for Korinbo
© OpenStreetMap contributors

44 Reviews

First Review by clark

Matt_g

Points +20

Vegan
13 Jul 2024

Homely vegan/vegetarian restaurant!

This place must be one of the most enjoyable veggie/vegan places to come to since arriving here. You come in, and it's just this lovely granny from Taiwan who makes you feel so at home like you've just visited the kitchen of her house :)

She's been running the place for 51 years! Show some love for the real vetaran vegetarians paving the way for all of the rest of us 😁

The food is very tasty by the way. So simple but so enjoyable.

Pros: Atmosphere, Friendly cook, Tasty food

ogi.24

Points +70

Vegan
20 May 2024

Not open when it should be

I have spent my time and energy to come to the restaurant during its open hours, but it doesn't seem to be open.

Pros: Something

Cons: Something1

NathaliaZimmermann

Points +318

Vegan
25 Mar 2024

Such a nice experience!

It was the first place that we had food in Japan (two weeks ago) and it was such a nice experience! The lady there was so kind and with a little bit of English and Japanese we had a great conversation.
She prepared everything fresh just in front of us and it felt like we were at her home. We asked for vegan food (with Google translate) and it was no problem at all. The food was really delicious. Highly recommend! (forgot to take pictures)
It was a little bit difficult to find because it was in the shopping mall and in one floor in between, walk around a little bit and you will find it😄

Updated from previous review on 2024-03-25

Pros: Cozy small place, Delicious and fresh food, Nice lady

DrChaseOViceroy

Points +149

Vegan
08 Feb 2024

Great hidden gem

The owner was amazing, you can see the love and passion she has for the food she makes. We told her we ate vegan and worked to make the best dishes possible for us.

MaximiliOn

Points +58

Vegan
12 Jan 2024

A natural taste experience

Only one set menu was available and the woman, who seemed to be the owner, was super nice. The food tasted very pure and delicious. Very intimate experience!

Updated from previous review on 2024-01-12

Pros: Eating at the counter , Eggplant with miso

Kelvin.chee

Points +13

Vegetarian
13 Dec 2023

Simple yet wholesome

Thank you, for scrounging up a meal for out group of seven, even though you are already low on ingredients.
Your meal is our most favorite one, in our whole trip!
I am sorry we were too hungry to snapshot the meals.

BizzoSan

Points +24

Vegan
27 Nov 2023

Very good and fresh Taiwanese food.

This place it’s magical. Located in the middle of one of the most popular mall in Nakano, has a very small and quite town vibe. Everything inside is very Izakaya like and as soon you sit down you feel right home. The owner is magnificent, very talkative, nice, friendly and fast.

Pros: Quality of the food, Ambient , Owner

Squizsh

Points +837

Vegan
16 Nov 2023

Highlight of my whole trip

Eating here was an absolutely incredible experience. What the other reviews say is true - vegetarian but if you ask the owner for vegan food then she seems to be able to accommodate. Her direct translations was: “today vegan should be ok) however she does not speak any English and some basic knowledge of japanese may be required in order for you to order from here. She is really wonderful and so sweet. She spoke to us about the history of the restaurant wile she cooked us the most beautiful meal, carefully setting each component down piece by piece as she made it onto a tray in front of us. It was like being invited into someone’s home (family photos and tasteful decor all around the restaurant) and having them cook you a real “labour of love” meal. Needless to say this was the most unique and incredible dining experience I had in Japan. Everything about it was perfect and exactly what we were looking for in terms of authentic experiences for our trip. We’ll take the memory of this place home with us and keep it treasured forever in our minds. I know that sounds pretty corny but it’s safe to say that in the hour or so we spent inside that tiny little restaurant, we felt the most “at home” we’d felt since leaving our home to travel.

Updated from previous review on 2023-11-16

Pros: Owner, ALL of the food, Decor

kai36

Points +154

Vegan
21 Sep 2023

5 stars for the owner

Technically vegetarian, but very easy to accommodate vegans. Just tell the lady you're vegan when you walk in and she'll hook you up. The food is delicious and has an incredible range of flavors (got the vegan set and the noodle soup), but the owner herself is the best reason to go. As I finished the noodles in my soup she told me that the broth is good with rice too, and went and made some rice and put it in my bowl. With very limited Japanglish I had a really fun conversation with her about the restaurant and its history.
Fantastic place.

Pros: Great flavors, Incredible prices, Best owner ever

Cons: Counter seating only

yemito

01 Nov 2023

Hi there. Do you know if they take credit card? Or cash only?

Squizsh

16 Nov 2023

Cash only friend! This place is old school.

squirrelboy

Points +315

Vegan
12 Aug 2023

Tiny little hole in the wall in Nakano Broadway

Located on the 2F north side of Nakano Broadway, it's a cute counter style Taiwanese place run by a nice vegan lady. Everything in the set dinner she made us was delicious and I plan on going back.

flagellantti

Points +880

Vegan
24 Apr 2023

Wonderful!

The lady has been running the restaurant for 40 years, and this is (one of) the oldest vegetarian restaurants in Tokyo! The set of the day cost a meagre 1100円 and was just succulent. Not sure how much english the restaurant owner understands, but she was a super nice & kind person

carlfagerlind

Points +104

Vegetarian
15 Mar 2023

Simply lovely

A lovely small restaurant with a really nice owner and good food. Quite few dishes though.

¥1000-1500

Updated from previous review on 2023-03-15

FredNirk

Points +372

Vegan
15 Mar 2023

Lovely experience

A tiny little, cramped space with room for about 7-8 diners tops, which is a Japanese dining experience you don't often get with vegan options. Loved it. The food was delicious and the owner very friendly. It's vegan with the exception of egg, so just he sure to request no egg and it will be substituted for a vegie dish.

Marina_98

Points +68

Vegan
28 Jan 2023

Delicious food and friendly owner

It's located inside Nakano Broadway on the 2nd floor. The owner is super nice and cares about her customers. The food she made me was super nice. It was a vegan set. The restaurant is super cozy with space for only a few people.

Pros: Very tasty food, Friendly owner, Fair price

NadjaDelany

Points +97

Vegan
27 Jan 2023

Sehr nette Bedienung

Ich habe keine Ahnung was genau ich gegessen habe, aber da sie kein Englisch und ich kein Japanisch kann, habe ich Ramen bekommen. Ich glaube es war vegan, bin mir aber nicht sicher 🙈😅
Hat auf jeden Fall geschmeckt.

Nikachu

Points +380

Vegan
26 Nov 2022

feels like home!

a very cute place with delicious freshly made food. it's very small so better go early for lunch! In the evening it might be sold out (at least some of the vegan options).:)

Pros: very good food, relaxed atmosphere

Cons: might be sold out at the end of the day:(

Natbar

Points +1045

Vegan
07 Sep 2022

Such a cosy littler place

Really nice Taiwanese lady who runs this restaurant on her own. Everything is vegan but they do have egg options. Really tasty and cute.

hisashis

Points +2357

Vegan
20 Feb 2022

Small and cozy restaurant with homely atmosphere

(English follows Japanese)

こじんまりとした店内で、台湾の家庭料理を堪能しました。オーナーさんによれば、こちらは1980年の創業で、東京で初のベジタリアンレストランなんだそうです。今回、日替わりメニューを注文しました。一品だけ卵入りの料理がありましたが、卵抜きでお願いしたところ、快く受け入れてもらえました。場所がちょっとわかりにくいので、地図の写真をアップしておきます。

I enjoyed Taiwanese home-style cooking in this small and cozy restaurant. The owner said she's proud of having this first vegetarian restaurant in Tokyo, which was established in 1980. I ordered the daily menu. One dish was with egg, but I asked to exclude it, and she fully understands. It's a bit difficult to find this place, so I uploaded the photo with a map.

Updated from previous review on 2022-02-20

docCK

Points +685

Vegan
19 Nov 2021

Taste of Taiwan, vegetarian foods

Taste of Taiwan

Pros: Taste of Taiwan, great because can't travel now

Cons: Far off area in tokyo , if in area interesting

Turtlegirl

Points +61

Vegetarian
05 Dec 2020

My second home

I've been a customer of Korinbo for five years now, and have dragged many people there. The food is always excellent and filling, and even my non-veg husband and his mother enjoy it. My mother-in-law loves chatting with the owner as well.

One point of contention I have is that the owner apparently believes she is immune to covid-19 as a vegetarian, so she won't wear a mask. The restaurant is tiny and she prepares all the food, so I haven't been back since then.

Updated from previous review on 2018-10-10

Pros: convenient location, healthy and filling, delicious

Cons: not a lot of variety?, owner doesn't take covid-19 precautions

JuliusFuentes

Points +296

Vegan
26 Jan 2020

Delicious food and kind owner

Went there two times already, and per everyone's recommendation, I got the daily plate, Everything was beautiful cooked. The "meat" and soup are mushroom based, and the feet of the mushroom are used to flavour each dish. It was slightly greasy, but still felt healthy.

Pros: Reasonable, delicious, home-cooked meals

Cons: Bit greasy

JacquelineTan

Points +37

Vegetarian
04 Jan 2020

Delicious food & friendly chef

The food here is fantastic. I will give more than 5 stars! The Taiwanese lady boss was super lovely and friendly. I feel at home here! The effort that she put into each dish was amazing. Must try the daily set which changes everyday. She has a ton of local regular customers who frequents her everyday as well. That’s how good her food is! Thank you for welcoming us with your warm heart! We’ll definitely be back for her food the next time we’re in Tokyo.

Pros: Amazing food , Warming hospitality , Great location

ChopinTristesse

Points +65

Vegetarian
07 Dec 2019

Authentic and healthy

My 3rd time there. Food is very delicious and healthy, price is good. Very nice lady asking us what do dont like to eat etc.

Walk all the way to the end of nakano broadway then climb stairs to level 2 (2F) turn left and walk up.

Pros: Healthy , Delicious

Cons: May be difficult to find for first timer.

whitneyellen

Points +397

Vegan
30 Nov 2019

Delightful

Went to this place while wandering Nakano Broadway. It's tucked in a corner on the second floor. The owner is so kind, and when I entered there were two other locals. The food was delicious and the attention was great.

Pros: Vegetarian, vegan friendly, Good service

Cons: Only 8 seats! Not a place for a group

PingTeo

Points +67

Vegetarian
29 Nov 2019

Yummy home-cooked food

Family was at Nakano Broadway to search for toy gems. Glad to come across reviews of Kohrinbou here.

Follow the directions to take the stairs (not the escalator) to 2nd floor and go right into the North-West corner.

The food is slightly oily but that’s in line with typical Chinese mother’s food haha. We didn’t really mind.

I was the only customer there at 7pm on a Friday night. My cutlet set took 25mins to arrive.

My children’s sesame noodles (bottom right of the orange menu) took only 10mins when they arrived and ordered after me. It’s refreshing and light.

So pls bear in mind which meals to order if you have limited time. Would not recommend you to eat here if you are in a rush.

Pros: Homely food and friendly Chinese-speaking owner , Delicious home-made cutlet, Cosy seating

Cons: Limited seating , Slightly expensive , Long waiting time

HadenaZubon

Points +48

Vegan
31 Oct 2019

Friendly owner and great food

The owner is such a gem and has been vegetarian for 40 years. Great to hear her stories of her home country of Taiwan and her food is filling and delicious. Feels like you're in someone's home kitchen. Def worth a visit.

Pros: Filling and satisfying food

Cons: Tricky to find, not always open

Beadle

Points +154

Vegan
05 Oct 2019

Vegan Lunch at Nakano Broadway

We really wanted to visit Nakano Broadway while we were in Tokyo, but assumed we’d have to eat French fries and bananas to survive the day. We were very wrong ! Korinbo has delicious vegan food and the owner/chef is one of the kindest people. She has owned and operated the restaurant in that location for over 30 years ! If you’re a vegan vintage toy collector you won’t have to starve yourself at Nakano Broadway :)

Pros: Great vegan food , Great service, Easy to find




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