Serves contemporary vegan Japanese food, drinks, and dessert in a light-filled, modern setting above an art gallery. Menu options include a generous sampler plate, pickled vegetables, curry, rice balls, tofu cake & ice cream, tea, coffee, sake, wine, beer. Operated by the owner-chef of the traditional yuba-don restaurant Hale in the Nishiki Market, it's a welcoming vegan alternative in northern Kyoto, not far from Kyoto University & Kyoto Art & Design College. Food served until 3pm. Open Wed-Sat 11:30am-4:00pm. Closed Sun-Tue.
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Kino building 113 Jodoji Kamibambacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan, 606-8416
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Last update on 11 Jul 2023 by SydneyBean
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Added by Nancy Cadet on 27 Oct 2016
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23 Reviews
First Review by Nancy Cadet
Goggin
Points +172
Blown away, hands down the best vegan restaurant in Kyoto - Edit
You get served so much delicious food and such a variety that your taste buds on ALIVE, NOM NOM NOM
Read morePros: The flavour of food , Fermented food, Portion size
Cons: None
Guest
OskarBlomberg
Points +45
Superb - Edit
Located on the second floor above a small art gallery fantastic food in a super cozy setting awaits. The decoration in the lamp shades even match one of the little bowls. How chick is that? The probably 12 dishes on the lunch plate all have their own lovely flavour, and you will be very full when you've finished them all.
Read morePros: Delicious , Nice setting, A lot of food
Cons: Menu only in Japanese
Guest
Tsukimi
Points +5113
Food [censored]! - Edit
My partner reserved here for my birthday so they put me a little candle on the plate.😄It was an amazing lunch.
Read moreSo beautifully arranged and delicious!
The modern Japanese interior is very relaxing. Would eat here every day if I could.
Updated from previous review on 2023-10-30
Guest
lisagallo23
Points +37
Best experience ever - Edit
It's modern, delicious, friendly people, cheap and really delicious. This restaurant deserves a Michelin (vegan or vegetarian not sure)!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-06-10
Pros: Feines, saisonales Menü, Reservation per Mail empfohlen und unkompliziert
Cons: Keine
Guest
Noraply
Points +38
Just go there! It’s so nice! - Edit
This cafe had everything I love about Japanese food, so many small veggie dishes in the set-menu. It’s also a very good looking store.
Read moreIt might be good to book ahead to make sure you get a spot at the table since it’s a bit outside the “central” areas.
It also looks amazing, and the staff was super friendly.
Guest
TofuChicken
Points +1593
Amazing place - Edit
Unfortunately when we arrived there was past 3 pm so no food left but we opted for a dessert and coffee. The cheesecake was nice served with fruits. It was also very delicious. Very good coffee too. The place is superb, quiet and calm. The owner-chef was so sweet and friendly.
Read morePros: Location, Excellent food
Guest
Eeek.
Points +470
Outstanding - Edit
This place is exceptional, if a little out of the way. (But near Ginkaku-ji). Beautifully presented and tasty set menus. The chef is nearby and friendly, food is artistically served on his mismatched crockery collection. One of my best vegan experiences.
Read moreGuest
sherrymakiroll
Points +342
Beautiful healthy food - Edit
The food here was absolutely exquisite. The plate had a ton of different veggies and a variety of foods. Everything was beautiful.
Read moreGuest
eatingpanda
Points +72
Big mix of many flavors - Edit
Very good and calm restaurant. Serves whole plates which consist of many different foods. By this you get to taste a lot of different flavors.
Read morePros: Many flavors
Guest
m@earthville
Points +9580
Art at every level - Edit
Seriously, the food is art, the presentation is art, the setting is art, and the people are art with heart.
Read moreI arrived after 3, when officially only desserts and drinks should’ve been available, but they kindly offered to make me a plate of rice balls with pickled veggies, which I gratefully accepted. Well, what arrived exceeded what I’d imagined (see photos)! Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Service was warm and a bit of English is spoken.
What a delightful place! Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Guest
TereZulu
Points +58
Beautiful space and fantastic food - Edit
This is a hidden gem! The restaurant looks great, we sat in a big communal table with a a bunch of locals. They have a short menu in Japanese only but everyone was having the daily special so we went for it. We were not disappointed, the food was delicious with lots of interesting flavours. A bit pricy but satisfying, do not miss!
Read moreGuest
JörgKoopmann
Points +15
Amazing Amazing Food - Edit
I went with a non-vegetarian friend, and even he agreed, that in 2 weeks Japan, this was the best and most exiting food we had. It looks wonderful, the space is a marvel, and it tastes even better than it looks. And its very Japanese it all its details of combining and presenting food. Price for quality is fair, no fine dining hype. Do not Miss, do not skip the dessert, (we had two...) and use the chance to see the art gallery on the ground floor in between or after. The best area of Kyoto anyway.
Read morePros: Beuatiful Space, Nice Staff, Extraordinary good food
Cons: its closed evenings and monday and tue. all day
Guest
Tomo Okabe
Points +791
A restaurant you do not want to miss - Edit
These days the streets and the city of Kyoto has changed drastically. But yet there are places where you can truly relax and enjoy the meal
Read moreThis restaurant is not big and you probably have to sit next to each other when you are in the crowded times but it sure will give the best vegan experience here in Kyoto.
Their meals change accordingly to the seasons and there’s a sense of gentleness, a trait of japan, in each dish
Pros: delicious
Cons: a bit pricy
Guest
FayMeijer
Points +71
Best vegan food I had in Japan - Edit
This really beautiful place serves the best vegan food I have tasted in Japan! Kind people and you can tell it has been prepared with a lot of passion for cooking. All fresh products. Sad I discovered it on my last day in Kyoto! Must visit, also nice neighbourhood to walk around or go to one of the temples. We visit it by bike.
Read morePros: fresh products
Guest
Leylnaz
Points +152
closed randomly - Edit
Make sure to call them before heading there, it was close when I walked there Tuesday lunch time.
Read moreGuest
TimFujio
Points +150
Best Kyoto Vegan Restaurant - Edit
My visit to this establishment was wonderful. Walking into the first floor, you are greeted by lovely people and there is also a gallery to enjoy while waiting for seats to open. The food is fresh and made with care, and the environment and building itself is magnificent and modern. i recommend everyone whos vegan to hit this location up!! check out the establishment tour video in the photo section or follow this link for the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeF7qK2cWUQ&index=9&list=PLQWzo_xhW-lnt4Q8qs4Dq2tUinSulcNvy
Read morePros: Great dedicated Staff, Clean and modern atmosphere , Healthy and delicious food
Cons: Price
Guest
bvanwassenhove
Points +138
Amazing lunch - Edit
I've been here twice now and on both occasions I've been just in awe of the beauty, freshness, originality, and variety of their lunch plates. At 1800 yen, their set lunch menu is a total steal.
Read moreGuest
Jessqi
Points +247
Randomly closed - Edit
Randomly closed. No info on website or at the restaurant. May be worth ringing ahead here.
Read moreGuest
rulie
Points +139
Wonderful Japanese food - Edit
Food menu was only in Japanese so we ordered the two specials and hoped for the best. It was amazing! Healthy, delicious. Great variety of little things. The drinks and sides menus were in English.
Read moreLook for an art gallery and go up to the second floor.
Guest
PaulaKollienGjerde
Points +40
Little gem on the outskirts of Kyoto - Edit
Located in a modern wood building this little cafe above the gallery located in the same house was one of the best meals yet in Kyoto. To start we were served some refreshing drinks, I had kombucha and my family had apple juice, beer and some hot tea. To eat we were served 1 Japanese platter, 2 curry platter and 1 fried rice dish which we shared for four people. Delicious, healthy and honest food presented in a beautiful manner. The popadoms, kimchi, curry, cole slaw, and sweet potato stood out. The vegan desserts here are loveley too! We had a almond tofu cake, some ice cream and fruits. Would definitely recommend if you find yourself in the area.
Read morePros: Small and intimate, friendly staff , Tasty food, beautiful cafe , Good portion size
Cons: Food takes time, don't go if pressed for time, Plates stood for a long time after we were done, Japanese only menu, part of the charm !
Guest
NicoNico
Points +207
Healthy food - Edit
This is probably the best vegan restaurant in town, creative cooking with fresh ingredients. Quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Kyoto now! I'll definitely come again when I'll get back in Kyoto.
Read morePros: creative and healthy cooking, friendly staff, quite
Guest
Hologram_Sam
Points +19
One of the best meals I've had - Edit
This place is an absolute must. It was one of the most refined and delicious meals I've ever had.
Read moreSuper clean eating, made in beautiful surroundings.
Guest
Nancy Cadet
Points +970
Seasonal and delicious , organic vegan cuisine - Edit
The cafe is open noon to 8PM, (closed Mon & Tues) and serves tasty, Japanese -inflected vegan meals and desserts in a sleek minimalist setting.
Read moreI had the Obanzai sampler plate: a generous selection including pumpkin croquette, pickled veg, edamame, marinated hijiki & beans, carrots with caraway dressing, daikon,persimmon, rice, salad and creamy potato purée soup. I'll have to come back for the intriguing sounding desserts: tofu almond cake, fruit sherbet, tofu ice cream.
Location: on Shirakawa-dori, at Jodoji bus stop, line #5, across from post office, a few blocks south of Imadegawa-dori, in a striking modern 2-story wood building with art gallery. In north Higashiyama , not far from Shinnyodo Temple or the Philosophers' Path, this 12-seat space has a tranquil atmosphere and a friendly , accommodating staff. Reservations are recommended on busy weekends.
Pros: Vegan & exquisite , Reasonable prices, Friendly and relaxing
Cons: Might need to call for a reservation
Guest
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