Story Discovering Vegan & Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Osaka and Kobe By JNTO on 25 December 2019
Osaka is widely regarded as a foodie city because of local specialties such as “takoyaki” (battered octopus balls). And Kobe is famous for its unique delicacies such as “Kobe beef” and “Kobe Dessert”.
Recently, the number of vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants is increasing in these cities.So this time, we are going to explore quality choices such as specialty salad restaurants that are rapidly gaining in popularity, restaurants in renovated historical houses, and stunning ones that serve chemical-free vegetables!
Taking Japan by Storm!
More and More Vegan, Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants with Appealing Delicacies
With the influence of the growing number of foreign visitors to Japan and the trend for eateries specializing in salads, the number of vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants is steadily increasing and becoming a hot topic. Some of them are self-sufficient with supplies from their own farms, while some of them offer all-you-can-eat organic, chemical-free, and farm-fresh vegetables! Let us take a closer look at some of the most notable café-style ones in the Kansai region.
Delicious Salad Specialty Restaurants- the Popular Ones These Days!
These are the restaurants serving salad as their signature dishes, usually lots of lettuce, salad vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, and more. Most of them are café style and offer takeout service as well.
For instance, “FIELDER’S CHOICE” features chopped salad with lovely diced veggies in attractive dressing. Another salad expert is “northshoregreen”, presented by the popular café chain “NORTHSHORE” in Kobe and Shikoku, which also has stores in Osaka and Kitahama. The chain is famous for its cold pressed juice! Alternatively, try out the takeout salad specialty, “Japan’s Salad Takashimaya Osaka Chain” on the basement floor of the major department store and you can treat yourself in the comfort of your hotel. What could be better than that?
Vegan Restaurants in Osaka;
Highly Recommended- “Fusion of Vegetables and Meals- Chakura”
This is a vegetable cuisine eatery run by a pair of vegetarian couples. The restaurant is located in a renovated 80-year old building. At the entrance, you take off your shoes and get seated at Japanese style low tables, with a scenic view of a Japanese garden to enjoy, creating a harmonious atmosphere. In addition to vegan, they serve lacto-ovo vegetarian meals. Delight in its lunchtime creations with vegetables free of agricultural chemicals served in an earthenware pot and brown rice grown with reduced use of chemicals, miso soup, and herbal congee. There is a choice of two lunch sets; both are three-course meal of veggie-dishes. Also discover the healthy “natural dough pizza” (lacto-ovo vegetarian) made from naturally fermented dough, homemade miso and the best choice of vegetables of the season, along with no-additive Danish mozzarella. It raises your vegan dining experience to new heights.
At night, the restaurant amazes guests with its oriental vegetarian course meals, which are equally fascinating. It is located in Sakai city, admittedly a bit far from the center of Osaka, while it is pretty close to “Mozu, Furuichi old tombs” designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, and most importantly, it is worth visiting! The restaurant has a room for private dining (by reservation), making it family friendly as well.
- Fusion of Vegetables and Meals- Chakura
- Address: 2-24, Ryosaidori, Sakai-ku, Sakai city, Osaka
- Access: 15-minute walk from Nankai Takano line Sakai Higashi Station
- Business hours: [Lunch] 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; [Dinner] 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- ※Close on Wednesday nights, Saturdays, and the 1st and 3rd Sundays
A Wide Range of Vegan & Vegetarian Choices at the Heart of Kobe
The shopping streets in Motomachi in the heart of Kobe’s business and entertainment district with Meriken Park and Kobe Port Tower, are home to some exquisite vegan and vegetarian restaurants. Even with the wonderful options to choose from, you should not miss this café serving delicious dishes prepared with vegetables and brown rice from their exclusive contracted farmers. For lunchtime, we recommend the popular weekly lunch deal: you can pick either brown rice or mixed-grain rice; both come with a veggie main dish, two side dishes, soup, your chosen rice, and a salad. Another choice is that you may want to try the “Bamboo steamed basket with rice” which features the best vegetables of the season and just as popular. Desserts are made from tomato and lotus root. If you are looking for snacks,the brown rice / 10 mixed-grain onigiri rice ball with miso soup will satisfy your cravings. Last but not least, how about strolling around Kobe and indulging in the splendid night view before or after the meal?
- Easy Breezy Healthy Café AGEBA. Kobe Tor Road Chain
- Address: 2-4-8 Nakayamate Dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe city, Hyogo
- Access:10-minute walk from JR/ Hanshin Motomachi Station
- Business hours: [Monday - Thursday]: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (last order at 8:00 p.m.), [Friday，Sundays, holidays]: 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (last order at 9:00 p.m.)
