15 best vegan and vegetarian restaurants and cafés in Tokyo

The American-style burgers served at Great Lakes are all 100-percent vegan. That’s right – these patties are made with plant-based ingredients, including rice, but they have a satisfying meat-like consistency. While the Ontario Burger (from ¥1,000) with lettuce, tomato, onion, ‘cheese’ sauce and specialty burger sauce is a safe option for newbies, we recommend the Superior Burger (from ¥1,000) which has cheese sauce, housemade tomato jam, marinated onions, baby leaf lettuce and a generous layer of mayo. 

Want a burger that’s not so big on the salad? Go for the Michigan Burger (from ¥500), which just has pickles, caramelised onions and cheese sauce, so you can savour the patty all the more. The best part is you can always add additional toppings and even a side of fries for extra cost.

This spacious café a few blocks from Tokyo Skytree only serves plant-based food and dessert, all made with ingredients sourced from local organic and pesticidefree farms. The spacious warehouse-like building is a rare find in Tokyo; not only is there plenty of seating but it’s also wheelchair- and stroller-friendly. We recommend the Indian curry plate (¥1,485), which comes with two different curries, plus appetisers, brown rice and a salad, available from 11am daily. 

Hidden among the cool restaurants of Shibuya Parco’s Chaos Kitchen, this izakaya-style restaurant serves only vegan dishes. The main dish is the mock karaage made with soy meat instead of chicken, which comes in five different flavours including grated radish, Chinese black vinegar, Sichuan style hot and spicy, sweet and sour, and teriyaki mayonnaise. The outer coating of the tapioca flour gives the chicken an extra crunch while the inside is tender and juicy.

The gyoza is also a popular item, filled with minced veggies and soy meat. You can order each separately but we recommend the teishoku (set meal) offered until 3pm which comes with a bowl of rice, soup, and pickled mustard greens for about ¥950. 

From baguettes and croissants to melonpan and aromatic herb focaccia, all the goodies at this vegan bakery are free from eggs, milk, butter and honey. We recommend the amazake roll, which has a naturally sweetened white bean paste mixed with amazake (a sweet fermented rice drink) in the centre of a satisfyingly chewy bread roll. The goods are baked three times a day – early morning, around midday and in the afternoon – guaranteeing bread that is fresh-off-the-oven no matter when you visit.

This Scandinavian-style vegan café in Nakameguro serves freshly baked goods and light meals. Try the popular brown rice plate with daily main and side dishes of the day, brown rice, salad, soup and and pickles for ¥1,550 (¥1,750 on weekends). Don’t miss the bakery section right at the entrance, where you’ll find fresh-from-the-oven bagels, focaccia, muffins and cookies – all meat-, dairy- and egg-free.

Located in Higashi-Ginza, Komeda Coffee's latest concept coffeeshop Komeda Is puts a vegan spin on the classic Japanese kissaten. It's also one of the rare cafés in the city that open early and close late – 7am to 11pm daily.  

As it's inspired by Japan's old-school coffeeshops, this serene café serves up classic kissaten meals and snacks throughout the day. Stop by at lunchtime for the Beppin soy patty hamburger (¥1,280), or indulge in an afternoon dessert – the housemade coffee jelly (¥680) and pancakes (from ¥1,080) are made with Japanese rice flour for a soft, chewy texture.

In the evening, a plant-based array of izakaya-style dishes like fried tofu, pasta and salads are all on the menu. Komeda Is is also the first Komeda location to offer alcoholic beverages, including vegan beer, wine and fruit liquor.

Ain Soph Journey is a calming vegan paradise in bustling Shinjuku. One of now four all-vegan restaurants in the Ain Soph family, Journey boasts a relaxed atmosphere spread across two floors, where you can find a cosy corner seating for one or share a larger table with friends.

The place is famous for its ‘Heavenly Pancakes’ (¥1,710), which will fool any foodie into believing they must contain eggs and butter to reach such fluffy heights. But if you can see past the dessert menu, the set lunch and à la carte dinner menu is where Ain Soph really shines, with organic salads, soups, hearty curries, tortillas and more.

The weekday lunch set is great value from around ¥1,380 and portion sizes will satisfy even the hungriest of diners. Whether you’re a strict vegan or just craving a healthy veggie boost in between your fried chicken, Ain Soph is a great option.

Hailing from London, Neal’s Yard is all about organic health and beauty products with a focus on natural remedies for the body. The flagship store in Omotesando extends across two buildings, one housing the retail space and the second a café, with a leafy courtyard joining the two.

Fitted with low wooden tables and alchemist cupboards partitioning the open kitchen and the café, Brown Rice Canteen radiates genteel calm. Bundles of rice straw hang from the ceiling as a centrepiece, and even the staff appear to be dressed in natural fibres. Currently only open for lunch, they have a simple menu made up of three vegan set meals.

The two staples are the bamboo basket-steamed vegetable set (weekday ¥1,900, weekend ¥2,400; not available from July to September), consisting of ten types of seasonal veggies served with brown rice and miso soup, and the seasonal vegetable curry (weekday ¥1,600, weekend ¥2,100), also served on brown rice. The third is the dish of the day, which comes with three sides, brown rice and miso soup. Everything on offer is simple, tasty and focused on showcasing the natural produce. Just the way we like it.