Looking for vegan restaurants in Kyoto, Japan?
Japan, the land of sushi and wagyu, may seem impossible to navigate as a vegan, and it is certainly true that vegan options are not as easy to come by compared to in many other countries. However, if you know where to go, it is definitely possible to find plenty of delicious vegan food in Japan!
In this list, I have only featured the vegan restaurants in Kyoto that I personally visited and ate at. There are many more that I haven't visited yet, some of which I have added to the bottom of the post, and I will keep updating this list as I keep visiting more!
Tips for eating at vegan restaurants in Kyoto:
- Restaurant opening times can be irregular - before visiting, make sure to check the opening days and times to make sure that you are not disappointed by a closed restaurant! Most restaurants are closed at least one or two days per week, and they are usually not open all day.
- Allergies - a lot of these vegan restaurants offer gluten-free options, but if you have coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or are severely gluten-intolerant, I would recommend double-checking at the restaurant to ask about cross-contamination.
- Portion sizes in Japan tend to be a lot smaller than you might be used to in other countries, so be careful that you order enough food to feel satisfied.
- English menus - most vegan restaurants in Japan cater mainly to foreigners and Kyoto is a very touristy city, so you can expect that most vegan restaurants in Kyoto will have an English menu as well as a Japanese menu!
Premarché Alternative Diner
Location:
Sanjo Shopping Street.
What type of food they serve:
Pizza, burgers, rice bowls, appetisers, vegan wines, desserts.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
There are a few non-vegan options on the menu, but the vast majority of the dishes are vegan, and the menu clearly marks what is vegan, vegetarian, and what contains meat. The menu is in English as well as Japanese.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
- The menu clearly marks which dishes are gluten-free.
- The menu lists an ingredients list for each dish, in English as well as Japanese.
Comments:
I had the tempeh burger and the vegan cheesecake - both were delicious!
Premarché Gelateria
Location:
Sanjo Shopping Street.
What type of food they serve:
This is one of the best gelato shops I've tried in Japan. They have a huge range of interesting flavours, including a lot of seasonal options.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Not all the gelato is vegan, but the vegan and non-vegan gelatos are clearly labelled as such, in both English and in Japanese, so it's easy to distinguish. They have many different flavours, and about half of the gelato flavours are vegan.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
- Each gelato flavour is clearly marked with a list of allergens and ingredients used. These are written in both English as well as in Japanese.
- They also have gluten-free and vegan ice cream cones.
Comments:
- A lot of the gelato flavours are free from added sugars or refined sugar free.
- The portions here are quite small. I noticed it's much better value to buy a cup/cone with two flavours rather than one flavour, and the amount of gelato you get tends to be bigger if you get a cone rather than a cup.
COYOTE the ordinary shop
Location:
Kyoto Station.
What type of food they serve:
This café has a small menu - different types of coffee and matcha drinks, scrambled egg toast and banana bread.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
I don't think any of the foods are gluten-free, but the drinks should be naturally gluten-free.
Comments:
- The egg toast, with a vegan "scrambled egg" topping made using tofu and pumpkin, was incredibly delicious.
- The matcha lattes are also great, and I liked how you could choose to order a matcha latte either with or without added sugar, which was great because a lot of matcha lattes tend to be overly sweet!
Vegan Restaurant F
Location:
Gojo.
What type of food they serve:
A lunch plate with small portions of different types of dishes, soups, salads, curry dishes, pasta dishes. House-made vegan cheese. Different types of desserts.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
They do have gluten-free options, ask to double-check which ones.
Comments:
- The chef here is very experienced and comes from Italy.
- The food here all tasted amazing, highly recommend!
- The vegan cheese and the dessert plate were delicious too!
Demachi Futaba
Location:
Kamogawa Delta.
What type of food they serve:
This is a very traditional Japanese desserts shop that has been running for over 200 years.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
It is not a vegan shop, and none of the products are advertised as being vegan, although they are naturally vegan.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Some of the products contain wheat.
Comments:
- If you are interested in trying traditional Japanese desserts, most of which are naturally vegan and gluten-free, this place is the real deal!
- It's a very popular shop, so come prepared to queue, but the line does tend to move relatively quickly.
- The mamedaifuku is the speciality here. I liked that it's not too sweet and also has a salty-sweet flavour.
- This place has no seating inside or outside the shop, so you will need to buy the desserts to go. There is plenty of public outdoor seating space by the nearby river!
Everysoy
Location:
Shijo/Karasuma.
What type of food they serve:
They have a wide range of soy milk-based drinks, including different types of coffees, matcha drinks and frappes.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but the vast majority of items are vegan, and everything tends to come with a vegan option.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
The drinks should be naturally gluten-free, but it's always best to double-check.
Comments:
- The soy milk in Kyoto does taste better than anywhere else I've tried it, so even if you don't normally like soy milk, the soy milk in Kyoto might just convert you!
- I like the matcha latte here - both the hot and cold options were delicious.
Ovgo Baker Nijo St.
Location:
Nishiki Market.
What type of food they serve:
A wide range of vegan baked goods, including muffins, cookies, brownies and scones.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
They have a couple of gluten-free items, but most of the products are not gluten-free.
Comments:
I tried the maple pumpkin muffin and it was delicious!
Banana Juice For Human By Gorilla
Location:
Kyoto Imperial Palace.
What type of food they serve:
A big range of different banana milkshake flavours, including chocolate, matcha and kinako (roasted soybean flour).
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but there are many vegan options.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Most of the milkshakes should be naturally gluten-free, but it's always best to double-check.
Comments:
You can choose between soy milk, almond milk and oat milk for the milkshakes.
Ain Soph Journey
Location:
Kawaramachi.
What type of food they serve:
They have a wide range of dishes, including curries, burgers and salads, as well as wines, beer and desserts.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
It is clearly marked on the menu whether something is gluten-free or not. The menu is in English as well as Japanese.
Comments:
- The vegan pancakes seem to be the specialty here, but unfortunately they were not available when I went!
- I had the spinach curry, and also tried the vegan matcha tiramisu, which was delicious!
Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko
Location:
Gion.
What type of food they serve:
Soy milk-based ramen dishes, side dishes such as dumplings, soy milk-based desserts, soy milk-based drinks.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
The restaurant is fully gluten-free.
Comments:
- The soy milk is made in house, and the flavour is delicious.
- The menu gives you the option to add brown rice and vegan cheese to the leftover ramen broth, which creates a delicious risotto-like dish.
- The soy milk drinks are delicious too - I tried the soy milk Amaretto drink and it was amazing!
- I also tried the soy milk-based crème brûlée, and it was delicious.
Mushiyashinai
Location:
Ichijoji.
What type of food they serve:
Cakes and desserts.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Everything is vegan.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Everything is gluten-free.
Comments:
- A great place to visit for cute and pretty, Western-style cakes and desserts.
- I tried the baked cheesecake, and it was amazing!
- And they have some really beautifully decorated cakes here too, which would be perfect for celebrations!
Ramen Towzen
Location:
Near Kyoto Botanical Gardens.
What type of food they serve:
Different ramen dishes, some side dishes such as vegan sushi and vegetable dishes, desserts and ice creams.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
- Gluten-free ramen noodles are an option.
- The restaurant doesn't use onions, garlic, chives, green onions or shallots.
Comments:
- This restaurant is a bit far away from the city centre, but it's worth a visit because the inside of the restaurant has a unique and interesting traditional Japanese home-type vibe.
- The soy milk ramen with yuba (both Kyoto specialties) is great!
- The eggplant sushi was also surprisingly delicious.
- They have a range of delicious-looking desserts too!
Saryo Housen
Location:
Shimogamo.
What type of food they serve:
Traditional Japanese desserts and green tea drinks.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but most of the items are naturally vegan.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Most of the items should be naturally gluten-free, but ask to double-check.
Comments:
- This place is especially famous for the warabi mochi - mochi made from bracken fern starch.
- They make it fresh to order, and it's honestly the best warabi mochi I've ever tried!
- It's located inside a traditional and historic teahouse, so it's definitely worth visiting just for the decor and vibes too.
Apelila
Location:
Kamogawa Delta.
What type of food they serve:
Vegan bakery with a range of different baked goods and breads.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
They have a few gluten-free options.
Comments:
- The donuts were delicious.
- You should try to go relatively early in the day as they tend to sell out of stock by the afternoon!
CHOICE
Location:
Gion.
What type of food they serve:
They have pasta dishes, curries, sandwiches, desserts and vegan cheese.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
It is a fully gluten-free restaurant.
Comments:
- The cheese portions were a bit small, but the vegan cheese was delicious.
- The chocolate cake with cashew cream was amazing!
Waco Crepes
Location:
Gion.
What type of food they serve:
Sweet and savoury crepes, with lots of different flavour and filling options.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No - they have some non-vegan items on the menu, but the vast majority is vegan and everything comes with a vegan option.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
All the crepes are gluten-free.
Comments:
The tofu-based vegan whipped cream was remarkably delicious - it surprisingly didn't have any soy or tofu flavour at all, and was very rich and creamy!
Seigen-In Restaurant
Location:
Ryoanji Temple (Western Kyoto).
What type of food they serve:
A traditional shojin ryori (vegan Buddhist cuisine) restaurant located within the Ryoanji Temple grounds.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
No - it's best to double-check with the staff if you are gluten-free or have allergies.
Comments:
- They serve two things: a tofu and vegetable hot pot, and a set meal with rice and various vegetable- and tofu-based dishes. I chose the option of ordering both together, and it was the perfect size for a filling lunch.
- The atmosphere, interiors of the restaurant and the views of the garden are amazing too. It's almost worth going just for that and for the experience.
- It tends to get busy here, so I'd recommend either getting there at opening time, or reserving a table in advance if you can.
And Bull Coffee
Location:
Philosopher's Path.
What type of food they serve:
Coffee and matcha drinks, salads and pizza.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No - there isn't a big range of vegan food options here, but the drinks all have vegan options.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Most of the drinks should be naturally gluten-free, but it's best to double-check!
Comments:
- I got the soy milk matcha latte, which was delicious.
- I recommend this café for the lovely interior, beautiful views and calming atmosphere.
- It's also dog-friendly!
Tousuiro Gion
Location:
Gion.
What type of food they serve:
A specialty tofu restaurant, with different course menus.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but they have a vegan course option.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
The staff were very careful to ask me about allergies before serving me the meal, and they seemed open to adapting the course menu based on allergies.
Comments:
- I've never tried so many different incredibly creative tofu dishes!
- If you're interested in going to a tofu restaurant, Kyoto is definitely the place to go, as tofu is a local specialty.
- However, this restaurant is quite expensive and every dish contains tofu, so I wouldn't recommend going unless you really like tofu or you specifically want to have the experience of trying many different types of tofu dishes.
Warabian
Location:
Philosopher's Path.
What type of food they serve:
Warabi mochi.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but warabi mochi is naturally vegan.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Warabi mochi is naturally gluten-free, but it's always best to double-check!
Comments:
- Warabi mochi is also a local Kyoto specialty.
- This shop makes warabi mochi that is free from additives, preservatives, artificial flavourings and artificial sweeteners.
- What was interesting and unique about this shop's warabi mochi was that they serve it in a pudding cup that you eat by scooping it out with a spoon!
Kyo Yuba Mitakyu Kiyomizu
Location:
Near Kiyomizudera Temple.
What type of food they serve:
Tofu-based snacks and soy milk-based coffee and matcha drinks.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but tofu is naturally vegan.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Tofu is naturally gluten-free, but it's always best to double-check!
Comments:
Yuba (tofu skin) is a Kyoto specialty, and it was my first time trying yuba chips. They were crunchy, savoury and salty with a slight nutty flavour. The perfect snack!
Matcha Roastery
Location:
Uji.
What type of food they serve:
Matcha drinks, matcha desserts, salads, sandwiches.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No - the only vegan things on the menu are the matcha ohaji/yokan (desserts) and some of the drinks. Matcha lattes can be made with oat milk.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
The matcha drinks should be naturally gluten-free, but ask to double-check. Oat milk may not be gluten-free.
Comments:
- This place is very unique because they make roasted matcha, which has a distinctively rich and delicious flavour.
- They have three different levels of roasted matcha: light, medium and dark.
- They use this roasted matcha to make different types of matcha drinks and desserts.
- I tried the matcha latte and the matcha ohagi, and both were delicious.
- You can also buy their roasted matcha powder here too.
Other vegan restaurants in Kyoto
I didn't get to try any of these places, but they also all offer vegan food.
- Tenryu-Ji Shigetsu - Arashiyama (shoujin-ryori).
- Book and Vege OyOy - Nishiki Market.
- Vegan Ramen UZU Kyoto - Kyoto Imperial Palace.
- Veg Out - Kyoto Station.
- Mumokuteki Café & Foods - Kawaramachi.
- Kyo-Tofu Fujino - Kyoto Station.
- Mimikou - Gion.
- Café Malda - Nishiki Market.
- Café Planet - Kamogawa Delta.
- Pettirosso - Sanjo Shopping Street.
- Premarché Cacaolate Lab - Sanjo Shopping Street.
- Mr.SOY - Kiyomizu Temple.
- Totoya - near Nishiki Market.
- Izusen - Kitaoji.
- Vegetarian Cafe Ren Horikawa - Imadegawa.
- Hobodo Cafe - Sanjo.
- Padma - Sanjo.
- Shojin Cafe Waka - Shijo.
- Cafe Bar Mokumoku - Gion.
- Gyoza ChaoChao - Shijo.
- Kamehameha Okonomiyaki & Teppanyaki - Teramachi.
- Vermillion Cafe - Fushimi Inari.
- Umezono - multiple locations.
- Kawa Cafe - Kawaramachi.
- Curry & Tempura Koisus - Gion.
- Bientot - Sanjo.
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