Looking for vegan restaurants in Osaka, Japan?
Japan 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 here!
In this list, I have only featured the vegan restaurants in Osaka 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 Osaka:
- 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. Likewise for other allergies.
- 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 Osaka is a very touristy city, so you can expect that most vegan restaurants in Osaka will have an English menu as well as a Japanese menu!
OKO Takoyaki
Location:
Shinsaibashi.
What type of food they serve:
Takoyaki (sort of like savoury vegetable pancake balls) and kushikatsu (deep-fried breaded vegetables on a stick), which are both local specialties.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
The food here is all gluten-free.
Comments:
The takoyaki is made using okara, which is soybean pulp left over from making tofu. For this reason it's very healthy and high in protein, compared to normal takoyaki which is made using white wheat flour. It creates a super interesting texture and you would never guess this is what it's made with!
Canelita Sweets
Location:
Yotsubashi.
What type of food they serve:
- Donuts, different types of cakes such as sponge cakes and cheesecakes, cookies, brownies, banana bread, cupcakes, croissants.
- Tea and coffee drinks.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Not gluten-free, but it's peanut-free, milk-free, egg-free and white sugar free.
Comments:
- I enjoyed the cheesecake and donuts.
- I recommend this place if you're looking for American-style desserts - as opposed to Japanese-style Western desserts, which tend to be lighter, less sweet and with more focus on pretty presentation.
OKO Okonomiyaki Bar
Location:
Shinsaibashi.
What type of food they serve:
Okonomiyaki (a savoury vegetable pancake - a local specialty), gyoza dumplings, yakisoba (fried noodles).
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but there is an extensive range of vegan and vegetarian options, alongside omnivorous options.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
The okonomiyaki here is gluten-free and a lot of the other dishes are too. But it's always best to ask to double-check.
Comments:
- Okonomiyaki is a local specialty in Osaka, so I definitely recommend trying it out while you're there!
- The okonomiyaki here is made with okara soy bean pulp left over from making tofu, making it a lot healthier and high in protein compared to normal okonomiyaki, which is made using white wheat flour. Here, you can choose five different vegetables to put inside the okonomiyaki and you can also ask for vegan cheese topping.
Nanahako Sweets ใใใใณในใคใผใๅทฅๆฟ
Location:
Temmabashi.
What type of food they serve:
- Cakes, tarts, muffins, cookies.
- Tea and coffee drinks.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Most of the items are gluten-free, but it's best to ask and double-check. Everything is milk-free, egg-free and white sugar free.
Comments:
This is the place to go for pretty and delicious Japanese-style Western cakes and desserts!
Vegan Cafe Sister
Location:
Nagahoribashi.
What type of food they serve:
- Different types of cakes, tarts, cookies, madeleines.
- Tea and coffee drinks.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Most of the cakes are gluten-free, but it's best to ask to double-check.
Comments:
- Another great place for cute, pretty and elegant Japanese-style Western desserts.
- Of all the places I visited, this place had the best-presented, most beautiful cakes, so I recommend this place especially if you're looking for pretty cakes.
Green Earth
Location:
Honmachi.
What type of food they serve:
Sandwiches, salads, hummus, burgers, wraps, hot dogs, stews, pasta, pizza. Desserts such as cheesecake and pumpkin pie.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
Yes.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
It's best to ask and double-check about what dishes contain what ingredients.
Comments:
- I had the salad bowl with rice and tempeh.
- This is a great place to visit if you're looking for Western-style vegan food in Osaka.
Taiwan Ten Cafe
Location:
Osaka Umeda Station.
What type of food they serve:
Taiwanese desserts and drinks.
Is the restaurant fully vegan?
No, but many of the drinks and desserts are naturally vegan.
Gluten-free + allergy-friendly?
Most of the drinks and desserts should be naturally gluten-free, but it's best to ask and double-check.
Comments:
A lot of traditional Taiwanese desserts are naturally vegan, so this is a great place to enjoy if you're looking for a vegan sweet treat!
Other vegan restaurants in Osaka
I didn't get to try any of these places, but they also all offer vegan food:
- Sari Sari Store (Cocowell) - Dotonbori.
- Megurimeshi Megumi - Tenjinbashi.
- Paprika Shokudo - Shinsaibashi.
- Gyozaoh! Dotonbori - Dotonbori.
- Okonomiyaki Mizuno - there are no vegan items on the menu, but they are happy to customise your order according to dietary requirements.
- Vegecafe+a - near Shin-Osaka Station .
- Merry momo - near Shin-Osaka Station.
- Vege Ramen Yuniwa - Yawata (quite far away from central Osaka).
- Sou Sou Hirakata - Hirakata (quite far away from central Osaka).
- Chabuton - Umeda Station.
- Mochisho Shizuku Shinmachi - Shinsaibashi.
- Genmai Cafe - Honmachi.
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