10 Recommended Vegan Restaurants in Osaka

It is notoriously hard to find vegan food in Japan, since most of Japanese cuisine makes use of “dashi” soup stock that is typically made from fish. In recent years however, with more and more people becoming more health and environment-conscious, the number of vegan establishments has increased. Here we introduce 10 recommended vegan restaurants in Osaka, the Kitchen of Japan. Most of them serve both vegan and non-vegan food, making them accessible to different kinds of people.

Vegan Burg Kitchen (Sakaihigashi)

Vegan Burg Kitchen near Sakaihigashi Station is a vegan burger bar, the first of its kind in western Japan. Known for its extra-large, American-size burgers, the juicy soy meat patty tastes just like a regular meat patty. You can also choose other kinds of patty, such as konjac cutlet or tempeh.

Besides vegan burgers, the bar also serves vegan pizza and other items. Their extensive menu will surely satisfy you even if you’re a big eater.

Organic Restaurant Rindou (Kawachi-Kosaka)

Located near Kawachi-Kosaka Station and situated in a traditional Japanese house, Organic Restaurant Rindou is a restaurant that serves Japanese dishes based on a macrobiotic diet. Their dishes are free of additives, and cooked without the use of microwave ovens. They prioritize the use of finely-selected organic ingredients.

You can enjoy weekly special lunch sets at reasonable prices, featuring classic Japanese dishes such as koyadofu cutlet cooked in miso, or a ginger stir-fry of pork-like wheat gluten. The restaurant also sells various food products and seasonings.

Note that the restaurant only operates during lunch hours from Tuesday to Friday

Vege Ramen Yuniwa (Kuzuha)

Vege Ramen Yuniwa near Kuzuha Station is Japan’s first vegan ramen restaurant. They do not use chemical food additives, and make their healthy ramen using a plant-derived soup stock.

Their most popular dish is the shoyu ramen made soy sauce fermented in cedar casks. The plant-derived soup stock brings out the natural flavor of the soy sauce.

Besides the standard ramen fare, they also offer unique flavors like tomato and lemon sesame, as well as various seasonal items, so you’ll always have something new to try.

Yuniwa operates until 9 PM, and is frequented by people going home from work or looking for a late dinner.

Yuki Chaya Ajyari (Hankyu Takarazuka Line Ikeda Station)

Yuki Chaya Ajyari offers original Shojin Ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) with a modern twist. The shop has the relaxing atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house, and is popular with female customers. The owner studied various kinds of cuisine including Shojin Ryori by herself. Their menu features fresh and colorful original Shojin Ryori dishes. All of their dishes are additive-free and make use of locally-produced organic vegetables (some of the desserts contain eggs, milk, and honey).

Natural Kitchen Medaka 2nd Store (Higashi-Umeda/Ogimachi)

The second branch of Natural Kitchen Medaka is located near Higashi-Umeda Station. It is a cafe that has an extensive vegetarian menu, served with brown rice. It opened more than 20 years ago, back when vegetarian restaurants were still extremely limited in Japan.

One of their bestsellers is the simmered curry made with seasonal vegetables and fruits. The curry itself is made with many varieties of roasted and fermented spices. During dinner hours, you can also enjoy a salad buffet, perfect for re-energizing yourself after a long day at work.

Vegetarian Cafe Green Earth (Honmachi)

Vegetarian Cafe Green Earth near Honmachi Station opened over 20 years ago, and is one of the oldest vegan restaurants in Osaka. Their daily lunch specials are popular with their regulars. Another good choice is the curry lunch, a healthy dish that is reasonably priced at 700 yen. You can also order the dishes to go, so you can enjoy a healthy meal in the comfort of your home.

Genmai Cafe (Honmachi)

The main fare of Genmai Cafe located near Honmachi Station is onigiri/omusubi rice balls. Its stylish atmosphere makes it different from traditional onigiri and omusubi shops. They offer 16 varieties of omusubi made with organic brown rice (genmai). You can also choose from five different set menus that include soup, salad, and other side dishes.

Megurimeshi Megumi (Minamimorimachi/Ogimachi/Tenmangu)

Megurimeshi Megumi is a restaurant that serves vegetarian dishes made with brown rice. The owner decided to open the restaurant after experiencing health issues that made her realize the importance of proper diet and self-healing.

The dishes here are free of chemical additives and made without sugar or wheat flour. Instead, they use buckwheat flour or brown rice flour which make for a delicious but healthy meal. Besides the meals, they also offer nutritional counseling. Note that advance reservation is required to visit the restaurant.

Chabuton Yodobashi Umeda Branch (Umeda)

Located near Umeda Station, Chabuton is a Michelin-starred ramen restaurant. Their “Shin Yasaikei Ramen” is a vegan ramen made with thin noodles and plenty of vegetables in a vegetable-based soup. The ramen is served with grated daikon radish, and is a satisfying meal even for big ramen eaters.

Summary

In this article, we introduced some restaurants in Osaka where you can find vegan meals. These restaurants can cater to both vegan and non-vegan customers. Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian but you want to try eating something healthy, then you should definitely try the places listed here. You just might discover a new favorite dining spot.