Japanese food is so healthy.
It’s known world-wide that they just do healthy better here.
Japanese people live longer here and look younger (and I swear to god I saw a Japanese woman the other day who was with her daughter who also had a daughter and she looked about 28! I mean…….No fair!!!)
But….
With all of that healthy, beautiful, springy-youth stuff going on I really, really, really miss just eating a hearty serving of western style veggies. Compared to when I first lived in Japan, boy have things changed – and, especially in Tokyo (which is now finally jumping on the salad & cold-pressed juice bandwagon), it’s now getting easier to have a hearty serving of vegetables without people asking if you’re on a diet.
Getting easier but still not absolutely everywhere so I wanted to share my findings so far…….. (and I often like to chase my “findings” with something incredibly sweet, saucy and unhealthy but no judgement, ‘k? )
Many people say they can’t find vegetables in restaurants in Japan but thats just because they are looking for lettuce and carrots and broccoli.
Vegetables in Japan are easy to find but not in a western format that you may be used to. No veggies at all in a sushi roll or on the side automatically of a Tonkatsu. In an izakaya (Japanese style pub) , for example, you order the vegetables separately. When you get yakitori you can also order a skewer of bbq’d vegetables too. There are lots of vegetables that you’ve maybe never tried like shisito peppers, okra, countless types of mushrooms, gobo, konyakku, daikon etc.
My number one veggie-haven at the moment is We are the Farm in Ebisu, Azabujuban, Shibuya or Shinjuku. Lunch is especially good value but the dinner is also amazing.
The lunch course at this Farm-to-Table restaurant includes soup & a kale side salad and you can choose your own main : a vegetable gratin, a “choose your own ingredients salad” or a grilled vegetable platter (see pictures below) for 1500 yen.
This place is popular so you’ll need to make a reservation (or just call to make sure that they have seats available.)
They also have beer made with Kale if you’re feeling game…. let me know if it’s any good?
I especially love their lunch salad buffet (although they might not like me visiting as I just keep eating and eating.)
If you get the chance, they sell the amazing cheese and tomato dish at all times of the day.
My husband and I go here for date nights often and, I know it sounds weird to say but, this simple marinated onion served with rock salt was to die for!
We both love their ‘Chunky Veg’ gratin and the plate of all the amazing Japanese varieties of mushrooms was one of my favourites.
The only negative thing I have to say about this place is that I haven’t found any yummy alcoholic drinks there yet – but I rarely have success with organic wine. Perhaps its those chemicals that make wine taste so yummy???!!!
WE ARE THE FARM
IN SHIBUYA, EBISU, SHINJUKU, AZABU JUBAN, YOYOGI-UEHARA, AKASAKA, MEGURO.
HERE IS THE WE ARE THE FARM WEBSITE
I have another to add to the list, this time in Ebisu (I’m obsessed with Ebisu at the moment!) The restaurant is called Fukumirai and it’s for the braver diner as they don’t speak English or have a English menu. It has a lovely “secret restaurant” vibe – but the staff could not be more lovely and inviting. *Please note that this is not a restaurant where you can take children.
The restaurant interior is like a forest wonderland – there are trees indoors!!! And the staff showed me pictures of when the trees bloom with cherry blossoms and the entire restaurant becomes one big pink floral night picnic.
And the way to overcome the language barrier? Ask for omakase (a course decided my the chef.) That way you’ll be served their specials of the day, the freshest seasonal ingredients and you’ll get to properly eat like a local! For me, I ask for omakase but state that I’d like niku nashi (with no meat.) It was the most amazing mix of organic vegetables like gigantic asparagus, tomatoes that could have passed for sweets, grilled corn and I tried raw mizunasu (a special type of eggplant) for the first time and it was a knockout! We also were served a gigantic bowl of omakase sashimi – and my night was made.
We had all that food and a couple of glasses of the house white and the bill came to 7000 yen per person – which was amazing for the amount of food we ate (and such high quality too.)
The restaurant only seats 18 so book a few days in advance. If you miss out on a spot, try their other restaurant in the same area called Fukuwarai. This is what the entrance looks like:
FUKUMIRAI
渋谷区恵比寿南1-9-4 長谷川ビル
HASEGAWA BUILDING, 1-9-4 EBISUMINAMI
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30-2PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 6PM-12PM
CLOSED: SUNDAYS
RESTAURANT REVIEW WEBSITE
If you’re looking to try Japan’s Fruit & Vegetable sandwiches but are vegan – I recommend trying out the brand new Vegan Store called Fruits and Season. They open at 11am but sell their beautiful sandwiches until they run out so don’t go too late in the day.
FRUITS & SEASON
渋谷区恵比寿西1-10-1 グリーンパラスビル1F
GROUND FLOOR, GREEN PALACE BUILDING, 1-10-1 EBISU NISHI, SHIBUYA
OPEN: 11AM-8PM
CLOSED: MONDAYS
FRUITS AND SEASON WEBSITE
Another idea is the Farmer’s Market at UNU (United Nations University) which is held every Saturday and Sunday. It is sometimes cancelled for rain.
There are as many as 70 different stalls to include organic fruit & veg, food trucks, juice & coffee vans, vintage clothing, souvenirs and home-wares. It’s a great place for some Japanese language practice if you’ve been studying your food vocab and also a chance to stock up on healthy snacks for the next few days.
Just an idea but…why not buy some treats and walk to Yoyogi Park for a picnic?
5 -53-70 JINGUMAE
神宮前5-53-70
OPEN 10am-4pm (WEEKENDS ONLY)
WEBSITE
It’s still relatively new and it is such a cool, vibey space (with a beautiful outdoor terrace.)
We arrived last Sunday at 9:30am and no-one was there! It was us an about 2 other people in the whole restaurant! By 10:30 it was almost full though – with lots of joggers, cyclists and other people with young families.
They have high chairs and a change table too so it’s very easy to dine here with small children.
I am still thinking about my egg white and mushroom omelette. It was huge!
My fussy little guy loved my Zenbi smoothie too. I may have shed a tear as he is running away from anything healthy right now. (There are lots of other Mr Farmer restaurants in Tokyo – see website below for details- but I this was, in my opinion, the best!)
MR FARMER, KOMAZAWA OLYMPIC PARK
世田谷区駒沢公園1−1−2
1-1-2 KOMAZAWAKOEN, SETAGAYA
OPEN EVERYDAY 7AM-8PM
MR FARMER KOMAZAWA OLYMPIC PARK
If you’re looking for a completely vegan restaurant in Shinjuku,I recommend Viringuito. The cuisine is Spanish & this family-run restaurant is entirely vegan. If arriving by train, Akebonobashi Station is just 170 metres from the restaurant itself ( or 30 mins walk from Shinjuku Station if you like to walk to dinner.)
They are open from 8AM-10PM ( last orders at 9pm.). This restaurant is also very accommodating with food allergies. This restaurant has free wifi and also accepts most major credit cards.
VIRINGUITO
5-3 ACE BUILDING, KATAMACHI, SHINJUKU
OPEN 8AM-10PM
VIRINGUITO VEGAN RESTAURANT INSTAGRAM
There is also the amazing T’s Tan Tan Ramen inside Tokyo Station, The entire restaurant is vegan. It is called T’s Tan Tan. The ramen, the gyoza, the “beef” bowls. They have Gluten Free and Nut free options too.
There are also lots of take away vegan options.
The restaurant is actually located within the gates of JR Tokyo Station,. But, even if you’re not travelling, I still recommend buying the basic “Platform/send off ” ticket for 130 yen for the pleasure.
To help you find it, go to the entrance to JR Tokyo that can be seen from McDonalds ( past Daimaru on your left.)
IT IS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS HERE!
I also recommend grabbing a bento here for the bullet train. So yummy.
Here are some photos from my most recent visit.
T’S TAN TAN RAMEN
千代田区丸の内１-９−１ JR東京駅（改札内）KeiyoStreet内 1階
1ST (GROUND FLOOR) KEIYO STREET (WITHIN THE TICKET GATES AT JR TOKYO STATION)
1-9-1 MARUNOUCHI, CHIYODA
OPEN 7AM-11PM
T’S TAN TAN RAMEN WEBSITE
*There are other stores in Jiyugaoka and Ueno.
And if you’re looking for a vegan burger, you can go to the BareBurger chain option in Jiyugaoka.
They do have a vegetarian shroom wrap but to ask for a custom vegan option, order a hamburger with a mushroom patty, lettuce, avocado, balsamic vegan mayo ( costs 1480 yen.)
The entire restaurant is non-smoking and accepts most major credit cards. They also have an English menu and a vegetarian menu.
They serve alcohol too.
There is space to take a stroller into the restaurant and the staff don’t mind.
They have high chairs and a kids menu (cheeseburger or fried chicken, fries, juice and ice-cream.) Takeout is also ok.
There is also an allocated room to breastfeed, if you’d like, and a changing table.
BARE BURGER , JIYUGAOKA
目黒区自由が丘2-16-10
2-16-10 JIYUGAOKA, MEGURO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-8PM ( LAST ORDER 7:30PM)
BAREBURGER JAPAN WEBSITE
It’s outside of Tokyo- but near Narita is a farm to table lunch buffet restaurant I love. I’ve included all of the details here.
Another hint when looking for more vegetables in Japanese restaurants….
Try to order Teishoku set lunches when you can. They will come with soups and vegetables on the side ( and it’s a very affordable way to get a balanced meal.)
Shokudo ( casual cafeteria/deli style) restaurants are also fantastic for more vegetable side options too.
