Exploring the amazing food is among the best areas of visiting Japan. The fish is uber fresh; the rice is unparalleled, and the sushi may be the real deal. But how about vegetarian visitors? Is it possible to indulge in Japan's tastiest treats in a totally meat-free way?
The resounding response is: YES. Fortunately for vegetarians, Japanese cuisine is heavily plant-based so there are lots of dishes to explore for each palate. There are also a ton of delish vegetarian options for those who want to be sure they're getting the real deal. Several of the top vegetarian dishes for visitors to nosh on while in Japan.
Helpful Tips:
- If ordering a vegetarian meal from the non-vegetarian restaurant, make sure to avoid broths, soups, and sauces-even although the dish itself may be vegetarian, its likely prepared or served with dashi, a broth produced from fish flakes. However, many restaurants will prepare dashi-free versions, if requested.
- Large cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are great places to find a number of vegetarian and vegan spots.
- Lunch sets are popular methods to consider using a variety of dishes simultaneously and are often customizable.
Tasty Veg Tempura
Deep-fried vegetables which are golden and delicious? Yes, please! Vegetable tempura is one of the most widely used choices for vegetarians in Japan as it is served almost everywhere and it is super delish. Often served with rice or noodles, this crispy choice is perfect for those who want a treat without meat.
- Give It A Try: Tempura with seasonal vegetables for example Tamatori mushrooms and Shimada carrots
- Where To Get It: Sonoji (Tokyo)
Rad Ramen
Vegan ramen is increasing in popularity in Japan-so vegetarian visitors will have lots of options to enjoy this iconic dish without dashi. If ordering from the vegetarian ramen spot, be sure to load up on toppings like soy meat and bean sprouts.
- Give It A go: Ramen with black sesame tantanmen (soy meat seasoned with chili oil, sesame paste, and peanut butter); top with raw mizuna greens or snap peas
- Where To Get It: T's Tantan Ramen (Tokyo)
Soba Noodle Delight
Noodle dishes are ubiquitous in Japan, and some of the best can be found in veggie versions. For example, soba (buckwheat) noodle dishes comes in hot or cold varieties and have many delish toppings that include nori (seaweed), spring onion, and tasty seasonal vegs.
- Give It A go: Kitsune Curry Udon (fried tofu with vegetable tempura)
- Where To Get It: Mimikou (Kyoto)
Okonomiyaki For that Win
A popular dish, okonomiyaki is really a Japanese pancake that may easily be made vegetarian. Popular varieties include cabbage and potato, and toppings vary from tensaku (tempura batter crunch); spring onions, okonomiyaki sauce; ginger; and pickled vegetables.
- Give It A Try: Okonomiyaki and a side of fried potato with cheese (Hiroshima style, with cabbage)
- Where To have it: Teppan Tavern (though not really a vegetarian restaurant, they've several choices for meat-free diners)
Vibe On Vegetable Curry
Curries are very popular in Japan, so vegetarians will have little difficulty finding it-even in non-vegetarian restaurants (though be careful, even these 'vegetarian' versions may contain a sauce with meat). However, the very best destination to get vegetable curry reaches a spot that specializes in vegetarian dishes-this way, diners can be certain they're entirely meat-free.
- Give It A go: Kale curry with tofu, served with mushroom and tomato hayashi rice while drinking a cream soda
- Where To have it: Ain Soph (Kyoto)
Yaki Onigiri Takes Rice To another Level
You can't go wrong with an order of onigiri-and the good news is this tasty snack is easily customizable to match vegetarian palates. Popular vegetarian versions are umeboshi (pickled plum) and plain with a number of fun accouterments-anything from pickle to tofu. Grab these on the run, or enjoy in an izakaya (Japanese pub) with an ice-cold Sapporo.
- Give It A Try: Fried rice balls created using potato, and served with pickles, rice, and vegetables
- Where To have it: Rocca (Osaka)
Shojin Ryori Buddhist Cuisine
Shojin Ryori is a type of cuisine that is a great place for both vegetarians and vegans to find eclectic, diverse dishes that are full of flavor. It's often composed of multiple dishes (usually containing tofu and seasonal vegetables), rice, pickles, and miso soup.
- Give It A go: Shojin Ryori lunch with rice, enoki mushrooms, chilled sesame tofu, mashed yam, and seaweed, served having a dark miso sauce
- Where To have it: Yoshuji (Kyoto)
Other Notable Vegetarian Dishes
- Nasu dengaku: soft eggplant with caramelized miso topping
- Vegetarian sushi with fermented soybean, cucumber, pickled plum, pickled daikon
- Miso soup (make sure it's dashi-free)
- Tsukemono: Pickled vegetables that can be found on from ramen to cold noodle dishes (soba)
- Tofu dishes, for example dengaku (tofu coated with sweet miso and grilled until caramelized)
There are plenty of spots where vegetarians might have memorable culinary adventures while visiting Japan-and with dishes like tempura, onigiri, vegetable curry, and much more available on most menus; meat-free choices are gaining popularity than ever before.
