You might have heard the term Izakaya (居酒屋), an informal Japanese bar serving alcoholic drinks, side dishes, and snacks. But because Izakayas in Japan aren’t vegetarian or vegan-friendly, it is usually the restaurant type that we would skip. The good news is that Kyoto has a vegan Izakaya near Gion! The food offered at Genmai Dashi Chazuke Nijiya (玄米だし茶漬け 虹屋) is incredible, and what brings the dining experience to the next level is the hospitality you will receive.
Table of Contents
- About Genmai Dashi Chazuke Njiya
- The Ochazuke at Genmai Dashi Chazuke Njiya
- The Vegan Barbeque Meat at Genmai Dashi Chazuke Njiya
- Genmai Dashi Chazuke Nijiya’s Business Hours and Access Information
About Genmai Dashi Chazuke Njiya
Nijiya is run by two ladies. Their friendly smiles and kindness made us feel welcome. The warm wet towel being served to us as soon as we were seated immediately made us feel relaxed.
Because the size of the restaurant is rather small, striking a casual conversation with the chef or other customers is easy. The restaurant is also pet-friendly, so don’t be surprised if you see various kinds of animals during your visit!
There are only six seats in the small restaurant, so be there early or you will need to put your name down on the waiting list. We got there just after 6 pm, and one group of customers were already enjoying their food.
All of the seats at Nijiya are counter-seat. This setting allows you to see how your food is prepared. The vegan side dishes (Obanzai) are placed on the counter so you know exactly what you will get if you order the Obanzai 5 kinds of assortment (おばんざい五種盛り).
The Ochazuke at Genmai Dashi Chazuke Njiya
Although the number of items on the menu is limited, all of them are amazing. Because the restaurant takes the dashi broth so seriously, what you must try at Nijiya is the Chazuke.
The dashi broth used at Nijiya is made from konbu (kelp), dried shiitake mushroom, reddish, and burdock. All of these ingredients are highly nutritious. The broth is not just smooth and delicious, but it is really good for you too!
You can pour a small cup of dashi into the cup and taste it first before pouring it into the bowl and mixing it with the rice.
All rice served at Nijiya is pesticide-free brown rice. Combined with the dashi broth, the rice dish is good for your stomach and body.
The Vegan Barbeque Meat and Other Dishes at Genmai Dashi Chazuke Njiya
The vegan barbeque dishes are the most astonishing ones for us. Initially, we ordered the vegan yakitori skewers. The vegan meat tasted just like real chicken. Because we loved it so much, we ordered the vegan yakiniku to try. Again, the taste and texture were 100% like real meat, and we wouldn’t know the meat was vegan if we weren’t told beforehand!
Another dish worth mentioning is dumplings. They are made without leek, shallot, and garlic, so your breath won’t smell afterwards!
The tofu and yuba in the last photo in the Instagram post were nice, too. Just a shame that the real wasabi wasn’t used.
Genmai Dashi Chazuke Nijiya’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Genmai Dashi Chazuke Nijiya is open from 6 pm to 2 am, usually from Tuesday to Saturday.
- Refer to Nijiya’s Instagram Account for the business calendar of the month.
- The Izakaya is a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Subway’s Sanjo Keihan Station (三条京阪駅) or Keihan’s Sanjo Station (三条駅) or a 2-minute walk from Hankyu’s Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (京都河原町駅)
Discover Other Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Kyoto
If you are a vegan, the good news is that Kyoto has many vegan-friendly restaurants. Even in rural areas, there might be a restaurant close to where you want to visit that serves delicious vegan or vegetarian dishes that can satisfy your cravings!
Refer to our Guide to Kyoto’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants for more information!
