We all know one of the must-dos when visiting Osaka is eating. The mouthwatering food is one of the prefecture’s biggest selling points. While it might seem despairing to find a place with a nice vegetarian or even vegan menu as you walk the streets of Dōtonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi, that isn’t the case! Restaurants with at least one vegetarian dish on their menu aren’t hard to come by in the area. So refer to the below list (^_-)-☆.
Table of Contents
- OKO Fun Okonomiyaki Bar (遊べるお好み焼き屋 ＯＫＯ)
- Has gluten-free options.
- Has options without the use of pungent ingredients i.e., garlic and onions
- Paprika Shokudo Vegan (パプリカ食堂 Vegan)
- Has options without the use of pungent ingredients i.e., garlic and onions
- Halal Ramen Naniwaya (ハラル麺亭 浪速屋)
- Gyozaoh! Dotonbori (餃子王 道頓堀本店 GYOZAOH)
- Green Earth (グリーン アース)
- Has options without the use of pungent ingredients i.e., garlic and onions
- Shama Vegetarian Indian Restaurant (菜食インドレストランShama)
OKO Fun Okonomiyaki Bar (遊べるお好み焼き屋 ＯＫＯ)
OKO Fun Okonomiyaki Bar is the hidden gem in Shinsaibashi. The owner, Shiho, runs the entire place by herself. Although she runs the place on her own, she does an amazing job ensuring the bar is a fun place to dine and play! Because of Shiho’s friendly and energetic personality, we are sure some regulars visit OKO because they enjoy her hospitality!
For more information, refer to our OKO Fun Okonomiyaki Bar article!
Paprika Shokudo Vegan (パプリカ食堂 Vegan)
Paprika Shokudo Vegan is well-known among vegans and vegetarians living in Osaka. Because only organic, naturally cultivated ingredients and natural seasoning are used, you will have a very healthy meal whenever you dine at Paprika Shokudo Vegan. Whether you prefer Western-style vegan burgers or Japanese-style Donburi rice bowl, you can find it here. They also have vegan sushi!
Paprika Shokudo was originally a vegetarian-friendly spot. But after the owner was hospitalized, he realized the importance of what we put into our mouths each day. So a lot of effort was put into revamping the menu and developing recipes that still taste good without using ingredients derived from animals.
While all dishes are vegan, your meat-eating friends should enjoy dining here too. The soy meat is skilfully cooked to taste almost like real meat!
You can also purchase a couple of vegan dressings and sauces from Paprika Shokudo Vegan. They will be useful when you travel to the parts of Japan that don’t have any vegetarian-friendly restaurants.
You can refer to their menu HERE beforehand.
Paprika Shokudo Vegan’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Paprika Shokudo Vegan is open from 6 pm to midnight.
- It is a 7-minute walk from Osaka Metro’s Shinsaibashi Station (心斎橋駅) or a 6-minute walk from Nishi-Ohashi Station (西大橋駅).
Halal Ramen Naniwaya (ハラル麺亭 浪速屋)
Just a 2-minute walk from OKO Fun Okonomiyaki Bar, Naniwaya is a ramen place that is halal certified. The restaurant is particular about a healthy diet in that no additives and chemicals are added to their ramen soup. So some might find the soup too light, whereas others find the right thickness and taste just right.
The non-vegetarian broth was made from chicken, bonito, and kombu seaweed. And it has one vegan ramen to accommodate the vegan diet!
One thing to note is that the restaurant, located on the 3rd floor of a small building, has limited seating. So while it is a cozy restaurant, the wait time can be long. It is thus best to avoid the lunch and dinner peak hours.
Tips:
☛ You can make a reservation by sending a message to their Instagram Account.
☛ There is a prayer room at Naniwaya.
Halal Ramen Naniwaya’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Naniwaya is open from:
- 12 pm to 3 pm
- 6 pm to 10 pm
- The last order is taken at 9:30 pm.
- It is a:
- 3-minute walk from Osaka Metro’s Nagahoribashi Station (長堀橋駅).
- 5-minute walk from Kintetsu’s Nippombashi Station (日本橋駅).
- 20-minute walk from JR Namba Station (難波駅).
Gyozaoh! Dotonbori (餃子王 道頓堀本店 GYOZAOH)
The next restaurant we want to introduce is Gyozaoh. It is one of the best gyoza places in Japan!
The dumpling chain has a couple of restaurants in Osaka, and the one in Dotonbori is the main store. Besides the normal menu, Gyozaoh has a special vegetarian menu (note that their vegetarian ramen can be bland). The vegetable gyoza served at Gyozaoh is one of the best in Japan. If you find it not salty enough, follow the staff’s advice and have it with a bit of salt, or dip the dumpling into Gyozaoh’s homemade chilli oil (^_-)-☆.
Their chilli oil is so popular that it is one of the best sellers on their online store. The sesame flavor and mild spiciness of the special chilli oil are the perfect matches for the aroma of spices, and it isn’t as spicy as it seems.
Gyozaoh! Dotonbori Main Store’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Gyozaoh Dotonbori is open from 5 pm to 11 pm.
- It is a:
- 4-minute walk from Osaka Metro’s Namba Station (難波駅)
- 4-minute walk from Kintetsu and Hanshin’s Namba Station (大阪難波駅)
- 5-minute walk from Namba Station (難波駅)
Green Earth (グリーン アース)
Green Earth is the longest-established vegan restaurant in Osaka, serving incredible vegan food since 1991. All the seasonings used are natural at Green Earth. The dressings and sauces are handmade from plant-based ingredients without preservatives. So if you have been eating unhealthily, come to Green Earth and detox!
While some might think you have to eat a lot to be full if only vegetables are consumed, that isn’t the case at Green Earth! The restaurant has a unique way of cooking, so you will still feel satisfied without meat!
Even if you aren’t a vegetarian, the dishes made with various herbs, spices, and nuts will ensure a pleasant dining experience (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
The Daily Special Lunch Set Menu (日替わりランチ) includes cuisines from around the world, allowing you to enjoy the original meat/seafood dishes without harming animals. If you prefer Western-style dishes, they also have pasta, curry rice, and sandwiches.
If you like snacking, many of Green Earth’s cookies are made from rice flour. So remember to grab a few packs before leaving!
Tips:
☛ The Daily Special Lunch Set Menu comes with 2 more side dishes on public holidays.
☛ If you don’t like garlic and onion, check with the staff to see what you can order.
☛ For desserts, order a piece of soy cheesecake or apple pie!
Green Earth’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Green Earth is open from 11:30 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday.
- On Friday, it closes early, at 3 pm.
- It is a 5-minute walk from Osaka Metro’s Honmachi Station (本町駅).
Shama Vegetarian Indian Restaurant (菜食インドレストランShama)
If you prefer something spicy or feel like Indian food, visit Shama Vegetarian Indian Restaurant. It is a must-visit Indian restaurant in Osaka. The curry place here is prepared without pungent vegetables such as garlic. If you are a vegan, all menus can be made without animal products, so remember to inform the staff before ordering.
Most of the set menus come with at least 2 choices of curry, making your meal more interesting. In addition to a variety of curry choices, you can also decide on the spice level, so you won’t run into a situation where the curry is too spicy for you to swallow (^_-)-☆.
You can refer to their menu HERE beforehand.
A large portion of the restaurant’s profit goes towards charities in India.
Shama Vegetarian Indian Restaurant’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Shama Vegetarian Indian Restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday from:
- 11 am to 3 pm for lunch
- 5 pm to 10 pm for dinner
- The restaurant will open if Monday is a public holiday.
- It is a 1-minute walk from Osaka Metro’s Yotsubashi Station (四ツ橋駅) or a 5-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station (心斎橋駅) or an 8-minute walk from Namba Station (難波駅).
Discover Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Other Parts of Osaka
Obviously, the Namba and Shinsaibashi area in Osaka won’t be the only part of the prefecture you visit. Other parts of the prefecture has vegan-friendly restaurants, too!
So refer to our Top Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Osaka for places to enjoy delicious vegan/vegetarian food!
