Shijō is arguably the busiest part of Kyoto City. As the city’s commercial center, this part of Kyoto is filled with department stores, boutique shops, restaurants and cafes. So, after visiting the famous attractions in the city, many would end their day in Shijō to experience Kyoto’s nightlife. The great news is that there are a couple of vegan-friendly spots in Shijō where you can enjoy food prepared from plant-based ingredients!
The Vegan-Friendly Cafes and Restaurants in Shijō
- Vegetable Dishes OKI Shijo (野菜料理 OKI 四条)
- Has allum-free options.
- Let the restaurant know beforehand if you need gluten-free options.
- Vegetarian Cafe Ren (素食カフェRen)
- Food can be prepared allum-free.
- Other Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Shijō
Vegetable Dishes OKI Shijo (野菜料理 OKI 四条)
OKI Shijo is inside the vegan-friendly hotel, IMU HOTEL KYOTO, that provides vegan meal options for their guests. The majority of the menu is prepared without pungent ingredients, suitable for those on an oriental vegetarian diet. If you are a celiac, contact the restaurant beforehand for them to make something special for you. If you travel with young children, the restaurant also has a kid’s corner to keep them happy!
The restaurant opens at 7 am also accepts walk-in customers, making it a great spot to enjoy a vegan breakfast (but please let the restaurant know your intention to visit in advance). While Kyoto also has a couple of vegan-friendly cafés, they don’t open in the early morning.
Besides breakfast and lunch, OKI Shijo also opens for dinner, which offers both Ala Carte menu and Omakase courses. It is where you can fully enjoy the former French restaurant chef’s cooking skills. As a reservation is required for the dinner course, remember to do so at least 3 days in advance.
To make a booking or to enquire about breakfast and dinner, you can send the chef, Mr Kataoka, a message to his Instagram Account.
Tip: If the grilled vegan eel is on the menu, order it. It is phenomenal!
Vegetable Dishes OKI Shijo’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Vegetable Dish OKI Shijo is open from
- 7 am to 10 am for breakfast (last order at 9:30 am)
- 12 pm to 3 pm for lunch (last order at 2 pm)
- The dinner course is by reservation only.
- The restaurant is just a 6-minute walk from Keihan’s Karasuma Station (烏丸駅) or a 4-minute walk from Kyoto Subway’s Shijō Station (四条駅).
Vegetarian Cafe Ren (素食カフェRen)
If you are around Shijo and are looking for vegan food cooked without using pungent ingredients, such as garlic, visit Vegetarian Café Ren. It is a spot serving Taiwanese-style Shōjin Ryōri, with the main store in Wakayama. The restaurant in Shijo is one of the three Vegetarian Café Ren’s restaurants in Kyoto.
When the weather is chill, instead of Today’s Vegan Special, how about Ren’s Special Medicinal Hot Pot? While Chinese herbal medicine doesn’t sound enticing, the medicinal hot pot at Vegetarian Café Ren is amazing. The soup is cooked with more than 15 different herbs, so not only will you be satisfied afterwards, but your body will also benefit from the herbs’ rich nutrition. If you don’t like hot pots, they also have medicinal curry rice and ramen noodles!
Like many vegan restaurants in Japan, Ren’s vegetables are organic, allowing you to taste the original deliciousness of the vegetables. The purple-colored rice doesn’t just consist of black rice. It also has various grains!
Tip: Their vegan cheesecake is nice.
Vegetarian Cafe Ren’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Vegetarian Café Ren Shijo Omiya is open from 11:30 am to 9 pm from Monday to Saturday.
- The last order is taken at 8 pm.
- The restaurant is just a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Subway’s Shijō-Ōmiya Station (四条大宮駅).
Other Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Shijō
- Hyōto (瓢斗)
- A highly rated kaiseki ryōri (multi-course) restaurant chain with vegan options.
- They have a restaurant near Kyoto Station and Shijō Karasuma.
- The ingredients used are fresh and high quality.
- The restaurant has a traditional setting. But the vibe is cozy and welcoming.
- Service is top-notch. The staff will be around throughout your meal to ensure you enjoy every moment.
- Please reserve at least three days in advance.
- You can book Online or by phone. Once you click the reserve online button under each branch, the reservation page is in English.
- A highly rated kaiseki ryōri (multi-course) restaurant chain with vegan options.
- Sushi Restaurant AWOMB Karasuma Honten (手織り寿し AWOMB 烏丸本店)
- A sushi specialist near Karasuma Station that has a vegetable sushi set called Teori-sushi YOH (手織り寿し 養).
- The concept here is for customers to make their own sushi. Ingredients, including rice, dashi broth, and seaweed, are provided and presented elegantly on a black lacquered tray. Customers can either eat what is provided with chopsticks or make their own sushi roll.
- Note that staff might not speak English. Ensure you want one of the Translation Opps installed before going.
- It is best to make a reservation through the Official Website.
- Vegetarian 素食 南宮
- A vegetarian restaurant specializing in Chinese food near Hankyu Ōmiya Station (大宮駅). The restaurant is on the second floor, so it can be hard to find.
- The menu is extensive.
- The pan-fried vegetables are really good.
- The portion is big, and the price is reasonable.
- Food service can be slow as each dish is freshly made after an order is placed, and the restaurant also takes Uber Eats orders.
- Orders can be made allium-free.
- A vegetarian restaurant specializing in Chinese food near Hankyu Ōmiya Station (大宮駅). The restaurant is on the second floor, so it can be hard to find.
Discover Other Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Kyoto
Now you know where to find vegan/vegetarian food near Shijō, it is now time to discover other vegan-friendly spots around Kyoto. The good news is the prefecture has other vegan-friendly restaurants close to spots in the rural area. While the options can be limited, there might be a restaurant close to where you want to visit serving delicious vegan or vegetarian dishes that satisfy your cravings!
Refer to our Guide to Kyoto’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants for more information!
