Finding 100% plant-based Japanese comfort food can be a challenge for travelers. But T’s Tantan has revolutionized the culinary scene as Tokyo’s premier vegan ramen chain. Famous for its rich, sesame-infused tantanmen, flavorful soy chashu, and plant-based dumplings, this acclaimed vegan restaurant chain delivers deep, savory umami of traditional ramen without using meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs. Whether you need a quick lunch inside Tokyo Station, a pre-flight meal at Narita Airport, or gluten-free noodle options on the go, this complete guide covers everything you need to know about T’s Tantan’s menu, prices, dietary accommodations, and step-by-step location directions.
All You Need to Know About T’s Tantan
- T’s Tantan’s History
- T’s Tantan and Its Menu
- What to Expect at T’s Tantan
- How to Order at T’s Tantan
- How to Get to a T’s Tantan Restaurant
T’s Tantan At a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Cuisine | 100% Plant-Based Ramen (Tantanmen, Shoyu, Gyoza) |
| Price Range | ¥1,000 – ¥1,800 per person |
| Key Locations | Tokyo Station (Gransta), Ikebukuro Station, Narita Airport T1 & T2, Ueno Station, and Akihabara Station |
| Special Diets | Allium-free/Buddhist options available; Konjac noodle sub for low-carb/GF |
| Payment | Cash, Credit Cards, IC Cards (Suica/Pasmo) |
T’s Tantan’s History
The owner of T’s Tantan is Shimokawa-san (下川さん). The ‘fat’ was what she liked most when it came to the sirloin steak. However, her preference changed after one of her friends became ill. That was when she started thinking about how to make healthy food for her family.
She wanted people to experience delicious food, even if they are vegan or vegetarian. So, as a full-time housewife, she spent a lot of time creating mouthwatering plant-based dishes. This led to the opening of T’s Restaurant (Ｔ’ｓレストラン) in Jiyūgaoka, where T’s Tantan’s tantan noodle soup was developed.
Interestingly, although JR’s train station isn’t in Jiyūgaoka, T’s Restaurant receives many customers who work for the JR East Group. Because they knew how amazing T’s Restaurant is, JR East Group approached Shimokawa-san about opening a store in Tokyo Station’s Keiyō Street (京葉ストリートエリア). This was just six months after Shimokawa-san opened T’s Restaurant! T’s Tantan was then opened six months later in September 2011, after menu development was completed.
The restaurant later went viral on social media and was given the Traveler’s Choice Award in 2020. This means that T’s Tantan was in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide. So, if you haven’t tried T’s Tantan, ensure that it is on your itinerary the next time you visit Japan!
The T in T’s Tantan isn’t just taken from the Tantan noodles. It is also the T for sun, soil, eat, taste, dedication, connection, and much more. These words all start with T in Japanese.
T’s Tantan and Its Menu
As its name suggests, T’s Tantan’s signature dish is tantan noodles. Amazingly, the restaurant managed to come up with a recipe that tastes phenomenal without using any animal products. The noodle soup is rich and smooth, just like a normal meat-based tantan noodle. In fact, there are more ingredients inside the bowl than in a regular ramen restaurant!
Because the tantan noodle soup is plant-based, every meal at T’s Tantan will delight your mind and body. There is no need to feel guilty when you eat at T’s Tantan because their dishes are designed under the motto “Being healthy is the most important thing in life”. The restaurant hopes to convey this message through the food it serves.
You can also add vegan cheese or vegan chashu (roasted pork fillet) to your noodles. The vegan cheese is made by the renowned Gunma Prefecture’s Tofu maker Sagami-ya (相模屋). Their vegan cheese is made using low-fat soy milk. You will be surprised to find that the vegan cheese tastes like real cheese!
The same applies to T’s Tantan’s vegan chashu. To the Japanese, chashu is a must when it comes to ramen. The restaurant spent 10 years creating the perfect soy chashu that will make you feel like you are eating a real roasted pork fillet!
Tips:
☛ Stir well to increase your noodle soup’s flavor.
☛ Order a small bowl of rice and pour the leftover soup into the bowl to create a risotto!
☛ Try their pan-fried dumplings.
☛ There are Allium-free options for oriental vegetarians.
The Golden Sesame Tantanmen (金胡麻担々麺) and the Black Sesame Tantanmen (黒胡麻担々麺)
The signatory dish is the Golden Sesame Tantan Noodle. Although the soup is spicy, you won’t have an issue swallowing it even if you can’t take spicy food. If you are the type who thinks that the spicier, the merrier, adjust the spice level by adding both the red pepper and spice sauce.
The richness of the soup actually comes from peanuts. Besides the soy mince, the fresh and crunchy greens also make the bowl more colorful.
Contrasting the Golden Sesame Tantanmen’s orange color, the Black Sesame Tantanen is black. This doesn’t mean that the soup is burnt. The color comes from numerous black sesame and the right amount of black pepper. But it does have a smokier taste on top of the sweetness.
T’s Tantan’s Seasonal Flavors
Besides a couple of regular noodle dishes, seasonal noodles are also available.
For example, the Lemon Cold Ramen is a must-try in Japan’s hot, humid summer.
T’s Tantan’s Konjac Noodles
If you are on a diet or require gluten-free options, pay a little bit extra and substitute your noodles with konjac noodles. These jelly-like noodles are made from yams.
Make Your Noodle Soup a Meal
If you are hungry, we highly recommend making your noodle soup a meal. It is the most economical choice. With a few hundred yen more, you will also get a small bowl of rice and a dessert.
Although we weren’t particularly hungry on the day, we found the portion of the set to be just about right. The soy milk yogurt with brown sugar syrup and soybean powder was a nice finish.
T’s Tantan’s Cup Noodles
You can also purchase vegan cup noodles from T’s Tantan. This is a smart purchase if you plan to visit regional parts of Japan where vegan meals are hard to find.
The cup noodles are purchased through the ordering machine if the restaurant has one.
T’s Tantan Menu & Pricing Guide
T’s Tantan is famous for replicating the rich, comforting depth of traditional meat-based ramen using 100% plant-based ingredients. Below is an overview of their signature ramen bowls, side dishes, and typical pricing.
Signature Ramen Bowls & Sides
| Item Name | Description | Spice Level | Approximate Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Sesame Tantanmen (金胡麻たんたん麺) | Signature dish featuring a rich, creamy broth made with peanut paste, sesame, and soy mince. | Mild | ~¥1,100 – ¥1,200 |
| Black Sesame Tantanmen (黒胡麻たんたん麺) | Bold, smoky broth topped with abundant black sesame and a touch of black pepper. | Medium | ~¥1,100 – ¥1,200 |
| White Sesame Tantanmen (白胡麻たんたん麺) | A lighter, delicate sesame broth with a smooth profile for non-spicy preferences. | Very Mild | ~¥980 – ¥1,100 |
| Soy Sauce Ramen (T’s 醤油らーめん) | Classic Japanese shoyu vegetable broth with seasonal greens and soy-based chashu. | Non-spicy | ~¥900 – ¥1,000 |
| Vegan Gyoza (Side) (全部野菜の焼き餃子) | Pan-fried vegetable dumplings packed with leafy greens and soy meat (3 or 6 pcs). | Non-spicy | ~¥320 – ¥500 |
| Soy Chashu Rice Bowl (ミニ大豆チャーシュー丼) | Small side bowl of rice topped with house-made 100% soy-protein roasted pork. | Non-spicy | ~¥350 – ¥450 |
Popular Meal Sets & Add-Ons
- Ramen + Side Set (+¥300 – ¥500): Upgrade any ramen bowl to a meal set by pairing it with 3 Vegan Gyoza, a Mini Soy Chashu Rice Bowl, or a Mini Curry Bowl.
- Gluten-Free Noodle Swap (+¥100 – ¥150): Substitute standard wheat noodles for low-carb, jelly-like Konjac (shirataki) noodles.
- Extra Soy Chashu (+¥300 – ¥500): Add extra slices of their signature plant-based pork fillet.
- Instant Cup Noodles (To-Go) (~¥250 – ¥350): Packets and cup noodles available at the order counter for convenient plant-based travel meals across Japan.
What to Expect at T’s Tantan
T’s Tantan’s restaurants all have a bright and welcoming atmosphere. The signs of No Meat, No Fish, No Egg, and No Milk are clearly written on the wall, giving you peace of mind that whatever you order from them is vegan.
There might be a queue during peak lunch and dinner hours, but the turnaround time is usually quick. There were around 8 group of customers in front of us when we got to T’s Tantan in Tokyo Station for dinner. But we were seated within 15 minutes. So, don’t give up and turn your back on it as soon as you see the line!
Efforts are also being made to improve the process and reduce cooking time at T’s Tantan. So even if the restaurant is full of hungry customers, it actually won’t take long for you to be served.
How to Order at T’s Tantan
How to order at T’s Tantan will depend on which T’s Tantan you visit. Some have staff who will take your order at the table, while others require you to place your order via a machine with a touchscreen panel or at the register.
If you visit a T’s Tantan restaurant where an ordering machine is used, remember to take the ticket that the machine prints out at the end of the ordering process (3rd photo in the IG post). Then pay attention to the TV screen (4th photo in the IG post). Your number should show up in the Being Prepared section (調理中).
When your order is ready, your number will be shown on the screen in the Ready to Be Picked-up section (出来上り). Please give the ticket to the staff when picking up your meal at the counter.
And don’t worry about the language barrier. There is an English menu, and the machine is multilingual.
T’s Tantan Restaurant Locations & How to Get There
T’s Tantan currently operates six key locations across Tokyo’s major transit hubs and Narita Airport.
Important Note for Railway Station Locations:
The Ikebukuro and Ueno branches are located inside the JR train ticket gates. If you are not already traveling on a JR train, you will need to buy a platform ticket (Nyūjōken) or tap an IC Card (Suica/PASMO) to enter the station area.
T’s Tantan Tokyo Gransta Tokyo (T’sたんたん グランスタ東京)
The flagship branch is located inside Tokyo Station, making it an ideal pitstop before or after taking a Shinkansen (bullet train).
- Location: Outside the ticket gates on B1F (Gransta Tokyo area)
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 10 pm (Daily)
- Best For: Quick lunch, dinner, or an early morning vegan breakfast
T’s TanTan Ecute Ueno (T’sたんたん エキュート上野店)
Located inside JR Ueno Station, this branch is convenient if you are visiting Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum, or Ueno Zoo.
- Location: 3rd Floor, ecute Ueno (inside JR Ueno Station ticket gates)
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 9:30 pm | 10 am – 8:30 pm (Sun/Holidays)
- Best For: Post-museum meals or fueling up before taking the Skyliner train to Narita Airport
Step-by-Step Directions Inside Ueno Station:
- Stay inside the JR ticket gates and head up to the 3rd Floor (ecute shopping area).
- Follow the signs toward Platform 8 & 10.
- T’s Tantan is situated along the main ecute passage near the stairs to Platform 10.
T’s Tantan ecute Akihabara (T’sたんたん エキュート秋葉原)
Situated right in Tokyo’s anime and electronics hub, this location is great for travelers exploring Electric Town.
- Location: Outside the Electric Town Gate (電気街改札外) at JR Akihabara Station (head left after coming out from the gate)
- Opening Hours: 8 am – 10 pm | 8 am – 9 pm (Sun/Holidays) L.O.30 mins before closing
- Best For: A fast, delicious lunch during a day of shopping in Akihabara
T’s Tantan Ikebukuro (T’sたんたん 池袋)
Located inside one of Tokyo’s busiest transfer hubs, this location features rapid self-service touchscreen ordering with full English language support.
- Location: 1st Floor, inside the JR Ikebukuro Station ticket gates (near South Exit)
- Opening Hours: 11 am – 10 pm (Daily)
- Best For: Travelers exploring North/West Tokyo or connecting to the Tobu/Seibu lines
Step-by-Step Directions Inside Ikebukuro Station:
- Stay inside the JR ticket gates on the 1st floor.
- Head toward the South Gate (南改札).
- Look for the store entrance near the passage leading toward the Lumine department store connection.
T’s Tantan Narita Airport Terminal 1 (T’sたんたん Tokyo Food Bar 成田空港)
Perfect for a satisfying plant-based meal after going through security.
- Location: Narita Airport Terminal 1, Central Building 3rd Floor (Post-security / International Departure Area)
- Opening Hours: 7:45 am – 9 pm (Daily)
- Best For: Pre-flight meals after clearing security and passport control
T’s Tantan Narita Airport Terminal 2
An ideal stop if you are arriving at Terminal 2 or meeting travelers before check-in.
- Location: Narita Airport Terminal 2, Main Building 4th Floor (Pre-security / Shopping & Dining Area)
- Opening Hours: 7:30 am – 9 pm (Daily)
- Best For: Meals before checking in luggage or meeting arriving passengers
Frequently Asked Questions (Dietary Restrictions & Logistics)
Is T’s Tantan Gluten-Free Friendly?
Standard wheat noodles are used in T’s Tantan ramen, but gluten-free alternatives are available.
- Noodle Substitute: You can pay a small extra fee (~¥100–¥150) to substitute wheat noodles with Konjac noodles (shirataki), which are made from konjac yam and naturally gluten-free (as well as low-calorie).
- Cross-Contamination Warning: The ramen broths, soy sauces, and soy meat toppings may contain trace amounts of wheat/gluten. If you have severe celiac disease, inform the staff so they can advise on cross-contamination risks.
Does T’s Tantan Offer Allium-Free (Buddhist Vegetarian) Options?
Yes, T’s Tantan accommodates Oriental Vegetarian (Five Pungent Roots / Allium-free) diets.
- Garlic & Onion-Free Dishes: Many items on the menu—including select sesame tantanmen dishes—can be prepared without garlic, onion, scallions, or leeks.
- Clear Labeling: The digital touchscreen menus and ordering tablets clearly display icons for allium-free dishes. You can also mention “Gokun nashi” (五葷なし – no alliums) to the waitstaff.
Are There Nut Allergies to Be Aware Of?
Yes. Peanuts and sesame are key ingredients in T’s Tantan’s signature dishes.
- Peanuts: The broth of the flagship Golden Sesame Tantanmen uses peanut paste to give it a rich, creamy consistency.
- Sesame: Sesame seeds and sesame oil are heavily featured in almost all soup bases.
- Nut-Free Options: If you have a severe peanut or tree-nut allergy, ask the staff for the allergen matrix chart or opt for non-tantanmen dishes like their soy sauce (shoyu) ramen, subject to seasonal availability.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted at T’s Tantan?
T’s Tantan accepts a wide variety of payment options across all locations:
- IC Cards / E-Money: Suica, PASMO, Icoca, and other Japanese transit cards (preferred for quick checkout inside train stations).
- Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, and UnionPay.
- Mobile Payments: Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPay, and AliPay.
- Cash: Japanese Yen (JPY) cash is accepted at all table-service registers and ticket machines.
Do I Need a Reservation for T’s Tantan?
No, T’s Tantan operates strictly on a walk-in basis. Reservations are not accepted at any of the train station or airport locations. During peak lunch (12 pm – 1:30 pm) and dinner (6:30 pm – 8:00 pm) hours, expect a short queue, but turnover is generally fast (15–20 minute wait).
MOS Burger: Where You Can Find a Vegan Burger Across Japan
As you might have realized already, T’s Tantan doesn’t have many branches, even in Tokyo. So, where can you find vegan meals in other parts of Japan? MOS Burger is a good option. The popular burger chain has at least a couple of branches in each prefecture. In addition to its plant-based green burger, it also has a few more vegetarian options.
Refer to our article on MOS Burger for more details!
Discover the Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Japan
While at a slow pace, veganism is becoming increasingly common in Japan, especially in the big cities. And keeping the good reputation of heaven for foodies, the food offered in these restaurants is amazing!
So refer to our Vegetarian Dining category for more ideas about where to enjoy food in Japan without harming any animals!
