The charming, historic streets of Gion, Kyoto are famous for geisha and traditional architecture, but they also host an unexpectedly rich culinary scene for plant-based eaters. Whether you are a devoted vegan traveler or a curious vegetarian looking to experience authentic Japanese flavours without meat, this guide unveils the best Kyoto vegetarian restaurants offering delicious, cruelty-free dining and Shojin food. Discover where to find everything from traditional tofu and soymilk dishes to savory vegan ramen in the heart of Kyoto’s most enchanting district.
The Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in Gion, Kyoto
- Gion Tanto (祇園 たんと)
- ZIRAEL Vegan Restaurant (ジラエル ビーガン レストラン)
- Have gluten-free options.
- Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko (ぎをん豆乳ら～めん うのゆきこ)
- Have gluten-free options.
- Tokkyu Ramen (元祖特級ラーメン 寛)
- CHOICE (チョイス)
- Have gluten-free options.
- Tōsuirō (豆水楼)
- Hyssop（ヒソップ）
- Can cater to allium-free and halal diet.
- Other Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants Around Gion
Gion Tanto (祇園 たんと)
In Kyoto, if you are craving Japan’s street food, such as Okonomiyaki or Teppanyaki, visit Gion Tanto. It is where you meet vegan Okonomiyaki and Teppanyaki in Kyoto. The restaurant in a traditional house is just at the side of the Shirakawa River (白川), allowing you to eat while overlooking the small stream from the window.
Eating Okonomiyaki in Gion Tanto’s traditional setting is an absolute dream. Putting your shoes in the antique-like wooden shoe case, using a wooden plate as a key, and sitting on the tatami mats make the dining experience more enjoyable! The service is top-notch, too!
When you get to Gion Tanto, ask the staff for the vegan menu. The vegan menu available since 2020 is in English (with Japanese notations underneath). Apparently, Genmai Dashi Chazuke Nijiya‘s owner contributed a lot to the creation of Gion Tanto’s vegan menu.
Don’t worry about the sauce and mayonnaise used. They are vegan, too! In fact, Gion Tanto will clean the iron plate before cooking vegan dishes, ensuring your vegan diet is strictly kept!
Tips:
☛ The mochi corn okonomiyaki is better than the soy meat okonomiyaki.
☛ Gion Tanto is quite famous. Even celebrities visit it. So arrive early, or there might be a queue, but we guarantee the wait is worth it!
Gion Tanto’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Gion Tanto is open from:
- 12 pm to 3 pm
- 5 pm to 10 pm
- The last order is 30 minutes before closing time.
- Scroll down their Official Website for the business calendar.
- The restaurant doesn’t open on the days marked as “休業”.
- Gion Tanto is a 5-minute walk from Keihan’s Shijo Station (京阪四条駅) or a 10-minute walk from Hankyu’s Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (京都河原町駅) or Keihan’s Sanjo Station (京阪三条駅).
ZIRAEL Vegan Restaurant (ジラエル ビーガン レストラン)
If you are after a meal full of fresh vegetables, visit ZIRAEL, one of the vegetarian restaurants near Gion, Kyoto. The vegan restaurant specializes in turning Japan’s carefully selected vegetables into various cuisines. On one plate, there are several different cuisines for you to enjoy. A couple of the menu items are also gluten-free!
The food here is nicely seasoned, which will blow your mind. The must-order is probably their Kyoto Vegetable Plate (京野菜プレート), prepared from mainly vegetables freshly harvested in Kyoto.
While what is on the plate changes daily and depends on which plate you order, it can include various kinds of salads, soy meat, a cup of soup, dumplings, rice, dessert, and a drink.
If ZIRAEL’s owner is around, have a chat with him. He is extremely friendly and hospitable and will give you some tourist advice if you need it. Don’t worry about the language barrier. He speaks Japanese, English, and Chinese!
Tips:
☛ Their chickpea croquette and dumplings are really nice.
☛ As there are only 8 seats, fill out a contact form HERE to check if you can reserve.
ZIRAEL Vegan Restaurant’s Business Hours and Access Information
- ZIRAEL is open from 12:30 pm to 7 pm from Saturday to Thursday.
- The restaurant is just an 8-minute walk from Keihan’s Gion-Shijō Station (祇園四条駅).
- It is between Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社) and Chion-in Temple (知恩院).
Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko (ぎをん豆乳ら～めん うのゆきこ)
Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko is a vegan and gluten-free ramen restaurant close to the center of the Gion district. Moreover, can prepare ramen noodles without using pungent ingredients such as garlic. While the price of the noodles is steep, the ramen here is phenomenal.
The noodles are made from rice flour and konbu seaweed, making them chewier than normal ramen noodles. If you are on a diet, the organic konjac noodles will be perfect for you (^_-)-☆. Besides the broth and noodles, the bowl contains much more, including dumplings, mushrooms, and various vegetables from Kyoto. If you still feel unsatisfied after finishing the noodles, order a bowl of brown rice topped with vegan cheese and add the remaining broth. The resulting risotto will be amazing too!
The restaurant’s ambiance is cozy. The friendly and fun owner and staff make the dining experience unforgettable. Whether you are a vegan or just love delicious food, Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko is a must-go restaurant when you are in Kyoto’s city center.
Refer to the Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko menu HERE before visiting.
Tip: Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko’s dumplings and croquettes are superb.
Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko is open from 11:30 am to 9 pm.
- The last order is taken at 8:30 pm.
- The restaurant is just a 2-minute walk from Keihan’s Gion-Shijō Station (祇園四条駅) or a 5-minute walk from Hankyu’s Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (京都河原町駅).
Tokkyu Ramen (元祖特級ラーメン 寛)
If you are after a smaller ramen shop at the cheaper end, where the locals would visit for a quick dinner, visit Tokkyu Ramen. The noodle restaurant has both meat and vegan ramen, and the portions are big! And don’t judge the deliciousness of the noodle soup by the restaurant’s appearance. While the place isn’t nicely decorated, the food is genuinely good and authentic.
Note Tokkyu Ramen can only accommodate 10 to 12 people at one time. So arrive early to avoid the queue during the normal lunch and dinner hours.
Tip: Usually, medium-sized noodle soup is enough if you aren’t starving.
Tokkyu Ramen’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Tokkyu Ramen is open from:
- 11:30 am to 12 am from Saturday to Tuesday.
- On Sundays, it closes early, at 8 pm.
- 11:30 am to 12 am from Saturday to Tuesday.
- The restaurant is just a 10-minute walk from Keihan’s Gion-Shijo Station (祇園四条駅) or a 12-minute walk from Hankyu’s Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (京都河原町駅).
CHOICE (チョイス)
Very close to Sanjo Keihan Station (三条京阪駅), CHOICE is a stylish vegan restaurant that remains at the top of most vegans’ list of the best vegan restaurants in Kyoto. Opened by a plastic surgeon, it is a café for those who pursue beauty by eating healthily. You can almost find every dish in an ordinary café veganized at CHOICE!
CHOICE’s menu focuses on whole food, organic and gluten-free ingredients. As the menu changes according to the time of the day, the café will definitely satisfy your desire for a pleasant meal or tea time.
Because CHOICE is a gluten-free restaurant, its pasta is made from buckwheat flour. But surprisingly, the texture is still good! The vegan Mozzarella and smoked cheese are delicious too!
Another recommended dish is the vegan quiche. It is hard to find a vegan version that perfectly resembles the typical quiche!
Moreover, CHOICE’s vegan ice cream is a must-try. Unlike most vegan ice creams, which are made from soy milk, it is made from brown rice, giving it a creamy texture.
Refer to CHOICE menu HERE beforehand.
Just note the dishes’ portions aren’t big.
CHOICE’s Business Hours and Access Information
- CHOICE is open from 9:30 am to 9 pm from Thursday to Tuesday.
- The last order is taken at 8 pm.
- The cafe is just a 1-minute walk from Kyoto Subway’s Sanjo Keihan Station (三条京阪駅) or Keihan’s Sanjo Station (三条駅).
Tōsuirō (豆水楼)
If you are after a nice traditional-style restaurant to taste the famous Kaiseki Ryōri in Kyoto’s city center, consider Tōsuirō. Apart from the seafood-based course menus, Tōsuirō also has a vegan or gluten-free Kaiseki in both of their restaurants in Kyoto called Rokuhara. It is one of the best tofu restaurants in Kyoto to enjoy Kyoto Kaiseki and seasonal vegetables. Every bite of the tofu dishes has a rich soybean taste.
For more information about the restaurant and our experience, refer to our article on Tōsuirō!
Hyssop（ヒソップ）
Hyssop is a café in the hotel, GOOD NATURE STATION. It offers elegantly presented and tasty vegan dishes based on the concept of “Taste the Plants”. The café’s business hours are divided into 4 sections: brunch, lunch, café, and dinner. Each time slot has a menu with a couple of vegan options. So if you travel with non-vegan families and friends, both of you will have something to eat when you dine at Hyssop!
For lunch, you can order a Herbal Lunch Plate consisting of 7 different colorful dishes. And for dessert, how about a plate of tofu pudding topped with seasonal fruits, granola, and shiratama rice cakes?
If you are after a vegan-friendly hotel, book a night with GOOD NATURE STATION. Their accommodation plans can include vegan meals from Hyssop.
Tips:
☛ If you want to dine at their stylish terrace seats, you can make a booking through HERE. When the weather is chill, the round stone hearth in the middle will keep you warm.
☛ Check with the staff for dishes that can be made without using pungent ingredients, such as garlic.
☛ Hyssop can also cater to the halal diet.
Hyssop’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Hyssop is open from 11:30 am to 10 pm.
- Lunch: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
- Brunch: 11:30 am to 4:30 pm
- Dinner: 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- The last order is taken at 9 pm.
- The café is just a 2-minute walk from Hankyu’s Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (京都河原町駅) or a 4-minute walk from Keihan’s Gion-Shijo Station (祇園四条駅).
Other Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants Around Gion
Japanese Cuisine
- Gochisou Yakimusubi Onimaru (ごちそう焼むすび おにまる)
- An onigiri rice ball chain shop with a branch west of Sanjo Station. It has a few vegan and vegetarian options.
- The onigiri is delicious and convenient to grab if you are in a hurry or want to go for a picnic.
- Note that the vegan options can run out if you visit the shop at night.
- Menkui Kinya (手打ちうどん&天ぷら 麺喰金家〜menkuikinya〜)
- A handmade udon and tempura restaurant that has vegan and vegetarian options.
- Remember to let the staff know you are a vegan or a vegetarian. There are clearly labeled vegan sauces and seasonings.
- The vegetable tempuras are made with fresh vegetables and are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
- You can request the restaurant to remove the onion and garlic.
- Mimikou (京のカレーうどん 味味香 祇園店)
- A curry udon restaurant that has a vegetarian/vegan menu.
Other Cuisines
- cafe vegan terrace
- A vegan and vegetarian-friendly spot that serves a mix of Western and Japanese dishes, including ramen, and curry rice cakes. The café also offers many gluten-free options
- It is another cafe apart from COYOTE where you can get a vegan egg sandwich.
- The Mitarashi Dango rice cakes are amazing.
- The restaurant has a calm and quiet vibe. The staff is friendly and welcoming.
- The food is well-presented, and the service is good and quick.
- Most dishes, if not all, are allium-free.
- A vegan and vegetarian-friendly spot that serves a mix of Western and Japanese dishes, including ramen, and curry rice cakes. The café also offers many gluten-free options
- Imoya Tsunekichi (芋屋常吉)
- A vegan-friendly sweet potato dessert shop that will surprise you with the different ways you can enjoy an ordinary sweet potato.
- The cafe also offers vegan shaved ice in various flavors, such as matcha, peach, and, of course, sweet potato.
- The dango rice cake skewers are another highlight on their menu. You will be amazed at how colorful they can be!
- Please ask for their vegan menu upon arrival.
- S. Vietnamese Restaurant (エスベトナム)
- An authentic Vietnamese restaurant with a separate vegetarian menu near Kyoto Subway’s Kyoto-Shiyakusho-mae Station (京都市役所前駅) and Keihan’s Sanjo-Keihan Station (三条京阪駅).
- The dishes on the vegetarian menu can be easily made vegan.
- The restaurant offers a couple of vegan/vegetarian dishes. The vegan pho noodle soup is amazing and full of flavors. The tofu stir fry and banh mi are also must-try.
- Note that some might find the portion smaller than desired.
- As the restaurant is on the second floor, enter via the lift or the spiral staircase.
- The staff is friendly and attentive.
- Refer to the Official Instagram Account for business hours.
- An authentic Vietnamese restaurant with a separate vegetarian menu near Kyoto Subway’s Kyoto-Shiyakusho-mae Station (京都市役所前駅) and Keihan’s Sanjo-Keihan Station (三条京阪駅).
Discover Other Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Kyoto
Your visit to Kyoto may not just be about visiting Gion. The good news is that 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 near the attractions you want to visit that serves delicious vegan or vegetarian dishes to satisfy your cravings!
Refer to our Guide to Kyoto’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants for more information!
