Vegan Bistro Jangara: Vegan Tokyo
Above the bright, busy streets of Tokyo’s Harajuku district there’s a cosy restaurant called Vegan Bistro Jangara. To enter, you’ll need to find a nondescript elevator next to a subterranean Family Mart. The elevator doesn’t look especially inviting, but it’s about to lead you to some of the best vegan food you’ll find in Tokyo.
My husband is a creature of habit: On a trip to Rome, he insisted on visiting the same restaurant four times over a single weekend (I was mortified). Naturally then, on our most recent trip to Japan, we already had a list of favourite places we wanted to revisit, like Tsukemen Zuppa or T’s Tantan.
However, as much as our Tokyo roster was already pretty strong, I am so glad that we discovered Vegan Bistro Jangara on this trip as it’s now one of my “need to go back” places in Tokyo. And yes, we went twice in two days.
As well as having two incredible meals, two visits means I got to try even more of their menu, which I’ll walk you through in this post.
The Need-To-Know
| Vegan Status | Fully Vegan |
| Location | Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Cuisine Style | Japanese, comfort food, bar food |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| How to order | Server takes order at the table |
| How to pay | At the cash desk after meal, card accepted |
The Restaurant
Vegan Bistro Jangara is operated by the small ramen chain, Kyushu Jangara. Their main restaurants are omni, but have a couple of plant-based options. Their first fully vegan restaurant, Vegan Bistro Jangara, opened in 2021 and is located on the second floor, sitting directly above the omni Kyushu Jangara Harajuku branch
If you’re travelling with meat eaters who don’t want to go to a fully vegan restaurant (boo to them), then you’ll still get a good plant based meal in the regular branches. Otherwise, Vegan Bistro Jangara is where you need to go.
The restaurant itself is warm and inviting, with cosy low lighting that is fairly typical for Japan. The kitchen is open and exposed, so you’ll see the chefs at work while you wait.
Seating is a mix of tables and communal tables with plexiglass dividers, and chairs have a basket underneath for you to put your things in – this isn’t uncommon in Japan, and honestly it’s one of my favourite little touches that make Japan special.
Orders are taken at the table by the staff, who speak English and can help you decide if you’re stuck on what to order. When you’re done, head up to the counter to pay.
Also at the counter, you’ll see they sell instant noodle pots from T’s Tantan – maybe grab one for a midnight snack back in your hotel room!
They don’t take reservations, so you may need to wait by the entrance. It’s standard to see people perched on the windowsill, waiting patiently, during rush hours. Once you’re seated, you’ll be ready to take on a menu that offers a wide range of food, from ramen to quesadillas.
The Food
One of the best things about Vegan Bistro Jangara is that the menu is fully plant based, so you’re not going to have the usual solitary Beyond Burger option here. It’s a broad spread of Japanese comfort food and vegan takes on classics.
They’ve got a range of izakaya style starters: gyoza, kara-age, fries, and buffalo wings, which are perfect to enjoy with a beer. For mains, it’s varied. There is a burger on the menu, as well as a curry and a range of ramens, which are the real stars of the show.
We visited Vegan Bistro Jangara twice, and got different things each time so we could try more of the menu.
On our first visit, we ordered two ramens: the karabon (spicy Tonkotsu ramen) and the kobonshan (Tonkotsu ramen with fried garlic oil).
When they arrived, both of them looked amazing, the bowls nearly overflowing with fragrant broth and noodles. Each comes topped with seared soy mint, and a mix of veggies.
Normally, my husband and I share so we can both try more, but that’s kind of hard to do with ramen. “Taste both and take whichever one you like better” I told him, internally praying that I’d get the garlicky one. “I think I prefer the garlic” he said, pulling the kobonshan towards himself.
The Kobonshan: An understandable choice to be honest, it’s not like anything I’d ever tasted before. The dominant taste is garlic, but not in an overpowering, nose-clearing kind of way. It’s like a sweetened, roasted, warming, deep garlic flavour. It’s got a hit of umami too that makes you want to come back for more. (And I did, a few times)
The Karabon: Thankfully, the ramen I ended up with, the karabon, was also incredibly good. It’s spicy, but the kind of subtle spice that builds throughout the meal until my eyes were a little watery. Japan isn’t typically known for spicy food, so if you go and expect “spicy” at this restaurant to mean “vaguely peppery”, consider yourself warned.
Appetisers and other items:
On the second visit, we decided to get more of a mix of things. We ordered the buffalo wings, kara-age and quesadillas to share. Even though these are all listed in the appetisers part of the menu, it’s more than enough food for two to share.
- The kara-age is great, the crispy coating is chewy and satisfying, with a slice of lemon squeezed over and a little pot of ranch to dip it in.
- The buffalo wings are genuinely quite mild, veering more sweet than spicy.
- The quesadillas were interesting. You get two different fillings: one was a soy mince and cheese filling, similar to a standard quesadilla, while the other had a cumin and chickpea filling that reminded me more of a curry or samosa than a quesadilla. Not unpleasant, but unexpected.
The Price Point
Given Vegan Bistro Jangara’s location in the heart of Harajuku, the prices are higher than you’ll find at a quick-service restaurant like Tsukemen Zuppa, but is still great value for the quality of the food and the portion size.
A bowl of the Karabon or Kobonshan ramen cost ¥1450 each when we visited, and appetisers like gyoza or kara-age typically cost between around ¥600-1200 per dish.
For us, a meal for two with drinks and a shared appetiser and dessert came to around ¥4600, or around £22. I’d consider that a very good deal considering how delicious and high quality the food was, and that we left feeling very satisfied.
Location
Address: ２Ｆ, 1 Chome-13-21 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Nearest station: 2 min walk from Harajuku Station
Final Thoughts
Once in awhile, I come across a dish or a new flavour that just sticks with me. It hangs around in the back of my head like some song lyrics I can’t quite place, and it only goes away when I’ve managed to recreate it at home. Right now, after my last trip to Japan, my culinary earworm is Vegan Bistro Jangara’s garlicky Kobonshan. Days after getting back to London, I dragged my husband down to Tian Tian Market in Canary Wharf to try and find a fried/roasted garlic oil in the Japanese food section so I could recreate this ramen. I’ve still yet to succeed, but the memory of the dish is still hanging around.
If you’re in Tokyo and you’re looking for somewhere that’s going to give you unexpected flavours and wonderful quality, go to Vegan Bistro Jangara. I promise it’s worth a visit! Beyond the ramen, the variety on the menu, such as the burger, crispy kara-age and the quesadillas, makes this a great spot to go with a group. There’s something for everyone’s cravings, and the overall vibe of the restaurant is a great casual spot to hang out with friends.
Tip for Mixed Groups
If you’re going with a group who won’t go to a fully vegan restaurant (my father threatened to bring KFC to my wedding, so I feel your pain), their omni restaurant, Jangara is downstairs. The vegan options are more limited there, but you can at least order them with the confidence that vegan really does mean vegan.
