Vegan Ramen Tokyo: The Quest for the Perfect Bowl
The Quest for Vegan Ramen
Ramen is the ultimate comfort food. From the hot, nourishing broth to the indulgent noodles and rich toppings, it’s a culinary experience you can’t miss, especially if you’re visiting Japan.
However, for vegans and vegetarians planning a trip to Japan, the fish stoke and bone broth bases of traditional ramen can cause a hurdle.
Good news for my plant based pals, there’s a fantastic vegan ramen Tokyo scene and you’re not going to miss out. This post covers some of my favourite bowls in the city, and honestly, some of my favourite meals ever.
Top 3 Must-Try Vegan Ramen Spots
T’s Tantan
If you’re looking for a convenient and flavourful bowl of ramen on the go, T’s Tantan is your friend. Dishing up some of the most famous vegan ramen Tokyo has to offer, T’s Tantan is a household name and can often be seen on supermarket shelves, where they offer a range of instant noodles and ready meals.
T’s Tantan is an offshoot of the popular T’s Restaurant and has been around since 2011. It’s famous for its rich, creamy Tantanmen which is a sesame and nut milk based broth. Here you’ll find a creamy, warming bowl of noodles that’s perfect as a moment of peace from the busy city.
Why it’s on my list
T’s Tantan is strategically located inside the ticket gates of two major Tokyo train stations: Tokyo Station and JR Ikebukuro Station, as well as having two branches in Narita airport. Whether you’re about to head off on the next leg of your Japan journey, or want a final bowl of noodley goodness before leaving Japan, T’s is ideally located for it.
I’ve been to T’s Tantan on both of my visits to Japan, and each time, the food was excellent. Their Golden Sesame Tantanmen is rich and savoury, and the vegan gyoza are crispy and satisfying.
The price point is reasonable for Tokyo – you’re looking at about ¥1,100 for a bowl of tantanmen noodles and the portion size is large, definitely enough to fill you up!
I’ve written a complete review of T’s Tantan here, including all of the dishes I tried, what I’d recommend and what I’d skip.
Locations
- The Main Branch: T’s Tantan Gransta Tokyo (Tokyo Station)
- Location: Inside the ticket gates of JR Tokyo Station
- T’s Tantan Ikebukuro Station
- Location: Inside the JR Ikebukuro Station ticket gates, Central Concourse
- The Airport Branches – Narita Airport
- Narita Terminal 1: Located in the Tokyo Food Bar, after immigration and security. Past Gate 51.
- Narita Terminal 2: Located on the 4th floor, before the security check.
Access tips and how exactly to find each branch is covered in my review post.
Tsukemen Zuppa
If you want a true vegan ramen Tokyo-style experience, then Tsukemen Zuppa needs to be on your list. This tiny restaurant near Tokyo Dome may only have seven seats, but what it lacks in space, it makes up for in intimacy, vibe and flavour. Ramen counters are a common sight in Tokyo, and this little spot lets veggies get a taste of the experience too.
This shop specialises in tsukemen, a dish that originated in Tokyo and features noodles that you dip into a concentrated, rich, hot broth. As well as their namesake noodles, Tsukemen Zuppa offers vegan and vegetarian ramen options, including my personal favourite, the soy milk ramen.
Why it’s on my list
The quality here is incredible, especially at a very affordable price point. The soy milk ramen that I had here is still to this day the best ramen I’ve ever had, especially with the little chili oil kick. A meal here will set you back around ¥900-1000, making it one of the cheapest restaurant meals I had throughout my time in Japan.
The vibe is a small, authentic dining experience. You order and pay for your meal from a vending machine outside. Once a stool inside frees up, you’ll enter, take your seat and hand your ticket over to the chef. As the chef works on your inevitably delicious meal, you’ll get to watch and appreciate the Tokyo counter dining atmosphere.
Tip: Carry cash with you, as the vending machine only accepts Japanese yen notes and coins.
Location
Tsukemen Zuppa is located in Chiyoda City, with the closest metro station being Suidobashi. From there, it’s a few minutes walk to the restaurant.
I’ve written a complete, detailed review of this wonderful place, including the menu breakdown, my favourite dish and tips for navigating the tiny shop and the vending machine.
Vegan Bistro Jangara
Less than a two minute walk from Harajuku station, away from the crowds of tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous street style the area is known for, you’ll find Vegan Bistro Jangara. It’s a restaurant that sits on the second floor above its omni sister restaurant, and it’s where you’ll find a cosy, casual bistro that serves up a surprisingly varied menu. Their ramens are the undoubtable stars of the menu, but they also offer up izakaya style food like gyoza and kara-age, as well as burgers and curries, so it’s great for those “I don’t know what I want” moments.
Here you’ll find table service and low lighting – not full on fancy date night vibes, but definitely somewhere it’s okay to stop and stay a little while.
Why it’s on my list
Vegan Bistro Jangara is where you want to hit up for slow-simmered, deep flavoured Tonkotsu style ramen. They’ve got four types of ramen on the menu, and their two most renowned are the karabon (a spicy ramen) and the kobonshan (made with fried garlic oil). Both are incredible in their own ways, and both are very different in style and taste to the other ramen shops on this list.
The Must-Try: The Kobonshan (with the fried garlic oil) is high on my list for the most creative vegan ramen Tokyo has to offer. I’m still attempting to recreate this recipe in my own kitchen.
Location
- Neighborhood: Harajuku, 2nd Floor (Take the lift up).
- Nearest Station: Harajuku Station (Takeshita Street Exit) or Meiji-jingumae Station.
I’ve written a complete, detailed review of this lovely spot, which you can read for more details on the menu and what to expect.
Tips for Vegan Ramen Seekers
Ingredients and Ordering
- Fully vegan is your best bet.
- While some omni restaurants offer a vegetable ramen, it can still contain dashi (fish stock), bonito flakes or noodles made from egg. If you can, I’d recommend sticking to fully vegan restaurants like the ones listed here.
- Not every ingredient may be translated.
- Although a lot of restaurants do their best to cater to tourists, there may be more information on the Japanese version of the menu. Having an e-sim to use Google Translate may help you reveal hidden ingredients you didn’t expect.
- Soy milk: If you see Tonyu Ramen (soy milk ramen), that’s just a flavour choice like miso or shoyu. In non-vegan restaurants, this can sometimes still have a pork or chicken base, so again, check with the staff before ordering!
Money, money, money
- Cash is (usually) king. Not every restaurant will accept card, and smaller spots like Tsukemen Zuppa use a cash-only vending machine out front. Always have a few ¥1,000 notes and coins on you before you go.
- Vending machines are usually in Japanese. They often have pictures on the buttons to give you an idea of what you’re getting, but again, this is where an e-sim to use Google translate comes in very handy.
- Card is sometimes accepted. Larger or chain places like T’s Tantan or newer spots like Vegan Bistro Jangara usually accept cards or other payments like Suica/Pasmo, so you can save your yen for places that don’t.
Mind your manners
- Slurping is okay! Slurping your noodles is a compliment, and a common sight. It signals to the chef that you’re really enjoying your meal and that they’ve done a great job.
- You’re not at a dinner party. As much as I love lingering over a meal for hours in a Parisian restaurant, in Japan, ramen is a quick serve meal. If there’s a line of people waiting, or you’re in a small ramen shop, eat quickly and move on. This isn’t the right place to sit and read a book or chat for hours.
- Keep your phone on silent. If you’re dining alone and scrolling while you slurp, keep it on silent. Don’t take calls on speaker, and nobody needs to hear the tinny sound of TikToks over their noodles.
- Seating is tight. Especially in small places, the seating is limited and you may be elbow-to-elbow with someone you don’t know. If you’re in a group of 4 or more, be prepared to split up the group and sit separately, or else wait for a table.
- Watch your bags. If there’s a basket or some kind of netting under your seat, that’s the spot to stow your stuff. These shops can be small, so folding up your coat or tucking your bag out of the way is respectful to others and helps prevent anyone tripping.
A Note on Vejin
When I started writing this post, I wanted to include my very first vegan ramen Tokyo experience: Vejin. The day I touched down in Japan for the first time, I’d already located this place in Foodhall Blast near our hotel in Shinjuku. I still remember sitting there with my husband, both of us bleary eyed and jet lagged, having barely slept in the last 24 hours. I had a bowl of ramen in front of me, people around me drinking beer and chatting, and thinking to myself “wow, I’m in Tokyo”.
Sadly, I’ve since learned that Vejin has closed down. According to their instagram, the owners have relocated to Osaka, where they’re still serving up vegan noodles in a new restaurant called Osaka Ohsho Namba Sennichimae.
Final Noodle Slurp
If you take away one thing from this guide, I hope it’s that your vegan ramen Tokyo adventure can be an incredibly varied and delicious one. Tokyo has so many amazing restaurants, with so many options for vegans. While you can find a perfunctory vegan option at some omni restaurants, there’s also such a variety of vegan and vegetarian speciality ramen shops around the city.
Whether you’re looking for a calm, chill dinner vibe like Vegan Bistro Jangara, or the authentic ramen shop counter experience like Tsukemen Zuppa, there’s a whole range of bowls across the city for you to try.
Each of the spots on this list are places that I’ve been to more than once, and for good reason. All of them remain pinned on my google maps for return visits or recommendations to friends. Whether you want to try the spicy soy milk ramen in Tsukemen Zuppa, grab a quick bowl of sesame tantanmen from T’s Tantan before a train ride, or need to know why I’m so obsessed with the garlicky ramen at Vegan Bistro Jangara, you’re in for a good time.
So, get your yen ready, have Google translate on hand, and go out and discover Tokyo’s best veggie noodles.
