Hyperlocal Tokyo

I had the completely vegetarian Shojin Ryori course for lunch. The food was so satisfying that I couldn't help but ask the staff, "Are you sure this doesn't contain any animal products or five pungent ingredients?" It was all so delicious. The sake selection was also excellent, featuring high-quality options. The portions were generous, and it was a truly delightful experience.

I've dined at this restaurant for both dinner and lunch. As a vegan, I was relieved to find that the dinner course could be fully vegan with advance reservation. However, I was surprised to learn that some dishes in the course and lunch menu use bonito (skipjack tuna) broth. It's uncommon to use bonito in traditional Shojin Ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), so this was unexpected. The lunch menu didn't mention this, and I had to ask the staff to find out. The curry, however, was completely plant-based. Since the restaurant advertises itself as serving Shojin Ryori, I believe there's a risk of foreign visitors mistakenly ordering dishes containing animal products, assuming they are entirely free of them. I recommend making reservations in advance, as they seem accommodating. The quality and taste of the food are excellent, so I hope they consider offering a fully plant-based menu, given their emphasis on Shojin Ryori.

This is a high-end vegetarian cuisine restaurant. I started a vegan lifestyle, and my partner became interested in Oriental vegetarianism, so we went to learn about it. The taste, the atmosphere, and the service were all high-quality, exceeding our expectations. There were no tatami rooms within sight, only tables. I think it's characteristic that you can see the kitchen over the counter. The food was fresh, with tempura subtly incorporated into various dishes, and it was surprisingly light despite being fried. The volume is typical for this type of course restaurant, but it was a bit too much.

I had the limited lunch bento box. The quiet atmosphere and the double-tiered bento box were filled with a variety of side dishes, making it hard to decide where to start. The white miso soup was also gentle and soothing. It would be perfect if there were detailed descriptions of the side dishes. I would like to recommend this place to my vegetarian friends from overseas, and I would like to visit again for dinner if I have the chance.

Pre-COVID Visit Record I was recommended to visit Roppongi Sohu by a friend who is passionate about food. It's located in the building across from the APA Hotel. The menu changes about twice a month. I ordered the dessert set, and I had a hard time choosing from the main course, drinks, and desserts. It was hot, so I also ordered a kitsune udon (udon noodles with fried tofu). First, I had the salad. It had a nice sesame flavor. It also had pickled radishes and soybean sprouts. The crispy potato topping was a nice accent. It's nice to be able to savor each bite. Women will appreciate that. There was also braised eggplant, young corn, and broad beans. Tomato tofu with basil sauce. Young bamboo shoots and green vegetables with a simple dressing. Deep-fried tofu with arare (rice crackers). Bamboo shoot dumplings. The texture was smooth, and the bamboo shoot flavor filled my mouth. It was delicious! Green vegetables with ume (plum) dressing. The kitsune had a strong flavor. Overall, the food was more heavily seasoned than I expected. Hot ginger latte. The dessert set B was an additional 150 yen. I chose the maitake (hen of the woods mushroom) cake. It was decorated with fruit and flowers, making it very elegant! The maitake was apparently blended into a puree and added to the cake. You could definitely taste a hint of maitake. It's great to eat maitake in this way, as it's packed with healthy ingredients. I want to try this at home! Finally, I had some tea and felt warm and cozy. I sat at the counter, so I could see the chefs preparing the food. The portions were small, so it might be a good choice for a slightly luxurious lunch for women.