Vegan
American
Japanese
Take-out
Fusion
Vegan restaurant and cafe serving a large menu of Japanese specialities such as ramen, katsu lunch sets, omurice, curry, cake, parfaits, and more. Located on the Teramachi-dori covered shopping street. Enter through the Mumokuteki lifestyle store and go up to the 2nd floor. Has table, counter and armchair seating, plus a spacious area for families with children. Lunch is served all afternoon. Last order is 1 hour before closing. Open Mon-Tue 11:30am-5:30pm, Thu-Fri 11:30am-5:30pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-6:30pm.
274 Reviews
First Review by wanderingvegans
ReiAmber
Points +3090
I think I've developed an obsession with this place - Edit
People kept recommending it to me and I can see why.
Read moreI think the desserts were standout, especially the tiramisu parfait. The tiramisu flavor was perfect. Probably one of the top two vegan tiramisus I've had in Japan. I also enjoyed the berry parfait with mochi.
I adored the vegan pancakes, which didn't taste unpleasantly eggy. Best I've had in Japan.
The strawberry milkshake tasted pleasant but needed more strawberry flavor. If I closed my eyes I wouldn't have been able to say what flavor it was.
I also enjoyed pasta and ramen. I went back several times to sample different dishes.
Edible takeout cookies with pressed flowers on them were charming and unusual. They were also available in the 1F shop with some other vegan snacks.
I liked the lifestyle shop on the first floor with a great mix of vintage, new and remade items.
I basically should have just opened my wallet when I arrived in Kyoto and given them all my money.
It gets busy but there's a take-a-number from the machine waiting system which keeps things orderly.
Updated from previous review on 2018-05-08
Pros: great atmosphere with charming shop downstairs, wonderful tiramisu parfait, good location
Cons: can get busy, with long wait times for a table, strawberry milkshake needed more flavor
Guest
misusyaya
Points +510
Great for sweets cravings! - Edit
I had the avocado burger. It looked good, but not that amazing. The portion was quite small for the price.
Read moreThe houjicha shake however was heavenly!!! I would return to try the other shakes cakes ;)
Pros: Clearly labeled , Great selections of vegan desserts, Cute interior
Cons: Pricy, Small portion
Guest
wonderwander
Points +62
Adorable, with a few amazing vegan options - Edit
This delightful cafe is on the second floor above a lifestyle store not far from Nishiki Market. It has a cute and calming atmosphere with very plush chairs. The only downside is that about 75% of their savory food menu contains dashi (fish stock). However, each dish is very clearly labeled on the menu. I had the tofu burger, which was small but delicious. For dessert I had the tiramisu, which was fantastic! In my opinion the prices were a little high for such small portions, but it was a wonderful treat in a cute spot.
Read morePros: Delicious, Convenient location, Extremely cute
Cons: Small portions, Lots of items are not vegan because of dashi
Guest
JoannaWatts
Points +401
Great place for good value food - Edit
This was a surprising find - really nice restaurant up above a clothes shop. It was popular - we had to wait for a table - but it was only 20 mins and it was worth it. Good range and reasonable prices. Highly recommend the tofu burger!
Read morePros: Good range of options, Pleasant atmosphere , Reasonably priced
Cons: Busy - may need to wait for a table
Guest
ColinGunther
Points +68
great taste and value - Edit
we had to wait 15 minutes but this seems the norm. it was worth it. English Menu, good service, tasty food. I had the " burger which was not brilliant but tasty and a good serve of rice and salad. Two of us ate and had a drink for 2600 yen. They are very clear about the fish oil/sauce which is a problem every where in Japan. but easily to avoid as it marked and you can change the order.. It is up stairs inside their clothing shop but easy enough on google. an interesting thing i they are child friendly with a separate area for them.
Read morePros: good proportions , good service, tasty
Cons: not used to waiting for food
Guest
oHelloLisao
Points +43
Great experience - Edit
My husband and I came here on our trip to Kyoto. We tried to come on a Wednesday evening and it was closed, not sure if that’s a weekly thing or what. We came back the following day. The atmosphere was very cute and cozy. I had been feeling pretty sick since arriving in Kyoto (dry air and new allergies) but the soy milk ramen brought me back to life. Really delicious. The whole restaurant is vegetarian save for some items clearly marked with fish broth. This is typical of my experience of japan (not the labeling, but rather including fish as a vegetarian option). My husband had the other ramen choice which had fish broth and he really enjoyed it as well, but obviously was not vegetarian.
Read morePros: vegetarian options clearly labeled , good food
Cons: closed the first time we tried going
Guest
UrVeggieMate
Points +1028
Mostly hits and one miss - Edit
Ordered: Soy milk ramen. You can order this as a set meal or by itself; I ordered it by itself. Got a ramen with creamy white stock, topped with LOTS of shimeji mushrooms and green onions.
Read moreThis place is located on one of the main stretches in Nishiki Market, so is not difficult to find at all. The menu is not all vegan but very explicit about where and when fish stock is used. Other than the items that use fish stock, the rest of the menu is vegan. Drinks and dessert included. They also have a store downstairs for vintage clothing, for those who like the natural, rustic aesthetic.
My soy milk ramen was creamy and very full-flavoured! The stock honestly is enough for me to highly recommend this menu item! I also love mushrooms so was very happy when my order came with a generous amount of mushrooms. I would have liked to see more varieties of toppings on the ramen though.
My non-veg family was also with me at the time. My sister wasn't too hungry and ordered pumpkin soup with bread. She said the soup was nothing to write home about (what's more, the bowl was only half-filled) but the bread was good; fresh and soft, perfect for soaking up the soup.
My cousin loves avocado and so ordered the avocado burger. It came with fries and salad. My cousin appreciated how generous the slices of avocado were and also quite liked the tofu patty.
My mum ordered the rice and veg doria, which she greatly enjoyed. She's not too keen on soy milk and was surprised by how creamy the dish was, even saying it was one of her favourite meals of the trip.
In short: the ramen, burger, and doria were hits. The pumpkin soup was half a hit for the bread, but the actual bulk of the meal (the soup) was underwhelming. A good place to visit if you're tiring of Japanese food and need something Western.
Pros: Wide selection of vegan options , Good location - easy to find
Cons: Would have liked to see more toppings on the ramen, And a more substantial serving of pumpkin soup! , Pricey - Western food in Japan usually is though
Guest
MelissaW
Points +940
delicious burger, clearly marked menu - Edit
I got the tofu burger with chips, was very good. The menu is not all vegan but the English menu they give you clearly marks all places with fish. Very helpful staff, and please check out the adorable shop/antiques selection downstairs, they even sell vegan chocolate!
Read morePros: clear menu , 3 levels of very cute shop
Guest
sharklovergirl
Points +83
nice but pricey - Edit
Nice, a lot of the stuff contains fish sauce though. We ate the avocado burger and the spicey potatoes and they were nice. My bf loved the burger so much, but for me it was alright. A nice range of vegan desserts, and luckily we didn’t have to wait in line at all.
Read morePros: desserts
Cons: pricey
Guest
Debowhiz
Points +54
Great selection, fun atmosphere - Edit
Although the miso soup isn’t vegan everything else was. We had the burgers with avocado (taking a break from noodles) and the organic beer. The patty was delicious, a tofu mix with a pan fried crispy crust outside. Fries and a salad included. Perfect portion for a lighter appetite or if you add one of the delicious desserts it would be a filling meal. The fresh juices they have are tasty. Pro tip: if it’s busy go up and take a number from the host, it tells you how many groups are in front of you, wait downstairs and a monitor keeps you up to date on where you are in the queue. They don’t allow any food to go unfortunately. There are standard dining tables and a separate section with more casual lounge like tables and chairs. It’s all set within a 2 story bldg with a clothing/misc vintage like shop and upstairs, the restaurant, was more set in an old converted (but very nicely done) manufacturing place. English menu, be seated, flag a waitperson to order, when done bring your bill to the register toward the host stand.
Read moreGuest
JanineBarthel
Points +310
Always amazing - Edit
This is one of my favorite places in Kyoto. I love it for many reasons - the opening hours, the food, the location.
Read moreIt's cozy and relaxing.
There's usually a wait for lunch and dinner (we waited anywhere between 10-45 mins).
The food is almost exclusively vegan except for the fish broth that is used on some set meals (order without and it's vegan).
I have tried all the sets, the dinner/weekend special, most of the desserts and their vegetable curry, fried gluten bowl, rice tofuburger plate, their two burgers and the spicy potatoes. The food is always reallllllly good.
My favorites are the curry (it's fantastic), the chocolate ice shake, their ramen, the mixed dinner plate with tofu burgers and cutlets, and their cheesecake.
My fiance loves the gluten rice bowl.
I'm sure there's something for everyone on the menu. Service is good and quick once you got a spot.
I recommend it 100%.
Pros: 99% vegan menu, good prices + delicious food, perfect location
Cons: sometimes long waiting time
Guest
Nancy Cadet
Points +876
Interesting shop, central location, but... - Edit
The staff was friendly , the menu indicates which dishes contain fish stock (many) but the waitperson was willing to substitute vegan alternatives in the set meals we ordered.
Read moreThe food was not memorable or especially tasty. It was more like veggie comfort food, if you like crispy fried and breaded main dishes, thick creamy sauce, home-fried style root veggies, or smoothies.
But if you prefer a variety of greens, or savory and subtle flavoring, or, since some reviewers have praised their faux-pork noodle dish, I recommend the very tasty noodles in soy milk-sesame sauce at GoMacro Salon instead. Their food is consistently delicious, while my partner and I found Mumokuteki ' s to be meh. And for vegan comfort food, try vegans cafe in Fushimi.
We had to wait 20-25 minutes for a table, but once seated, the service was quick.
Updated from previous review on 2017-11-08
Pros: Central location , Easy to find, Shabby chic decor
Guest
Ika
Points +251
Excellent vegan burger - Edit
Nicely decorated 'vintage style' restaurant, which is located on the second floor. When I arrived, the waiter gave me a number and asked me to wait in the shop at the basement floor. After about 10 min he picked me up. They have an extensive english menu with pictures. I tried the avocado burger, which was excellent. I would actually say, the tofu based patty was the best I ever ate (soft inside, cross outside). Staff was very friendly.
Read moreGuest
IrenaHarrison
Points +90
Amazing! - Edit
Loved it!! Great price, beautiful presentation, nice atmosphere.
Read moreGuest
yanina
Points +80
Vegan ramen - Edit
They have a nice menu and a lot of food to choose from. I had ramen there and it was very good, although not the best I've ever had. The place looks cool, it is not pricey at all and location is very central as well. I found the fish broth in set menus a bit strange, but whatever floats their boat I guess. There definitely are better places, but it was still enjoyable visit and I'll be most probably coming back. English menu available for non-japanese speakers.
Read morePros: relatively cheap, good selection, central location
Cons: not completely vegan/vegetarian, long waiting time, service a bit slow
Guest
HollyRoseRobinson
Points +70
wide range on the menu - Edit
Arriving in a kyoto thunderstorm we wanted the closest place to our hostel. There was a lot to choose from, we both had tofu burgers with rice and salad - v yummy! Items with fish stock were clearly marked with a fish and we also had ab english menu. Food was very tasty and the environment and service very pleasant.
Read morePros: english menu, varied menu
Guest
YokeMunLim
Points +979
Decent vegan options, delicious cakes - Edit
I used to go to Mumokuteki a lot before it blew up last year since it is located at a fairly central location. Now I hardly go there anymore because the waiting time has doubled. Once I went there with friends and the staff forgot we were waiting downstairs which wasn't pleasant. They have an extensive and affordable menu but half of the items contain fish broth which are labeled with a fish symbol, so vegans and vegetarians beware. I've heard that you can request vegan versions of their set menus which usually contain fish broth but I haven't tried that. They do have a good veggie curry and really tasty cakes with cream and fresh fruits. Other than that I would only recommend this place if you have nowhere else to go downtown. There are better options in the North and South Kyoto which are more laid back, have friendlier staff and serve better food.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-07-16
Pros: Decent and inexpensive vegan options, Bright and spacious interior , Fairly delicious cakes
Cons: Long waiting time , Lots of food items that contain fish broth , Inconsistent service
Guest
paulbelafonte
Points +64
Great healthy meals - Edit
This place has great healthy style vegan/vegetarian meals. Staff were really lovely and the food was great. Definitely up there with my favourite places that I ate at in Japan. If you're in Kyoto this is a must do.
Read moreGuest
KateH
Points +78
So delicious! - Edit
Came to Kyoto for 5 days with my girlfriend, and this was our favorite place! The avocado burger was delicious, as was the miso cutlet. We couldn't get enough.
Read morePros: Wide selection of veggie and vegan dishes, Best soy latte in kyoto, Japanese and western flavors
Cons: Fish stock in the miso
Guest
JessTravelsALot
Points +64
Very nice and healthy - Edit
Wonderful vegan versions of traditional Japanese food and vegan parfaits!!
Read moreI would rate it as second best place we ate in Kyoto. Definitely worth a visit
Guest
Cam
Points +2089
Very good option - Edit
Even though I tend to favorise vegetarian and vegan restaurants when I travel, I liked Mumokuteki and when back for a second time.
Read moreI had the noodle set dîner and a curry, both were delicious, filling and under 1200 yens. They use fish stock for some dishes but it is clearly labelled.
They have a few traditional japanese dishes and hamburgers, spaghettis and cakes.
It suite popular so you might be asked to wait a little.
Pros: Tasty, Nice staff, Bright, well decorated
Guest
HeatherL
Points +28
Wonderful find! - Edit
We ate at Mumokuteki three times during our stay in Kyoto. We are always delighted to find vegan food, especially when it is so tasty. They have a "pork" ramen that was simply amazing, great flavors and large in portion. Highly recommend this restaurant. We attempted to eat there on a Wednesday night but they were closed as is their norm, apparently. Also, this is a busy place and you may have to wait for your number to be called so make sure you pick one up.
Read moreGuest
Kerouac32
Points +230
Great Restaurant - Edit
I had the Tofu Burger Set and it was very good. It came with a nice salad and excellent fried potatoes. The Burger had an interesting texture, crispy on the outside and soft inside. The cafe was very busy when we got there around 20:00 and we waited about 40 minutes for a table but the store was very nice to walk around in.
Read morePros: English menu, Good amount of vegan options
Guest
AndreaJohnson
Points +30
Amazing meal - Edit
One of the nicest meals out I've had anywhere. Found this by accident when the local vegan eatery was closed. I had a dish with all kinds of food; rice, some tasty potato salad, leafy salad, tofu burgers, little crisps and some mayo type sauce. It was very tasty and the different flavours and textures really complimented one another. An enormous portion by Japanese standards. No room for any of the vast array of delicious looking desserts on the menu :/
Read morePros: Reasonably priced, Lots of vegan sweets, Delicious food
Cons: Some menu items contain fish stock (marked)
Guest
RowanJohnson
Points +31
Deserves a 5-star - Edit
Really enjoyed the food here and the non-veg (Dashi) food is labelled clearly. The food was really nice and was very generous proportions in my opinion, especially for Japan. We ordered a side of chips and we could hardly touch them alongside our meals. YMMV. Nice atmosphere, nice food, and seemed like a fair price
Read moreGuest
Bfreee
Points +36
Get the ramen not the burger - Edit
Great atmosphere!
Read moreCool shops near there.
Tons of good options. I just picked the wrong one. I didn't like the vegi burger. My travel companions picked well.
Lots of other options.
Perhaps the problem was also that we eat an epic vegi burger the night before.
Still glad we went:)
Guest
acmeproductionco
Points +60
Reasonable prices & good food - Edit
The first time we tried this place they had closed early which didn't fill us with confidence. We returned for a mid afternoon drink the following day and proceeded to head back for dinner that night and the following night. After an inauspicious start they certainly won us back!
Read moreThere are two entrances, one up the stairs at the front of the ground floor shop, the other at the back where there's a small waiting area (at busy times you'll be given a number - this happened both evenings we went) which leads directly up to the cafe itself. It seems popular with locals which was nice to see, as some vegan-oriented places we visited were wall-to-wall tourists.
The atmosphere is very relaxing and the staff friendly and English-speaking. They have clear English menus which they brought over as a matter of course. Food is clearly labelled if it contains fish - everything else is vegan apart from a couple of things involving honey.
Despite some of the menu being off-limits there were plenty of options to choose from, including some indulgent shakes which were the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. On our visits we tried a tofu-skin omelette draped over fried rice with an onion sauce, 'pork-bone' ramen (made with soya milk) and a couple of different burger options. We also forced ourselves to try some of the desserts and hot chocolate.
Everything was tasty, though some individual elements of dishes were a little bland - that tofu-skin omelette definitely needed the sauce it was swimming in. The burgers were excellent, not huge but not tiny. And the prices were some of the more reasonable we experienced in Japan: 2 mains and 2 desserts came in under 3000 yen, which was a bargain for the quality on offer.
Pros: Options clearly marked, great atmosphere, good pri
Cons: Seating times unpredictable
Guest
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