Vegan
Organic
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Asian
Gluten-free
Korean

Ramen restaurant turned fully vegan in 2016. No MSG. Signature seasoning is all-purpose liquid yeast housemade from brown rice. Menu written in English, Chinese, and Korean. Electric outlets at some seats. Also known as Shimokitazawa Chabuzen. Open Tue-Sun 5:00pm-10:00pm. Closed Mon.


Venue map for Yakuzenshokudo Chabuzen
© OpenStreetMap contributors

79 Reviews

First Review by Oine

ayaka.fructose

Points +144

Vegan
14 Dec 2024

You can enjoy special ramen with distinctive soup!

I had garlic-flavored ramen. This time I tried rice flour noodles, which tasted like soba noodles. It's also super tasty to add rice to the remaining soup, so I hope you'll try it! (post added on December 14, 2024)

The vegan curry (the rice was germinated fermented brown rice!) was delicious as well as the vegan ramen. Apparently, this ramen shop was originally a restaurant that served soup curry, not ramen, so it was full of attention to detail. (post added on October 26, 2024)

I come here to eat when I have a chance to visit the Tokyo area for work. The owner of this restaurant, which opened in 2008, is a one-man operation. The owner has a strong commitment to thoroughly avoid using ingredients that contain food additives that may be harmful to health.

The ramen soup is made with vegetable stock and yeast liquid derived from brown rice, which gives it a distinctive flavor and leaves a lingering strong aftertaste. The noodles are not Chinese noodles, but thin pasta noodles like capellini, which may feel strange to some people (I think the reason he don't use Chinese noodles is to avoid kansui, a food additive). You can also change the noodles to rice noodles. The fried dumplings are also very delicious and will go well with alcohol.

It's a little far from the station, about a 10-minute walk, but the parking lots nearby aren't too expensive, so you can come by car even from far away.

Updated from previous review on 2024-10-25

flagellantti

Points +922

Vegan
26 Sep 2024

From a big "yay" to "nay" in seconds

The restaurant is very atmospheric with only a few seats and serene music in the background. I went shortly after opening time so the chef took a while to prepare the food. In the meantime I browsed the menu to practice my novice japanese, and noticed that the menu has a few pages dedicated to anti-vaxxer propaganda, and a few more to some alternative medicine organisation called luminary or luminous or something.

Edit: as another happy cow user pointed out, it appears there is also some anti-semitic literature in the restaurant.

Updated from previous review on 2024-09-26

MagaliePerriot

Points +19

Vegetarian
14 Sep 2024

Cute cozy local restaurant

It was cozy and the relaxing music was what I needed after a hectic day.

Pros: English translation , Tasty food, Relaxing

Cons: A bit small to sit

alysmsmith

Points +229

Vegan
09 Sep 2024

Cozy Place

Cozy VEGAN ramen restaurant in a quiet area of Tokyo. The curry ramen was good!

Updated from previous review on 2024-09-09

littlefluffyclouds

Points +17

Vegan
20 Aug 2024

Tiny restaurant (aka "cosy") - 5 seats max

Vegan
Tasty
Very good quality ingredients
Wonderful service
Kind owner

Pros: Intimate atmosphere, Tatami and low table seating, The other clientele are friendly

Cons: I felt a little hot when the ramen water was..., ...boiling and the place was full (ie 5 people!), But that's probably on account of my excess weight

hybrid

Points +26

Vegan
10 May 2024

im heartbroken

I saw this place on a YouTube video a few years ago and dreamed of coming here, it was literally the one ramen place I needed to go to when I visited Japan

Finally I’m here and I’m so upset

The food was mid, not terrible, just mid. However, I am a fussy eater! Ordered the recommended ramen, garlic gyoza & fried soy meat. The fried soy meat was okay, gyoza didn’t taste of garlic and the ramen was spaghetti noodles, which isn’t totally unheard of but I was a bit confused

What was heartbreaking was the owner seemed kinda cold towards us AND he is a massive anti-vaxxer. He’s got some bullshit propaganda in the [censored] menu!!

It’s such a shame because this is a small, independent place ran by one guy who has just lost himself to the crazy brigade

Unfortunately, I won’t be coming back

Favial

Points +20

Vegan
21 Apr 2024

Very disappointing experience

The restaurant had antisemitic memorabilia (Protocols of the Elders of Zion ). This made the whole experience quite uncomfortable - I wouldn’t go back to support a place like that.
The food was only ok, and very overpriced for just broth and noodles with barely any toppings.
Strongly don’t recommend.

fabiane

Points +756

Vegan
05 Apr 2024

Taste Ramem

The ramen was delicious, the restaurant is vegan and also has gluten free options, is a small, Japanese style place, many nice Ramen and gyoza options. The gyoza was not too much much my taste, but my friend liked it. A bit pricey, so be prepared to spend more than other normal Ramen place.

AnitaDollar

Points +4081

Vegan
29 Feb 2024

Fantastic ramen

I enjoyed every sip of this rich broth! Cannot wait to go back and try all flavours :)

sasham

Points +4724

Vegan
10 Feb 2024

Still amazing!

Updated review 2024:
I was here last time around three years ago and the ramen is still amazing! Shop owner is such a great person, conscious and an empathetic person.

The ramen is still amazing, broth is made with carefully selected organic ingredients. Im going to be coming here more often as food is great and idea and mindset of the shop is needed in the world.


Old review:
I thought I had eaten some pretty good vegan ramen in Tokyo already, but this one is fantastic!
What a cute little gem in Shimokitazawa! I wish I had come here earlier, and will return for sure. It is so important to support these small businesses, especially during these times. The shop is located around 12 minutes from Shimokitazawa station.

Yakuzenshokudo Chabuzen is a small and intimate space and the food is made with love. The shop has an extensive ramen menu and around five different gyoza dishes. A small drink and alcohol menu is also available. The ramen soup base is made as per Kyushu traditions, with the mission statement of making it natural, vegan and with fresh ingredients. Some of the dishes are named "dragon" after Bruce Lee :-)

We had the recommended ramen dish, spicy gyoza set and the homemade chai. The owner/chef was very nice, quite attentive and took interest in us. The ramen soup was powerful in taste and
you can pick a thick or thin noodle type. The regular size ramen comes with a generous amount of toppings too and the dish is tasty and filling.
The shop has a point card system, that I for sure will actively use.

Updated from previous review on 2024-02-10

Pros: Everything, Point card system

Cons: Small space, so go with a small group.

eam

Points +245

Vegan
14 Dec 2023

friendly chef, cozy setting

Chef speaks English and is welcoming. Note that seating is more traditional with an elevated seating area you remove your shoes before sitting on (not a good restaurant if you’re wearing a skirt). Great meal.

harrisonfm

Points +681

Vegan
11 Dec 2023

Antivax Ramen

It was a little weird seeing the back pages of the menu dedicated to antivaccine propaganda but there it is.

Additionally, I thought the seating was uncomfortable and have never before had vegan ramen without any veggies.

I’d say skip but this is the only vegan ramen in the area, so maybe take your noodles with a side of crazy.

Updated from previous review on 2023-12-06

kaus19

Points +942

Vegetarian
12 Oct 2023

Nice little vegan gem in the neighbourhood

Had a nice time here. Need to walk a bit from the station. The chef was kind and made feel welcoming. Ramen and gyoza were undoubtedly delicious. You get to sit in the nice little spot with your shoes off. Recommended!

KristinaLR

Points +177

Vegan
10 Oct 2023

Superb ramen and gyoza

This intimate place is the real deal - a one man operation of 2 tables and a counter. The dragon ramen was absolutely something special and one of my food highlights from Japan.

Pros: small independent business, lots of choice, so tasty

Cons: hot inside in hot weather!

HermanoGranger

Points +346

Vegan
08 Oct 2023

Cute little Ramen shop

A small fully vegan Ramen shop in the outskirts of Shimo-Kitazawa. This place was recommended by a japanese Friend. It's a tiny joint, with just two tables. Upon entering, you leave your shoes behind and settle in, either on your knees or cross-legged. The place is a one-man show—the owner, an elderly Japanese gentleman, handles everything, from cooking to serving, right in front of you.

What I ate:
- brown rice yeast Ramen w/ thin noodles, seaweed and fried Tofu

The broth was an absolute delight—creamy and bursting with umami. The brown rice yeast imparted a unique and delicious flavor. The thin noodles were cooked to perfection, and the addition of fried tofu brought a welcome protein element. However, I found myself craving more veggies and toppings.

It was quite basic ramen but it did the basics absolutely right. It was just missing some more toppings for me. The owner was incredibly kind and even offered me a complimentary tea when I asked for the check. If you don't mind the cross-legged seating, which can be a bit challenging for extended periods, it's definitely worth a visit.

WholefoodVeganPodcast

Points +62

Vegan
08 Sep 2023

So personal

What an amazing Japanese experience. A VERY small restaurant and easy to miss walking by. We sat cross legged and enjoyed a wonderful ramen, all cooked, served and greeted by one man. Absolutely loved it.

Pros: Service , Taste, Experience

vagovegano

Points +5407

Vegan
06 Sep 2023

The ramen is the bomb…

This place had good reviews by others on the Happy Cow app and I’ll have to concur. It’s a really small dive operated by a very nice gentleman. The ramen came to my table piping hot just how I like it. It didn’t have to travel that far since there was about 3-4 feet between me and the chef’s kitchenette. That’s how small this place was. In any case, the ramen and the garlic gyoza I ordered were very delicious. If you want the hole in the wall ramen Tokyo experience, then you gotta come support this small little restaurant.

Pros: Absolutely delicious food, Very good service

Cons: Tiny but charming restaurant space

Cue

Points +63

Vegan
05 Aug 2023

Super lecker und authentisch

Ein sehr kleines aber sehr sehr feines Ramenrestaurent. Alles ist vegan und superlecker.
Ich kann es sehr empfehlen und auf meiner Japanreise war es eines der besten Essen, die ich genießen durfte.

Pros: Aufmerksamer Koch, Tolle Atmosphäre

RobyneTops

Points +38

Vegan
30 Jul 2023

Delicious Ramen

Small place but really good food!

lilinaomi

Points +59

Vegan
23 Jul 2023

Sooo delicious and such a cool place

Very small and cool place with sooo yummy ramen!!! We loved it and want to go back

Aussietraveller

Points +575

Vegan
19 Jul 2023

Real gem in tokyo!

I had the white dragon soup (which was so fantastic!!! Really surprised me!) and the gyozas were also great. This is a real hole in the wall type place and it’s just the owner working. He’s very friendly. Fantastic food. Absolutely recommend!

ZacW

Points +13

Vegetarian
30 May 2023

Best food I've had in Japan

Cozy hole-in-the-wall shop. 1 man operation, he cooks all the food right in front of you and it tastes amazing. Everything on the menu is great. It's a lot of ramen and I still finished my bowl. Highly recommend.

Pros: Great flavorful menu, Great service, Not too expensive

Cons: Not many options

GbTheQueen

Points +269

Vegan
27 Mar 2023

Best Vegan Ramen in Tokyo

What can I say I had a few ramen here in Tokyo and this one just nailed it out the park. I love it!!

I don’t even know how to describe it but he does a good job. You get to see them make it and enjoy a small ramen shop just like in the anime. You can’t get any surreal. Must try.

Pros: Great vegan ramen, Great service , Great Atmosphere

Cons: Seating is limited

MicciM

Points +1882

Vegan
08 Jan 2023

True Kyushu ramen!

Here you can enjoy a typical Kyushu ramen without ingredients derived from animal. They also offer a rice noodles variant.
Plus, the place is located in Shimokitazawa, so it’s perfect to end the day.
Check the opening time, since right now opens only in the evening (17.00).
#Veganuary

wenhui0403

Points +29

Mostly Veg
20 Dec 2022

Delicious

quaint little shop with cute elevated floor seating. felt like i was in a movie set! we were lucky that we were the only ones😄the food was delicious and hearty and owner was a sweet nice man. i loved the garlic ramen and gyoza

mtyk

Points +192

Vegan
23 Oct 2022

Authentic atmosphere, great food

Very homey and quiet location with a fully vegan menu. The ramen was very tasty.

Xinfudge

Points +225

Vegetarian
13 Oct 2022

This place is too cute

The atmosphere is so nice here! The cute little restaurant is in the middle of an unassuming street, away from the hustle and bustle of the main section of Shimokitazawa.
The broth of the soup was sooo good I finished everything. Next time I will try the rice noodles.




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