Vegan
Japanese
Beer/Wine
Take-out

Traditional vegan Japanese restaurant, which specialises in chazuke, a simple Japanese dish made by pouring green tea, dashi, or hot water over cooked rice. Accompany dishes may include stewed shiitake mushrooms, housemade nijiya seaweed, and nama-fu, grilled gluten in a vegan dashi stock. Address in Japanese: 中京区南車屋町287 木屋町会館1階. Open Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm.


Venue map for Vegan Izakaya NIJIYA 虹屋
© OpenStreetMap contributors

172 Reviews

First Review by pareman

ClaudiaMoore

Points +50

Vegan
13 Nov 2023

Service Problem

The restaurant only has six seats. This is not a problem. But the restaurant also allows people to hold a place in line for friends.
We had four people ahead of us. We waited 45 minutes. Then two more people arrived and joined their friends. The restaurant allowed them to cut in, forcing us to wait until another full group of six had started and finished their meals.
The server explained that the group had informed her ahead of time that they were a party of four, not two.
But the server did not inform us of this beforehand, despite having seen us waiting and having walked past us several times.
And now, after 45 minutes, we would likely need to wait another hour in the cold.
With only six seats, it seems unfair that people can hold seats for people who are not physically present, and not informing us was very inconsiderate.
Be aware that if you’ve waited in line a long time, people ahead of you can bring in friends that will cut in line.
We cannot speak to the food quality as, rather than wait another hour, we left.

Updated from previous review on 2023-11-13

Cons: Inconsiderate service

noborio

14 Nov 2023

Dear Claudia Moore
We apologize for the inconvenience on the 13th.
There were two guests in line in front of you two, but we did not inform you that there were four guests, so they were not interrupted.
We are very sorry that you had to wait in the cold.
From now on, we will prepare a waiting list so that everyone will know how many customers are waiting, and we will make sure this problem won’t happen again.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Much appreciated🙏

MaríaGMG

Points +22

Vegan
13 Nov 2023

Sitio muy especial

Es un lugar muy pequeño... Lo mejor es intentar reservar. La comida en porciones pequeñas pero esta deliciosa... Tofu, soja elaborada de varias maneras, dumplings... Lo llevan dos mujeres en una cocina diminuta pero limpio y son encantadoras!

Pros: Las elaboraciones de soja

Cons: Nada

ErinJordanna

Points +406

Vegan
13 Nov 2023

Small portions but so tasty

Tiny hole in the wall vegan restaurant with 6 seats. We had a beautiful meal of assorted small vegan dishes (the portions are quite tiny if sharing). Yummy flavours and cosy environment!

Pros: Soy meat, Japanese style food, Cosy

Cons: Only 6 guests at a time

VeganPhal

Points +46

Vegan
12 Nov 2023

Small and cosy / small & Quality menue

Quick dinner, hardly any waiting time on a saturday @ 7pm(ish), very small place (seats ca 7(?)), yet good atmosphere and very friendly staff (2).

We had desert (no photo), very delicious if you expect „real“ chocolate

Pricing v fair compared to vegan/veggie alternatives

X0X83X

Points +80

Vegan
11 Nov 2023

Amazing experience

A place not to miss in Kyoto !

Traditional japanese food with a meaning.
The products come from a vegan farm.

We tried almost everything in the menu with my wife and it was so delicious ! Yummy!

The place is really tiny, but it’s part of the experience.
The staff was super friendly and welcoming!

Pros: Food, Food, Staff

Husopp

Points +535

Vegan
10 Nov 2023

THE BEST FOOD I’VE EVER HAD

If it would be possible to give more than five stars I WOULD - it was probably the best food I’ve ever had!
The experience in there was so unique: it was a perfect evening with a really personal and comfortable atmosphere. The soy meat was just perfection, the best „meat“ ever. The cook prepared everything with so much love and was so unbelievably kind. It was almost meditative to watch your food being prepared like this. This experience was a 11/10. If you’re ever in Kyoto this is a must visit. If you’re not in Kyoto: go get there to visit Nijiya!

Pros: You can see your perfect food being freshly cooked, Very personal & unique experience, Outstandingly kind cook, amazing atmosphere

FranciscoBecerra

Points +114

Vegan
08 Nov 2023

Best vegan restaurant in Kyoto

After three weeks in Japan, I can confirm that Nijiya is, overall, the best vegan restaurant we've been to on our trip.
There are six seats, and the atmosphere is wonderful. You see how each dish is prepared with attention to detail.
On the other hand, the food is amazing. Everything tastes fresh and has flavors that I have never tried before. Both the set of small plates and the soy meats (yakitori and yakiniku) were spectacular, although the soy meat is directly one of the tastiest and best texture I have ever tasted. Tofu and yuba was also very good, and the chazuke is a must try.
In short, a 10/10.

Pros: Soy meats, Chazuke, Great service

Cons: Nothing at all, everything was great!

DJMurat

Points +29

Vegan
06 Nov 2023

Worth waiting in line for

Nijiya is a very tiny but intimate establishment. The food portions look small but they seem to be the right amount without overdoing it if you're ordering a bit of everything and the flavours are just wonderful.

The yakiniku was definitely a favourite of ours.

Updated from previous review on 2023-11-06

Pros: Beautiful flavours , Cosy and intimate

Cons: The food disappears way too quickly ;)

HollyBree

Points +34

Vegan
06 Nov 2023

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

We’d never had yakitori before as long term vegans/vegetarians and it was out of this world delicious.

All of the other dishes were incredible also. I couldn’t fault any of them and the staff are an absolute delight. If you are in Kyoto this is a must go!

Pros: Yakitori! , The eggplant , Chazuke.

Cons: None

OanaValeriaSerban

Points +439

Vegan
04 Nov 2023

Japanese Vegan Rest

Cozy small restaurant who serves Japanese Vegan Food.
It is popular is Kyoto and people are waiting in line for a table.

Pros: Tasty Japanese Food , Cozy atmosphere

Totoro3

Points +26

Vegan
30 Oct 2023

10/10

I’ve been traveling in Japan for 2 weeks now, and this is hands down the best I’ve eaten on my trip so far.

Pros: Friendly staff., Really loved the Yakitori.

azuki_monster

Points +906

Vegan
28 Oct 2023

Izakaya, they do not only have ochazuke

This little izakaya has a lot to offer apart from ochazuke. The food is good, but it is quite expensive. The atmosphere is really nice, but be prepared to wait they only a hand full of seats.

Pros: Good food, Friendly atmosphere

Cons: Pricey

Kalliejackson

Points +34

Vegan
27 Oct 2023

Favourite vegan meal, ever!

Amazing food, sweet quiet atmosphere, non-pretentious but the best vegan meal we’ve ever had. The best faux meats, the best flavouring and texture. Their cheese was also excellent. Wonderful staff and just an all around uplifting evening. I tried my best to savour every bite because I don’t know that I will ever have food this delicious again. Shout out to my favourite kimchi (comes with the yakiniku, which is the best!)

Pros: Food (esp the faux meat) , Atmosphere, Staff

CA89SS

Points +2138

Vegan
23 Oct 2023

Best meal of Kyoto

What an incredible experience! This place is only a 6 seater but the turn over time is about 45-60 minutes. The menu is fresh, varied and incredibly flavourful. The alcohol menu is very traditional which is very complimentary to the food. Essentially you order small plates until you are full. We found it very reasonably priced for such high end fare. Highly recommend!

walrez

27 Oct 2023

I’m terrible with chopsticks and that limits me with the choices I get. That’s too bad, but I feel that I embarrassed myself enough in Tokyo, too bad.

vlmay

Points +139

Vegan
21 Oct 2023

Phenomenal experience

Had a fabulous experience at nijiya. The food was so well executed that after a few sake I was sure it was actual chicken (it’s not 😅 ) absolutely mind blowing, this was the best meat substitute I have ever had. The place is quaint and seats only 6 so you may have to wait but it is worth it! The marinated tofu on the tasting place was also spectacular.

Pros: The staff are lovely , Small and intimate, Authentic

SananPhanichkrivalko

Points +17

Vegetarian
18 Oct 2023

Best Vegan Food in Tokyo

Small shop with limited seating but food was amazing and the chef and hostess were super friendly. Will recommend as a must visit when in Kyoto.
Must try vegan yakitori, tofu & yuba

Chainreaction94

Points +106

Vegan
09 Oct 2023

Great!

Awesome meat-like skewers and very friendly Personal!!

Pros: Incredible Food, Not too expensive

Cons: Really tiny room, maybe some waiting time

HelenS02

Points +210

Vegan
06 Oct 2023

So good but tiiiny!

The food here is amazing, my meat-eater friend couldn't even tell the difference with the skewers. This is a special place with delicious and beautiful options. Be aware though as it's tiny and we waited for an hour to get a seat and then they'd run out of one of the options we'd been drooling over.

nmarlow

Points +44

Vegan
05 Oct 2023

Itssss Great!!!

Seriously one of the best vegan restaurants I dined at. It is small but it packs with great flavor! The restaurant sits 6 people so don’t come hungry, you may have to wait but it is soooo worth it! The yakitori and 5 kind assortment was the best things on the menu in my opinion! Portions are small so you get to try basically everything! Wish I lived here so that I can eat here again!

EliseB06

Points +462

Vegan
04 Oct 2023

Wonderful

Nijiya is a lovely and intimate izakaya. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. It is quite a small place so be prepared to wait to get a seat. But the food is worth the wait! I would recommend the tofu &yuba plate, the obanzai 5 assortment, the yakiniku, the yakitori and the cheese assortment. But everything was lovely! Highly recommend this place for an authentic Izakaya experience!

EmiliaLouers

Points +881

Vegan
02 Oct 2023

Very nice place

Staff friendly
A Real izakaya but vegan
Food was really tasty

Mxrta

Points +176

Vegan
30 Sep 2023

Cosy space and great food

Beware of the size of the place (we didn’t know it’d be so small). It’s basically the kitchen and 6 seats in a very narrow space. I honestly didn’t mind until we had to stand up for several minutes for other people to leave/new people to come in.

Regarding the food I really enjoyed what we had. Food is prepared with care and you can see how it’s made. I encourage every vegan in Kyoto to visit the place.

sverkules

Points +244

Vegan
30 Sep 2023

Refused service

Supposedly open til 23, also an open sign in front, but refused entry when arriving at 21:50. I guess
not the end of the world, but annoying having walked all the way. So don’t trust the opening hours.

Dancinglemming

Points +579

Vegan
30 Sep 2023

Lovely little restaurant

Seating options are limited to 8, but the food is lovely. Choose from a selection of small plates.

Pros: Centrally located, Good quality food

Cons: Not much space!

Croy21

Points +30

Vegan
18 Sep 2023

So GOOD!!!

The food was amazing here! We had the Yakitori and it was one of the most amazing tasting dishes we’ve had as vegans in 6 years. Melt in your mouth, could have eaten 100 of them. The dumplings were delicate and delicious and the Yakiniku was also fantastic. The service was perfection, 100% would recommend and we’ll likely be back before we leave Kyoto. Only 6 seats inside but worth the wait if it’s full.

Pros: Very tasty menu items , Plum wine options were great, had mixed with soda , Service was excellent

Cons: small dishes, maybe charge more for larger portion

Lailahljan

Points +75

Vegan
16 Sep 2023

Delicious and high quality

Cute little place, amazing food. Portion sizes are small but very tasty. Owner is a wonderful person. Thank you!

Mascha-in-Berlim

Points +184

Vegan
11 Sep 2023

Small, but great

Very small restaurant with 6 seats at the counter. You can choose several dishes since the portions are not too big. This gives you the opportunity to try a variety. I had the 5 small plates dish. And dumplings in soy sauce. Everything tasted different and so good. Best are the teryaki! Great!
And the chocolate dessert made of gelated red beans and cacao, delicious!
The prices are very reasonable for the quality and I felt satisfied after my meal. Prepare having to wait.

Pros: All fresh, very good quality and taste, Fast service, Good prices

Cons: Too small to feed all😄




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