Harajuku, Tokyo’s Vegan Bistro Jangara: Where Ramen and Burgers Meet Plant-Based Perfection

Harajuku, known as a birthplace of new culture, is also at the forefront of culinary innovation. Right in the heart of this vibrant district, just a short walk from the bustling Takeshita Street and the tranquil Meiji Shrine, lies “Vegan Bistro Jangara,” a restaurant dedicated to vegan cuisine.

Originating from the Kyushu Jangara ramen shop in Akihabara, Tokyo, this new venture opened in 2021.

Enjoy the Kyushu Jangara ramen shop’s signature menu in vegan form

With vegan food becoming increasingly popular not only in Japan but worldwide, about 70% of the clientele at Vegan Bistro Jangara are international tourists. The restaurant offers a wide variety of vegan dishes, including ramen.

The “Vegan Karabon” is a vegan rendition of the spicy tonkotsu ramen “Karabon” originally served at Kyushu Jangara. It achieves its rich flavor by simmering vegetables to create a broth as flavorful as traditional pork bone soup.

The noodles are the same thin type essential to tonkotsu ramen, specially made without eggs to replicate the texture of Kyushu Jangara’s noodles. The specific ingredients and methods used are a closely guarded secret.

Additionally, diners at Vegan Bistro Jangara have the option to swap to gluten-free noodles for an extra charge.

Toppings include cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, green onions, soy meat-based chāshū (Japan’s version of char siu), and Early Red onions, adding a slight heat and sweetness that enhances the spicy flavor of the Karabon.

The “Grilled Burger” stands out with the distinctive flavor of its soy meat

The soy meat, also used in the Vegan Karabon, is a key ingredient at the restaurant, with special attention paid to its preparation to achieve a satisfying texture and taste.

At Vegan Bistro Jangara, the process of hydrating the soy meat and seasoning it is kept secret. The soy meat has a texture similar to chicken thigh meat and is surprisingly juicy. Diners who have tasted meat before will have a hard time believing it’s not chicken.

The “Grilled Burger” featuring soy meat comes with four types of sauces and condiments on the side: guacamole, salsa, tartar sauce, and cheese sauce. Diners can customize their burger by adding these according to their preference, enjoying the changing flavors as they go.

The assistant manager of Vegan Bistro Jangara especially recommends the cheese sauce, noting its subtle sweetness and rich cheese flavor as a must-try.

Crafting dishes so tasty, you’ll love them whether you’re vegan or not

As this message displayed inside the restaurant indicates, Vegan Bistro Jangara ensures that everyone finds something to their taste with a menu that appeals to vegans and non-vegans alike.

Reflecting the restaurant’s philosophy, the menu includes ramen, hamburgers, teppanyaki (commonly known as “hibachi” in the U.S.), curry, Mexican dishes, and more, benefiting from the years of menu development experience at the Kyushu Jangara ramen shop. Taste tests are also conducted by non-vegan staff members.

As of 2024, vegan cuisine is still gaining ground in Japan, but Vegan Bistro Jangara holds the promise of a future where it becomes an everyday choice for many.

Information

Store name	ヴィーガンビストロ じゃんがら Vegan Bistro Jangara
Address	Shanzeru Harajuku Bldg. 2 2F, 1-13-21 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access	Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station Short walk from Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station Exit 3 Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line（C03） Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line（F15） Harajuku Station 2-minute walk from Harajuku Station East Exit JR Yamanote Line（JY19）
Phone number	03-3404-5572
Reservations	Not accepted
Payment	Cash Credit cards（American Express・Diners・Discover・JCB・Master・UnionPay・VISA） Transportation-related electronic money（Suica, etc.） Electronic money not accepted QR code payment not accepted
Service charge/Table charge	None
Hours	11:00-22:00（last order 21:00）
Closed	No fixed holidays Unscheduled holidays
Seating	26 table seats
Smoking	All seats are non-smoking
Official website	https://kyushujangara.co.jp/shops/veganbistro/
Other information	Menus are available with Japanese and English language only Allergy-friendly, vegetarian and vegan menus are available; halal menus are not available Wheelchair-accessible Take-out and delivery services are available Luggage storage space is available Wi-Fi is available Posting of food photos and videos on customers’ personal SNS accounts is allowed Separate billing is not allowed

※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of April 2024.