Here is my list (so far) of vegetarian-approved restaurants in Tokyo and around that are mentioned in this blog. There aren’t very many yet — and most of are in the Kanda area, because that’s where I lived while I was in Japan — but I’ll add more places as I find them. As always, I’d be happy to hear your suggestions!
Indian • Italian • Miscellanous • Outside of Tokyo
Akiba Karee-kan (アキバカレー館)
See Siddique
Hathi
Where: Azabu-Juuban Station (Minato-ku)
What: A little nicer than your usual hole-in-the-wall curry place, but still cheaper than most “nice” restaurants.
Blog post (with directions)
Ronak (ロナク)
Where: Kanda-Tsukasamachi (Chiyoda-ku) (map)
What: The Indian restaurant near my apartment, where I eat at least twice a week. There’s only one vegetarian curry on the lunch menu, but it’s good.
Hours: Lunch 11:00am – 3:00pm, dinner 5:00 pm – 10:00pm (not open in between). Closed Sunday.
Blog post
Samosa (サモサ)
Where: Kanda Station (Chiyoda-ku), Shinbashi (Minato-ku), Hongo (Bunkyō-ku) (map for Kanda locations)
What: Either a few stools along a counter or a full-on restaurant, depending on which door you go in — see the blog post for more. Decent food and great nan, though unlike at most curry joints, extra nan isn’t free.
Hours: Open 7 days a week until at least 11:00pm
Blog post
Official website
Siddique (シヂーク)
Where: Akihabara (Chiyoda-ku) and all over
What: Your standard little Indian place, with late-running lunch specials. Good aloo gobi. Their website is Japanese-only, but clicking the button that starts with “店舗” will bring you to the list of their locations — then you can see where they’re located based on the link URLs (for example, the Akiba (Akihabara) location is http://www.siddique.co.jp/shop/akiba.html)
Hours: Most locations 11:00am – 11:00pm
Blog post
Siddique official website / Akiba Karee-kan page
YouTube! (in Japanese)
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Salvatore Cuomo
Where: All over Tokyo
What: A moderately-priced Italian chain. Not exceptionally vegetarian-friendly, but omnipresent and tasty.
Blog post
Official website
Trevi
Where: Kanda-Tachō (Chiyoda-ku), up the block from the New Central Hotel (map)
What: A stylish little restaurant that incongruously plays a constant stream of ’90s R&B ballads. We got a free “taster”-type appetizer both times we went in, but both times it was meat. Portions are very small, so take the menu’s division into multiple courses seriously. A handful of tables, plus bar/counter seating.
Hours: Dinner only — not open for lunch
Photo
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Freshness Burger
Where: All over Tokyo
What: An upscale, organic-conscious version of a burger chain, which offers two vegetarian “burgers.” Fairly tasty, but very light.
Blog post
Official website
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Kamakura — TonTan (トンタン)
Where: Aki-Hizan building 1-4, 2-8-9 Komachi, Kamakura (鎌倉市小町２－８－９秋火山ビル１－４)
What: A friendly little Japanese restaurant — no ready-made vegetarian items on the menu, but I had the onion/bell pepper/salami pizza without the meat.
Blog post
