Who doesn’t love a bowl of vegan ramen? It’s warm, slightly salty, super tasty, has so many different potential flavour combinations and just hits the spot when you have a craving for a warm bowl of noodles.
Kyushu Jangara is a ramen chain with 5 stores across Tokyo that happens to have vegan options on its menu. Here you can try delicious and authentic ramen that has been veganised whilst sitting in a traditional Japanese ramen restaurant among the locals.
So, if you’re wondering where to get your next bowl of authentic vegan ramen in Tokyo, let me tell you more about Kyushu Jangara!
At a glance:
V/VO: Vegan Options
How to order: Order and pay before seated
Payment: Card and cash accepted
Reservation required?: No
About Kyushu Jangara
They specialise in Hataka-style tonkotsu ramen (pig fat broth) that originates from Fukuoka. This dish made their restaurant very popular with lines coming out of the door, but luckily for us, they have hearty bowls of delicious vegan ramen without any animal cruelty!
The space
Have you ever wandered around Tokyo and felt a little sad or felt like you’re missing out on the local dining experience when walking by Japanese restaurants? You know the ones I mean, they’re normally small spaces, you can see the chefs cooking and there’s only a handful of bar seats to sit on while you enjoy your meal next to a stranger.
Well, there is no reason to feel like you’re missing out at Kyushu Jangara as you can do just that here, order your noodles, pay for them straight away and take a seat facing the walls or into the kitchen (although it does depend slightly on each branch you visit). So far, It’s the most traditional-looking ramen restaurant I’ve visited in Tokyo!
The first time we visited, we went to the Harajuku store which is actually underneath their fully vegan restaurant Vegan Bistro Jangara which I visited a while back. The space itself is a feast for your eyes, full of colourful posters, sculptures and artwork on the wall and ceiling wherever you turn.
Note: It’s not suitable for big groups as the restaurants are on the smaller side with either bar seating or tables that seat 2-4 people.
The Kyushu Jangara menu
Although it’s a ramen restaurant with the most traditional vibe in Tokyo, there is a lot of English signage on their posters and menu. It may depend on the branch but the Ginza restaurant has a ramen menu in English, Chinese and Korean with pictures which makes ordering very easy for everyone!
In total, Kyushu Jangara has three vegan ramen on offer, with a choice to have it with or without char-siu, but once again the availability depends on each store. However, each restaurant should have at least one vegan ramen available – which usually is the shoyu ramen.
What are the vegan ramen options at Kyushu Jangara?:
- Vegan Shoyu Ramen | 濃い口醤油のヴィーガンらあめん
- Vegan Yuzu Shio Ramen | 和風ゆず塩ヴィーガンらあめん
- Vegan Kumamoto/ Garlic Oil Ramen | 熊本マー油のヴィーガンらあめん
Harajuku store in September 2023 – had shoyu and garlic oil ramen available
Ginza store in October 2023 – Only had shoyu ramen available
Vegan toppings at Kyushu Jangara
Kyushu Jangara offers a few different extra toppings that are vegan-friendly and can be enjoyed in your bowl of ramen. If I’m feeling extra hungry, I’ll order a portion of rice that I can dip into the broth. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
- Vegetable set, ¥200 (£1.08/ $1.33)
- Topping set, ¥200 (£1.08/ $1.33)
- Chopped spring onions, ¥100 (£0.54/ $0.66)
- Vegan char-siu (2 pieces), ¥300 (£1.62/ $1.99)
- Bamboo shoots, ¥150 (£0.81/ $0.99)
- Mushrooms, ¥100 (£0.54/ $0.66)
- Sheets of seaweed, ¥100 (£0.54/ $0.66)
- Boiled cabbage, ¥100 (£0.54/ $0.66)
- An extra portion of vegan noodles, ¥200 (£1.08/ $1.33)
- A side portion of white rice, ¥130 (£0.70/ $0.86)
Vegan Shoyu Ramen with vegan char-siu
Ok, a big statement coming from me here… This shoyu ramen is my favourite vegan ramen I’ve ever tried in Tokyo!
Don’t get me wrong, other dishes I’ve tried in the past like this soymilk ramen from ippudo have been very tasty. But I was craving ramen similar to what I grew up eating, the type that has more of a tonkatsu flavour or a clear broth, and this hit the nail on the head.
The broth is rich and SO flavoursome, the noodles are cooked to perfection, topped with seaweed, bamboo, cabbage, spring onions and vegan char-siu which has an amazing texture.
The depth of flavour is so reminiscent of the ramen I used to eat as a child in Japan, and a taste I’ve not had in other bowls of vegan noodles. Kyushu Jangara is a restaurant I would go back to in a heartbeat whenever I have a craving for a comforting bowl of ramen.
Price:
¥1,420 (£7.56/$9.39) with char-siu
¥1,120 (£5.96/$7.40) without char-siu
Any other information
Ramen restaurants tend to be fast serving so you can quickly eat and go on with your day. It’s no different here but, they do offer free wifi so you can plan your next adventure of the day.
When eating salty food like ramen, I find I get very thirsty. Much like most Japanese restaurants, help yourself to the free water jug. But they do have other drinks on offer if you fancy something different.
Things to do near Kyushu Jangara, Harajuku
- Have a stroll in Yoyogi Park | 3 min walk
- Go shopping in Kiddy Land | 6 min walk
- Visit Meji Jingu shrine | 31 min walk
- See Shibuya Scramble Crossing in person | 19 min walk
Other vegan options close to Kyushu Jangara, Harajuku
V = Vegan, VO = Vegan Options
- Afuri, Shibuya | VO | 6 min walk
- The Matcha Tokyo, Omotesando | VO | 8 min walk
- Vegan Bistro Jangara | V | 1 min walk
- 2foods, Shibuya | V | 18 min walk
- Jikasei Mensho | VO | 18 min walk
- Falafel Brothers, Shibuya | V | 19 min walk
How to get to Kyushu Jangara, Tokyo
Kyushu Jangara, Harajuku
150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 1 Chome−13−21 1Ｆ | 10:00 – 22:00 | MAP
Kyushu Jangara, Ginza
6-12-17 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo | 11:00 – 22:00 | MAP
Kyushu Jangara, Akasaka
2-15-15 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo | 11:00 – 22:00 | MAP
Kyushu Jangara, Akihabara
3-11-6, Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo | 11:00 – 22:00 | MAP
Kyushu Jangara, Seibu Ikebukuro
SEIBU IKEBUKURO 8F | 11:00 – 23:00 | MAP
Now you have your ramen fix, perhaps you want to know where to get desserts in Tokyo? Check out Wired Bonbon for some incredible vegan parfaits and crepes!
