I love gyozas, these yummy pockets of delight are SO nostalgic to me and something I heavily associate with Japan. So, when I saw an array of colourful dumplings on my Instagram feed, I knew I had to visit!
Vegan Gyoza Yu is a fully vegan restaurant in Taito that opened in 2021 and is known for their handmade and vibrant dumplings made from natural ingredients. Choose from 10 different yummy flavours and a wide selection of drinks- they also happen to be one of the top-rated restaurants in Tokyo on HappyCow!
Want to know what to expect if you visit here? Just keep reading!
At a glance:
V/VO: 100% vegan
How to order: Order at the counter
Payment: Card and cash accepted- payment when you order
Reservation required?: No
The space
Located just five minutes by foot from Uguisudan Station this small and modern gyoza restaurant has both inside and outside seating available- a rarity for a restaurant in Japan, but ideal for a warm evening.
Featuring wooden accents, green plants and organic walls, it’s a contemporary space with approx 10 – 15 seats (inside and out) and one of the few independent vegan restaurants in Tokyo that stays open later.
The Vegan Gyoza Yu menu
To my knowledge, Vegan Gyoza Yu is the only restaurant in Tokyo offering an array of colourful and different flavoured vegan gyozas – which are very aesthetically pleasing. With 10 different flavours of vegan dumplings on offer that can be steamed, pan-fried or frozen to enjoy at home, there’s a flavour for everyone no matter their preference.
They also have a great selection of fun drinks here, from coffees, and sodas to craft beers that can be paired with your vegetarian dumplings in Tokyo! If you want a latte or matcha, you can choose from almond, oat or soymilk and even have plant-based whipped cream if you fancy having an extra treat.
Ordering vegan gyozas in Japan
If you want to eat here, there is a minimum order of 5 veggie gyozas. But, with so many different flavours to choose from, you might be thinking how on earth are you supposed to choose?
Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to try them all – If that’s the case, I recommend ordering the gyoza set which means you can sample 11 yummy gyozas.
And for those of you who are in Japan but can’t visit this vegan store in Tokyo, you don’t have to miss out! You can order from their website and get them delivered straight to your door (they are currently out of stock, but fingers crossed they’ll have some available soon).
What flavours of vegan gyoza are available?
Although there are 11 dumplings in total on the menu, there are 10 different flavours to choose from as the shiitake soy meat gyoza comes in two colours, yellow and pink.
- Shiitake soy meat
- Celery soy meat
- Green pepper soy meat
- Chives soy meat
- Green miso soy meat
- Ginger miso soy meat
- Coriander soy meat
- Kimchi soy meat
- Eggplant miso soy meat
- Garlic miso soy meat
Gyoza Set from Vegan Gyoza Yu
Now did we order a set each… Yes. Was it a lot for one person…? Yes. Do we regret it..? Absolutely not!!
We both got a little carried away and decided to order the gyoza set each. 11 gyozas may or may not sound like a lot to you, but at the time we thought we could manage 11 each.
Keep in mind that these gyozas are beasts and unlike any other dumplings, you’ll usually find in Japan. They are much bigger than a traditional one, (maybe double the size of a regular gyoza) so we got full very quickly.
We ordered our gyozas set to be pan-fried, and as there are so many flavours packed into each one, you eat them on their own, unlike other gyozas which get dipped in a sauce.
These were AMAZING!! So flavoursome and simply delicious! Trying the set meant trying flavours I normally wouldn’t have picked out myself – and I loved them all, (apart from coriander and celery which I don’t like normally).
Price: ¥1,700 (£9.38 / $11.94)
Things to do close to Vegan Gyoza Yu
- Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum | 22 min walk
- National Museum of Nature and Science | 16 min walk
- Ueno Park | 16 min walk
- Nippori Fabric Town | 11 min walk
- Tennoji Temple | 15 min walk
- Yayoi Museum | 31 min walk
Vegan options close to Vegan Gyoza Yu
V = Vegan, VO = Vegan Option
- Vegan Cafe PQ’s | V | 17 min walk
- Bon | V | 17 min walk
- Shockiku-en | V | 27 min walk
- T’s Tantan, Ueno | V | 21 min walk
- Nezu no Taiyaki | V | 28 min walk
How to get to Vegan Gyoza Yu
Address: 3 Chome-11-17 Negishi, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0003, Japan
Nearest station: 5 mins from Uguisudan Station
Open: Wednesday to Sunday 12:00- 21:00, Closed Monday and Tuesday
If you’ve considered visiting Vegan Gyoza Yu in Tokyo but, haven’t managed to make the trip yet, what are you waiting for?
Now you know where to get your gyoza fix, maybe you’re wondering where to get vegan desserts in Tokyo. Well, this cafe is one of my favourite places and I think you should give them a visit soon!
FAQ: gyozas
What are gyozas?
Gyozas are a type of dumpling traditionally filled with meats and vegetables. They can be steamed, or fully fried but the most common version you’ll see in Japan has been pan-fried, where dumplings get steamed and fried on one side.
How to eat gyozas
Usually, gyozas are a side item at restaurants, dip them into a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar and chilli oil and they make the perfect pairing with vegan ramen.
Are gyozas vegan in Japan?
You can get gyozas pretty much everywhere, convenience stores, supermarkets and many restaurants will have pork-filled ones, which are the standard in Japan. You’ll rarely see vegetable gyozas or “yasai gyozas” as they are not so common. Instead, you’ll have to visit specific restaurants to get vegan and vegetarian gyozas in Japan.
