New Vegan Restaurant Alert: Tokyo Vegan Ramen Center in Harajuku!
- Josefa-Lisa
- Jul 8
- 4 min read
If you're in Tokyo, you have to check out this hidden gem in Harajuku! The Tokyo Vegan Ramen Center is a brand-new 100% vegan restaurant, located just around the corner from Laforet. It’s a dream spot if you love Japanese food like ramen, soba, okonomiyaki, and more—only healthier, loaded with fresh veggies, and beautifully presented. Everything here is as Instagram-worthy as it is delicious!
A Bit of Background: Tokyo Vegan Ramen Center's Journey
I first discovered Tokyo Vegan Ramen Center back in early 2024, when they were doing occasional pop-ups on the rooftop of Shibuya Parco. The menu was simple—just three kinds of ramen and a few drinks—but I loved it. Their ramen stood out for being topped with tons of colorful, fresh raw veggies, almost like a ramen-salad hybrid. I went a few times with the Tokyo Vegan Meetup group, which frequently held events there.
Eventually, they moved into a permanent stall at Harajuku Commune, where they expanded their menu to include vegan karaage, tacos, and frozen smoothies. I was especially obsessed with their sweet and sour glazed karaage—a rare vegan find in Japan!
That location had its downsides though. It was entirely outdoors, so they had to close during rain, and in the summer it got way too hot to enjoy ramen. I believe they also had a stall at the Aoyama Farmers Market for a while.
Then, after a winter break, the big news came: they were opening a full-fledged restaurant! And in June, it finally happened. I was lucky enough to be invited to try their signature dishes at their brand-new Harajuku location.
First Impressions & Interior Vibes
Finding the entrance was a little tricky—Google Maps took us to a small backstreet on the wrong side of the building.
After circling around to the main road, we finally saw the entrance: a large screen playing a video of the chef preparing vibrant vegan dishes, a big logo sign, and logo stickers marking the stairs. Once you’re upstairs, you’ll find the menu posted outside.
Inside, the space is cozy, stylish, and unique. A stone Buddha statue surrounded by greenery decorates the window. The large tables are perfect for groups, with mini bonsai for a Japanese touch.
There’s also counter seating if you’re dining solo. Oh—and they even have a gacha machine by the door!
The staff are incredibly warm and clearly passionate about their craft. They serve dishes that are not only delicious and healthy but also artistic. Many of the vegetables are seasonal and locally sourced, and for the noodles a gluten-free alternative is available—a nice healthy twist.
Menu Highlights
The current menu is impressive: 2 types of ramen, 1 soba dish, a bento-style sampler box, 2 bowls, sides, 3 kinds of desserts, creative lattes and teas!
Let me walk you through what I tried!
Yankee Rose Latte
This bright red coconut milk-based latte had a delicate rose flavor and came with sweet chocolate sauce. Topped with whipped coconut cream and edible flowers, it was rich, creamy, and super photogenic!
Catch the Hokusai
A beautiful, blue-toned drink made with coconut milk and butterfly pea tea. It was lighter and more refreshing than the Yankee Rose, without cream on top. As someone who’s sensitive to coconut milk, this one felt gentler on my stomach.
Bento “Tokyo Ai wo Komete”
This massive set included:
Okonomiyaki
Gyoza
Sweet & sour karaage tempeh
Chickpea “tuna” salad in a flower-shaped rice waffle
Organic brown rice sushi with wasabi and jackfruit
Vintage-style Japanese curry
A side bowl of white miso kitsune ramen
It was a feast! Everything was delicious, but my personal favourites were the okonomiyaki and the vintage curry—both rare finds in vegan form. The jackfruit sushi was unique too—like a vegan California roll with a twist.
The gyoza was steamed and super flavorful, and the chickpea salad added a fun texture contrast thanks to its crispy rice waffle cup. The karaage tempeh was crunchy and perfectly seasoned—a real highlight, especially since tempeh is hard to come by in Japan.
The kitsune ramen had a gentle flavour and wasn't very salty at all.
Spicy Tahini Ramen
Their signature ramen—rich, creamy tahini broth, topped with minced soy meat and a rainbow of raw veggies. Comforting, filling, and absolutely stunning to look at. This and one other ramen are carryovers from their earlier menus. It comes with chilli oil on the side!
Maritozzo Baby
A fluffy deep-fried bread filled with sweet coconut cream and strawberries.
There was also a hidden sweet filling inside—I'm still not sure what it was, but it was heavenly. A must-try!
Final Thoughts
Yes, the prices may seem a little high at first glance—but the portions are huge and every dish is beautifully prepared with quality ingredients. You can tell a lot of thought, love, and craftsmanship went into every detail.
If you love vegan Japanese food or want to explore something new and creative, I highly recommend checking out Tokyo Vegan Ramen Center. It’s not just a meal—it’s an experience.
Price range
1000¥-4000¥
Hours
Sunday-Thursday
12:00-23:00
Friday, Saturday
12:00-02:00
Address
〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前３丁目２３−８ 小嶋ビル 2F
What is Veganism?
"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.“
- The Vegan Society
Reasons to choose vegan alternatives:
Protect animals from suffering horrendously and getting killed
A whole-food plant-based vegan diet has the least environmental impact
A whole-food plant-based vegan diet is extremely healthy and can help reversing various diseases like type 2 diabetes or heart diseases.
For people, as a vegan diet requires only one third of the land needed to support a meat and dairy diet.
PLANT-BASED: A Guide to a more Sustainable Lifestyle
Check out my Kyoto & Kanto Sightseeing x Vegan Food Guides
