Kissa Saeki — Restaurant in Hiroshima

My favorite restaurant in town. Locally sourced, organic, veggie/vegan friendly, family-run, and absolutely delicious. I've lived in Hiroshima eight years, and Kissa Saeki is my go-to. The service is excellent, the atmosphere cozy, the food delectable. This is a traditional style Japanese "kissaten" café that opened over 40 years ago. When the owner retired and his son took the reins, the younger Mr. Saeki brought a modern approach to the kissaten tradition, incorporating organic fare, local ingredients, and a wide range of options for alternative diets. The café boasts deep roots in the community, and a strong connection to the alternative food scene here in Japan. My recommendation is to get a lunch set. Comes with miso soup, rice, seasonal salad, pickled veggies, and a side dish. It'll do you right. The organic and vegetarian scene isn't massive in Japan at this point, but it's gaining strength every year. And it's places like Café Saeki that are making that...

Food & atmosphere is always good at Kissa-Saeki. Breakfasts & lunches always have plant-based options for main dish & rest of set is vegan. So if eating with meat or fish eater, all of their side dishes are also vegan. This is a great strategy to provide food to everyone despite allergies or food diversity lifestyle choices of customers. Let’s hope more restaurants take on this effective model. The owners have remodeled an old Kissaten coffee shop which you can still enjoy some remnants of retro design such as the floor tile. This is also why the name is Kissa for Kissaten at the start & Saeki as the family name of the founder. Sometimes you can find fresh vegetable seller in front and small...

This is hands-down one of the most delicious meals I've ever had, vegan or not. The staff are incredibly kind and speak English well. There's also plenty of English provided on the menu for those who aren't comfortable reading Japanese. I know I'll be back every time I have to come into Hiroshima city to get that chocolate cake again!

For vegans in Japan, it can often be a struggle to know where we can find food and what's safe to eat. Finding Kissa Saeki was such a relief because they're not only forthcoming about what is in each dish but they also feature mostly vegan/vegetarian dishes. You don't feel like you're missing out on anything at...