Nijiya — Restaurant in Kyoto

nijiya is honestly one of the best vegan meals i’ve ever had 🌱

i went for the nijiya large course (¥4,900) and it was worth every yen. the set comes with yuzu tofu and yuba tofu skin, dumplings with homemade soy sauce, obanzai 5 kinds of assortment, soy meat yakitori, soy meat yakiniku, grilled miso rice balls, osuimono soup, chocolat yokan and a little sake lees cheesecake. it’s a full tour of vegan japanese flavors in one sitting.

the restaurant itself is tiny – only 7 seats at the counter – so the line starts early. i got there around 4:30pm, a good hour before opening, and there were already people waiting. by the time we went inside there were about 14 people still in line behind us. definitely recommend turning up early.

waiting wasn’t a drag though. i ended up chatting with other folks in line about veganism and travel, and it created a really nice vibe before we even stepped in.

inside, it feels super homely. everyone sits at the counter, you can see the food being prepared right in front of you, and it has that calm, welcoming “you’re a guest in our kitchen” energy rather than a formal restaurant vibe.

food-wise, the standouts from the large course were: • the dumplings with homemade soy sauce – comforting and packed with flavor • the soy meat yakitori – honestly out of this world; the char they get on it is insane 🔥 • the soy meat yakiniku – super satisfying texture and great seasoning • the grilled miso rice balls – simple but unbelievably good, pure umami in every bite

the whole experience took about an hour, and when i left, the line outside had already grown again, which says it all.

if you’re vegan (or just curious about plant-based japanese food), nijiya is absolutely worth planning around. just show up early, enjoy the wait, and let them spoil you with that large...

There will be a line. You will likely reconsider if this is worth waiting an hour or more. Let me begin by saying this - yes. Absolutely yes. A thousand times over, yes.

This is the most intimate, carefully considered vegan dining experience I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The entire restaurant seats seven people, and the chefs will lovingly hand make each and every element directly in front of you. The chef speaks fluent English, so communication is a breeze for those worried.

The tofu was the highest quality I have ever eaten and beautifully presented. The five traditional Japanese side dishes change seasonally and compliment every element of the meal. The mushroom soup was crystal clear and a stunning amalgamation of umami flavours.

The standout dishes for me were the yakitori and ginger rice -grilled fresh in front of you and perfectly presented with shichimi togarashi flakes, mayo and fresh cucumber. These were so incredibly moreish that it took every ounce of self control not to order three more. The ginger rice was perfectly cooked whilst remaining toothsome and fragrant. The ginger was the ideal accompaniment to the yakitori sticks, and left a beautiful taste lingering on the palette.

Vegan Izakaya Nijiya was a dining experience that will stay with us for decades to come. A moment in time captured with flavours, textures and exemplary methods.

Congratulations to the chefs on crafting a meal as memorable as this, and to the staff that made our meal so welcoming...

Loved this tiny little restaurant! I was walking by and decided to go in for lunch. They were doing a hot pot-only special for lunch and I went for it! The ingredients included various cabbage, carrots, tons of mushrooms, tofu, spinach seaweed, etc. Served with an aged miso sauce, yuzu infused soy sauce and chili powder on the side. A bit later got some cheese like substitute that melted quite velvety and added a different slant to the dish. Then udon noodles. Overall was capped with a small serving of yuzu ice cream. This was one of those really memorable small restaurant experiences I'll remember. It wasn't cheap, but I feel it was worth it. The woman working there walked me through everything and spoke good English. Their menus all have English. I was treated with attention and care (I was the only one in the restaurant for a while until I ran into and chatted with a couple from the UK). If you're in this area, make a point to seek this out. My only regret is I wasn't there for their full dinner menu which frankly looks fantastic. The woman said they get long lines around dinner though, so take that...