Mos Burger - Ikebukuro East — Restaurant in Tokyo

A quick discovery while trying to return home during a rainy evening in Ikebukuro, where unfortunately the times for vegan restaurants are always tight and often need planning.

As I saw a few times the “plant-based” signature on one of the burgers, I decided to enter in and face the ordeal of translation to check if the burger in question was vegan. And it was!

MOS Burger has become the first homegrown fast food chain in Japan to debut a 100% plant-based burger according to an article online I later found. Dubbed the Green Burger, Mos Burger developed the vegan dish in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce the carbon footprint of its menu offerings.

The new burger imitates the classic MOS Burger, but does not contain any dairy, eggs or meat. It was developed in line with the SDGs as a more planet-friendly alternative option for consumers who want to reduce their carbon footprint.

Instead of a carbon-intensive beef patty, the meat-free version is made from a mix of soy-based protein, konnyaku or yam, and cabbage. It is served with freshly sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and a tomato sauce, sandwiched between a light-green coloured bun, which gets its natural tinge from spinach puree.

Naturally this isn’t a super deluxe tasty signature burger like you could find at Ain Soph, Kitchen Ajito, Vegetarian Butcher and similar. However it is tasty and filling enough for a small break, and served with two sauces that are also vegan and can be easily dropped into the burger (read the instructions on the small package!)

You can keep the sauce in the wrap and then use the fries, if you bought the set like me along iced lemon tea, to pick up the two sauces.

The staff was absolutely patient and polite, which I really appreciated in spite of the language ordeal, and produced a quick English menu as well, which I discovered later you can check also on the website.

You order at the main entrance in this particular shop I was in, then on the side screen you can choose whether you have points cards (with the symbol) or not (not symbol), then select payment method. IC Cards and Suica are accepted! You will be given the drink and tray with a number to keep while you go upstairs to sit down where you can have a small view of the streets outside.

Not recommended to go here everyday, as it would be more akin to McDonald’s than a daily healthy vegan and varied option, but it’s great that the option is there in the first place. Props to MOS Burger and the staff...

Nice little store, seating available upstairs.

Staff did not speak English, but they did have an English menu i could read from.

Ordered the rice pork burger, which I don't really recommend as the burger was hard to eat as it was super hot and had big chunks of lettuce, which basically all came out after 1 bite. I think the lettuce should have been diced, and it needed some chilli sauce.

The spicy cheese burger was really nice, had jalapeños and the sauce was amazing. I would've preferred for the jalapeños to be diced a little and mixed into the sauce as there were some times when I got no spice/kick at all.

Overall, I had a great experience. And would recommend this place for a quick bite. Eating in closes at 10pm but can still order takeout...

One of the nicer and quieter MOS Burger locations I have visited. To dine in you place your order at the counter, wait for your drinks then proceed to find a table upstairs where they will deliver your food to you, hot and fresh!

I am so happy to learn that MOS Burger now has a plant based option for those who don't eat meat! I ordered the green plant based burger set and thoroughly enjoyed it. The special teri/mayo sauce packet was very tasty and fun to use but felt a little unnecessary... the sauce could have been added in the kitchen and I would have enjoyed it...