Vegetarian Washoku (Traditional Japanese) Restaurants

Such a unique dining experience at Saime! 🌿✨ Saime serves cuisine inspired by the Jomon period, an ancient era of Japan, with ingredients slowly cooked and roasted in earthenware. As a vegetarian, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed the meal. Even something as simple as roasted pumpkin and bell peppers tasted incredibly flavourful. And their miso paste… SO good! 😂 I basically ended up slathering it onto everything. My absolute favourite part was the warabi mochi at the end, paired with their basil herbal tea — such a beautiful and comforting way to finish the meal. What also stood out to me was how naturally vegetarian-friendly the cuisine is. With the Jain festival period going on right now, I immediately thought about how wonderful this place could be for people following Jain dietary preferences as well. Finding Japanese food that can be adapted to be Jain-friendly is incredibly rare, so this felt really special.

I really enjoyed dinner at Saime Restaurant. Not only was the food amazing, but the whole atmosphere was wonderful. It’s a small venue with only eight seats, and it feels like something between a restaurant and a museum. The earthenware plates make you experience the flavors differently, and trying the vegetables separately before the main dish opens up a whole new layer of tastes. I really enjoy how simplicity is mixed with sophistication in this place, and I would love to recommend it not only to vegetarians, but to anyone who wants to enjoy healthy cuisine.

Welcome to dining. That is: Welcome to Saime. Vegan, slow-food apostles, and allergy sufferers alike, your sanctuary is here! I highly recommend Saime to any and all who are looking for a dining experience that harkens back to a simpler age. Being Jomon-era inspired, the earthenware slow-cooked vegetables can either speak for themselves, or be enjoyed with salt or miso. We tried the vegan set, which was prepared without the use of any oils, but they also have sets that include fish and meat, as well. The vegetables themselves are primarily grown and picked by the staff, and the tea and dessert were also made by hand from scratch. It will be readily apparent to any discerning visitor that there is intentionality packed into each dish, from the taste, to the presentation, to the environment. Please do yourself a favor, and book an evening at Saime.

We very much enjoyed our experience at SAIME! The host is very kind and walks you through each course’s featured ingredient and the cooking process. Each dish is crafted with the utmost care and time! While the dishes are simple, they pack a powerful flavor profile that harmoniously fits the miso and salt given to you as condiments. This experience is not only allergy and vegan friendly, but it’s also a journey into the seasonal flavors of Japan. You’ll find yourself in awe of how good veggies can taste and have your curiosity peaked on how to inspire deeper, richer tastes from local ingredients. Eating from earthenware pots with minimal utensils will leave you feeling more connected with your food. I highly recommend this restaurant for those with food restrictions or those who want to rekindle their relationship with food.

This place has history and it captivates you. The food is tasty and very different from the veg food we are used to. The house owners keep you engaged and genuinely want you to have a happy experience . So overall a great place, great service and a highly recommended experience

This was by far our most memorable and enjoyable experience. We especially liked speaking with one of the family members who was the 11th generation of carrying on this tradition. Domo arigato gozai masu for treating us so well.

The experience was great. The restaurant is cozy and the counter has traditional horigotatsu seating. The chef is very friendly and converses with you through the courses. The ensemble of flavors through out is great. You start off with a medley appetizers. Then you move on to various sashimi dishes. The main event was perfectly prepared wagyu with salt, soy sauce koji, and wasabi on the side if you want the added seasoning. The fina course an amazing rich dish and hot tea. All in all a great experience, definitely worth the visit if you’re in the Tennoji area of Osaka.

Charming and delightful setting with excellent service and food. We enjoyed traditional Kyoto cuisine in a private tatami room.

We had a lovely evening being treated to this great set menu. Thank you Kakusho!

Incredible local cuisine and friendly, hospitable staff

Our dinner at Kakusho was magical! The garden setting with private rooms was lovely, the staff was charming, and the food was the best we had during our trip.

Had a great time dining at Wagyu Matsumiya. The chef tries his best with a translator to strike up conversation and the dishes overall were all well thought out and well designed too. Enjoyed it much and would definitely come again.