If you're planning a trip to explore "Japan's Kitchen", but are struggling with vegan options, consider this is your vegan food guide for Osaka!

Osaka is most well known for its food, but all of the staples like takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu are usually non-vegan. However, that doesn't mean there are no great options for vegans at all - this blog will highlight some of the best vegan shops in Osaka!

Why Is Vegan Food So Hard to Find?

It might be surprising, but even though Japanese cuisine is full of vegetables, rice and soy products, it's actually very tricky to tell apart truly vegan dishes from the rest.

The biggest culprit making the search a lot more difficult is dashi - soup stock that is used in tons of dishes (e.g. ramen, takoyaki & miso soup).

Dashi is not vegan as it includes katsuoboshi (dried bonito fish flakes), but many restaurants will still claim a dish is vegan or vegetarian even if it uses dashi- not out of malice, but simply because the definition of "vegan" is a little different in Japan.

Despite a long history of meat bans up until 1872, fish was only somewhat a part of these bans. While dairy products and meat are widely known and accepted as non-vegan, Japan still struggles with the definition set world-wide, as fish is integral to many dishes. Though times are changing and along with it, more and more people understand what vegan truly means.

A Guide to Osaka's Best 5 Vegan Food Spots

Now, that you have some background knowledge, what are some places you should definitely be checking out while here if you're vegan or just interested in vegan cuisine? We compiled a list of 5 recommendations, which are all entirely meat- and dairy-free!

Our Top 5 Vegan Restaurants in Osaka

Jump to the restaurant in the list below:

• OKO: Osaka Comfort Food Staples

• Shojin Sushi Minamo: Unbelievable 100% Vegan Sushi

• MERCY Vegan Factory: Fluffy Japanese Milk Bread Sandwiches

• Onigiri Gorichan: Fresh Rice Balls with Vegan Options

• Canelita Sweets: Heavenly Japanese-style Vegan Donuts

Osaka’s Comfort Foods, All Under One Roof - OKO

OKO is Osaka. That's because it serves all of Osaka's staple dishes like takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu, but also because of its fun, warm and eclectic vibe - all words you can use to describe Osaka as a whole.

OKO actually has two locations - their main branch focuses on okonomiyaki, while their newer second branch is all about street food like kushikatsu and takoyaki.

What makes their vegan food stand a step above others is the fact that they use soy flour instead of rice flour, which gives the cooked batter a more satisfying texture.

Just as a heads up - the main branch gets incredibly busy, so checking out the second branch (which has a rooftop area as well!) is a foolproof way to secure your food faster.

A Creative Take on Sushi - Shojin Sushi Minamo

Shojin Sushi Minamo is a true hidden gem - tucked away in the basement on a side street in Osaka's Amerikamura district, it offers some of Japan's most unique takes on sushi.

When we visited we were truly blown away by how closely this vegan sushi resembled real nigiri sushi. If you order the 10-piece set, you get to experience the entire selection they have on offer.

Some sushi feature excellently prepared vegetables that look like tuna and salmon, while other ones like the ikura (salmon roe) gunkan sushi, are a true miracle in terms of how close it gets to the real thing. If you're looking for a cozy sushi spot with counter seating, go here!

Cozy Vibes and Vegan Bites - MERCY Vegan Factory

Moving a little further away from the city center, you'll stumble across MERCY Vegan Factory, a small, cozy restaurant with a surprisingly large vegan menu.

The large menu covers all the staples from egg and fruit sandwiches to Japanese curry and even vegan sweets. There even are some gluten-free options available.

We tried the sandwiches which tasted incredibly close to their non-vegan counterparts.

MERCY Vegan Factory also has a branch by Kyoto Station if you're interested in checking them out but don't have the time in Osaka.

Filling Rice Balls with Plenty of Options - Gorichan

Onigiri Gorichan has branches in Shinsaibashi and Nakazakicho close to Tenjinbashisuji - Japan's longest shopping street.

We also run a street food tour in the area, and if you’re vegan, feel free to reach out. We can create a custom vegan-friendly route that includes a stop at Gorichan for fresh vegan onigiri!

The Shinsaibashi branch doesn't mark vegan options on the menu, but they have around 9 vegan onigiri (plum, soy-seasoned sea weed, pickled daikon, and kimchi among others) plus vegan miso soup options.

The staff are incredibly friendly at both branches with amazing service - just keep in mind to bring cash! Gorichan is an excellent place to try onigiri as even seemingly vegan onigiri at konbini still might include dashi as an ingredient.

Plus, once you try fresh, handmade onigiri, you won't want to eat the konbini version ever again.

Round Off with Tasty Vegan Donuts at Canelita Sweets

To finish the list, we're back in Shinsaibashi. Unlike central Shinsaibashi, the area west of the main block is surprisingly calm and full of fashionable boutiques and unique restaurants including plenty of vegan spots like Papma (delicious protein-heavy soy-based shakes) and even vegan ramen at PlayPen Friends.

Our favorite vegan dessert spot is Canelita Sweets, near Horie Park, which serves up some of the best vegan sweets in Osaka.

We consider the donuts here to be some of the very best vegan donuts - if not donuts in general. Chewy, moist and full of flavor, Canelita Sweets just does it right. Depending on the day, they rotate the lineup and may also have brownies and cakes.

You can enjoy your sweets upstairs in the shop or take them to go, ideally for a snack in the park next door. A solid pick for anyone with a sweet tooth!

How to Find Even More Vegan Spots

Beyond our recommendations, Osaka has plenty more vegan restaurants and naturally vegan treats to discover, like mochi, dango, and yakiimo (roasted sweet potato).

If you’re looking to try something more traditional, consider shōjin ryori, a fully plant-based Buddhist cuisine known for its seasonal ingredients and beautifully balanced flavors.

When planning your trip, apps like HappyCow and VegeMap make it easy to find vegan-friendly restaurants near your hotel and major sightseeing areas.

Want us to guide you? Fill out the contact form on our homepage, and we’ll put together a custom vegan route just for you!