We visited the vegetarian cafe Ren Shijo Omiya with 8 people from work. It is a shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) restaurant where both vegetarians and vegans can enjoy. They have a wide selection of drinks as well. The prices are also reasonable, so students should definitely give it a try.

I went there for the first time. I didn't make a reservation. It's a small restaurant. They serve vegetarian cuisine without meat or fish. I had today's vegetarian set meal. It came in a bento box filled with a variety of small dishes. I was expecting vegetarian food to be unsatisfying, but it was not at all. I was completely full. The dishes were delicious and you couldn't tell they were made only with vegetables. The red rice was also delicious. I tried the herbal soup for the first time and it was tasty. Overall, I'm satisfied with these healthy dishes. Thank you for the meal.

A cafe serving vegan dishes based on Taiwanese vegetarian cuisine. It is located in a residential area in the back streets of Mibu. I had the set lunch. The colors are vibrant and there is a wide variety of side dishes. The soy meat tastes like real meat and is easy to eat without any strong flavors.

I had been wanting to go to a healthy lunch at the vegetarian cafe Ren for a while, but my schedule only allowed me to go on weekdays since they are closed on Sundays. I finally got the chance to go and ordered the daily lunch set for 1320 yen (tax included). The menu was very healthy, and I particularly enjoyed the edamame and corn dumplings. The portion was just right, leaving me satisfied but not overly full. The atmosphere was welcoming for solo female diners, as well as families and couples. They also had other menu options like hot pot that I would like to try next time.

#Vegan Cafe Ren is a warm and cozy cafe that feels like dining in someone's home. While enjoying your meal, two mothers with their young children come in and play joyfully, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. The cafe owner and staff, all women, are gentle and kind, creating a comfortable environment that surely attracts regular customers from the neighborhood. The menu offers a variety of vegan options, from set meals to curry, fried rice, herbal hot pot, and even water dumpling hot pot. The desserts are also plentiful, making it hard to choose just one. During this visit, I ordered the daily vegan set meal and Ren's special herbal hot pot blended with over 15 Chinese herbs. The dishes were made with ingredients like beans, soy meat, walnuts, tofu, and okara, creating a flavorful and nutritious experience. The rice, a blend of grains and black rice, was delicious and satisfying. The herbal hot pot had a gentle, salt-based flavor with various vegetables, served piping hot. The atmosphere was so lovely that I couldn't resist ordering another dessert and a set of grain coffee. The grain coffee had a light, nutty aroma and a hint of coffee-like taste without actual coffee beans. I enjoyed it. The gluten-free cake dessert, made with silk sweet and cashew nut cheese, topped with various fruits and soy cream, was a delightfully sweet treat. Vegan restaurants are becoming more popular in town, and Vegan Cafe Ren stands out for its great value. I left the cafe feeling full and satisfied. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I used this restaurant when traveling in Kyoto. It is a safe place for vegans. I ordered the simple medicinal curry with soy meat cutlet topping. The curry was quite spicy. For dessert, I ordered a pumpkin and cashew nut cheesecake. It was a very gentle tasting cheesecake.

After some time has passed, I always have a strong craving for the lunch at this place. Today, my wife is not around so I had lunch alone. I arrived right at the opening time of 11:30 AM. I ordered the daily special bento box, which is the only option but always delicious. The variety of dishes is always great. I don't know the details of the menu but the black rice is tasty and I love it. I will definitely come back again.

The other day, I ordered takeout from this restaurant. The portion size was generous, but the taste was so good that I decided to dine in at the restaurant. The interior of the restaurant is not very spacious, so personally I prefer takeout. However, this time I had some time, so I ordered the daily vegan rice set for 1200 yen. When it was brought to me, I was amazed by the variety of ingredients and cooking methods used. Everything looked delicious. The standout dish for me was the "Soy meat wing-style in sweet and savory sauce". It had a crispy texture like chicken wings, but with a different taste and texture. It was absolutely delicious. I hope they can offer the same menu for takeout as they do for dining in.

I was planning to use the GOTO Travel regional coupon for dinner near Shijo, but unfortunately it was not accepted. Although it's not the restaurant's fault, I wish there was less confusion surrounding GOTO Eat and Travel. There are different systems for GOTO Eat, with voucher types and point types for advance reservations, and GOTO Travel regional coupons are yet another separate system. Despite this, I decided to enjoy dinner at this vegan restaurant. The photo may look like Katsu Curry, but it's actually Shojin Curry with soy meat instead of pork cutlet. The dish perfectly combines the traditional Kyoto essence with a modern twist, and I left satisfied.

I was curious about a new restaurant that opened this year, which boasts Taiwanese vegetarian cuisine. I am not a vegetarian or vegan, but I always feel like trying out new places. The dishes were all carefully prepared and well-seasoned. The meticulous work took quite some time before being served, but it was worth the wait. I also tried soy meat for the first time, and it was surprisingly delicious. If I didn't know, I might not have realized it wasn't chicken. This seems to be the second branch, as you can tell by the entrance, and it is designed so that even if the restaurant closes, the building can easily be used as a regular house. The owner is from Taiwan and has a strong commitment to vegetarianism, as evidenced by the informative magazines placed around the restaurant. Thank you for the meal!

I came at night to see if I could come during my lunch break, and ended up ordering the medicinal hot pot instead of the set meal. While it seems like I could make it during my lunch break if I ordered the set meal, this place operates throughout the day and night with the same menu, so it might be better to come in the evening to relax and take your time. I chose the soy milk option for the hot pot. In Japanese hot pots, soy milk tends to be the dominant flavor, but here, the medicinal herbs take the spotlight and the soy milk flavor is not overpowering. The taste was natural and light, highlighting the deliciousness of the vegetables. A white couple pushing a baby stroller arrived while I was waiting for my food. They seemed to be Russian based on their conversation with the staff, where they mentioned knowing a little English and Japanese. It didn't seem like they were locals on their first visit. Were they tourists? I couldn't help but feel a touristy vibe. The Ren special medicinal hot pot, blended with over 15 types of Chinese herbs (with soy milk) and a grain coffee (iced) were my orders for the night.

Ren's special medicinal hot pot (curry flavor) is made with over 15 types of Chinese herbs blended into the soy mince mapo tofu.

Vegetarian medicinal curry salad with toppings: soy meat cutlet, soy meat fried chicken, and vegetarian fish fry.

I remembered the vegetarian food I ate in Taiwan. The herbal soup was very healing and soothing.

Today's vegetarian meal set: Zen fish fry with soy milk latte (iced).

Today's vegetarian set meal:

I decided to get takeout for lunch from a vegan restaurant that I had been curious about for a while. The restaurant opened in March 2020 and is located on a narrow street off Minamikawa-dori. It's a bit hard to find since it's in a residential area, but there is a sign outside. The restaurant is in a renovated house and has a cozy atmosphere. I called ahead to order the Shojin rice set for takeout (1100 yen) and picked it up. The portion for takeout was much larger than dining in, as mentioned in other reviews. The taste was delicious though. I will definitely visit the restaurant when I'm in the area next time.