Today's lunch was at "Vegan Cafe ren Horikawa Shotengai Store". It is a Taiwanese home cooking restaurant located around Shimonagajincho Street in Horikawa-dori Shotengai, Kamigyo-ku. The main store is in Wakayama, and they also have three branches in Kyoto. The exterior has a unique atmosphere, with a takeout window available. The interior has a Taiwanese-style decor, with tables at the entrance and in the back on a wooden floor (no shoes allowed). I ordered the "Today's Special Plate" for 1200 yen, which came with a square plate and soup. The herbal soup, similar to Chinese medicine, was delicious. The multigrain rice had a nice texture with grains mixed in. The three side dishes were ethnic and tasty, although I couldn't identify their names. The salad had a light dressing, and the soy meat cutlet was flavorful and different from traditional tonkatsu. This place offers a convenient way to enjoy Taiwanese cuisine, which seems to be gaining popularity recently.

I visited the restaurant at night and ordered the special. It was a hearty meal with plenty of side dishes and warm herbal soup that warmed my body. Everything was made with vegetables or tofu, and it was Taiwanese vegetarian cuisine. I became a fan of the owner's cheerful personality. They also sell pesticide-free vegetables for a very good price at the storefront, like 100 or 150 yen.

Recently, I became interested in veganism and started living a semi-vegan lifestyle at home, avoiding meat. I was curious about what vegan cuisine is like, so I visited a vegan restaurant called "Soshoku REN." I ordered the daily plate and was surprised by the "oyster fry (mock)" that tasted just like real oysters! I was intrigued by the recipe, especially the white-looking ingredient that was included. The other side dishes had nuts and thick tofu, offering a variety of textures that were delicious. The brown rice was also chewy and tasty. I wonder if they use a pressure cooker to make it. There were many other intriguing dishes on the menu, such as herbal hot pot and vegan dumplings, so I definitely want to visit again!

This is a great store for vegan families as they focus on plant-based food. I bought soy meat nuggets for 600 yen. They also offer soy meat in bulk, so you can bring your own container or bag. The minced soy meat type costs 200 yen for 100 grams, and the beef type costs 250 yen for 100 grams.