A shojin ryori meal consists of seasonable vegetables and wild plants accompanied by with seaweed, miso soup, rice, soybean curd (tofu), seeds and nuts.  This simple style of cooking limits the use of sauces and seasonings and highlights the distinct flavors of each fresh ingredients.

Some temples in the Tokyo area serve shojin ryori to the public or you can choose from one of the vegetarian restaurants listed on the Tokyo Food Page or at Happy Cow.  Another resource for vegetarians visiting is the Tokyo Vegetarian Guide which offers restaurants listings and a variety of other information that is a bit dated but otherwise useful.

For those days when a restaurant serving vegetarian cuisine isn’t available, or conveniently located, you will want to review these useful Japanese words and phrases for vegetarians.  For example, if you want to say “I am a vegetarian”, the correct Japanese phrase is “Watashiwa bejitarian desu” and if you want to say “I don’t eat any meat” you would use the phrase “Watashiwa onikuga taberaremasen“.  The listing also includes the kanji for these and other phrases which will come in handy if you find pronouncing Japanese words difficult.

I am not a vegetarian but I have eaten many meatless meals in restaurants throughout the city.  While I cannot say with certainty that these meals met the standards of a truly vegetarian or vegan diet, I can tell you that finding them wasn’t difficult and that they were delicious.

Image Credit:  Flickr, Ekoin temple – Shôjin-ryôri Dinner (at 5:30pm)

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

When we go we usually start off with a couple of beer while we ponder the menu. We then order a salad, some kim-chi, a plate of chicken, some beef and some steamed rice. Depending on the restaurant, vegetable and seafood plates may also be available.

Once you have placed your order your waiter or waitress will fire up your grill in anticipation of the food that’s about to arrive. When the food arrives you will find that the beef is usually well marbled and the chicken is marinated to perfection.

Now you get to cook! Grab your chopsticks, select a piece of meat and slap it onto the grill. Take a sip of your beer and chat with your friends while inhaling, with anticipation, the appetizing aroma of grilling food. When your meat is cooked to perfection remove it from the grill and dip it into one of the various sauces that are provided by the restaurant. Now take a bite – oishi (delicious!). Take another sip of your beer and repeat until you are full.

Yakiniku goes great with friends and beer and is always a good time so check it out! You can find Yakiniku restaurants in most major cities and if you can’t find Yakiniku try Korean Barbeque – it’s a variation on the same theme.

Our favorite Yakiniku restaurant is located near the Makuhari-Hongo station, about 35 minutes from Tokyo. Check out the lovely design of the matchbook cover from the restaurant at Fly Away Cafe.

Photos: Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler