Restaurant Reviews: Vegan Healing Cafe

After a day of pounding the rainy streets of Tokyo, who doesn't need a little healing right? Well, actually, both Pamela and I didn't have this place down as a first choice on our restaurant schedule but boy, am I glad that we ended up here!
Not only is it the only restaurant in Japan that I know of that has the word "vegan" in it's name but the place is choc full of literature on animal rights and promotes veganism as an ethical lifestyle not just a fashion or health fad. Pamela particularly loved their NO FUR signs and we wondered whether the staff would actually refuse to serve anyone wearing fur?....

The Vegan Healing Cafe is located on a quiet street near to one of the main drag's from Shibuya station. It's a very small place though it was quiet when we arrived. They have a couple of tables outside which I'm sure would be a nice spot for some people watching while you enjoy drinking your black sesame and kinako soy milk!

Anyway, on to the important stuff: the menu!
The menu is small but all delicious sounding. Pamela and I both opted for the tempeh sausage which was served with genmai (brown rice) and a salad as well as some sort of delicious sauce. Our Tokyo friend decided on the felafel burger which, as the same suggests, was a large felafel patty accompanied by the same trimmings as our sausages. All the food was delicous and while it all seemed very healthy, it was also very satisfying! The tempeh sausages were very moist and were very nicely complimented by the sauce. Our main courses were priced at 1000 and 950 yen respectively so also easy on the wallet as well as the stomach and conscience!

Of course, something would have to be seriously amiss if I didn't sample a vegan dessert when presented with that option, haha. As soon as I saw the dessert cooler, I knew the chocolate almond tofu tart (380 yen) had to be mine! Pamela opted for that one too while our friend went for the soy whip cake (480 yen). Since it was an おすすめ (recommended) option, Pam and I added the soy whip on the side for an extra 100 yen.
My verdict? Delicious! All the cakes were delicious! The soy whip cake was light and airy with a refreshing citrus tang and the choc tart was, well, exactly as I expected really - indulgent and filling. Yum. I was extremely satisfied after this meal.

Perhaps best of all, since this restaurant is truly vegan in the ethical sense, we knew that none of our money was going towards the purchase of any nasty cow juice or chicken mentstrual waste products. They also had a lot of vegan cookbooks including Soy Not Oi! which I have been wanting to peruse for a long time! Oh and they also have some cool grafitti out the front which I appreciated, haha.

Anyway, if you ever find yourself tired and growing increasingly angry with the Shibuya crowds, head to The Vegan Healing Cafe for some moral and gastronomic refreshment!

-- Sarah

I hope they ban meat eaters. Can you imagine..."Excuse me ma'am. Could you leave the former animal that died a slow painful death so you could wear it, at the door? kthx."

Sarah and my tempeh sausages. I forgot to get a picture before diving straight into them.MMmmmm.....cake......

While Sarah and I do not support Peta, it's still pretty cool to see the 'Fur is dead' van parked outside the restaurant. I don't know if they are connected to eachother.

And that concludes our Tokyo escapade! I want more!

--Pamela