One night in Tokyo, Alka and I discovered ourselves wandering the buzzing streets of Akihabara, the center of manga tradition within the metropolis. Her daughter, my niece is keen on manga and Alka needed to select one thing for her. Because the neon indicators started to glow brighter and the crowds thinned somewhat, I seen it was round 7, perhaps 7:30 p.m. That’s when it hit me, it was dinnertime, not in India however actually in Japan.
Now, right here’s the factor: in Tokyo, plenty of eating places shut fairly early for dinner. And for us, being vegetarians, the dinner search will get a bit extra intense. I sometimes eat eggs, however Alka doesn’t. So, our choices slender even additional. And from expertise, I do know it’s not simple to only stroll into a spot in Japan and discover strong vegetarian meals, particularly with out some analysis.
This lesson hit me on an earlier journey to Japan with my daughter, after I realized that the same old “let’s wing it” technique didn’t fairly work right here. That’s after I found this sensible little app referred to as Completely happy Cow, a godsend for vegetarians and vegans navigating overseas meals scenes. I really discovered it by a tremendous on-line neighborhood on Fb referred to as Women Love Journey. Simply a type of beautiful, serendipitous issues that occur in a linked world.
So there I used to be, again in Tokyo, flipping out my Completely happy Cow app like a seasoned traveler, and voilà, it pointed us towards a ramen store referred to as Kyushu Jangara, which had vegan ramen on the menu. I can’t even clarify the enjoyment in that second! As a result of, let’s be trustworthy, while you’re vegetarian, you usually miss out on these genuine, native flavors that outline a spot.
With Kyushu Jangara plugged into Google Maps, Alka and I set off, weaving by the glowing streets of Akihabara. There’s one thing actually satisfying about strolling with a objective in a brand new metropolis—particularly when that objective is meals. The map led us to a comfortable little store tucked right into a quiet nook, and positive sufficient, there was already a small queue forming exterior.
We joined the road, excited and relieved. A queue normally means you’ve discovered the precise spot, proper?
As we waited, the person working the place got here out- pleasant, environment friendly, and clearly used to serving to hungry, non-Japanese-speaking guests. He handed us the menu and requested us to determine upfront. I instructed him with a smile, “We already know, we got here for the vegan ramen!”
He grinned and mentioned, “Would you want so as to add some drinks?” Now, I do take pleasure in an excellent beer with my meal, however Alka doesn’t drink alcohol a lot, and he or she’s not large on drinks typically. Nonetheless, I requested if the beer got here in a small bottle. He nodded, “Sure, very small,” after which held up… a one-liter bottle. I couldn’t assist however snicker. “Ah, perhaps not that small!” I mentioned. So, we determined to skip the drinks and simply go along with the vegan noodles. Easy, comforting, and precisely what we had been craving.
The queue moved sooner than we anticipated, and earlier than lengthy, it was our flip to step inside. And the second we entered, I used to be hit with that unmistakable feeling- this was a type of magical little Tokyo meals joints you dream about.
The enjoyment of discovering Vegan Ramen at Kyushu Jangra in Akihabara Tokyo Japan with @alka_dhttps://t.co/4imoGg9S0R
— Mridula Dwivedi (@mridulablog) April 13, 2025
For those who’ve ever watched Midnight Diner or Midnight Diner: Tokyo Tales, you’ll know precisely the vibe I’m speaking about. Small picket benches, low stools, heat lighting, a sort of lived-in coziness. The sort of place the place the area is tight however the coronary heart is large. Each little element all the way down to the clinking bowls and the occasional breeze from the door swinging open, felt like a scene out of the present.
There have been two individuals behind the counter, working on this stunning rhythm, like they owned the place (and perhaps they did). One would take orders and chat, the opposite centered intently on the steaming pots of broth and noodles. There was this quiet vitality in regards to the place—calm, purposeful, comforting.
I used to be overjoyed. Not simply because we have been lastly about to eat, however as a result of we had stumbled into one thing that felt deeply native and genuine—and we didn’t need to compromise our meals selections to be a part of it.
Our bowls of vegan ramen arrived pretty shortly—sizzling, aromatic, and completely stunning. Every bowl got here with a pair of chopsticks and a soup spoon. Now, I’ve used chopsticks a bit right here and there, however Alka? Not a lot. She was doing her greatest, attempting to scoop up the noodles with simply the spoon, however it wasn’t actually working.
I leaned over and mentioned, “Take out the chopsticks, hold the noodles on them, and slurp!” As a result of truthfully, that’s what everybody round us was doing—no disgrace, no hesitation. Simply loud, blissful slurping. It’s not simply accepted in Japan; it’s inspired. In order that’s precisely what we did, slurping down these sizzling, flavorful noodles like we have been born to do it.
And as we sat there, surrounded by the comfortable, bustling vitality of the place, the vibe was a lot like Midnight Diner that I had this irresistible urge to lift my hand and shout, “Grasp!”—identical to within the present. I didn’t, after all. However the feeling was there. That pleasure, that quiet reference to the place, the meals, and the individuals round us. It was an ideal little Tokyo second. One we gained’t overlook anytime quickly.
We have been hungry, and we wasted no time. The ramen disappeared quick each final slurp. We might’ve sat somewhat longer, soaked within the vibe, however we have been conscious of the queue exterior. This wasn’t a spot to linger; it was a type of “eat, smile, and make room for the subsequent fortunate particular person” sort of spots. So, blissful and content material, we paid our invoice and stepped exterior into the cool Tokyo night.
We paused for a second in entrance of the store, simply standing there, taking a look at it prefer it was some sort of secret portal we’d simply walked by. We giggled, we checked out one another and laughed.
We took a couple of images after which, with heat bellies and full hearts, we began strolling towards the metro station, already replaying the night in our minds. Generally, the only meals flip into essentially the most unforgettable reminiscences.
