[Himeji Station area] Six choices for vegan, vegetarian, and Halal-friendly lunch

[100% vegan cafe] cafe Kotonaki

Access: About a 10-minute walk from Himeji Station

“I will not compromise on taste, style, or affordability.” For those who feel that way, cafe Kotonaki is the perfect place. This is a cafe for vegans that serves menu items made mostly with plant-derived ingredients. All menu items from the lunch that is packed with locally grown organic vegetables to the homemade desserts specially made with ingredients like soy milk and rice-bran oil can be ordered at any time as well as taken to go.

The interior is an earthy and refined space that is reminiscent of a Nordic cafe. The building is actually a renovated 70-year-old traditional Japanese house that retains charming reminders of the past like the frosted glass windows and retro tile sink.<

There are two lunch options: the Veggie Fried Chicken Set (1,800 yen) and the Octopus Rice Set (1,500 yen). The Veggie Fried Chicken that is especially popular packs a punch with ginger and garlic, the juicy flavor filling your mouth when you take a bite. Then, have a fresh salad and several kinds of deep-fried vegetables with their homemade soy milk mayonnaise.

“There is always room for dessert” is a universal truth. Among the healthy and super satisfying desserts, the Vegan Gateau Chocolat (650 yen) offers a rich, moist flavor created with tofu that captures the hearts of those with a sweet tooth.

>Located slightly to the west of Otemae-dori street that runs from Himeji Station to Himeji Castle, this cafe is the perfect stop while sightseeing. If you want a little break during your stroll through Himeji, stop by Cafe Kotonaki to satisfy both your soul and your stomach.

[100% vegan cafe] il riccio

Access: About a 7-minute walk from Himeji Station

Il riccio is a cafe that offers 100% plant-based dining run by a natural food store. Dishes prepared by the owner who is also a macrobiotic cooking teacher provide heaps of brown rice and grains that are good for your body in so many ways.

The cafe has counter seats as well as many tables waiting on standby on the second floor. The space filled with the open feeling of the atrium and the warmth of wood soothe your travel fatigue.

The appeal of the cafe’s cuisine does not just stop at ‘healthy.’ The Seasonal Lunch (1,980 yen) with a monthly-changing main dish offers a very diverse repertoire. Previous offerings have been soy meat cutlet, freeze-dried tofu skewers, kuruma-fu (wheel-shaped gluten cake) teriyaki and so on. Ingredients that are simple and healthy but fully satisfy your desire for junk food—dishes that let this idea of the owner shine capture the hearts of diners.

There is also a natural food shop on the first floor, and many customers come just for that. It sells products used in the cafe menu so you can get things you like to take home with you.

[Offers vegan and vegetarian options] Sakura Saku

Access: About a 13-minute walk from Himeji Station (a short walk from Himeji Castle)

Did you know that there is a vegetable cafe that fulfills everyone’s whims? In front of Karoyashikiato Park that fills with beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, you will find Sakura Saku run by a vegetable sommelier.

When you open the retro lattice door, feel your tension lift away in the tatami floored space before you. You may find yourself staying a while in the seats that are a sunken kotatsu (a low table over a hole in the floor) and let you stretch out your legs.

The Vegetable-packed Lunch of the Day (1,300 yen) is full of dishes packed with fresh vegetables. They listen carefully to your requests about flavoring and spice level of the dishes made with no animal ingredients for vegans and accommodating egg or dairy product-related needs for vegetarians, delivering a ‘made-to-order’ meal tailored to each customer.

Supporting the base for the meals is plant-based broth made from shiitake mushrooms or kelp. The owner uses her knowledge as a vegetable sommelier to create gentle flavors that bring out the natural deliciousness of the ingredients. For an additional 200 yen, you can add cake and coffee to your lunch—an excellent bargain.

The deep generosity of listening to all of your needs about food tastes and what you feel like that day is a great appeal of this cafe. How about passing through the cafe curtain to be greeted by the warmth of the ‘Mother of Himeji.’

[Offers vegan and vegetarian options] Sangohachi

Access: About 6 minutes by train from Himeji Station

About 6 minutes by train from JR Himeji Station. If you step off the beaten path a little while seeing the sights of Himeji, you will arrive at Sangohachi, a vegan-friendly cafe.

You are greeted by the amiable shop owner who says, “With gestures and apps, English is no problem!”  After her experience personally battling with atopic dermatitis and completely re-evaluating what food she eats, she created a cafe that meets the needs of those wanting to eat organic, choosing organic and additive-free for everything from ingredients to seasonings. The meals also contain zero sugar, so you can enjoy them guilt free.

There are two options during the popular lunchtime: Lunch of the Week (A) and Lunch of the Week (B) (2,310 yen each). B is a vegan-friendly lunch made without any dairy products, eggs, or meat.

The day we visited, the main dish was Vegan Gapao Rice that lets you fully savor fermented vegetables. The key to the flavor is the fermented fruit sauce that is a unique blend of fruits like pineapple guava, a locally grown tropical fruit, and ume fruit. The sweetness and acidity of the fruits mixed with complex spices creates a deep, rich flavor. And then, rolling around and dancing on the roux are homemade radish cakes. This super satisfying dish is both healthy and filling.

Not to be outdone by the main dish, the set of appetizers made with organic vegetables have bold flavors. They are flavored with homemade kaki koji (a fermented condiment made from persimmons and malted rice) and kankoji (fermented paste made from malted rice, salt, and glutinous rice) as well as white tamari sauce with a soy sauce flavor that contains no wheat flour. These flavors blend beautifully with the ingredients.

These ideas the owner has and her repertoire of dishes made with care and love are limitless, and she says she has not served the same menu twice even a single time since opening. The lunch menu changes every two weeks, so you can make a new discovery every time you come.

After your meal, enjoy a little break with barley flour pound cake that comes with your lunch and the Sangohachi Blend Tea (330 yen) packed with the blessings of four types of medicinal herbs. During your travels, how about enjoying a carefully prepared meal that lets you leave feeling mentally and physically positive?

[Offers Halal certified options] Omotenashi Dining Fukutei

Access: About a 5-minute walk from Himeji Station

If you are looking for a restaurant to experience authentic Japanese hospitality and dining in Himeji, try Omotenashi Dining Fukutei. The restaurant has classy modern Japanese decor with a level of elegance that is great for entertaining clients or special occasions as well. And yet, it is also a space where you can relax and feel at ease.

Among the array of dishes made with seafood caught fresh that morning, hand-selected by the head chef, and juicy vegetables, the conger eel caught in the coastal waters of the Seto Inland Sea stands out with its particularly striking presence. There are two special menu options for Muslims that both feature conger eel as the main ingredient. A great point is that neither requires a reservation, so you can easily enjoy them while sightseeing.

If you want to deeply experience Japanese cuisine, have the Hitsumabushi-style Conger Eel Rice Bowl (2,200 yen). Normal hitsumabushi is a regional cuisine from Nagoya that uses regular eel, but the dish you can try here is Himeji-style conger eel hitsumabushi.

First, take a bite of the fragrant conger eel as is. Next, add condiments to enhance the aroma and flavor. Then, finally, delicately pour alcohol-free broth over it and savor it with the gentle aftertaste. Fully enjoy the delicious appeal of hitsumabushi three different ways in the same bowl.

To enjoy the fluffy texture and sweetness of the conger eel more directly, try the Conger Eel Tempura Rice Bowl and Ibonoito Somen Noodle Soup (2,200 yen). You can’t help but want to take a big bite out of the huge conger eel tempura that looks like it might be larger than the rice bowl. The tempura is lightly seasoned with salt, and the rice is gently infused with a special sauce.

The noodles that slip smoothly down are hand-stretched Ibonoito somen that are a source of pride nationwide for Himeji’s neighboring Tatsuno City. The combination that is full of local flavor is guaranteed to become a wonderful memory of your trip.

[Offers Halal certified options] Senhime Chaya

Access: About a 13-minute walk from Himeji Station (a short walk from Himeji Castle)

Egret Himeji is a multi-purpose cultural facility facing Himeji Castle. Senhime Chaya is a popular diner on the first floor that is also often used by tour groups.

Among the array of options of signature Himeji dishes like the Shirasu (whitebait) Rice Bowl, Conger Eel Rice Bowl, and Himeji Oden, be sure to check out the special menu options, available by reservation only. They offer dishes that cater to diverse culinary cultures like vegan, vegetarian, and the Muslim diet.

The Muslim-friendly Course (4,000 yen per person) that is especially rare in Himeji is exceptional in both visual appeal and taste. The fresh mini salad made with fresh vegetables grown by nearby farmers steals the show when it is served in the restaurant’s signature huge bowl. 

This is followed by a succession of satisfying dishes like the crispy chicken tempura, richly flavored butter chicken curry, and vegan ramen packed with vegetables. All the ingredients in the seasonings and curry roux are Halal certified, so you can eat everything safely.

After enjoying your meal, head up to the observation deck on the roof of Egret Himeji. It offers a spectacular view overlooking Himeji Castle up close that makes the perfect photo to conclude your trip. A delicious meal followed by the best view—the special time provided by this restaurant is a great bonus.