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Small Japanese restaurant, primarily centered around soy meats. Dishes include yakitori (Japanese skewers), okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancakes), Japanese curry, casserole, carbonara udon and more. Owner speaks little English and is serving entirely by himself, so if busy, serving times may take longer. Max four people at a time. Previously listed as vegetarian, but reported to be fully vegan December 2025. Open Tue-Sun 5:30pm-9:30pm, Wed-Sun 11:30am-1:30pm. Closed Mon. Hours are subject to change. Please check website.
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Last update on 15 Dec 2025 by Hydro
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Added by sagarak on 13 Jan 2023
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53 Reviews
First Review by Vegeiko
Ann3
Points +24
Mind blowingly tasty - Edit
I tried the yakitori plate three years ago and have been dreaming about coming back. It was still as good as last time! I would give it six stars if I could. 🙌
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-05
Guest
LuluLacuna
Points +82
Lots of vegan options - Edit
Lots of vegan options, seating is limited to groups of 4 people maximum
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-04-29
Guest
Tscheggob
Points +34
Very good vegan food - Edit
This tiny place run by only one person is defenetly worth a visit!
Read moreThe menu is good and has some special things in offer.
The owner is polite and loves what he is doing while you feel like sitting in his private kitchen.
Guest
wahlord
Points +41
Small but very delicious - Edit
Small shop, operated by the owner. Not much space for groups but very nice food.
Read moreGuest
antoniaevamaria
Points +50
Very good food, lovely atmosphere - Edit
I went here on my first night and wan’t disappointed. It’s very small, feels like a living room, with a friendly man cooking and serving alone. You can’t go there more than a group of 4, as this would surpass his capacity. I had the udon carbonara, which was pure comfort food. Creamy and rich in flavor. Loved the atmosphere. Many other dishes I want to try. I’ll come back.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-28
Pros: Many delicious fully vegan dishes , Lovely atmosphere, like living room
Cons: Can’t serve more than 4 people at a table
Guest
taiwanesetexan
Points +13939
Yakitori star - Edit
I visited on a weekday for lunch and was the only person in the small restaurant. The chef/waiter gave me a menu to look over at my leisure, and I pressed the call button on my table when I had decided. I went with the okonomiyaki and yakitori. While he returned to the kitchen to prepare the dishes, I perused the gift shop area near the entrance. Lots of cute things if you are looking for gifts. The restroom is also near the entrance.
Read moreThe food came out in a timely fashion, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The yakitori was especially nice since each skewer was a different type. Three skewers in particular stood out: the ones that were vegan versions of kawa, hatsu, and tsukune. The okonomiyaki was also satisfying since it included a layer of soy meat slices on the bottom. I'd come back if I were in the general area to try the curry rice.
Guest
Miayam
Points +22
Amazing Okonomiyaki! - Edit
The vegan okonomiyaki was super tasty! The menu is fully vegan and also offers other Japanese dishes like yakitori (was very good too). We would definitely come back!
Read moreThere is also a nice selection of regional souvenirs you can browse😄The owner cooks and serves everything himself (which is why he can only serve groups with max. 4 people).
Guest
vegiemama
Points +29
Wow, delicious traditional Japanese food - Edit
My non-vegetarian partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Aju, which is easy to access from the subway. I enjoyed the Osaka specialty Okonomiyaki, while my partner ate Yakitori. The restaurant is small. The owner does it all himself. Well worth it to come here!
Read morePros: Beverage selection , Traditional Japanese food, Small menu, huge variety.
Guest
rainyangwen
Points +160
AF options - Edit
The menu clearly indicates dishes containing Alliums. The food was slightly salty but was nice… it’s a pity that there is a limitation of max group size of 4.
Read moreGuest
PaigeStrudwick
Points +237
Ok food - Edit
Quaint location, we were the only two people there. Limited options on the menu as it is just one chef. Dishes were tasty but would have been better with some stir fried greens to compliment the soy meats and pancake.
Read moreGuest
13stairs
Points +1274
Veganised Osaka food - Edit
Restaurant is really small and can only accommodate small groups. Owner speaks English but is not very talkative. All you could hear was the radio that was on while he cooked but I can appreciate the quietness and calmness of the place. It was empty on a Saturday night so I’m not sure if it’s just not very popular.
Read moreThey serve veganised Osaka dishes like okonomiyaki and kushikatsu, they use a lot of different meat substitutes - mostly soy meat and bakon too. Overall I liked the food even thought it was a bit oily.
Pros: Nice quiet place
Cons: Cash only
Guest
PaoGabi9
Points +16
Very convenient - Edit
I was just walking around waiting for another place to open. This place was a walking distance from a train station. I had the soy and tofu hamburger.
Read moreGuest
SohviBergeron
Points +72
Good - Edit
Small place that can't accomidate more then 4 tables.
Read moreI got the salad, the yakiyori and chicken.
Everything was good but not amazing.
A bit pricy for what it was
Updated from previous review on 2025-03-09
Guest
Seethu1625
Points +13
Great Food & Not so Friendly owner/ staff - Edit
Okonomiyak - superb
Read moreTaco rice - Awesome
Yakitori - Must try
Sake - great
Beer - to was all other things
Pros: Quite & good place , Small groups of 4 or less, Pure Vegan
Cons: Unfriendly or not so talkative owner or staff, Limited menu with most sides fried with soy, 4 or less members and limited operating hours
Guest
AnitaDollar
Points +5814
Fell a bit short of expectations - Edit
Been refused entry before because it wad full, so I expected it to be really good. While the food is creative and something different, I found it quite oily. The server/chef seemed a bit annoyed by us. I'll give it another shot in the future.
Read moreGuest
curiouspencil
Points +35
Peacefully delicious - Edit
What a beautiful place, off a quiet street and upstairs like a side quest, a quiet man wordlessly cooking some very delicious vegan lunch. I was mesmerised by the flavours of 6 different “chicken soya” skewers, made in different ways, with a hot and creamy miso soup and brown rice with it. The energy is very peaceful, the food is worth the journey.
Read moreGuest
VeganMountie
Points +555
Nice food, worth finding - Edit
I enjoyed my meal. I was happier having a more traditional looking vegan okonomiyaki than I had elsewhere in town. It wasn’t super cheap, but that may be because we are used to paying less in Japan than our own countries. Use google maps to get yourself back to the station, the streets look similar in the rain.
Read moreGuest
champoun
Points +1983
Ok vegan food but not impressed - Edit
You can find this little place bit tucked away in an alley. They offer mostly vegan and vegetarian food.
Read moreThe owner does everything himself so he can’t serve more than 4 tables inside.
He doesn’t speak a lot of English and was polite but not that welcoming.
Food was decent but a bit expensive for what you get. Most of it is fried and there is very little fresh greens.
Overall a good options if you can’t anything else close by.
Sorry no pics of the food cause I was hungry.
Updated from previous review on 2024-09-24
Pros: Vegan options are decent , Freshly prepared by owner himself
Cons: A bit pricey for what you get , Not a lot of fresh greens , Owner wasn’t the most accomodating
Guest
TravellingRedScarfe
Points +209
Great in theory - Edit
I saw this on a YouTube review and it looked good. The restaurant is run by a single person and cannot host groups. The food we ordered was the skewers and okonomiyaki. The entire menu serves to provide vegetarian options to Japanese food. There was no salad with these dishes which were a little pricey for what they were. I don't think anything was cooked and I could hear the microwave go a few times even though we were the only patrons. I really wanted to like this place, but the food did not sit well for me.
Read moreGuest
jerry_r
Points +44
Delicious! - Edit
Tucked way off the main streets this tiny place is a bit of a gem.
Read moreWe were stuck for an evening option near where we were staying and found a review of Aju. It’s a one man operation he takes orders, cooks and serves.
Vegetarian menu was clearly labeled. Everything was great. Deap fried shiitake mushrooms were especially good as was the Okonomiyaki.
Just the sort of small place we should be supporting!
Guest
MarenMoriz
Points +165
Overpriced and nothing special - Edit
We came here because of the limited vegetarian/options in this area of Osaka.
Read moreThe food is okay, but nothing special. The portions are small and overall overpriced for what you get. We left with 4000¥ less in our pockets, but still hungry.
Guest
Farsta
Points +325
Ok - Edit
A little od place, owner is not very chatty.
Read moreWe had the Okonomiyaki and the carbonara.
The food looked nice and was sevred quickly.
The okonomiyaki was good the carbonara i wouldnt go for again.
Guest
Jph71
Points +658
Nice little spot - Edit
Great little find . Nice man doing it all by himself. Small menu . Good prices, good portions .
Read moreFood nice , nothing special
Pros: Atmosphere , Prices
Guest
Maggiora
Points +207
Tasty but small - Edit
The dishes were good but the size of each portion was a bit to small and furthermore there wasn't any vegetable next to the dishes. Unfortunately it also tasted a bit to oily but nonetheless the taste was okay.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-05-13
Guest
RabbleRousy
Points +259
Tiny place with some delicious meals - Edit
Aju is a very hidden away, small vegan gem to find in Osaka. There are only 4 small tables, but it adds to the cute atmosphere of this tiny izakaya.
Read moreThe menu is pretty limited, and it‘s unclear whether it is all vegan. It says „All vegan menu“ on the current card and even has a statement on the wine & drinks, so maybe its status here on HappyCow needs to be upgraded. On the other hand, „Vegetarian cheese risotto“ sounds suspicious (though other dishes explicitly have vegan cheese). I will try to ask, if I go there again. As others have pointed out, the Okonomiyaki is the absolute star of the show! Fantastic!
Also mentioned by others, the owner seemed not really welcoming. But at the end, when I payed and tried talking with him a bit, he seemed to open up a little. But if you‘re alone there like me, you won‘t have a very „social“ izakaya experience, but still delicious food.
Updated from previous review on 2024-04-12
Pros: Entirely vegan (?), Small & cozy, Okonomiyaki!!
Cons: No icecream :(
Guest
BENEDETTAspadoni
Points +19
Very good little gem in Osaka - Edit
Cozy and relaxing.
Read moreSmall, not more than 4 table, and the owner does everything by himself.
Food is very good, small dishes izakaya style.
Yakitori and okonomiyaki recommended!!
Updated from previous review on 2024-03-23
Pros: Not pricey , Intimate atmosfere, Delicious food
Cons: Not very easy to find
Guest
veganfoodiechristine
Points +324
Loved some dishes! Some weren't my favourite. - Edit
Visited on September 23, 2023. This was my first time at an all-vegan izakaya! The small, cozy setting made for an intimate experience at Aju. With a variety of options on the menu, choosing what to order was a bit tricky. Some dishes were better than others, but overall, it was a good experience. I particularly enjoyed the fried mushrooms (you can never go wrong with them) and yakitori. If you’re in the Osaka area, it’s worth giving it a try!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-03-18
Guest
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