Part of Neal's Yard Remedies shop and salon group, this is a more upscale kind of restaurant that offers a small selection of set meals and dessert. Has English menu. Located in Harajuku, in proximity to the Harajuku JR station, 1/2 block from Omotesando subway exit onto Jingu-dori: exit from Omote Sando station and go towards Harajuku station, walking on the left side, turn down the 1st alley on left, follow signs from there. Or Ginza line exit at Omote-Sando station, use exit A1, walk a few meters and turn immediately left into the small alley. Reported fully vegan April 2022. Open Mon-Sun 11:30am-6:00pm. Last food order 4pm. Last drinks order Fri & Sat 8pm. Closed on the first Tue of every month.
172 Reviews
First Review by Baza
iokan
Points +2253
I'll be back! - Edit
Most reviews for restaurants in Japan start with "it was hard to find", so I took notes when leaving this place. The subway station to use is "Omote-sando station". From there: find the Apple store, Hugo Boss and Coach store. Go into the alley between Hugo Boss and Coach. The entry (marked by a big sign) to the Brown Rice Cafe will be at your right after about 50 metres.
Read moreThe restaurants looks warm, welcoming, modern, clean and healthy. Even the staff looks so healthy and it just makes one want to eat here! The menu is available in (proper!) English and the staff is more than willing to help and recommend.
I ordered a set menu and everything was just wonderful! The quality of the ingredients is very good, the vegetables have been cooked just so, the salad has just the right amount of dressing and the portions are exactly the right size.
Of course high quality food like this doesn't come cheap, but the meal was absolutely worth the price (about 6,000 yen for two people including drinks and desert). I'll be back!
Pros: relaxing atmosphere, great food, English menu
Cons: hard to find
Guest
comarica
Points +113
Fantastic! - Edit
we came here twice because it was so good...
Read more--> Okinawa Tofu is our favourite dish.
--> lemon cheese cake
Updated from previous review on Saturday October 18, 2014
Pros: very tasty Okinawa Tofu and Cheese Cake, very friendly staff, nice location
Cons: low tables and chairs (if you are tall..
Guest
mahora
Points +36
Excellent set menu and very tasty food - Edit
Loved my meal here! The set menu was fantastic value and had a varied but complementary range of items on it. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful explaining the food, suggesting items and also helping us find where we were going next. Definitely a place worth finding and dining at.
Read morePros: Tasty and interesting food, Very fresh, Friendly staff
Cons: Can be a little hard to find!
Guest
Ricardo
Points +19536
Re-opened again - Edit
The restaurant has been reopened on September 5th. after being renewed. The menu does not seem to have changed much, though.
Read moreGuest
Jishinseiren
Points +53
Good food/atmosphere - Edit
This is one of my go-to places. That is surprising, given that it is in Omotesando, one of the best areas for vegan food. I love the Mushi Yasai dish, and the drinks.
Read morePros: Wide selection, Nice atmoshpere
Guest
poopixie
Points +129
very high quality, good big portions - Edit
Really liked this place, ate here 3 times for dinner. Some of the staff speak good english and you are given an english menu which has a lot of nice options. I was impressed by the variety of things and quality. Always busy, in fact we had to wait one of the times we went. Through the back of neal's yard remedies so (maybe) this is why it seems to be full of chic women. Very wholesome food and nice desserts.
Read moreGuest
nanamagari
Points +42
Great Place For Vegans In Tokyo - Edit
Come here once in a while for dinner. Great vegan restaurant. Had their steamed veggies (steamed in a bamboo pot) dinner set and a green drink the other night. Excellent.
Read moreHad great weather and sat outside. Very nice environment.
Updated from previous review on Saturday April 19, 2014
Pros: Great Food, Excellent Location, Nice Environment
Guest
tobymcmahon
Points +74
Beautiful Little Cafe In Harajuku - Edit
This cafe is a slice of heaven in the hussle and bussle of harajuku.
Read moreThe store is part of a multi story healthy living complex. The cafe, on the bottom floor, had inside and outside seating and offers both set meals and an al la carte menu.
The food was a great simple japanese vegan fare but the desserts are amazing. All in all the meals were reasonably cheap and filled us up. The staff were exceptional.
To find this place from the main street end you may have to go through a cosmetics store (but dont worry - its there!).
Pros: Location, Atmosphere, Food
Cons: Small Seating Numbers
Guest
Smaik
Points +52
Cute little cafe - Edit
Very friendly staff and good atmosphere! The food was always good and I loved to go there even just for a small tea and to relax :)
Read morePros: Relaxing atmosphere, good food , very friendly staff
Guest
Shauna333
Points +676
Delicious and Friendly - Edit
I first went here in 2010, buying a bento from the Deli to take on a daytrip to Disneyland. I wasn't overly impressed, but now that I have eaten in the restaurant I change my opinion!
Read moreI ate here twice on a recent trip to Japan in March 2013. I booked both times, but there were free tables on both occasions, so probably not necessary. It is really easy to find. I came from Harajuku JR station and walked along the right hand side of Omotesando Street, and when you pass kiddyland, you're half way there. It's just past a church and then you turn right to Neal's Yard store, and walk through to Brown Rice Cafe.
The staff were really friendly, although they didn't speak much English, there was an English menu available. I ordered the daily set menu, which was rice (brown!), steamed vegetables and tofu with a sweet miso sauce dressing, hijiki seaweed, miso and a selection of vegetables with pickle, mashed and covered in different sauces. It was nice, but I wasn't blown away and found the sauce a bit too sweet.
The next time I came, I had the burger set, and that was absolutely delicious! It came in a bun with vegetables, pickled cauliflower, chips and salad. I loved it, and they made their won bread, which was light and not too much of it. I also had the amazing amazake tart - fermented rice, cranberries and pecan nuts - I loved it! You could get these to go also, for sale at the counter, and I got a couple along with yummy chocolate heart biscuits (which they told me had butter, so they're obviously really clear on vegan/vegetarian distinction). I also had a drink that was a combination of iced tea and mandarin juice, which was delicious.
The place is in a great location, and the service is pretty quick and friendly. The clientele is young professionals and groups of girlfriends out shopping in the area with their designer bags.
I really loved my second meal and will definitely go back next time I'm in Tokyo!
Pros: Easy to find, Delicious burger, Takeout snacks available
Cons: Expensive
Guest
BlisterBlue
Points +1416
Nice restaurant in cosy atmosphere - Edit
The restaurant is actually really easy to find with a nice and central location near Harajuku.
Read moreThe place is really cosy and you can even eat outside in the little terrace.
You have the choice between 4 lunch menus including drinks (price is reasonable).
They also serve sake.
Staff was really friendly but they only spoke a little English. Menu is in English and also has some pictures of the dishes.
Pros: Location, Choice of menus
Guest
LucidDreams
Points +257
Tasty - Edit
Cozy little restaurant a little hidden. Food tastes really nice. We ordered some kind of dinner set with lots of small dishes. A desert was also included in the set which we didn't know so we ordered parfait and ended up getting two deserts :)
Read morePros: delicious food
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3727
Fantastic lunch place - Edit
Came here for lunch on a Saturday with my partner. The place was quite small; we arrived just a little past noon time when they opened and all the indoor seats were already taken. Not wanting to wait, we took the patio seats even when it was 30 degrees out. No fan. Would be nice if they would put one or two out there. I suggest that you come right when they open or an hour or two later until the lunch crowds die down.
Read moreThat aside, this cafe was a gem. Located in the heart of the Omotesando area, it made for a perfect lunch spot in between all that shopping. We ordered two different sets, both of which came with miso soup, a drink, brown rice and a dessert. The food was cutely presented, simple yet packed a lot of flavors. We especially liked the lunch box filled with different tidbits. The gomashio was the freshest I'd ever had in Japan and made a heavenly complement to the brown rice.
The setting was clean and bright. Atmosphere was lovely and relaxing. Staff spoke little English but, as usual for Japan, was very kind and forthcoming. I found the portions perfect, just enough to make us feel pleasantly satiated without getting all stuffed. It was slightly pricey but well worth it. Do plan a lunch here while in the area!
Pros: excellent food, location
Cons: no fan on patio
Guest
Third Eye
Points +72
Great place! - Edit
We ate here last year and loved it, food was delicious and healthy, totally recommend it also had yum options at the little store attached to the restaurant :)
Read morePros: Tasty, Healthy, Nice atmosphere
Cons: Can get busy
Guest
veganmiss
Points +540
Great Place - Edit
This place was my all time life saver in Tokyo. It was close enough to walk and they had a take out counter, so I could eat something that I knew was vegan. Brown Rice Cafe had a small cafe as the name implies as well as the take out counter which also had organic, natural products for sale. From my recollection, the food was very good. They have an English menu too.
Read moreFor a complete review, please see my blog here: http://veganmiss.blogspot.com/2010/11/vegan-tokyo.html
Guest
RuzhaTodorova
Points +90
Good food, but not entirely vegan - Edit
After reading all the mixed reviews, I was a little apprehensive about going to the Brown Rice Cafe, but decided to check it out anyway. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of dishes, and was happy to try authentic tasting vegan Japanese dishes. We had the bean and vegetable curry, the fried tempeh and vegetables, and the rice and miso meal. The portions were actually quite good, and the food tasted great.
Read moreI was a little disappointed to discover that not all desserts were vegan - a lot of them had skim milk and eggs. The same goes for the shop by the cafe. I was lucky to have a Japanese companion who could read all the ingredients for me.
Pros: Good variety of dishes, Authentic Japanese flavors
Cons: Not entirely vegan
Guest
elizabeth.harmon
Points +39
Good Cafe - Edit
If you are spending a leisurely afternoon in the Omote-Sando area this is a good choice. There is usually a wait and you will need to walk up to the counter and put your name on the list. There are areas to sit while you are waiting for a table. There is an outdoor and indoor seating area. There are menu sets, entrees, drinks, desserts and a separate bakery with items for sale. The wait to be seated can take 30 minutes on a busy afternoon, and then it takes a while for the food. I ordered a iced chai latte and the tofu burger and the portions were small but I thought both were delicious. I brought my parents there, and it wasn't really the vibe for them. They also burn incense and for some people this might be off putting smell with their food.
Read morePros: friendly, cost, relaxed
Cons: wait, incense smell, portions
Guest
kool_kitchen
Points +875
Okay food, small portions - Edit
Set at the back of a Neals Yard shop, Brown Rice's very friendly staff served up okay fare in exceedingly small portions. The burger was, literally two bites big. Best thing was the box of delights containing pickles and vegetables was the best thing we ordered. The bill was frightening, a lot bigger than the portions!
Read morePros: Friendly staff
Cons: Expensive, Small portions
Guest
jacqui2
Points +146
Average and expensive - Edit
Reasonably easy to find, it was very busy - had to put name down on list at front of restaurant in order to get a space and waited for about 40 mins on a Sunday lunchtime. Menu was in Japanese and we both had the 2000 yen set lunch. Went with Japanese friend - I think we would not have ventured in otherwise as it did not seem very accessible to tourists. The portions were small and for my western palate was the least enjoyable and most expensive veggie meal I had in Japan. The meal was miso soup, pickles and tofu main dish in some gelatinous substance, followed by a sweet and an iced tea.
Read moreCons: poor value, small portions
Guest
Zinnia N
Points +90
So good! - Edit
Yes, it's not cheap and the portions are small (even compared to regular Japanese portions), but it's worth it! It is hard to find pure vegan food in most of Tokyo, and it's a really sweet little cafe. I just got a bento and an onigiri to go, and they were both very good. I had no idea how the made the food, but they made it well; this is a restaurant run by people who actually know how to cook, not just politicos. One downside is, there isn't really anywhere to sit if you just order food from the cafe. I had to go walking around until I found somewhere to eat my lunch.
Read morePros: delicious, clean and beautiful, healthy
Cons: expensive, small portions, no cafe seating
Guest
karenmar
Points +45
lovely cafe and setting - Edit
I ate an early dinner here on a recent trip to Tokyo. This was after trying Crayon House across the road and finding that many of their vegetarian selections actually contained meat or had been cooked in meat.
Read moreSo I found Brown Rice Cafe and had the tempeh and vegetables - very tasty, although a litle pricey. Service was friendly and helpful. Good english menu.
I then visited the shop next door and bought a selection of sweets and cookies to try!!!! All very good.
Pros: good food, friendly staff, nice setting
Cons: a little expensive
Guest
sarastoked
Points +45
Takeout from the Deli - Edit
Brown Rice Cafe was really easy to find from the directions on Happy Cow. My only regret is not being able to eat here again. Way too many great vegan/vegetarian choices in Tokyo!
Read moreOn our last day in Tokyo we only had time for lunch. We stopped in at Brown Rice Cafe where we found the wait to be about 30 minutes. That was a bit too long for us, so we left thinking we would have to eat at the airport. Luckily Brown Rice Cafe has an adjacent deli packed with delicious vegan items.
Overall in Tokyo I spent the most on vegan food, but Brown Rice Cafe Deli was the exception, for around 2600 yen we got a beautiful bento box (1300 yen) packed with bites of japanese food. Really yummy and unique. 4 onigiri of different flavors (about 160 yen each), a smaller tempeh and tofu bento box (500 yen), a green tea muffin (300 yen). It was nice to be able to try a bento box and onigiri and not have to worry about whether or not it was vegan.
We took our food over to Yoyogi Park (about 15 minutes) and had lunch under the cherry blossoms. It was by far the cheapest meal we had in Tokyo, one of the best meals, and eating in the park was great, too. Now that the weather is nice I would definitely recommend takeout from the deli and eating in the nearby park.
Pros: good value, delicious food, friendly staff
Cons: busy cafe
Guest
backpasher
Points +161
Great Bento! - Edit
After living in Japan for more than 12 months, this was the first time I'd actually found a veggie bento!! It came in a lovely box and was delicious and filling though not cheap at around 1300yen. I also tried one of their soy cream tarts, which was delicious. My non-veggie friend thoroughly enjoyed her curry.
Read moreStaff were very friendly.
Menu looks great - just wish I'd been able to visit a few more times to sample more of the options.
Pros: Great menu, delicious, friendly
Cons: a little pricey
Guest
TAS
Points +37
great place - Edit
we had a wonderful meal and experience at Brown Rice Cafe. The place is small so you might have to wait for a table. The directions from restaurant website and happy cow are very good, the sign for the restaurant is small and you enter through the aromatherapy store in the front. The food was really good, modern veggie food. Place was very clean and service was really good. I think it was cash only.
Read morePros: food, service
Cons: place is very small
Guest
Doomith
Points +28
Great little cafe close to the heart of Harajuku - Edit
My partner and I went to the Brown Rice cafe around 2pm and had to wait 30mins which was fine. The food was really good, although as everyone else has said, the portions are a bit small. I had the Tofu burger which was amazing while my partner had the tofu pockets which I thought were not as good. This cafe is best for a snack or lunch, rather than a big meal. The deserts were also quite small but very delicious. I had the tofu tart and the wallnut and cranberry tart. Overall we were very happy with the brown rice and would 100% go back!
Read morePros: Great atmosphere, Great service, Great tasting food
Cons: Wait time, small portions
Guest
VeganTex
Points +215
Brown Rice Cafe - Edit
Good food, but small portions. I bought some vegan cookies from their store next to the restaurant to fill up.
Read moreGuest
Jessqi
Points +248
Better Options Available - Edit
I agree with the other reviews. The food was nice but quite expensive for very small dishes and we had to wait an hour for the table. It seems like it's a super trendy place. Which is not my style at all.
Read morePros: Nice food
Cons: Expensive, Small Portions, Long waits
Guest
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