Located in the heart of Harajuku, Vegan Bistro Jangara is a must-visit for ramen lovers. Opened by the ramen chain 'Kyushu Jangara', this vegan restaurant knows a thing or two about crafting a delicious bowl of ramen.
The ramen here is authentic and delicious, with rich, umami broth and classic toppings. The kobonshan ramen is a must-try if it’s your first time visiting. This style of ramen originates from Kumamoto in Kyūshū. This vegan version wow’ed me when I first tried it. It has an incredibly rich umami broth, with some amazingly meaty grilled ‘meat’ as toppings.
Beyond ramen, the menu features other vegan Japanese dishes like sizzling grilled soy meat plates, gyoza and karaage. The karaage's texture leans a bit spongy for my taste, but the tartare sauce that comes with it is tasty.
With its central Harajuku location and popularity among tourists, this restaurant is almost always full, especially around lunch and dinner times. I arrived at around 8pm on a weekday and still had to wait 20 minutes. When you arrive, simply wait by the lift area until the staff calls you in one by one. You can scan the QR code on the wall to see the menu before heading in the restaurant.
