Location | Omotesando, Tokyo
Menu | Vegan Japanese cuisine
Key Features:
- Ingredients from regenerative farms
- Whole food cooking using Japanese traditions
- Minimalist interior with natural materials
Tucked away from Omotesando’s busy streets, Brown Rice offers a peaceful retreat where seasonal vegetables take center stage. This vegan Japanese restaurant combines traditional wisdom with modern sustainability practices, serving plant-based dishes in a beautifully designed space.
The Space: Where Design Meets Nature
Interior Design
Designer Shinichiro Ogata of SIMPLICITY created an interior centered around a handcrafted copper counter. Inspired by Kyoto’s traditional kitchen hearths (okudosan), the counter reflects light beautifully, highlighting each dish like a stage performance.
Natural plaster walls age gracefully over time, while wooden tables and chairs create warmth. The materials work together to create a dignified, peaceful atmosphere.
Terrace & Tableware
The terrace features seasonal plants, bringing nature’s rhythm into the urban setting. Japanese artisan pottery, including Mashiko-yaki pieces, elevates each meal into an artistic experience.
The Menu: Seasonal Vegan Japanese Cuisine
Seasonal Vegetable Steamer Set
This signature dish features over ten varieties of colorful vegetables, including heirloom and traditional cultivars. Steam releases the aroma of fresh produce, capturing the vitality of sun and soil in every bite.
Seasonal Vegetable Curry
This curry draws out vegetables’ natural sweetness through slow cooking. Miso and amazake (sweet rice drink) add depth and umami. The spices create layers of flavor while remaining gentle on the palate.
Meals at this vegan Japanese restaurant leave you feeling energized rather than heavy—a sign of truly nourishing food.
Sustainability in Practice
Supporting Regenerative Farming
Brown Rice works directly with farmers committed to earth-friendly practices:
Sakusaku Village (Nanto City, Toyama)
Grows pesticide-free, herbicide-free brown rice exclusively for the restaurant.
Nagomi Farm (Fujinomiya, Shizuoka)
Practices regenerative farming that works with natural cycles.
Iio Jozo (Kyoto)
Produces vinegar from rice they grow themselves.
These partnerships ensure ingredients support healthy soil and biodiversity.
Reducing Waste Through Traditional Wisdom
Brown Rice follows the “whole food” philosophy, using vegetables from skin to root. This approach minimizes waste while maximizing nutrition and flavor.
Dried ingredients like kombu and shiitake mushrooms reflect Japanese preservation wisdom. These traditional foods add umami while reducing spoilage—a sustainable practice passed down through generations.
What Makes This Vegan Japanese Restaurant Special
Brown Rice offers more than a meal. The combination of artisan design, seasonal ingredients, and transparent sourcing creates a complete experience. You taste the care of farmers, the skill of chefs, and the vision of designers in every element.
This approach represents a broader shift in Japanese dining—one that honors tradition while embracing sustainability. For visitors and residents seeking plant-based options that reflect Japanese culinary heritage, Brown Rice delivers authenticity without compromise.
Planning Your Visit
Book via Tabelog
Book via Hitosara
