Eat Well: Great Lakes - Takadanobaba
It all begins with an idea.
Great Lakes is a 100% vegan burger restaurant about a 10-minute walk from Takadanobaba station. There isn’t a lot of seating, but they have chairs outside to wait until a table is free. And believe us, it’s worth the wait. We love the casual vibe of the restaurant with its open kitchen and the cool mural we saw as soon as we entered. There’s also a television that occasionally plays shows and movies to keep guests entertained if dining alone. It was pretty busy when we visited, so we sat at the counter. It was fun watching the cooks at work preparing our food. No matter where you sit, though, you’ll be sure to have a good time. The staff was so friendly and offered suggestions on their favorite options. The staff and the menu are bilingual so ordering is easy in Japanese and English.
Great Lakes offers three kinds of burgers, two sides, and a milkshake with seasonal flavors. You can get the burgers as doubles or singles with or without cheese. Let’s dig in!
The superior burger, named after Lake Superior, is this restaurant’s top recommendation and after you eat it you’ll understand why. The Superior burger has a great balance and contrast of flavors. It‘s filled with mayo, house-made cheese sauce, grilled red onion, arugula, tomato jam, and their signature burger patty. The bu is soft without being mushy and lends a nice texture to the overall eating experience - and this is coming from someone who doesn’t really enjoy eating bread. We decided to try this burger with tater tots to please our inner child. The tots were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, just like they should be. This is a great starter burger for your first time dining in because it feels like a classic burger with a little twist.
Next on our burger adventure in the Michigan burger, of course named after Lake Michigan. This is our favorite burger and the one we order most often from Great Lakes. It also comes with the house-made patty, but the difference lies in the toppings. - caramelized onions and cheese sauce. Even though it doesn’t boat a variety of ingredients like the other two burgers, the Michigan packs a lot of flavor. It’s just a pile of savory goodness that warms the heart and fills the stomach. Due to its minimal toppings there isn’t a lot of textural variety but eating it with some french fries on the side helps round it out as a satisfying meal.
We finished of the meal with a Biscoff cookie milkshake, which has definitely changed by the time of posting this review. We like eating this cookie as a snack already, so we knew we had to try it in shake form. It was absolutely delicious. The milkshake was thick, but not so thick that we couldn’t drink it through a straw. The whipped cream on top added an extra layer of creaminess without making this dessert too sweet. Of course, we already loved the flavor because we love the cookie but blending it with vanilla ice cream helped enhance the caramel flavor that this speculoos cookie is so well known for. There was even a Biscoff cookie nestled on top of the whipped cream as a garnish to drive the consistency home. It’s a good thing this milkshake isn’t on the regular menu because we would order it every time.
If you’re looking for a fantastic burger place in Tokyo, we can’t recommend Great Lakes enough. The simple but delicious menu that’s 100% vegan makes it the perfect place to satisfy your craving for this American classic. As we try new menu items we will update this post to help you know what to expect. For now, eat well and travel often.
Eat Well: Tsumugu Cafe - Ikebukuro
Down the street from Rikkyo University and a short 10-minute walk from Ikebukuro station you’ll find Tsumugu cafe. This small restaurant specializes in Taiwanese and oriental vegetarian cuisine with plenty of vegan options. The feeling of this cafe reminds me of a cozy cottage and it’s somewhere you can relax for hours while enjoying traditional and fusion Taiwanese meals. We often come here on dates with our partner.
Many of the items on the menu at Tsumugu Cafe are made with traditional Chinese medicine in mind, so they’re not only filling but also healthy. On this visit, we decided to try the lunch set, which included two soups, salad, and dumplings. Let’s get into it.
The first soup we tried was a small bowl of vegetables in a light, clear broth. Seaweed, small diced pumpkin, and corn all swam happily together in the hot broth, leaving me saying, “That’s good soup.” Though simple, it was surprisingly delicious and satisfying.
Next, we took a stab at the salad. We’re not the type to enjoy salads, but this one was okay. The ingredients tasted super fresh with crisp leaves of lettuce and spinach studded with tomato and corn. It was dressed simply with oil and vinegar to add a pop of flavor. Refreshing, but not exciting.
The plate of dumplings was quite filling and we wish there had been more than four. Gently wrapped in a pleasantly chewy dough was a mix of mock meat, mushrooms, ginger, and minced veggies. They were coated in chili oil and vinegar with the slightest hint of spice that even those with a low tolerance to spicy foods would be able to enjoy. If they sold packs of the dumpling-sauce combo in stores we would definitely work it into our meal prep rotation.
And finally, the main attraction was a larger bowl of herbal soup. In traditional Chinese medicine, black foods should be eaten in winter and that was well represented in this dish. The black vinegar broth was a touch sour, syrupy, and cloying. Which contrasted with the taste of the first soup we tried. There was a bounty of fillings including mushrooms (enoki, wood ear, and shiitake), dates, goji berries, carrot, coriander, ginger, and a slice of soy ham. The rice noodles were perfectly cooked. This was a fruity, sweet, and sour experience we weren’t expecting. Usually, we drink the broth, but after such a filling meal and with such potent flavors, we couldn’t finish it.
As usual when we visit Tsumugu Cafe, we felt full and satisfied at the end of the meal. This lunch set was reasonably priced, our service was good, and there’s always a table at this friendly neighborhood restaurant. Overall, we’ll give our meal a 3/5. We’ll be back in the future to try some more of their vegan friendly options and share the experience with ravenous readers. For now, eat well.
Eat Well: Thunder Tacos - Utsunomiya, Tochigi
When we go out of town for work we always try to find a new vegan restaurant to experience and share with other travelers. So, while waiting for our shinkansen back to Tokyo from Tochigi we decided to grab a bite to eat. We were craving Mexican food and luckily there was a vegan-friendly option not too far from Utsunomiya station. Thunder Tacos is about a 20-minute walk from the station and we were pleased to see a few vegan options on the menu including tacos and a burrito. We were hoping to eat the burrito however, we were informed that it takes about 40 minutes to prepare and they recommended ordering it in advance for those who know they will be coming ahead of time. When we got to the restaurant we found the interior classy and well-designed. We chose to sit in a booth to watch the staff work in the open kitchen because it’s always fun to watch the culinary magic happen. In addition to indoor seating, there’s a pick-up window outside for those on the go.
Since we couldn’t have a burrito this time we decided to try the vegan version of the vegetarian tacos. These small tacos came with a soft hand-made tortilla that held up against the weight of the toppings. The filling includes red and green salsa, avocado, red cabbage, red onion, cilantro, and seasoning. There were also a couple of lime wedges to squeeze on top for an extra layer of flavor and we got a side of jalapeno because we love spicy foods. The menu said they would come with beans as well, but we didn’t see or feel any. It may be that only the vegetarian option comes with beans if they’re made with an ingredient that isn’t vegan. Either that or it was an extremely small portion of beans. The veggies were crisp and fresh and the soft avocado added a nice contrast in texture. We wish they had given us some utensils as the tacos were a bit messy to eat because the generous helping of topping fell out of the back. The overall flavor of the taco was well-blanced and delicious so we ordered a set to-go with some french fries. However, it should be noted that the takeaway set only comes with three slightly bigger tacos. They kindly put the salsa on the side so the tortillas won’t get soggy before you can eat them.
The chef who took our order patiently answered our questions about the vegan items and was able to communicate with us in English, which was much appreciated. If we get the chance to come back to Thunder Tacos, we look forward to trying the burrito to see how, if at all, it differs from the tacos’ contents and flavor profile. We’ll give our meal and experience from Thunder Tacos a sold 4 out of 5!
Eat Well: Healthy Tokyo - Haneda Airport
We recently took a work trip to Yamaguchi and thought we’d take the time to share our go-to vegan option at Haneda Airport: Healthy Tokyo. We always get to the airport early to pick something up from here to snack on before, during, or after our flight. Located in Terminal 2, this completely vegan cafe boasts a variety of entrees, desserts, drinks, and CBD products to enjoy. Now some of you might be thinking “Isn’t CBD illegal in Japan?”. Japan has stringent rules regarding the use and sale of drugs, but because CBD is non-psychoactive it’s not on the “no good” list like it’s fun cousin THC. Now that we’ve got that cleared, up let’s talk about our options.
On the menu you’ll find food and drink selections both with and without CBD, so if you’re a nervous flier and want something delicious to help calm you down this is the place for you. When you walk up to the shop, you’ll see a large menu with new and recommended items like the Caprese sandwich, quiche, and hot or iced beverages. They also have drink and dessert sets for those who want to try multiple items together. And if you’re not really hungry and just looking for CBD products to take with you they have a great selection of gummies, chocolates, oils, and even choices for pets! Plus if you get to the airport with plenty of time to spare before your flight there’s plenty of seating for you at the cafe.
We decided to try two food items during the flight and later that day for lunch: a spinach and cheese panini and a piece of lasagna.
First, we ate the spinach and cheese panini. They press the sandwiches to order, which means they’ll be nice and warm when you get them. However, the wax paper wrapping doesn’t do much to keep the heat in. We suggest eating it fresh because the bread is easier to bite into and the experience is more enjoyable. While the flavor is alright, it could use more filling to truly be satisfying. Overall we’d give it a 2.5/5 for taste and presentation.
Between shows at work, we had time to try the lasagna. Inside of a box and wrapped in foil, it’s nothing special to look at. There was no microwave or toaster oven at the venue so we had to eat it cold, but it still tasted pretty good and we didn’t mind that it wasn’t warm. There was plenty of tangy tomato sauce to keep it from being dry and a good ratio of filling to help fill us up. The lasagna noodles tasted a little overcooked, but that could be due to the fact we didn’t eat it right away. The slice was a good portion, it looked like a something we would cut for ourselves at home to eat so we were happy with it. Overall we think a 3.5/5 is fair for taste and presentation.
Stopping by Healthy Tokyo before entering the ticket gate helps in a pinch when you haven’t prepared anything to eat. We definitely want to try the other items to see what’s best and visit the other locations around Tokyo to see if there are different foods to try at each one. Take a look at the menu above and let us know what you think we should try on our visit. We’ll post a follow up with our feedback a stop by one of the other cafes to share our dine in experience. Until next time, eat well.
Eat Well: Hemp Cafe Tokyo - Shibuya
The aftermath - Taco Rice
We love living in Japan and trying all the unique vegan foods available, but sometimes we crave a taste of the west. More specifically, one of our favorite cuisines: Mexican food. Believe it or not, Mexican food isn’t terribly popular since a lot of people here don’t like hot spicy foods. It’s even more difficult to find in Tokyo if you’re looking for something vegan. Today however, we’re going to share one of our go-to restaurants to satisfy our desire for flavors that take us “south of the border”.
Located on the border of Shibuya in Ebisu, Hemp Cafe Tokyo is an easy 10-minute walk from Ebisu Station. Found on the 8th floor of the Crysty Ebisu building, this 100% vegan restaurant specializes in Mexican-inspired dishes. Inside you’ll find bright, earthy tones, books on veganism, and a mix of hemp and CBD products for sale. For today’s meal we decided to order something relatively healthy compared to the foods we usually eat. To help give us a boost after our weighted exercise that morning, we asked the server what item had the highest protein. She let us know that the Mexican burrito or taco rice would be our best options. With that in mind we odered the taco rice and our partner ordered the burrito. We only had a bite of the burrito, so we’ll save that review for a different day when we eat a full one.
Let’s talk about the taco rice. Taco rice is actually a semi-popular food item when it pops up on a menu in Japan, but this is the best vegan version we’ve seen (and tasted) so far. Soy meat, tofu, and avocado are mixed with kale, tomato, and red onion over a bed of roasted brown rice. Then it’s topped off with mayo, salsa, corriander, dill, and mint. To say this salad was refreshing is an understatement. The sauces and fresh herbs were bright on the palate resulting in a well-seasoned dish. Even though it was loaded, we were pleasantly surprised to taste that all of the flavors were balanced. We really did get a good amount of protein too and didn’t have to search for it in a forest of greens. And the rice was cooked perfectly and added to the overall textural variety. This was a nice sized bowl and we’re glad to say that we felt satisfied after eating. Salad isn’t really our jam so we took a little bit of a risk in ordering this meal and it definitely paid off.
While the menu takes inspiration from Mexican cuisine, there are other options such as bugers, sushi, and a few CBD infused items. There are also hemp and CBD goods that you can purchase for use at home.
The overall expeience of eating at Hemp Cafe Tokyo is a relaxing one and we’re sure you’ll want to come back for more on e you try their delicious food.
How the hag helps you
How can the hag help you?
Welcome to our blog about the many wonderful places to eat around Japan! We want to help you find great meals wherever you go. Of course, we’d love to see you at the Wand and Spoon, but there are so many delicious cuisines and interesting restaurants to try that we just have to share them. Get ready to add lots of new places to your Japanese culinary bucket list and let’s eat!
We’re not stopping the foodie adventure at restaurants, though. For those who aren’t in or visiting Japan, we have something for you too! We’ll be giving you fun recipes that you can try at home! From fictional foods to vegan treats and even traditional Japanese items that you can try making yourself. Join us in the kitchen where you’ll always be full and have something to entertain your friends and family.
Hop on your brooms and let’s take this culinary journey in Japan together. Eat well!