Travel brings out the best, worst, and undiscovered traits within ourselves. Reflecting back on my trip to Kyoto, I clearly had a case of food-based FOMO – the fear of missing out on trying as much vegan japanese food as possible. A heightened sense of adventure coupled with a sense of urgency knowing that my time in Kyoto was limited led me to drawing up a formidable apoca-list of cafes to visit. Call me crazy or simply curious, anyhow I survived the food coma to chronicle the best and worst vegan options around Nishiki Market, Kyoto.
This post covers the following places:
Nishiki Market
Ain Soph Journey (Kyoto)
Mumokuteki Cafe
Engine Ramen
Miyako Yasai
Gomacro Salon
Nishiki Market

Nishimi Market, freshly ground sansho pepper (similar to szechuan peppercorn)
Ain Soph – western vegan food with a japanese influence

Ain Soph Journey, Kyoto

Ain Soph Heavenly Matcha Pancakes – gluten-free pancakes, matcha white chocolate, anko, soy ice cream, soy whipped cream

Ain Soph Cheeseburger – mushroom, soy and konjac ‘beef,’ coconut cheese

More fake nauseous meats – soy karaage, Spanish tofu omelette
Mumokuteki Cafe – Casual Washouku

Mumokuteki Okara Konjac Meat Doria; Seasonal Sweet Potato Tart
Engine Ramen – when you are desperate for ramen downtown

Engine Zesty Ramen for Vegan with konjac noodles

Engine Ramen vegan and gluten-free options. Konjac noodles NOT recommended!
Miyako Yasai – great value Kyoto cuisine/Obanzai buffet

Miyako Yasai – where you can experience Obanzai buffet for great value

Miyako Yasai – food allergens are clearly labeled

Miyako Yasai – never so happy to see unlimited fresh veggies!

Miyako Yasai – one of many rounds
Gomacro salon – vegan macrobiotic cafe for the sesame lovers

Gomacro Sesame Parfait – sesame ice cream, sesame dango, sesame tofu, sesame crisp, black tahini drizzle, red bean paste
There is a small retail and takeaway section of the sesame products they use, such as tahini and sesame oil. I was very tempted to takeaway their gomadofu, which boasts a full-bodied flavour than others I had ever tried. Their white sesame curry sounds very intriguing as well, but I didn’t have the time or chance to try it.

Gomacro speciality – gomadofu (sesame tofu), one of the best

Gomacro dessert menu

Gomacro Salon
Looking back, I am appalled at my borderline maniac cafe-hopping spree; I visited more cafes and tried more new foods in Kyoto in a few weeks than I ever would in a year in Singapore. And I have not even covered the other cities of Japan. I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed of such wanton consumption. I did enjoy most of the experiences, solo travelling around, and I suppose that was more important. In the end, maybe the FOMO unintentionally brought JOMO – joy of missing out – as a wandered the streets of Kyoto fuelled by curiosity.
For more Japan travel diaries, check out my:
Snapshots from Kyoto 1: Arashiyama, Shigetsu and Shojin Ryori
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