Aju image

Aju

Restaurant Vegetarian restaurant Vegan restaurant Creative dish

Tiny, unfussy restaurant featuring vegetarian fare, including grilled veggies & vegan lasagna. People often mention vegan, okonomiyaki, yakitori, Japanese, good, delicious, friendly, dishes, vegetarian,


Address

Japan, 〒530-0016 Osaka, Kita Ward, Nakazaki, 1 Chome−10−14 あじゅ

Website

soymeat-aju.jugem.jp

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (219 reviews)

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Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 5:30 to 9:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 5:30 to 10 PM
  • Thursday: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 5:30 to 10 PM
  • Friday: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 5:30 to 10 PM
  • Saturday: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 5:30 to 10 PM
  • Sunday: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 5:30 to 10 PM
  • Monday: Closed

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: vegan (19) okonomiyaki (9) yakitori (9) Japanese (8) good (8) delicious (7) friendly (7) dishes (7) vegetarian (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Glyn E. 7 months ago on Google
    I came here with my two sisters on our first trip to Japan. This place provided the best vegan Japanese food we've had thus far. The okonomiyaki blew us away and the vegan meat was incredibly impressive. The flavors were divine and kept us wanting more. The price for the quality is beyond reasonable. The service was proficient and accommodating in an intimate and comfortable atmosphere. We will definitely be back to enjoy this hidden gem before we head back to Australia. Thankyou so much!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hawaiian B. 1 month ago on Google • 171 reviews New
    Great foods with taste out from meats, sure it’s different way of approaching Japanese style vegan !
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Pragnya S. 9 months ago on Google • 161 reviews
    Simple yet delicious lunch menu. Looks like it isn't much, but the croquettes are quite filling. He does not serve more than 4 customers at a time, and it is a really tiny place, so be prepared for a little waiting. However, it is totally worth it! 👌
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sunil G. 6 years ago on Google
    Great place for vegan food. Out of the way but with many dinner options. We came here for both lunch and dinner on the same day. The staff are very friendly. Should check out the website to see if they are closed for that day before coming.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Jess B. 1 year ago on Google
    2023 update: it’s been 6 years since I visited and it’s changed a lot. Menu is more limited, the yakitori was dry and not so flavourful, the fake salmon was good. I liked some of the vegan grocery items they had available! Service was so-so. I thought it might be busy so we went when they opened, but nobody was there the whole time and he seemed not too interested. ———————————— Highly recommended! I feel like this place is one of the best 'all rounders' you'll find in Osaka. There's loads of options, atmosphere is nice, music is good, friendly fast service, and good prices. Less than a minute walk from Nakazakichō station! We had the cheese fondue (incredible!!), 'yakitori', avocado fritters and dumplings. All the flavours were awesome, and unlike other places, didn't leave us feeling too full. Which is a huge plus when you want to try the ice cream! And we did. It's amazing.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Justin K. 10 months ago on Google • 67 reviews
    Go to this place to experience a master at work. All four dishes I had were incredible and I highly recommend the vegan yakiniku and okonomiyaki. I love to see vegan versions of favorite local dishes!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gary W. 1 year ago on Google • 62 reviews
    It was only us one table dining. Perhaps it was new year holiday so seems quiet. However the food were delicious. Ordered 0konomiyaki, Yakitori, and the vegan 0% beer was very nice. Also bought some vegan snacks. Hope others can support small businesses like these.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Keith A. 4 years ago on Google
    Very nice vegetarian resto that is not just brown rice and veggie slop like so many in Osaka. Lots of gluten based alternative meat. Delicious appetizers with wide range of textures. Soft deep fried avocado and crunchy lotus root for example. The interior is a bit odd - obviously used to be someone's apartment. Highly recommend the food.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kiley F. 5 years ago on Google
    Amazing option for traditional Kansai favorites made vegan! We went for the standard, okonomiyaki and yakitori, and both were amazing. We also ordered the Very Berry Parfait, and loved that it included a little bit of everything: soft serve, sorbet, berries, jelly, granola, cornflakes, cookies, and cake! They also serve an assortment of other Asian and Western style dishes which are, per the staff, all vegan. Easily worth hoofing it from the nearest JR station, though the metro will drop you off even closer. One word of warning: when we arrived, the sign in Japanese said open while the sign in English said closed. They were definitely open! They just forgot to change the one in English. Check the door if you think there may have been a mistake.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 masha z. 6 months ago on Google
    Amazing vegan food - so delicious and the restaurant is very adorable with a great atmosphere! Highly recommend!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matěj V. 6 years ago on Google
    the lunch is very light and delicious. Parfait is filling and the best I've had in a long time. There is a mini shop with vegan ingredients inside. I will definitely come again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Adrian C. 4 years ago on Google
    I definitely will not be back. Interior has florescent lights and awful design. Food is uninspiring- a whatever salad and "yakitori" set me back 2100 yen. Should we give them points just because its Japan and isnt meat? Not in my view. Contrasting this experience with vegan food in California last week renders this place rather pathetic.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thao 1 year ago on Google
    It was only my friend and I but was really nice. We had the okonomiyaki, yakitori, salad, the fried shiitake and risotto. Food was delicious and we didn't spend too much with drinks. The owner was super friendly. Menus available in English, Japanese and Chinese. I would definitely come back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Phil B. 11 months ago on Google
    Delicious vegan food (try the Okonomiyaki and the skewers!), friendly owner, good prices. We had dinner here twice and would definitely come again!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kathi S. 10 months ago on Google
    Great vegan food and homemade. Small business, so bring a little time to wait for the food since it's all made and served by one person. Totally worth it!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 andrew n. 6 months ago on Google • 88 reviews
    I feel very lucky to have the vegan version of the delicious okonomiyaki! Many other Japanese restaurants in other countries cannot cook it so well and so soft. I also had the Yakinori and it was interesting! I was thinking what it would be like to eat gizzard because of the realistic texture. It also freaked me out a bit.

  • 3/5 Sofia 5 months ago on Google • 34 reviews
    The atmosphere inside is nice but the place is really too small. The service was good and the food also. All was simple and yet very good. A safe place for vegans and vegetarians! I gave 3 because in my opinion the portions were too small and I couldn’t fulfill my hunger even with ordering 3 dishes. And also nothing except the pancakes is really elaborated. All too simple and small for the price Ps: The okonomiyaki was amazing!!

  • 5/5 Daisy K. 1 year ago on Google • 24 reviews
    The restaurant has a real homemade, sweet feel to it. The owner changes the menu, but it would seem the okonomiyaki and the yakitori are mainstays. (The okonomiyaki was very filling.) He also sells the soymeat he uses in the dishes.

  • 5/5 William T. 1 year ago on Google
    Visited the restaurant for dinner with family. We ordered a few dishes and the taste is really good - assorted vege soy chicken is a must-order. Overall food are great and the owner is friendly.

  • 5/5 Sakura de Vries - �. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice food and plenty options for vegetarian people

  • 4/5 Lukas R. 4 years ago on Google
    Traditional Japanese dishes in vegetarian form. Well made, but it was not blowing me away. Also the owner seemed absent and not very attentive.

  • 5/5 Hero C. 5 months ago on Google • 8 reviews
    Got to know this restaurant from 「關西食素by 山崎寬斗」。 The food was excellent and the restaurant is very cozy. A must go place when visiting Osaka!

  • 5/5 Jonathan A. 4 years ago on Google
    Yummy vegetarian versions of Japanese yakitori and okonomiyaki. Being a vegetarian it's great to find this place and be able to order anything from the menu without worrying what I'm eating. (They also had more western veggie food such as spaghetti and lasagne). Quick friendly service and a menu in English although staff didn't have many English words - we worked it all out tho :-)

  • 4/5 Jenell S. 4 years ago on Google
    Delicious vegan and vegetarian foods! A little expensive, but it is a small shop run by two kind people. Taco rice, yakitori bbq, and berry ice cream.

  • 5/5 Gaby D. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious yakitori! Cute location, delicious food and very friendly service (we got free gluten free matcha cake!) The yakitori was SO GOOD. Meaty (but vegan) and so flavourful. The taco rice was good too. Fun to be able to eat Japanese food, which is still quite a novelty as a veggie.


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Amenities


  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Assistive hearing loop
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✗ Delivery

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