Job Discussion Forums

[nene]

If you were coming to Japan (Osaka) and had time for just one dinner, and it had to be vegetarian; where would you go and what would you have?

I'd love to try some delicious Japanese specialty, but if it's anything like Korea, that might be tough.

Any ideas?

[JimDunlop2]

Jeez... I don't think I've ever been to a vegetarian restaurant in Osaka, Tokyo or otherwise. I'm sure they exist -- but wow, this is one thread that I can safely say: I don't got a stinkin' CLUE!!!

I think there's some kinda law in Japan that says there MUST be meat in every dish. For school lunch (elementary school) I can pretty much say that I'VE NEVER had a vegetarian meal -- and that includes even the vegetables. I don't think I've ever been served a dish of vegetables (steamed, boiled or stir-fried) that hasn't contained some amount of meat.

Good luck though. I'm not a vegetarian but I wouldn't mind knowing of a vegetarian restaurant or two -- especially when I get tired of eating all this meat.

[Chris21]

I wish I could give you specific info, but I only have a vague, hazy recollection of a Vegetarian restaurant in Osaka. If you know Osaka, it's around the Shinsaibashi area. Walk north up Mido-suji (big north-south avenue), until you pass Nagahori-dori (big east-west street). Just north of Nagahori-dori, on the east side of Mido-suji, I think there is an NTT building. In the basement there was a vegetarian restaurant. I think it had "farm", "fresh", or "field" in the name. Expensive but had a nice atmosphere (lots of wood panelling, lush lighting, and jazz music... kind of like Starbucks, but a little darker).

[nene]

Wow, alright. Thanks guys. Yeah, Korea's the same way.

Let's lower the bar a bit - I'd make an exception for some excellent raw fish... that must open up some options, right?

[PAULH]

[Chris21]

Hmmm.. I usually eat my raw fish in the suburbs. There's a big chain called Kura-zushi that only seems to be in the surrounding areas, although maybe another poster knows of one in Umeda.

You're coming for the test, and staying in Umeda, right? Umeda is such a difficult place to describe to someone who has never been there before... it's a kaleidascope of activity and organized chaos, with lots of non-perpendicular avenues and tucked away side-streets. I think it might just be easier for you to wander around and find a window display that catches your attention. There's so many restaurants, hotels, pachinko parlors, shops, and people in Umeda, I think you'll be able to find something good.

There's probably hundreds of restaurants there, all crammed within a few blocks!

[Chris21]

Kura-zushi... 100 yen per plate... it's fantastic!

[PAULH]

[nene]

Thanks Chris - what an intriguing description. Can you trust the quality of fish in any random place?

Yeah, I test in Nakatsu; I guess Umeda will be the place to find a hotel. Oh, I'm glad this reminded me to ask - do you need to negotiate hotel prices, or are they strait up?

Any other warnings or suggestions for a first timer coming to Japan?

[PAULH]

[PAULH]

[Chris21]

I think the Pig & Whistle in Umeda is gone now... has been closed for a couple of years. It was in a basement, near a Canadian-themed izakaya called "Rocky", right?

It was a good pub, thankfully there's still one in Shinsaibashi (which is even better than the Umeda one was).

Oh, and as PaulH said, hotel prices are non-negotiable (as are prices in restaurants and shops). The only place where you might be able to bargain is with a street vendor. There are a few street vendors in Umeda, most notably on the sidestreets near Loft and on the bridge that connects Hankyu and Hanshin Dept stores.

[womblingfree]

OKONOMIYAKI.

Osaka is famous for its okonomiyaki and it's pretty easy to get a meat free one, even fish free if you like.

[wintersweet]

Here are some vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the area:
http://bento.com/kansai/kf-veg.html

[PAULH]