Japanese food is well-known for its use of high quality and seasonal ingredients, and it’s no secret that these are part of what makes it so delicious. How can it get any better than this? These five restaurants have their answers in the use of organic ingredients, serving up dishes that spotlight just how good seasonal, organic food can be. Read on to find out more about them.
Source: Maria Danuco
Sustainable Kitchen Rosy
Sustainable Kitchen Rosy is a charming restaurant with a clear mission: sustainability. The staff’s aprons are dyed using vegetables, they don’t use plastic straws and they will pack up your food for you to take home if you can’t finish it. And of course, the food is all sourced from local, organic farms.
The Rosy Plate from the lunch menu (pictured) offers a balanced mix of meat, salad, soup, two deli samples and your choice of rice or bread. Each part of the meal is carefully prepared to bring out the best flavours, keeping your taste buds intrigued well beyond the first bite. Sustainable Kitchen Rosy also has an extensive dinner menu, along with a good range of vegetarian and vegan options.
Source: Maria Danuco, Arigato Japan
We Are The Farm
We Are The Farm is a farm-to-table restaurant chain with six locations across Tokyo. The Shibuya restaurant is particularly well located, only a short walk from the world famous Shibuya Crossing. True to their name, We Are The Farm sources their ingredients from their own organic farm in Chiba Prefecture.
The lunch and dinner menus highlight the versatility of the ingredients, with adjustments made according to the season. The Vegetable Plate (pictured) in particular, is a great way to sample the wide variety of vegetables available, each prepared in different ways to enhance their flavour and texture. The real highlight at We Are The Farm, however, is the all-you-eat salad bar, ensuring that you will leave full and well nourished.
https://wearethefarm-ebisu.com/
Source: Brown Rice by Neal’s Yard
Brown Rice by Neal’s Yard
Brown Rice by Neal’s Yard is a peaceful, vegan restaurant just a stone’s throw away from Harajuku’s ever bustling Takeshita Street. The decor is sleek and elegant, with a relaxing outdoor seating area full of lush greenery.
The menu is a marriage of traditional Japanese-style set meals and seasonal, organic ingredients courtesy of Brown Rice by Neal’s Yard’s close relationship with their suppliers. In fact, even their condiments and tableware are locally sourced. The Bamboo Basket set (pictured) has a delightful variety of vegetables of differing tastes and textures, which are perfectly complemented by the accompanying homemade dipping sauces. Be sure to save room for dessert, although it will be difficult to choose between the Tofu Lemon Cheesecake and the Soy Ice Cream.
https://www.nealsyard.co.jp/brownrice/
Source: Locale Tokyo (Facebook Page)
Locale
Locale is a small and intimate space that lives up to its name, both with its friendly atmosphere and close relationship with their supplies. Locale combines a farm-to-table philosophy with global culinary techniques to create unique, high-quality dishes.
The brunch menu has some delicious offerings including variations on classics such as avocado toast and bacon and eggs, but the standout has to be the cheeseburger. The type of beef used in the patty varies depending on what is available, once again showing how carefully selected the ingredients here are. The dinner menu also changes regularly, which makes Locale the kind of place you could visit again and again without running out of new things to try.
Organic Restaurant and Deli Midorie
Organic Restaurant and Deli Midorie is a cosy, minimalist restaurant located in one of Tokyo’s quieter neighbourhoods. Specialising in organic foods, this restaurant aims to make use of fresh ingredients to create dishes that are nutritious and tasty. What really makes them stand out though, is the deli section where even busy customers can order a delicious and healthy meal for take-away.
The menu here is extensive with a wide variety of lunch and dinner options to choose from, not to mention the many seasonal dishes which will leave you spoiled for choice. Luckily, options like the Midorie Omakase Plate give you the chance to try a variety of menu and deli items all at the same time.
With organic food gaining in popularity in Japan in recent years, these restaurants are ahead of the game and worth a visit. Not to mention that their seasonal ingredients mean you’ll always have new dishes to look forward to!
Featured image: Elaine Casap on Unsplash
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