Enjoy “Shojin Ryori” in Akihabara
A surprising omurice that sounds like shojin ryori (vegetarian)
This time, we’ll introduce “Komaki Shokudo Kamakura Fushikan,” a casual shojin ryori restaurant.
A daruma doll welcomes you.
Just a 1-2 minute walk from JR Akihabara Station along the tracks, upon entering the CHABARA Building, a renovated building under the elevated tracks, you’ll see the “SHOJIN” noren (shop curtain) right in front of you. They offer a variety of dishes, from set meals with rice, miso soup, and several side dishes to familiar and creative a la carte dishes, as well as desserts like parfaits and anmitsu. All menu items at Komaki Shokudo are shojin ryori (vegetarian cuisine) and do not contain any of the five pungent ingredients, plus no eggs or dairy, so vegans, vegetarians, and those with egg or dairy allergies can enjoy the food with peace of mind. Next to the shop is the Japanese department store’s ‘Shokuhinkan’, which sells a wide variety of souvenirs from each prefecture, so we also recommend checking it out.
The entrance with its noren curtain
Buddhist omelet rice and Buddhist parfait
This time, I tried the “Shojin Omelette Rice” mentioned at the beginning. I used all five senses to ponder how it was made without eggs. It looked just like an egg. The texture was like a crunchy crepe. The intriguing ingredients were chickpeas and turmeric! It was a beautifully recreated thin omelet rice. Hidden beneath the egg was multigrain rice, with edamame beans adding a fun accent. The tomato ketchup, the signature dish of the omelet rice, is free of the five pungent vegetables (scallions, chives, garlic, etc.). It had a robust flavor with a strong spice, sourness, and sweetness.
Shojin Omelette Rice
The vegetables used in the salad and sauerkraut are primarily sourced organically from Soka, near Akihabara. The reason they source vegetables from nearby areas is because they value the local produce. It’s wonderful to be able to eat fresh, safe vegetables. The owner, who originally suffered from food allergies, created this omurice with the desire to “enable everyone to eat the same menu, regardless of allergies.” While the omurice is primarily made with eggs, I can imagine a happy dining experience where those with egg or dairy allergies can enjoy it together and share the deliciousness.
Shojin Parfait
A set meal that reflects our love for Japanese ingredients
At the end of last month, Komaki Shokudo hosted an event featuring a long-established fried tofu maker in Fukui Prefecture, where customers could enjoy handmade fried tofu right before their eyes. Owner Komaki Fujii expressed his desire to “create more fans of Japanese ingredients,” despite the current situation in which many dried food factories are forced to close, despite the country’s abundant supply of excellent ingredients. Komaki Shokudo’s menu includes the popular Kofuku Set Meal, which includes nine small side dishes of shojin ryori (vegetarian cuisine), and the Sesame Tofu Set Meal, both of which are popular with international visitors. The impressive and filling shojin omurice and shojin curry are also carefully crafted to appeal to a wide range of customers. The owner’s hope is to make shojin ryori more accessible and accessible to a wider audience. This encourages the people who produce the ingredients and ensures their continued production.
Popular Kofuku Set Meal
Shojin Curry
The vegetable chips topping the shojin omurice were made from potato peels. Even the parts that would normally be thrown away are cooked to perfection, and I felt that this set meal was packed with the owner’s precious feelings. Komaki Shokudo has greatly updated the image of shojin ryori (vegetarian cuisine). Please give it a try and savor the taste of Japanese ingredients.
Supervisor / Recommender
- Registered Dietitian
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I am originally from Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama City. After graduating from the Department of Nutrition at Kanagawa Prefectural University of Health and Welfare, I worked as a registered dietitian at a psychiatric hospital.
Since giving birth to my two daughters, I have been providing nutritional advice at home. I believe it is important for everyone to be able to enjoy rice-based meals and healthy snacks together. In addition to providing nutritional advice, I also currently sell biscotti made with pesticide-free rice bran at markets. I would like to introduce wonderful shops where vegans and non-vegans can enjoy dining together!
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