Being Vegetarian in Fukuoka

Japanese cuisine hosts a variety of cuisine for vegetarians, but at times it can be difficult to communicate your dietary preferences to the restaurant staff. This guide will give you useful information on enjoying vegetarian dishes while staying in Japan, as well as some local restaurants that cater to vegetarians.

Japanese food contains many vegetables and tofu, but because the culture relies so heavily on fish, there may be many items that contain fish or other animal products as a base ingredient. For example, dashi is Japanese soup stock that is made from fish, and is widely used in Japanese food. Katsuobushi, or bonito (fish) flakes, are also sprinkled on top of many dishes. There is also general confusion between what a vegetarian is; is fish permitted? Are dairy products acceptable?

The most important thing to remember is to communicate clearly what you can and cannot eat to your host family/restaurant staff. Bear in mind that you will have to be much clearer than in other countries. For example, even if you request “no meat”, you may be brought food with chicken or pork in. We recommend listing all the items you cannot eat, to be sure. If you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, we recommend going to one of the restaurants listed below or cooking your own food as much as possible.

If you are very worried about eating out, you can ask a teacher or friend to write down in Japanese the names of all foods you cannot eat, and carry this with you when you go out, to show to restaurant staff.

For comprehensive articles on being a vegetarian in Japan, refer to the Tokyo Vegetarian Guide.

Here are examples of some ‘safe foods’:

Tofu
Soba/Udon/Ramen (Note: Fukuoka’s famous Hakata ramen is meat-based)
Sushi (cucumber, natto, avocado, etc.), onigiri
Miso soup
Rice, okonomiyaki
Snacks: mochi (rice cake), senbei (crackers), anko/azuki (sweet bean paste), manju (sweet bun)
Sake, tea

Useful Phrases

I'm vegetarian.
「わたしは　ベジタリアンです。」
[Watashi wa bejitarian desu.]

I do not eat any meat at all.
｢私は肉と魚を全く食べません。｣
[Watashi wa niku to sakana wo mattaku tabemasen.]

I do not eat meat, dairy, or eggs.
｢私は肉、魚、乳製品、卵を食べません。｣
[Watashi wa niku, sakana, nyuuseihin, tamago wo tabemasen.]

Can you make this without meat?
「この料理を肉抜きで作れますか。」
[Kono ryouri wo niku-nuki de tsukuremasu ka.]

Which are the dishes without meat?
「（お）にくが　はいっていない
りょうりは　どれですか？」
[Onikuga haitteinai ryouriwa doredesuka?]

I'm allergic to X.
「わたしは　Xの　アレルギーです。」
［watashi wa　X　no　arerugii　desu.］　

I can eat tofu, egg, cheese, natto, konnyaku, mochi, and all vegetables.
「私は豆腐、卵、チーズ、納豆、こんにゃく、もち、そして野菜は好き嫌いなく食べます。」
[Watashi wa toufu, tamago, chiizu, nattou, konnyaku, mochi, soshite yasai o tabemasu.]

X is NOT OK.
「Xは　だめです。」
[X wa dame desu]

X is OK.
「Xは　だいじょうぶです。」
[X wa daijoubu desu.]

Beef --- Gyuuniku
Pork --- Butaniku
Chicken --- Tori
Fish --- Sakana
Seafood --- Kaigyorui
Shellfish --- Kairui
Dairy --- Nyuuseihin

Restaurants:

Refer to the map for directions from the school:

より大きな地図で vegetarian restaurants を表示

Hanafusa
Japanese cuisine, close to Ohori Park. 15 minutes from school on foot.
福岡県福岡市中央区城内7-14
Fukuoka-shi Chuo-ku Jounai 7-14
Telephone: 092-713-1879

Mana Burgers
Great all-vegetarian burgers with fixings. 10 minutes from school on foot.
Fukuoka-shi Chuo-ku Kego 2-15-20
福岡県福岡市中央区警固2-15-20
Telephone: 986-0759
Open 8:00 - 22:00

Freshness Burger
All-organic burger shop, including beans burger and tofu burger. Great french fries and onion rings with a huge selection of dips. 10 minutes from school on foot, well worth the walk.
Fukuoka-shi Chuo-ku Watanabe-dori 5-26-4
福岡県福岡市中央区渡辺通5-26-4
Telephone: 732-0422
Open 8:00 - 23:00

Nanak Indian Restaurant
Quite high-priced but good Indian food, really close to school
Fukuoka-shi Chuo-ku Maizuru 1-1-4
福岡県福岡市中央区舞鶴１丁目１-4
Telephone: 092-713-7900
Open 11：00～22：30

SIO菜
Macriobiotic natural foods.
福岡県福岡市中央区大名1-10-16-1 YUMIC大名 3F
Fukuoka-shi Chuo-ku Daimyo 1-10-16-1 YUMIC Daimyo 3F
Telephone: 092-714-2333
Open 11:30～14:00、17:30～23:00

Vege Garden
Natural Café Vege Garden prepares macrobiotic dishes that use specially-sourced organic ingredients and seasonings. No refined sugar, eggs or milk are used for the vegetarian dishes.
Address: 1-3-29 1st floor, Takamiya,Minami-ku, Fukuoka-shi
Tel & Fax: 092-524-7412

Evah Dining
Macriobiotic cooking in a natural environment.
Very low prices, and takeaway/delivery bento lunches.
5 minutes walk from school.
Maizuru 1-9-3, Chuuouku, Fukuoka-shi
福岡市中央区舞鶴1-9-3
Telephone: 092-731-2122
Open 11:30~15:30, 18:00~23:00

Subway Sandwiches
A few vegetarian options on the menu, and two locations within walking distance of school.
Telephone: 092-714-1998
Open 8:00~22:00

No no Budou
All-you-can-eat healthy buffet in the IMS building on Watanabe-doori. Not cheap, but a hige selection of foods.
IMS Building, 13th floor
Telephone: 092-714-1441
Open 11:00~23:00

References:
Getting Some in Japan – A Japanese Survival Guide. Ludvik, Anna. Japanzine, November 2005.
How to Eat at a Japanese Restaurant the Vegan Way. Kato, Hiroko. Vegetarian Journal, 1999. http://www.vegietokyo.com/info4vegie/articles/article2.html
Japanese Lessons IppoIppo – Vegetarian’s Page. http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/kondos/vangetarianspage.htm