Quick Check:
- Quality: Good – ★★★
- Location: Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Type: Vegetarian (very vegan-friendly)
- Price: $$ – Moderate (Lunch Sets about ¥1000)
- Websites: Restaurant Website, HappyCow Page
- Hours: Mon-Sun: 11:00-23:00
- Phone Number: 03-3798-3191
- Language Barrier: English Menu available
About & Location:
Eat More Greens is a vegetarian eatery and cafe located in the very international Azabu-Juban district of Minato-ku, Tokyo. It is apparently inspired by New York City cafes. It can easily be reached by taking Exit 4 at Azabu-Juban station, then taking a left (you will come out facing Darjeeling Tea company and can either go left or right around this shop). Simply walk up the left side of the Darjeeling Tea shop and in just a minute or two you will reach Eat More Greens.
*Note: If you are asthmatic or dislike cigarette smoke, I recommend indoor seating, as smoking is allowed in the patio area.
Food Review:
Eat More Greens has a small but comprehensive menu of main dishes, salads, soups, desserts, and beverages (including tea, coffee, and alcoholic drinks). At the time I visited, it offered 3 entrees, including a curry dish, a deep-fried eggplant and mushroom dish, and taco rice. All entrees, salads, and desserts are marked with a little green leaf on the menu to indicate if they are vegan (no green leaf = not vegan). I read some online reviews and it seems that the (vegan) taco rice is pretty popular, so I opted for that. At lunch, it costs ¥1200 and includes a drink and a dessert. At dinner, it cost ¥1200 and only includes a drink.
As other reviewers online have noted, the vegan meat was quite greasy. I love oil so this didn’t bother me, but if you prefer something a little oily, you may be better off at a different restaurant (several reviews online stated that most of the meals are equally oily). Personally I enjoyed it, although it is not among the best meals I’ve had in Tokyo.
Also, a brief comparison: The taco rice at Kushi Garden had a higher proportion of salad to beans/rice/”meat,” which personally I preferred as it helped to lighten the meal and meant that I got a little bit of greens in every bite. The taco rice at Eat More Greens had less salad and a lot more beans/rice/”meat”, which made it more filling, but with the extra oil might be a bit overwhelming to some stomachs. I very quickly had no lettuce or veggies left, and only a hefty pile of protein and carbs remained. So if you’re specifically looking for taco rice, choose according to your personal preferences.
(Update 5/23/14)
On a different trip, I ordered the Avocado Don (¥1180), a delicious entree that included a bed of red rice and red beans, a sweet topping of soybeans and mushrooms, and a topping of avocado, lettuce, spring onions, and strips of nori seaweed It was served cold (perfect for the coming hot Tokyo summer!), and in spite of the avocado has a pleasantly traditional Japanese flavor.
Avocado Don (¥1180)
At ¥650-¥700 a pop, I personally think the desserts are a bit overpriced for what you get. That said, that sort of pricing is in no way unusual (it’s roughly on par with the dessert offerings at Pure Café and Café Olu Olu). If you have a sweet tooth though, I highly recommend the Vegan Tiramisu (¥650). Since it’s vegan, it obviously is not exactly a traditional tiramisu, but it certainly looks like one, and it’s quite delicious. There’s a layer of cocoa powder, vanilla creme, banana, chocolate creme, and a berry layer at the bottom.
Vegan Tiramisu (¥700)
Vegan Tiramisu (¥700)
Eat More Greens offers vegan Pumpkin and Apple Pie on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and they offer a little more bang for your buck than the other dessert offerings. They’re slightly more expensive (I believe ¥675?), but are REALLY large slices. On one of my visits I ordered the pumpkin pie, and it was much heftier than I had expected. Unlike you’re usual shallow, smooth-topped pumpkin pie, the slice I got was tall and criss-crossed on top with pastry. The pastry shell was very flaky and rich, which was a wonderful surprise (from what I’ve read online, it’s a difficult texture to create without dairy products). The filling itself was a bit chunky and pumpkin-y for my taste (and it was made with kabocha and not pureed pumpkin). Still, it was pretty good. Next time I might opt for the apple pie though!
Vegan Pumpkin Pie (¥730)
If you’re craving something a bit sweet but have a small budget, they also have a display case at the front with various inexpensive baked goods such as cookies, muffins and scones, ranging in price from ¥220 to 350 a piece, and nearly all of them are vegan. I tried out the Rum Raisin Biscuits (¥220 each) on my last visit, and they were absolutely fantastic. They were so buttery and rich that I actually almost did it make it through two, in spite of their small size.
- Tiramisu (no flash)
Atmosphere & Service:
I have been to Eat More Greens 3 times now, and each time I have been very pleased by the service. They are well-staffed, and there are always a few waiter/waitresses walking around to see if you are ready to order and fill up your water glass. Most of the restaurants I’ve been to have seemed a bit understaffed (often when I finish my water I expect to have to flag someone down to get more), so such attentive service was a pleasant surprise. They were also happy to double-check if one of the items I requested had honey in it.
The atmosphere is very warm, casual and cozy, and there’s lots of space (although at dinner times it gets quite packed!). Supposedly the space is meant to reflect a cozy New York City café experience, but having never been to NYC I can’t really comment on whether it does so effectively. However, I can at least say that it’s a lovely place to spend a relaxed afternoon or evening.
There’s also a wonderful outdoor seating area, which I highly recommend. The only downside (at least for me) is that they allow smoking in this area, so if you’re asthmatic or if smoking bothers you, be prepared for that.
Other:
Eat More Greens also offers to-go lunch boxes, which are very useful if you know you’re going to be spending the day out in Tokyo but aren’t sure if you’ll be able to find a place to eat for lunch.
Bon Voyage Vegan 