I had vegan yakitori (chicken skewers) and okonomiyaki in a hidden vegan place in Osaka

Vegan yakitori and okonomiyaki in an Osaka restaurant

I had two classic Japanese dishes: okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) and yakitori (chicken skewers) in this hidden vegan Izakaya in Osaka called Aju. It's a one-person operation, with the owner handling everything from cooking to serving. Be prepared for a wait if there are other customers. (There’s even a card saying that he can’t handle more than 4 customers at a time!)

The yakitori plate uses soy protein, konjac, and other vegan ingredients to mimic the look and texture of different grilled chicken skewers. And the okonomiyaki has the classic look and topped with mayonnaise and seaweed. Both are delicious and a great way to sample these authentic Japanese street food dishes.

If you are planning to go to Japan soon, feel free to check out the vegan Japan travel book I’ve just written. I covered 7 cities with over 132 vegan friendly places to eat: https://www.itravelforveganfood.com/the-vegan-foodie-guide-to-japan