Banwarou Mimika - Yokohama

This restaurant is a bit dated, but they do offer a small selection of vegan options (with fewer choices than usual due to Covid restrictions). The food was tasty, although it was quite greasy. I found it to be overpriced for the portion sizes.

Banwarou is a quaint little restaurant located in Yokohama Chinatown, with 'Vegetarisch' written on its front door. Despite the warm weather outside, the restaurant itself was quite cozy. I had high expectations for great service, but unfortunately, I didn't have much luck that day. I decided to order a safe bet for lunch: Mapo Tofu, Rice, and Daikon Mochi, like the three other tables in the restaurant. However, I only received the Mapo Tofu and a bowl of rice. I waited for the Daikon Mochi to arrive after finishing my main dish, but it never did. I watched as other tables received their Daikon Mochi promptly after ordering. The Mapo Tofu itself was decent, but nothing noteworthy. It lacked spice and depth of flavor from Doubanjiang, but it paired well with the rice. The portion size was suitable for lunch. In the end, feeling unsatisfied and with other commitments, I asked the elderly gentleman who I assumed was the owner for the Daikon Mochi. He seemed confused until I pointed out the lack of food on my plate. He then realized his mistake but by then, I had already given up on waiting. As other reviewers have suggested, perhaps it is better to visit Koukien for a more efficient and pleasant dining experience. At least there, orders are fulfilled correctly, and the atmosphere is less tense. [Reviewed on November 3, 2021]

The sesame noodles were delicious, and I enjoyed finishing off the sauce with a bowl of rice to make it more filling. Although it was a bit pricey at 1150 yen, I suppose that's to be expected in Japan.

The owner explained us the vegetarian menu in english because we didn't understand all the kanji so don't be afraid if you don't speak or read japanese : the food was 100% self made, arrived fast, tasted great and fresh, you could feel it was homemade with experience : the only negative aspects for us were the kinda small portions so you have to spend more money if you're hungry.

When I walked in I was greeted by the word vegetarian? , as a man gestured to a table. This place is really quaint and appears to be a slightly modified downstairs kitchen of a family home. Not sure why he assumed I was looking for vegetarian but this is the ONLY place in Yokohama that seemed to cater to anything of the sort so it was a nice welcome for me. I had the sesame noodles which were basically flat rice ? noodles covered in bean sprouts, poke roots, and other greens. This was simmered in a sesame paste/peanut sauce I think . In any case, there was an entire page of vegetarian options on the menu, although no English translations. I went with the noodles since it was my first time and that 's what the proprietor recommended. If you are in Yokohama and don 't want to get on the train to search out other vegan/veg places in and around Tokyo then this is a good place. Plus its got great character. Its on one of the backstreets of China Town and directly adjacent to some sort of temple. So if you don 't get caught in a thunderstorm without an umbrella, as I did, then it would be perfect for a moderately priced meal, a visit to the temple I didn 't go in cause it seemed there was an entrance fee but not sure and an evening stroll through the steam-filled streets of Yokohama 's China Town.