Chickpea falafels prove megahit at Shin-Koenji vegan eatery
When it comes to dining out, residents and tourists alike often note how limited vegan options tend to be in Japan. With vegans in the country few and far between, it’s probably best to sit up and take notice whenever a vegan restaurant grabs the spotlight.
Vespera’s Falafel and Deli is a 100% vegan restaurant that opened last fall in Koenji, a neighborhood roughly 10 minutes from Shinjuku Station on the JR Chuo Line. Specializing in chickpea falafels (croquette-style deep-fried patties of Middle Eastern origin), it became an instant hit with tourists and expats after being picked up by a number of vegan foodie sites that cater to foreigners—people have been coming in droves ever since.
The restaurant’s owner, Eiji, decided to open Vespera after being impressed by cafés and other eateries he experienced on a trip around Europe. Feeling a particularly close affinity for Koenji, a Tokyo district known for its thriving subculture scene, he decided it would be the perfect location to set up shop.
Says Eiji with a smile: “What I want to achieve here is a restaurant that doesn’t just serve vegan food to vegans, but a space where anyone can come in and enjoy a great meal. With falafels about to hit it big in Japan, I’d like to recommend anyone who hasn’t had one yet to visit us and give it a try.”
Source article (in Japanese):
http://koenji.keizai.biz/headline/92/
