Minoya Shinjuku

Minoya is a small, intimate vegetarian Japanese restaurant in the Torigoe area of Taito, offering kaiseki style course meals made entirely from vegetables without any animal based ingredients. The chef trained at a kaiseki restaurant while also growing vegetables, and the cooking philosophy centers on drawing out the natural sweetness and flavor of seasonal produce rather than masking it. The menu changes monthly as vegetable seasons shift. Two course formats are available: a regular Japanese kaiseki course (Minoya course) and a vegan course, which substitutes the standard bonito dashi with a kelp and vegetable stock. Each multi course dinner incorporates around 30 different vegetables and totals roughly 600 calories. The restaurant has about 11 seats with an open kitchen, and both lunch and dinner are fully reservation based. Gluten free options are available if requested at the time of booking. The atmosphere is quiet, homey, and personal, with the chef preparing dishes in front of guests.