For most vegans, the quest for vegan pancakes can be daunting, though always worth the effort. In the Western world, pancakes usually make for a main course during breakfast or brunch, or at any meal of the day, really (bless you, all-day breakfast joints). Vegan pancakes in Japan, however, tend to be offered as a dessert (though no one’s really stopping you from ordering dessert as a main course). I’ve found that vegan pancakes are most prevalent in Kyoto, and always offered with a generous amount of toppings such as fruits, ice cream, and syrups.
Mumokuteki Cafe and Foods Mumokuteki offers a mouth-wateringly wide range of desserts that includes cakes, parfaits, and tiramisu—all, of course, vegan. You may have trouble diverting your eyes from all the different dessert options on the menu, that is, until you make it to the pancakes. This dish is offered as three pancakes stacked on top of one another with a creamy filling in between each layer. The flavour changes from time to time, as I’ve seen images posted presenting the pancakes as either chocolate flavoured, or standard. Either way, they’re always topped with fruit and a scoop of ice cream with syrup drizzled on top and throughout the rest of your plate. These pancakes are cooked crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Your pancake cravings will thank you for this one. As a side note, this cafe is not entirely vegan as they use fish stock in their miso soup and occasionally in the soy sauce.
Accepts credit cards Mon-Sun 11:30am-9:00pm 2F, Teramachi-dori (near Shijo Teramachi)
Cafe Matsuontoko Western food is quite common in Kyoto, particularly at vegan joints, which may explain the prevalence of the pancakes. Cafe Matsuontoko offers American/International/Japanese style vegan fare in the form of vegan burgers, pastas, pizzas, and Japanese rice dishes. Whatever it is you order, you’ll want to leave room for dessert as these pancakes are truly worth the indulgence. Served as two thick and fluffy pancakes stacked on top of one another topped off with a generous amount of syrup and ice cream. These pancakes are so fluffy that if the makers of Despicable Me had tried these pancakes, the infamous "It's so fluffy" would have been about these pancakes. These are a must-try.
Cash only Mon-Sun 11:00am-3:00pm, 6:00pm-10:00pm 538-6 Shijyo Agaru Shinkyougoku Nakanocho Nakagyoku (Shijo)
The secret to the vegan pancakes in Kyoto is in the technique. Most joints (though not all of them) will cook the pancakes over the stove to begin with, then finish them off by baking them. The result is a thicker, fluffier pancake. I’ve found that pancakes are offered at most vegan joints, and are certainly not limited to the two listed here. You can also find vegan pancakes at Choice Cafe and Restaurant, Morpho Cafe, Charanke, and more (check HappyCow for listings and opening times).
