Sea Change Okinawa: food

Esparza's Tacos and Coffee

Last weekend while we were in Chatan getting my iPhone screen replaced (I finally dropped it one too many times) we decided to finally try out a new place for lunch. We have driven past Esparza's Tacos and Coffee quite a few times and each time I commented on how good it looked. After reading about how they had vegan and vegetarian options (hard to some by in Okinawa), we decided to take the plunge and try it.

We got there at 12 and it was already pretty busy and we managed to nab the last free table. I was super excited to see the menu option, over half being vegan and it all sounded delicious! We decided to share the Vegan Chorizo tacos and the two bean tacos. The vegan chorizo is basically made with tofu and chorizo spices, and was super tasty. They also had a kind of vegan parmesan on top, and I have no idea what that was made from, but it was another nice touch. The two bean burritos were also tasty, but my favourite were definitely the "chorizo" ones.

The tacos were huge, and they also have a "salsa" bar, with different sauces, salsas and an onion and coriander mix. Definitely a nice touch!

Esparza's also serves a range of drinks, including Coronas, sangria and tequila drinks. The other good thing (and a rarity in Okinawa) is that it opens from 7am for breakfast (servicing breakfast burritos and pancakes).

Esparza's is located on route 58 in Chatan, and you can find the map here. It's great to have another vegan and vegetarian friendly option in Okinawa!

Esparza's Tacos and Coffee in Chatan offers a large vegan menu and is very tasty!

Exterior

Vegan "chorizo" tacos

Vegan two bean burrito at Esparza's Tacos and Coffee in Okinawa

vegan two bean tacos

PIN IT FOR LATER:

Esparza's Tacos and Coffee in Chatan, Okinawa has a menu that is 50% vegan, with aims of going fully vegan in the next 5 years. It opens from 7am!

16:51
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Vegetarian (and vegan) food in Kyoto

food

A couple of weeks ago we were in Kyoto for a few days. As you all know, i'm not vegetarian, but H is, and we have a lot of vegan friends, so we're always on the look out for Vegan and vegetarian friendly places to eat when we're travelling.

While we were in Kyoto we actually stumbled across a few gems, completely by accident!

All these vegetarian/vegan friendly places in Kyoto were in the Teramachi shopping arcade area, so great stops when you're in the central city shopping area. I've put links to their location on Google maps below

Sen no Kaze Ramen

This ramen restaurant looks deceiving. We actually walked past it a couple of times and didn't consider it because all the pictures on the menu out the front were meat-based. After doing a google search for vegan and vegetarian ramen in Kyoto, this place was mentioned! We headed back there and asked the staff (who spoke great English) and she advised they do have vegetarian and vegan ramen. The vegetarian ramen is in a soy-based broth, and they will make a special vegan ramen on request.

If you're looking for a warm bowl of ramen on a cold day and a drink to wash it down, this is the place for you! It's small and popular, so I recommend getting there when it opens, although when we arrived we only waited about 15 minutes and the turnover seemed to be fairly quick. This is also a great option if you are travelling with a meat-eater.

You can find their location here

Sen no Kaze Ramen

The Vegetarian ramen (soy milk broth)

The meat version

Matsuontoko

Matsuontoko is a completely vegan restaurant just around the corner from the ramen place above. We happened to spot to sign outside when we were walking past and went straight in!

The menu includes burgers as well as soup and vegan lunch plate sets, organic beer and wine.

There is plenty of seating inside, and the burgers were tasty!

You can find their location here

Matsuontoko is a vegan restaurant serving burgers and other vegan food in the city centre of Kyoto.

Matsuontoko (vegan restaurant)

Avocado burger

Miso cutlet burger

Floresta Donuts (Vegetarian)

So these aren't actually vegan, but they are a great dessert treat if you are vegetarian. These donuts are fantastic because they are not super sweet like Mr Donut or Krispy Creme and the company is trying to make a healthier donut using local and organic ingredients. Also, their animal donuts are so cute and Instagrammable!

You can find their location here

Floresta donuts

cuties

Other vegetarian options in Kyoto:

I noticed quite a few Indian restaurants in the main shopping area with vegetarian menus, which is also easy if you are looking for something tasty to eat.

Have you been to Kyoto? Are there any other vegan and vegetarian places you recommend?

Pin it for later:

Vegetarian food in Kyoto is relatively easy to find. Check out my post for where to get delicious meals when in Kyoto!

18:53
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Okinawa Vegan Food Fest

food

Vegan Food Festival

This past weekend we went to Okinawa's first vegan food festival at Kaneku Seaside Park in Kadena. It was actually on the hottest day so far this year, and the sun was out which was amazing. Unfortunately for the stall holders though, it was really windy, so things were blowing everywhere and some of the food vendors couldn't open sue to fire hazards or something (including my favourite - GubGubs!)

We did a quick walk around the stalls to see what was available. By midday most of the food stalls already had lines pretty decent lines, but we decided to join the line for felafel things because they looked delicious and it's one of the things you don't often get to eat here in Okinawa! While we were waiting in line for the felafel, we took turns to go and check out the other food stalls and picked up some vegan bibimbap from one stall, and what seemed to be another vegan bibimbap from the Ukishima Gardens stall as well as a little bottle of vegan wine to have with our picnic.

After getting the felafel goods we found one of the very limited spots of shade and got out our picnic blanket to eat. The felafel pita and felafel bowl were definitely the favourites of the day and were worth the line up for. The hummus and tahini they used on them were amazing and they made everything on the spot (hence the long wait times). The other meals we tasted (both the bibimbaps) were pretty average, but I think that's because they were going for more of a macrobiotic healthy vibe, whereas we just prefer things to be tasty! Haha.

I heard that all the food had sold out within 2 and a half hours, so i'm really glad that we got there early and had our choice of things to eat. I think for next year, they definitely need to think about better shade options for people (I got sunburned) but overall it was really nice to see something different in Okinawa.

Gorgeous, but windy day

bags blowing in the wind

Pottery for sale

This was my favourite stall

The felafel was amazing

Felafel pita sandwich

Felafel bowl from the Okinawa Vegan Food Festival full of felafel, salad and hummus

More felafel

Vegan bibimbap and a mini vegan wine

17:26
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Melbourne Day 4 - Old buildings, a boat and more food.

food

By my Thursday in Melbourne I was exhausted. All the long days followed by late nights catching up with people had taken it's toll and I really needed a quiet night in my hotel room to Skype with my loves and sleep.

Once again, I passed on the conference provided lunch and headed to the new-ish 400 Gradi at Crown for amazing pizza. We had the Margherita pizza and a calzone that was really delicious and I can't believe I haven't tried one before. The Crown Gradi is definitely more "fancy" the the original Brunswick East version, and i've got to say I prefer the latter, but that's probably because I really don't like the Crown Casino.....

Elizabeth Street

Morning walk to the conference along the Yarra

Gradi at Crown - The calzone was the bomb. Seriously.

Another one of my favourite Australian beers

After I cancelled my plans for the night, which I still kind of regret but really needed the rest, I went across the road from my hotel to a food court Thai restaurant recommended by a friend who vouched for it's authenticity (based on the fact that he has been to Thailand a billion times). It looked dodgy but was actually delicious! Also, the proximity to my hotel was a winner for me. I was able to go home and chat to Helen and G before he went to bed. Also, speaking of my hotel, the bed in it was amazingly comfortable. And the room was HUGE! It was nice to actually get to spend a night hanging out in it.

Thai

17:44
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Melbourne Day 3 - Food, food, more food

Cafe

It seems on my Wednesday in Melbourne and the first day of the conference, I was pretty slack with my photo taking. Once again I woke up with coffee and a yummy breakfast on my mind, so I started my google search for something in the city. I stumbled across 5 & Dime Bagels which was on the way to the Convention Centre and it was awesome! Ever since I was in New York City earlier in the year and had my first taste of an everything bagel, I have wanted another one. I was super happy to find everything bagels here.

5 and Dime Bagels

Everything bagel with tuna melt

Soy flat white

Yarra River

My conference provided a pretty decent lunch every day, but I couldn't bear wasting a meal opportunity, so instead I searched for one of my all time favourite foods, pho, near the conference venue, and as luck would have it, there was a place 5 minutes walk away! It wasn't the most amazing pho i've ever had, but it was still good and satisfied the craving.

Pho

That night I met up with some of my old work friends from University of Melbourne at Breizoz creperie, which one of said colleagues now owns. Somehow, the only photo I took was of my giant mug of cider, not the crepes and not the friends. Doh!

French Cider

16:24
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Melbourne Day 2 - Street Art and Food

Cafe

My Second Day in Melbourne was BUSY, so i'll do it in two posts. I was so excited to be back in Melbourne and desperate for my first real Melbourne coffee. I googled cafe's in the CBD because I really needed to get to my first work day on time. I decided on Cumulus Inc because i'd never been there, it was close to where I was going and i'd heard it was good. It was. My coffee was delicious, and the avocado on toast was so much better than what I had in Tokyo

Only a Melbournian would understand how much I had been longing for a real coffee.

Cumulus Inc breakfast - Avocado on toast!

After breakfast I walked to Federation Square, where my forum was, via Hosier Lane which is covered in beautiful and colourful street art. If you're ever in Melbourne, be sure to wander down the city's alleyways for great photo opportunities. Photo spam below :)

I love this one!

Flinders Street Station

18:07
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Sakae Ryoriten Ishikawa - Seasonal foods of Okinawa

food

Last Friday night we went out to dinner with a friend and her son (one of G's little buddies) to Sakae Ryoriten, an izakaya in Ishikawa which is the best i've been to in Okinawa. All their ingredients are locally sources and therefore really fresh. I have been there a couple of times before but it was Helen's first visit. They have an english menu (photos at the end of the post), which is great and either table or floor seating (if you're after the authentic Japanese experience.

Never disappoints

Umi budo (Sea grape) and tomato salad

We tried the Umi budo (sea grape) and tomato citrus salad, which was amazing! I think it's one of the best things i've eaten in Okinawa. Umi budo are a kind of seaweed, but little crunchy balls. Hard to describe, but a must try if you're ever in Okinawa.

Tuna sashimi

Fried Yanbaru Chicken - karaage

Deep fried peanut tofu

The other more interesting thing we had was the Jimami tofu, which is tofu made from peanut, not soy. It was super tasty!

a rare couple photo

Dragon Fruit frozen yoghurt

The food isn't super kid friendly, but G really enjoyed the purple sweet potato soup, and rice that he mixed in with it. He was also lucky and had dragon fruit frozen yoghurt for dessert!