Hyogo Prefecture's capital of Kobe is a bustling port city, packed with plenty to see, do, and eat. You may think that this part of Japan would be devoid of any vegan options - especially considering the popularity of the regional specialty Kobe beef - but thankfully there are gems to be found for those among us who stick to plant-based diets. Vegan Cafe Thallo opened in 2017, and the owner has a real passion for animal welfare advocacy.
Vegan Cafe Thallo are focused on creating meals that are free from animal products, wheat flour, white sugar, or the use of microwave ovens in the cooking process. The most popular item on the menu is the vegan quiche which comes in three different varieties (tomato, spinach, and curry). The quiche set is priced at 1300 yen and comes with the quiche of your choice alongside brown rice, soup, salad, and the deli item of the day. You'll also find options like vegan ramen and a Japanese vegan kasaneni curry. Kasaneni is a cooking technique which focuses on steaming vegetables to ensure that nutrients are retained. If you're visiting the Kobe area with children you'll be pleased to know that the cafe is very family-friendly and there is also a kids plate option available on the menu. Similar to the regular mains, the kids set includes soup, salad, and the deli item of the day, along with a vegan hamburger, brown rice, a small dessert, and apple juice to drink.
The dessert options vary at the cafe, but some of the options include tofu brownies, carrot cake, pound cake, and vegan ice cream.
English menus are available, and a number of the staff also speak English. The cafe is open from 11.30 am until 6 pm daily, but this can be subject to change. If you follow along on their Instagram account, they will happily answer any queries you may have via direct message.
To discover more of what Kobe has to offer, check out the Japan Travel guide here.
