I just want to start off by saying that before I started writing for Vegan Discoveries; Veg out was a place I loved to go to. The food is really great, but I also fell in love with the atmosphere of the café. The aesthetics of the store, the food, and the people that work there all fit together perfectly like a puzzle. I got a chance to talk to the manager, Mr. Hirayama about the store, and you could probably guess what my first question was! “What does Veg Out mean?” With a little chuckle, Mr. Hirayama replied, “ It’s a spin off the phrase chill out. Since we

are a vegan café, we replaced chill with veg(vegetables).” I could only sit there in total surprise that I didn’t catch that before! When you walk into the store you can feel the relaxed “chill” vibes of the store. Relaxing music, welcoming faces, and my favorite aesthetic of the whole store, the riverside view!

You can see the café’s interior is wooden,

it has a nice little book collection, and big windows to let the sunshine come through and allow customers to view the beautiful nature of Kyoto. Can I get a WOO-SAH for that?! All these elements work together to create the chilled out atmosphere at Veg Out.

Another thing I love about Veg out is that they sell Organic snacks like nuts and seeds which is self serve. Fill up a bag of how much you want, and they charge you by the weight!

Butters, coffee, and Chai OH MY!

Mr. Hirayama was not originally from Kyoto, but being his wife is from here, he moved to this area. Mr. Hirayama is a big fan of outdoors; he loves traveling, nature, and he has a big love for coffee. He actually was a barista years back, which is why at Veg Out they sell specialty coffee. And from his love of coffee and his barista experiences, he carefully chooses which organic coffee to sell in the café as well as what coffee matches well with the food served there. Unfortunately, I am not a coffee fan so I cannot speak on how good the coffee is, but Mr. Hirayama seemed very confident when we got on the subject of coffee. Give it a shot; what do you have to lose?

Back on task, Mr. Hirayama explained that Veg Out is not just for vegans, but it is for people who are into very simple lifestyles. Mr. Hirayama himself is not a vegan, but he tries to keep meat eating to a minimum.

The menu is actually based off of the food that the people at the temples eat, which again resonates with the simplicity of the Veg Out aesthetics.

Before we get into the food, (Hold your horses!) I have to mention that what makes this café even more interesting is the fact that before or after you are done eating, you are able to take a yoga class! And guess who is running it? Mr. Hirayama’s wife, the main Yoga teacher at the studio! Just another addition to the chilled out vibes at Veg Out. If you are interested in taking a class, take a look on the website to get more information on how to reserve a spot in a class!

Next to the main part of the lesson, what you all have been waiting for!

The FOOD!

Now on to the menus.

All the menus have English text and explanations for you so it will be easy for you to order your food and drinks! The staff as well is can speak English pretty fluently. I went around lunchtime so this is only the lunch menu. But they also have a breakfast and a dinner menu. The breakfast menu carries lighter items like a muffin, an acai bowl, toast, and a vegetable Panini .The dinner menu has other items like Soy Cabonara, curry, and taco rice! If you have time, come for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Tons of delicious drinks to fit the taste buds of all Veg Out customers.

I asked Mr. Hirayama what was the most popular item on the lunch menu, and without hesitation he said OBANZAI. This dish gives you a taste of a little heaven in various forms of food. I usually order the Buddha bowl when I go there, but I was definitely not let down by the OBANZAI dish! And don’t let me forget to add the fact that all vegetables are bought locally and they only use what vegetables are in season!

This sign explains what exactly comes in the OBANZAI dish. Personally, my favorite was the Carrot Carbonara. Surprisingly, I thought the spinach with sesame and miso was going to have a more earthy taste, but the taste was much more balanced, it was unlike any other spinach dish I have tasted before. Every part of the OBANZAI dish had its own distinctive taste, but none of them were overpowering, they all complimented each other. I was very shocked by how simple the tastes were yet, they were pulling you back for more!

Look at this beauty. The picture doesn’t do it justice; you have to come see it for yourself!

That sauce was something else! It went so well with the soy meat chicken.

The OBANZAI didn’t stand a chance! The relaxing atmosphere, the beautiful view, after eating this meal, my stomach felt great. I didn’t feel full but I didn’t feel hungry either, there was a great balance. As I am an adventurer to bring back juicy, delicious knowledge to teach you guys what’s out there in Kyoto’s vegan world, I had to try one of their muffins!

Once again, a very simple taste, but it hits the spot. It was a purple sweet potato with raisins and coconut. Sounds good right? They change up their muffins daily, so depending on when you go in, there will be other flavors for you to feast on!

LESSON WRAP UP

Another great and delicious adventure in the ancient city of Kyoto. Veg Out has a simple aesthetic that seeps through everything that is connected to store. You want great food? Check. Beautiful scenery? Check. Specialty coffee? Check. Yoga? Check. Veg Out is a conscious place where they know what makes people feel good and they want to offer services that they are good at to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Give them a visit and find out what you are missing! Class is DISMISSED!

(Bell rings!)