Saishokukenbi [Shin-Ōkubo]

Chinese/Japanese/Korean Vegetarian Restaurant

Food: 4/5
Price: 1/5

Saishokukenbi is probably my favorite place to grab lunch. The 90 minute all-you-can-eat buffet lunch is only 1350yen! Usually there are around 20-30 items on the lunch buffet. Everything is vegetarian and this restaurant is also great for vegans since items with egg (yellow sticker) or milk (blue sticker) are clearly marked. This is another restaurant that utilizes alot of fake meat in many of their dishes, such as vegetarian yakitori, yakiniku and my favorite gyoza! Most of the meals are Chinese, Japanese or Korean and include items like yakisoba, bifun noodles, numerous vegetable-based salads, veggie tempura, and even potato salad made with fake bacon and vegan soy mayonaise! They also have 2 different kinds of rice, miso soup, pickles, fruits & mochi for dessert, and sometimes vegetable curry depending on the day. Beverages include several different types of tea, 2 kinds of fruit juice and coffee. The dinner buffet is offered on Thursdays and Fridays only for 2000yen. I've been there once for dinner and the dinner buffet is only slightly larger than the lunch buffet. In addition to its tasty meals, Saishokukenbi also sells a HUGE variety of fake meat, seafood, vegetarian ramen and frozen dumplings & croquettes.

Pros: great value, suitable for vegans, large variety of dishes, fresh items prepared frequently
Cons: come early for the best variety and freshest food

5 min walk from Shin-Ōkubo station (JR Yamanote line) or Ōkubo station (JR Chūō-Sōbu local line)
Shinjuku-ku, Hyakunin-chō 2-21-26 (near an unrelated temple)
phone: 03-5332-3627

Lunch buffet - weekdays: 11:30-3pm (enter by 2:30)
Sat. & Sun.: 11:30-4pm (enter by 3:00)
Dinner buffet - Thurs. & Fri.: 5:30 - 9pm (enter by 8:30)

www.daisho-kikaku.com (Japanese only)