Maybe it’s the salsa music instead of Tibetan chants, but this vegan restaurant in posh Aoyama is distinctively more trendy than earthy. Located on a side street next to Aoyama Gakuin University, it offers both tasty meals and delectable desserts for its clientele of upper class yoginis and health-conscious couples.
The appeal of quality vegan restaurants to omnivores is simply described – everything just tastes good. Because of the ingredient limitations, vegan eateries tend to concoct each dish with plenty of creative flavours and variety.
The souvlaki set at 8ablish is a myriad of delightful bite-size morsels. Starting with a green pea potage with truffle oil, the main plate has one skewer of grilled vegetables like squash and zucchini, another skewer of fried tempeh (whole soybean pressed into a cake), and fried tofu. A dollop of tahini and a lightly dressed green salad round out the colourful plate (¥1,500). The four appetisers (¥1,400) set is presented as an artsy palette of seasonal vegetables.
And the vegan desserts are hardly an afterthought. The pistachio tart with a dark Griotte cherry sauce (¥1,000) and a nutty crust is exquisite. A variety of healthy teas are available, as is mild organic coffee (¥650, ¥350 as part of a set). Teas and coffees are served with beet sugar and soy milk.