Ain Soph. Journey Kyoto: 100% Vegan Pancakes a Minute from Nishiki Market

The Kansai outpost of Tokyo’s best-known vegan restaurant group sits one minute from Nishiki Market, serving the dish that made the brand famous: “heavenly” vegan pancakes, plus burgers and a Kyoto-only matcha gluten-free pancake. The brand’s official line is unambiguous — 100% plant-based, no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or other animal products — which makes this one of the most clearly documented vegan options in the city.

What We Verified

• “100% plant-based (vegan)” — stated on the brand’s official English page, explicitly excluding meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. Checked July 9, 2026.
• Gluten-free and oriental-vegan (no five pungent roots) options — offered per the official site.
• Hours — lunch 11:30–16:00 (L.O. 15:00); dinner 17:00–21:00 on an irregular schedule — check Instagram before an evening visit.
• Location — 2 min from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Sta. exit 9, 1 min from Nishiki Market.

What We Could Not Confirm

• Current menu prices (not published on the pages we could verify).
• Closing days (irregular — check SNS).
• Mirin / seasoning alcohol.

What to Order

The Heavenly Vegan Pancakes — the brand’s signature — or the Kyoto-exclusive matcha gluten-free pancakes. Book via TableCheck for weekend brunch hours; 7+ people by phone (075-251-1876).

Useful Phrases

全メニュー完全に植物由来ですか?
Zenmenyū kanzen ni shokubutsu yurai desu ka? — “Is every menu item fully plant-based?”

卵や乳製品の代替は何を使っていますか?
Tamago ya nyūseihin no daitai wa nani o tsukatte imasu ka? — “What do you use as egg or dairy substitutes?”

五葷(にんにく・玉ねぎ)は使っていますか?
Gokun (ninniku, tamanegi) wa tsukatte imasu ka? — “Do you use five pungent roots such as garlic and onion?”

Restaurant Information

Map

The Kansai Outpost of a Tokyo Brand

AIN SOPH. is one of a small number of Japanese vegan restaurant groups that have built genuine brand recognition — five locations in Tokyo, one in Kyoto, and a shop in Singapore — with a clear editorial position and a consistent aesthetic. The Kyoto branch, opened in 2018, is the group’s only Kansai presence, which means it operates as the meeting point for Muslim, vegan, and vegetarian travelers passing through Kyoto who already know the AIN SOPH. name from Tokyo or from international coverage. What that translates to in practice is a shop that expects English-speaking guests, publishes clear allergen information for its own dishes, and has a menu that leans into the group’s specialty (pancakes, burgers, matcha-forward desserts) rather than into Japanese fusion. It’s a comfortable landing spot rather than an adventurous one, which is exactly right for the kind of meal it’s meant to be.

Follow the Shop Directly

The most current photography of any restaurant comes from the restaurant itself. Here’s where Ain Soph. Journey Kyoto posts.

📷 Instagram · @ainsoph.journey.kyoto · See the shop’s own photos →

Please double-check before you visit. Restaurant menus and policies can change without notice. This listing was verified on the date shown above using the sources described in How We Verify. If your requirements are strict, please confirm directly with the restaurant — and if you spot something outdated, let us know. Full disclaimer here.