The first specialty store to create a vegan soba culture, "Vegan Soba Tokyo Ayler" opens in Shimokitazawa

"Vegan soba" is a new style of soba that is made entirely from plant-based ingredients and does not use any animal-based ingredients, such as the broth made from bonito flakes that is traditionally used in soba, or soba noodles that may contain eggs.

In "Shojin Soba," it is necessary to avoid the five pungent vegetables (onion, garlic, green onion, Chinese chives, and shallots), so green onions, which are commonly used as a condiment for soba, cannot be used. Furthermore, onions, which enhance the flavor of kakiage, cannot be used.

On the other hand, with vegan soba, ingredients including the five pungent vegetables can be freely used, greatly expanding the range of flavors and tastes. This allows us to offer soba with a richer flavor, based on free ideas unconstrained by traditional constraints.

Unlike most vegan dishes, which try to recreate the shape and color of regular dishes, we have maintained the traditional style of Japanese soba as much as possible while removing animal ingredients to recreate it as a vegan dish that preserves the traditional shape of soba.

We look to the future and propose new possibilities for food culture.

Based on the theme of a new "air fullness" that is "surprisingly light while feeling full," we propose a refreshing dining experience that does not leave you feeling heavy after your meal. We deliver healthy and light soba noodles made from plant ingredients. Combined with a stand-up style that is said to be good for digestion, you can experience a new level of comfort after your meal.

This completely vegan soba was created with consideration for the environment and health. Based on the traditional Nihachi soba, the soup stock and toppings are made entirely from plant-based ingredients. The "Vegan Kakiage" is made entirely from plant-based ingredients, and is a dish that brings out the delicious flavor of the vegetables wrapped in a crispy batter.

The space is designed to satisfy both body and mind, allowing you to listen to music while sipping soba. At times, nostalgic music is played on a gramophone from 100 years ago. On either side of the gramophone are the C-34s, one of the three great early JBL models. We took care to ensure that no unnecessary wiring was exposed to the vacuum tube amplifier.

We aim to be a place where you can find refreshment and inspiration in the midst of your busy daily life.

The standing counter is 105cm high. It is designed to be higher than the counters of typical soba restaurants, in order to make it easier to eat. We have deliberately adopted the standing soba style so that you can enjoy soba casually even during your busy daily life.

■Store name: Vegan Soba Tokyo Ayler
■Address: 4-24-15 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
■ Business hours: 9:00-16:00
■Closed: Sundays and Mondays

*The bar is open twice a month in the evenings outside of regular opening hours.
*Can also be used as a coffee stand.

The counter is also used as a coffee stand. The coffee used is hand-picked, fully ripe beans from Brazil. You can enjoy a richly flavored cup of coffee. The cafe menu also offers vegan sweets, such as scones made with domestic whole wheat flour and gluten-free chocolate cake made with rice flour. Other alcoholic drinks include white wine (Grüner Veltliner) made using Austrian natural farming methods, and unpasteurized sake from Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, known for its famous water.

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