This charming eatery may seem like a room in an apartment without a noticeable sign or board outside. However, Ichijyu Issai Misonoha, which is located in Kego, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, is a Japanese restaurant that specializes in making miso and soup stock from scratch. They recently took on the challenge of developing some vegan-friendly dishes. Their plan is to start offering a vegan menu in April 2023 that offers a snapshot of the real Japan. The dishes take inspiration from traditional breakfast items, such as rice balls and miso soup. The compatibility of vegan food and Japanese cuisine is evident when looking at their efforts.

In this article, we will be telling you a bit more about some of the dishes featured in the new vegan/vegetarian menu that was unveiled at a tasting event for the media. The restaurant served a "daizu miso onigiri (soybean miso rice ball), which is a slight twist on one of their staples. This dish did not feature miso-flavored pork. The rice was actually topped with "daizu miso (miso-flavored soybean)." This was made by mixing finely crushed soybeans and maple syrup. The combination helped create a deliciously rich flavor. The "tomato and aosa no miso soup (tomato and sea lettuce miso soup)" used plenty of kombu dashi (kelp-based soup stock) instead of the standard bonito dashi. The cherry tomatoes were soaked in the stock but still had a sour quality that gave the soup a slight accent and a real depth of flavor!

Misonoha also served "hummus," the popular Middle Eastern chickpeas dip. They used locally sourced soybeans from Itoshima and sesame paste to develop their own cool Japanese-style hummus. It was smooth and flavorful, making it the perfect match for some fried vegetables. Despite being high in protein and very satisfying, their hummus also had a delightfully light aftertaste. Visiting Ichijyu Issai Misonoha will definitely give you some great ideas for your own Japanese-style vegan recipes. Make sure to check it out!