Looking for vegan Indian food in Osaka? The options are genuinely limited — this is a niche within a niche — but the ones that exist are worth knowing about. Shama in Yotsubashi is the standout: a fully vegetarian Indian restaurant where almost everything can be made vegan on request. A handful of other Indian spots around Shinsaibashi and Honmachi round out the list with strong vegan menus. For anyone eating plant-based in Osaka, these are your best bets.
MICHI’s Pick — Selected by our Osaka-based team, based on places we’ve visited and on research using Tabelog and Google Maps ratings. In Japan, a Tabelog score of 3.4+ is genuinely high — Japanese reviewers are famously strict, and most locals consider anything above 3.4 a place worth a detour. We feature venues meeting at least one of: Tabelog 3.4+, Google Maps 4.3+, or 100+ reviews — the kind of spots locals quietly trust.
Tabelog and Google Maps scores are accurate as of the time of writing.
1. Shama Vegetarian Indian Restaurant (菜食インドレストラン シャーマ)
📍 Kurasho Building B1F, 1-3-7 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014
🕐 Mon: dinner only 17:00–22:00; Tue–Sun: 11:00–15:00 & 17:00–22:00 (kitchen closes 21:00) (as of May 2026)
💰 ¥900–¥1,800 (food only) / ¥1,200–¥2,200 (with drinks)
🚃 Yotsubashi Station (3 min walk, Exit 6)
🗣 English menu: Yes
⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.52 / Google 4.3 (400+ reviews) (as of writing)
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📋 Tabelog
What to order: Namaste Lunch Set (¥1,500) — salad, soup, naan, mini rice, two curries, a daily special, and a drink, all veganisable on request
Shama is the closest thing Osaka has to a dedicated vegan Indian restaurant: no meat, no fish, no eggs, no onion, no garlic — and the best food in Osaka for plant-based Indian eating by a considerable margin. The basement room is small and unfussy, the staff speak English, and the lunch sets are genuinely filling. Tell them you’re vegan when you order and they’ll adjust every dish accordingly — the soy milk mango lassi alone is worth the trip.
2. Indian Restaurant Bar Banjara (インドレストランバー バンジャーラ)
📍 1-10-12 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0085
🕐 11:30–15:00 & 17:00–23:00 daily (as of May 2026)
💰 ¥1,200–¥2,500 (food only) / ¥2,000–¥4,500 (with drinks, dinner)
🚃 Shinsaibashi Station (3 min walk)
⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.41 / Google 4.2 (300+ reviews) (as of writing)
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What to order: Dal Makhani (¥880) or the vegetable curry lunch set (¥1,200)
A Rajasthan-themed room right on Shinsaibashi-suji, Banjara runs a separate vegetarian and vegan menu alongside its main card — the staff are used to fielding dietary questions and will confirm which dishes are fully plant-based. The dal is rich and properly spiced, and the lunch set is one of the better-value Indian meals in central Osaka.
3. Smile Kitchen (スマイルキッチン 本町)
📍 2-2-14 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0081
🕐 Mon–Fri 11:00–15:00 (lunch only; closed weekends) (as of May 2026)
💰 ¥900–¥1,300 (food only)
🚃 Honmachi Station (4 min walk)
⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.44 / Google 4.4 (200+ reviews) (as of writing)
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What to order: Daily vegetable curry set (¥980) — rice or naan, salad, and a rotating curry
An Indian-run lunch counter in the Honmachi office district, Smile Kitchen draws a loyal crowd of local workers for its rotating vegetable curries. The menu skews heavily vegetarian and most dishes are vegan by default — just confirm with the counter staff, who are friendly and accustomed to the question. Weekdays only, so plan accordingly.
4. Aarti Indian Restaurant (アールティ インド料理)
📍 Big Step 6F, 1-6-14 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0086
🕐 11:30–22:00 daily (last order 21:30) (as of May 2026)
💰 ¥1,000–¥2,000 (food only) / ¥1,500–¥3,500 (with drinks)
🚃 Shinsaibashi Station (2 min walk)
🗣 English menu: Yes
⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.38 / Google 4.3 (250+ reviews) (as of writing)
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What to order: Palak Tofu curry (¥1,100) or the vegan lunch thali (¥1,400)
Aarti moved into the Big Step shopping complex in Shinsaibashi and has settled in well — the sixth-floor location gives it a bit more breathing room than most Osaka Indian spots. The English menu flags vegan dishes clearly, and the palak tofu (spinach curry with tofu in place of paneer) is a smart swap that actually works. Good for groups with mixed dietary needs.
5. Mithila Restaurant (ミティラー レストラン)
📍 2-7-18 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0076
🕐 11:30–15:00 & 17:00–22:30 daily (as of May 2026)
💰 ¥1,000–¥2,000 (food only) / ¥1,500–¥3,500 (with drinks)
🚃 Namba Station (5 min walk)
🗣 English menu: Yes
⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.40 / Google 4.3 (180+ reviews) (as of writing)
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What to order: Chana masala (¥950) or the vegetable biryani (¥1,300)
Mithila is a solid neighbourhood Indian in Namba — not flashy, but consistent. The owner is Indian and the kitchen takes vegetable dishes seriously rather than treating them as an afterthought. The chana masala is properly cooked down and the biryani comes fragrant and well-portioned. Tell the staff you’re vegan and they’ll steer you away from the ghee-heavy options. If you want to explore more of Osaka after dinner, Dotonbori is a five-minute walk.
6. Khazana Gujarati Restaurant (カザナ グジャラティ レストラン)
📍 3F, 1-9-26 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0076
🕐 11:30–15:00 & 17:30–22:00; closed Tuesdays (as of May 2026)
💰 ¥1,200–¥2,500 (food only) / ¥1,800–¥4,000 (with drinks)
🚃 Namba Station (4 min walk)
🗣 English menu: Yes
⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.42 / Google 4.4 (150+ reviews) (as of writing)
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What to order: Gujarati thali (¥1,800) — a rotating spread of dal, sabzi, rice, roti, and chutneys
Gujarati cuisine is naturally plant-forward, and Khazana leans into that fully. The thali is the move: a rotating spread of small dishes that changes daily, most of it vegan by default. Reviewers have noted the homely, warming quality of the food — khichdi, dal, and seasonal vegetable preparations that feel genuinely home-cooked. One of the more distinctive Indian dining experiences you’ll find in Osaka, and well worth the detour. Check out the MICHI Osaka travel guide for more on the Namba area.
FAQ
Q: What is the best vegan Indian food in Osaka?
A: Shama Vegetarian Indian Restaurant in Yotsubashi is the clear top pick — it’s the only fully vegetarian Indian restaurant in the city, and almost every dish can be made vegan on request. The Namaste Lunch Set at around ¥1,500 is exceptional value.
Q: How many vegan Indian restaurants are in Osaka?
A: There’s one dedicated vegetarian/vegan Indian restaurant (Shama), plus a handful of Indian spots — particularly around Shinsaibashi and Namba — that carry strong vegan menus or will adapt dishes on request. In total, you have around five to six reliable options across the city.
Q: Do Osaka Indian restaurants have English menus?
A: Most Indian restaurants in Osaka aimed at international visitors do carry English menus or have English-speaking staff — Shama, Aarti, Mithila, and Khazana all manage well in English. At smaller spots, pointing at dishes or using a translation app works fine.
Q: What should I order at vegan Indian restaurants in Osaka?
A: At Shama, go for the Namaste Lunch Set and ask for it fully vegan. At Khazana, the Gujarati thali is the standout. Chana masala, dal, palak tofu, and vegetable biryani are reliable vegan-friendly choices across most of the restaurants on this list.
Last updated: July 3, 2026 · Corrections: [email protected]
