Clocking out of work on Wednesdays is not only a triumphant marker of entering the downhill slope of the week, it is also the one night a week I have no excuse for not having a healthy dinner. Biking down the hill towards Nana-go-doori, a discrete, warmly-lit storefront comes to view. Whether you're looking for vegetarian meals in Tokyo or just a healthy, home-cooked meal, you'll find it here at Miki's Art Cafe, one of the thriving neighborhood joints that make Hatagaya such a special place.
What is Veggie Wednesday?
Every Wednesday, Miki-san prepares a special vegetable-based menu which she calls "Veggie Wednesday." She uses local ingredients and any produce she receives from her connections with farmers across Japan. A Veggie Wednesday plate is always scattered with small, flavor-packed dishes which bring out the natural deliciousness of the week's veggies, some common and others less so. For non-vegetarians, Miki-san will swap in a couple dishes which have fish or broth, though vegetarians will receive more than their fill even without these.
A key draw of Veggie Wednesday is the variability. Every Wednesday is a new lesson on Japanese veggies I had never heard of before. Some weeks, the cuisine is more Japanese, while other weeks' menus draw in flavors from across the world. You can often get a hint at the night's dishes on Miki's Instagram page (linked below.)
The Menu (11/29/23)
Here was the line-up for this week's Veggie Wednesday.
Salmon salad with homemade Japanese onion dressing
Kabocha mash
Roasted broccoli and cauliflower
Spicy jalapeno and red onion salsa with tortilla chips
Dried fish chips
Clam chowder
Homemade banana bread
The star of the show this week was the moist, sweet banana bread. I almost couldn't believe when Miki-san said she hadn't used any additional sugar, though her baking skills were never in doubt. Miki's sandwiches with homemade bread are some of the standouts of her regular menu.
If you're in the Hatagaya side of Shibuya on a Wednesday, why not drop by for a healthy, home-cooked meal? Miki-san is welcoming to all and speaks both English and Japanese fluently.
Visit Miki's Art Cafe
Vegetarian Meals in Tokyo
Address: 3 Chome-16-3 Hatagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0072
Hours: 5pm-12am, Tu-Sat
Instagram: @mikis_cafe
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