A Vegan Visits Kitsho Sushi

Since becoming vegetarian 20 years ago, Japanese restaurants have mostly fallen off the radar for me. I'm used to going to restaurants and having few choices, but there was something particularly frustrating about going to a Japanese restaurant and seeing my dining companions choose from among literally dozens and dozens of menu options, and being stuck, myself, with Inari (if I was lucky) and Vegetable Tempura (if I was not).

And some Japanese restaurants are not particularly accommodating philosophically either. I've asked for dishes like Age Dashi Tofu to be made without the bonita flakes (which is a fish product) and been refused!

Now, when I have a special hankering, nothing beats Cha Ya Vegan Japanese in San Francisco and Berkeley, but when I'm down in my home base, the South Bay, I don't have such wonders available to me. 

Recently I visited my parents' favorite sushi place, Kitsho Sushi, and found that even a non-veg Japanese restaurant can take good care of a now-vegan like me.

I kicked it off with two vegetarian appetizers: that reliable standby Edamame ($4) and yes, Age Dashi Tofu, no bonita flakes, ($6.50). Nice not to have that request throw the waitress for a loop! The tofu is home-made, and had a wonderful silken texture.

While their menu doesn't have extensive vegetarian options, there is a note to ask about vegetarian sushi, so of course I did. I ended up with the other reliable standby, 2 pieces of Inari (A fried tofu pouch stuffed with sushi rice) and an Avocado Roll, no egg. I could also have gotten a Shitake roll, but felt I was already over-ordering with two Appetizers and two sushi orders.

All of the above was the epitome of fresh, which is job #1 for sushi restaurants, right?

My dining companions pigged out on the full complement of traditional sushi and other Japanese delicacies offered in the Appetizer portion of the menu, but with so much to choose from myself, I was fulfilled not frustrated.

Kitsho is off the beaten path in Cupertino, but it's well worth seeking out... whether you have a veg*n amongst you or not!

Comments

[Tyler]

If you're ever in Santa Cruz, you should visit Mobo Sushi. They have a complete menu of vegan and vegetarian rolls, all of which are creative, unique offerings (not just cucumber rolls).

http://mobosushirestaurant.com/menu.html#13

Note that vegan rolls are denoted with a circled V in the menu.

[Elisa Camahort Page]

Thanks Tyler, Mobo sounds amazing. I love that they incorporate nuts! Taking note for the next time I'm over the hill.

And at the other end of the bay, I've had some good veg rolls at Chaya Brasserie on the Embarcadero (not to be confused with Cha Ya Vegan Japanese, which is in the Mission.)

[veganf]

Bummer that you have such a lack of options! I would have thought California to cater much more to the veg crowd.
Even out my way in Boston, many Japanese restaurants have at least half a dozen vegan options for sushi, plus others items. It's usually a matter of choosing, not making do. Too bad that's not the norm!