Choice Kitchen: Kawaguchiko Town (Vegan)

The Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko) area is one of the biggest areas for tourism in Yamanashi. Not only is it relatively accessible from Tokyo, but it also has an amazing view of Mt. Fuji. Many restaurants in this area are putting in the effort to make sure they can accommodate guests from all over the world.

Just a 15-minute walk from Fujikawaguchiko Station, you’ll find one of these restaurants. Let me introduce Choice Kitchen.

A few years back, restaurant owner Mr. Makoto Iide made the decision to switch to a healthier diet and lifestyle for health-related reasons. As he followed a diet focusing on holistic foods and strayed away from meats, he noticed his health condition improve greatly—he felt like a new person.

This change inspired him to share this lifestyle with others, and thus “Choice Kitchen” was born.

Choice Kitchen’s antique Western-style furniture and interior is a product of the previous owner’s collecting hobby, giving the restaurant a unique atmosphere. Mr. Iide said that after having spent time in the US, and experiencing many the buffet-style restaurants, he wanted to bring that culture over to Japan. Not many restaurants in Japan have serve-yourself options, so Choice Kitchen is quite unique in that aspect. 

Around a quarter of the customers that frequent Choice Kitchen are foreign tourists and expats, which has largely influenced the menu options. Although not entirely vegan, the owners of Choice Kitchen are proud to say that almost everything on their menu is halal. The salad dressings, which most places tend to include alcohol, are halal and even the chicken as well. Through their meticulous efforts, they even managed to receive official certification, so for Muslim visitors in the Yamanashi area, this is a must-try (call at least three days in advance to reserve an entirely halal menu).

The food is delicious and decently priced. Plus, it’s basically all you can eat, so make sure to come hungry! As an added bonus, the staff are enthusiastic and genuinely kind people, so don’t hesitate to ask them if you have any questions or concerns.

More Info

Choice Kitchen website:
http://www.choosechoice.co.jp/

Address: 6832 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru, Yamanashi Business Hotel Noborisaka 1st floor
(15-min walk from Fujikyuko Line Kawaguchiko Station)