Ritz'n - Tsukuba

The city of tsukuba has only two lists on happy cow: a vegetarian restaurant and a vegan. tsukuba is a city where veganism is obviously not a big thing, we had... read more The city of tsukuba has only two lists on happy cow: a vegetarian restaurant and a vegan. tsukuba is a city where veganism is obviously not a big thing, we had low expectations of ritz’n. but when we arrived, it changed! it is a fairly large building with a fair load and a serious restaurant. further: it is busy! we were there with a small group so we could try different elements from the menu. ritz’n offers vegan burger, pasta and the usual rice, vegetables and suppen menu have most Japanese restaurants. we tried several of the rice flours. in the round they are all from the same ingredients that change daily. the difference was in the suppe and the presentation. we all had fake eal that tasted like refined tempura. the quality of the ingredients was in order and the presentation of the food was good. the parts were great. if they still have hunger, ritz’n has a lot of drinks and desserts. The Tofu chocolate milk tasted quite ripe, although sugar was offered on the side for those who prefer their kakao sweet. the vegan cakes were so beautiful that one of us had dessert a second. the whole food was so good that we all bought a few items from the load so we could try to reconstruct the taste back home. in short: if ritz’n were located in tokio, I would be here regularly. because it is located in the remote city of tsukuba, it is most likely limited to an excellent visit. think of the limited hours, how many restaurants ritz’n focuses on lunchtime and closes when it is time to dinner. no English is spoken, the menu is usually in Japanese (but on request there is a photobook with limited English descriptions).

A small cafe inside a natural store. The store sells a huge variety of vegan products. We had the tempeh burger, the chestnut roll cake, and the strawberry deco... read more A small cafe inside a natural store. The store sells a huge variety of vegan products. We had the tempeh burger, the chestnut roll cake, and the strawberry decoration cake. Everything was really delicious! I wish I could have tried all their desserts!

Even if it is small restaurant with seating area of about 15-18 people, the service is quite good. The restaurant also has local spices and grocery. read more Even if it is small restaurant with seating area of about 15-18 people, the service is quite good. The restaurant also has local spices and grocery.

Having moved to Tsukuba to start uni this year I was struggling to find a place selling healthy vegetarian/vegan food or products. Having lived in Australia and... read more Having moved to Tsukuba to start uni this year I was struggling to find a place selling healthy vegetarian/vegan food or products. Having lived in Australia and the UK previously and being spoiled for choice in terms of vegetarian food, Tsukuba was a wasteland offering only the typical family food chains or meat/fish containing Japanese type restaurants. Finding Ritzn was a breath of fresh air and a relief. They offer a menu of non-meat dishes, including an incredibly tasty non-meat burger that I could easily see myself eating almost every day if I was able to get there easily. Other dishes include pasta with a 'meaty ' sauce, as well as Japanese style dishes all vegan, and all tasty. There is also a small variety of groceries available including items that are impossible to find elsewhere within Tsukuba city as well as fresh local organic fruit and vegetables from nearby farmers which are all far superior to the normal selection available in supermarkets. There are also organic and natural cosmetics and other products. All in all the attached store is very quaint and has some really interesting bits and pieces. If it wasn 't so difficult to get to by any means other than car I could see myself eating here 2 or 3 times a week and I can 't recommend Ritzn highly enough, not only for vegetarians and vegans but for anyone who appreciates great food made with high quality organic ingredients. Updated from previous review on Saturday April 21, 2012

In Tsukuba, there are only two options for plant-based dining on Happy Cow: a vegetarian restaurant and a vegan restaurant called Ritz 'n. While veganism may no... read more In Tsukuba, there are only two options for plant-based dining on Happy Cow: a vegetarian restaurant and a vegan restaurant called Ritz 'n. While veganism may not be a popular trend in this city, our experience at Ritz 'n exceeded our expectations. The restaurant is housed in a spacious building with a small shop and a formal dining area. Upon arrival, we noticed that it was quite busy. We were able to try a variety of dishes from their menu with our group. Ritz 'n offers vegan burgers, pasta, and traditional Japanese dishes like rice, vegetables, and soup. The rice dishes we tried were all made with fresh ingredients that change daily, offering a unique twist on each dish. The "fake eal" we had tasted remarkably like tempura. The quality of ingredients and presentation of the food were impressive, with generous portions served. If you're still hungry, Ritz 'n also offers a selection of beverages and desserts. Their tofu chocolate milk was rich and flavorful, with an option to add sugar for those with a sweet tooth. The vegan cakes were beautifully presented and delicious – one of us couldn't resist getting a second dessert. We enjoyed the food so much that we purchased some items from their shop to take home. Overall, if Ritz 'n was located in Tokyo, we would definitely be regulars. However, given its remote location in Tsukuba, it may be best suited for a special visit. Keep in mind their limited hours, as the restaurant mainly focuses on lunch service and closes in the evenings. English may not be widely spoken, but the menu does have limited English descriptions available upon request.