Japan's rice wine — the drink that frames the meal.
What it is
Sake (nihonshu) is brewed from rice, water and koji — closer to beer in process but wine-like in strength. Served chilled, warm or at room temperature depending on the style, in tiny cups poured for one another.
What it means
Sake is woven into Japanese ritual, from shrine offerings to New Year toasts. At the table, pouring for your companions (never your own cup) is a small act of care that defines the meal's warmth.
Why it's wonderful
The range is vast: fruity and floral ginjo, rich junmai, sparkling or aged. Pair it with sashimi, grilled fish or izakaya plates and the food and drink lift each other.
Made from rice — usually vegan. (Note: alcohol; not for halal or alcohol-free diets.)
FAQ
What is Sake (nihonshu)?
Japan's rice wine — the drink that frames the meal.
Is Sake (nihonshu) vegetarian, vegan, halal or gluten-free?
Made from rice — usually vegan. (Note: alcohol; not for halal or alcohol-free diets.)
💬Recipes and preparation vary by restaurant, so this is a general guide. If you're ever unsure, please confirm directly with the venue before you order — they'll appreciate the heads-up.
Where to try it — and book a table
Hand-picked spots for this dish, each with a working reservation link. Tap to book.
The towering wooden-beamed izakaya that inspired Kill Bill's House of Blue Leaves, where lantern light conjures an Edo-era warehouse over plates of fresh soba and charcoal skewers.
★ Vegan kara-age (plant-based 'fried chicken') and vegan gyoza
A fully plant-based izakaya in the basement of Shibuya PARCO serving vegan 'fried chicken', gyoza and lemon sours, with no meat, fish, eggs, dairy or honey, so the fish-dashi trap does not apply. It is not gluten-free, as the mock-meat batters and soy sauce contain wheat.
★ Seasonal shojin kaiseki paired with sake and wine, refreshed every three weeks
Sougo is a shojin (Buddhist vegetarian) kaiseki restaurant in Roppongi that caters to vegans on request — tell them at least two days ahead. Dinner Zen ¥15,400 / Hasu ¥18,700 (+10% service), lunch from ¥1,980; closed Sundays and holidays; book via TableCheck. Checked 2026-10-11.
