Great Lakes

Vegan restaurant · Shinjuku

Great Lakes

Vegan restaurant · Shinjuku

1

A区画, 第一キャラット河俣 1階, 3 Chome-27-4 Nishiwaseda, Tokyo 169-0051, Japan

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Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null
Great Lakes by null

Highlights

Nestled in the Takadanobaba area, this vibrant vegan burger spot serves up mouth-watering patties that rival the best, with a chill vibe and friendly service.  

Featured in Eater
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A区画, 第一キャラット河俣 1階, 3 Chome-27-4 Nishiwaseda, Tokyo 169-0051, Japan Get directions

greatlakestokyo.com
@greatlakestokyo

¥1,000–2,000

Information

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A区画, 第一キャラット河俣 1階, 3 Chome-27-4 Nishiwaseda, Tokyo 169-0051, Japan Get directions

+81 3 6278 9286
greatlakestokyo.com
@greatlakestokyo

¥1,000–2,000

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Last updated

Jul 4, 2025

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@eater

"When rice and miso soup (two staples of the vegan diet in Japan) start to become a bit repetitive, the cure is a trip to this beloved burger joint in the bustling Waseda University area. Inspired to go completely vegan by the COVID-19 pandemic, owner John Penny has created a welcoming little spot, serving three juicy burgers named after the Great Lakes where he spent his childhood summers. The patties consist of a secret blend that includes shiitake and brown rice, and they have enough oomph to win over non-vegan diners, too. When in doubt, opt for the Superior Burger, topped with an umami-rich tomato jam, accompanied by a side of freshly fried potato chips and a seasonal shake." - Chiara Terzuolo

The 15 Best Vegan Restaurants in Tokyo, Japan - Eater
View Postcard for Great Lakes

The Lady Thinks

Google
If you're a vegan, or not, this is the little place to go for a pretty good vegan burger, french fries and shake. I got the Michigan double cheeseburger set with a matcha shake. The burger was rich and great tasting, flavor and char of a beef burger without the beef. Delicious 😋 The fries were ok. I wish I had a larger portion (I really love french fries). In any case, they were a nice side with the double burger. The matcha shake was good, the whip on top... extraordinary. I'm not sure the recipe but it was thick, rich, and creamy. When I go back, I'll try the cherry ice cream. I'm lowering my beef intake so to find this place was amazing for me, I also love cheeseburgers. Use your Google maps, it's off the main sidewalk in a small establishment. You'll miss out if you don't try it out.

Misty E.

Google
Everything was absolutely perfect from the service down to the food. Hands down the best vegan burger I’ve had in a restaurant and the tater tots were perfectly seasoned and crispy. I especially loved that they had a seasonal ice cream and milkshake (black sesame this time), and that everything they serve is vegan. I knew we would be visiting on a Japanese holiday, so I contacted them on their FB page, and they replied quickly which was really helpful.

Denise Siy

Google
A real hidden gem located in Tokyo's busy Takadanobaba 🍔 I first learned about Great Lakes on Tiktok thanks to the staff's effort to promote the restaurant ☺️ Shoutout to those employees, i saw your effort queens 💅 I ordered the superior burger with a side of tater tots since it's what they recommend for newcomers! I've had vegan burgers back in the Philippines but wow this is 600x better than what I've had back home 🤯 I think all the elements of the burger just compliment the patty really well and I especially enjoyed the tomato jam/paste that was used in the superior burger. I think it also makes a huge difference that the patty is made from shiitake mushrooms 😋 When you eat all the elements together, it is truly a very flavor burger that will definitely make you keep coming back for more 🤩 The tater tots were also really addicting and freshly fried, no soggy potatoes here! Next time, I would like to try their milkshakes too 🥛 As if that wasn't enough to make me smile, the service was also top notch! I was lucky enough to meet the owner, John, today. We had a brief conversation and I was able to learn a lot of interesting things about veganism and vegan restaurants in Japan, very insightful indeed 💭 Although I'm not vegan myself, I believe that good food is good food and it's great people have options like Great Lakes available to them 🫶 I was also very impressed to see John helping out in the kitchen by frying the patties and assembling the burgers himself! This alone shows me how passionate he is about the restaurant. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to ask for her name but there was another woman on the staff who assisted me with the payment process. She was really friendly and had a wonderful smile 🥰 Overall, I will definitely be back and wish Great Lakes even more success in the future 🤩

Domi

Google
Made a little detour aver arriving in Tokyo to come here because I was starving and it was so worth it. One of the best vegan Burgers ever (the Superior Burger has this tomato jam sauce that's just incredible!!!) with friendly service and the price is more than reasonable. Even the french fries portion is larger than in most other Vegan Burger Sets I ordered in Japan. The vanilla shake as a dessert was also heaven-like. I will definitely (100%) come back :) Treat yourself and come here asap !!!

Scott Iwamura

Google
I got the Superior Burger with double patties. All of the different ingredients in the burger itself were delicious and they harmonized very well together, especially the tomato jam and marinated onions. The coffee was excellent too. I would have gotten fries but I had already eaten a bit earlier in the day. Friendly staff, great food. On my way out, the owner of the store gave me a free map that listed other vegan restaurants (and restaurants that had vegan options) in Tokyo. Definitely recommend this place.

Toska Moon

Google
AMAZING food, with a great level of care for detail and quality. I think just about everything is made in-house. Everything was super fresh and the flavors were perfectly coordinated. The chef and staff were so friendly and chill, great laid back vibe. Prices were very reasonable, too. I loved everything and recommend this place wholeheartedly! It’s a little out of the way, but is beyond worth it! An added bonus is that the chef/owner made a vegan food map for Tokyo travelers! I appreciate that so much This place is truly an oasis and gem, definitely make sure to visit at least once during your stay. You’ll regret missing out!

Fathima Mohamed

Google
This is a damn good burger. I’m not vegan and this is one of the best burgers I’ve had. I highly recommend the superior burger. The tomato jam and caramelized onions make it a perfect burger.

Suzanna Broderick

Google
Everything was delicious. Really good vegan burger patties. The fries and tater tots were super fresh and crispy (the fries kind of reminded me of in and out). I have been craving the typical American burger flavors and toppings and this definitely hit the mark! The owner was very friendly and informative. Definitely recommend trying out even if you aren’t vegan.