Nén Tokyo, Featured in the MICHELIN Guide Tokyo, Announces a 9-Course Vegan Tasting Menu Showcasing New Possibilities for Vietnamese Cuisine

Nén Tokyo (Nen Tokyo), a modern Vietnamese restaurant in Daikanyama operated by Nen Global Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tha Viet Phong), is launching a new 9-course tasting menu titled 'Sto:ries of Vietnam - Vegan Experience,' crafted entirely from plant-based ingredients to express the depth of Vietnamese cuisine.

This new offering was created to allow a wider range of guests to deeply experience the world of Nén, following the restaurant’s inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide Tokyo—just nine months after opening, making it one of the few Vietnamese chef-led Vietnamese restaurants to be recognized so quickly.

Served alongside the regular signature menu 'Sto:ries of Vietnam,' the vegan experience offers a new option for vegan and vegetarian guests, as well as those who value more conscious food choices, to enjoy the same Vietnamese narrative.

In Vietnam, vegetarianism and temple cuisine are deeply tied to Buddhist culture. The tradition of eating plant-based meals twice a month—on the new and full moons of the lunar calendar—continues naturally in many households. For Chef Summer Le (Summer Le), who grew up in Da Nang, this was never a special occasion, but simply a natural part of daily life.

It is precisely because of this deeply rooted culture that Summer Le aims to introduce, through this menu, a lesser-known side of Vietnamese cuisine to international audiences. This course allows guests to experience the vibrancy, strength, and depth inherent in Vietnamese food, even when made entirely from plant-based ingredients.

Structured to follow the same narrative arc as the regular 'Sto:ries of Vietnam' menu, the vegan version offers a different perspective on the world of Nén Tokyo.

Across all nine courses, ingredients such as mushrooms, tofu, konjac, eggplant, lotus seeds, roasted rice, sap, and seasonal fruits are used. The menu reflects Nén Tokyo’s unique approach, incorporating ingredients from both Vietnam and Japan, while emphasizing seasonality, local sourcing, and sustainability.

By offering both the regular and vegan menus in parallel, Nén Tokyo expresses Vietnamese cuisine from two distinct ingredient perspectives. Guests with different dietary preferences can gather around the same table and share the same nine-course story.

Course Lineup (Sto:ries of Vietnam - Vegan Experience)

First things first ｜ The First Spoon (Pho spices, onion, konjac)

*The paper ｜ Paper (Edible 'Dó' paper, vegan pâté, eggplant)

River - Mountain - Sea - Sky ｜ River, Mountain, Sea, Sky (Tofu, curry mousse, shiitake)

Balance ｜ Balance (Jackfruit, canistel, Vietnamese-style pesto)

The Depth of Nén ｜ The Depth of Nén (Nén shallot, seitan, cassava)

*Golden ｜ Golden (Yuba, kumquat, rice paper)

Ember & Spice ｜ Ember & Spice (Vegan Bò kho, lotus seeds)

*Robusta ｜ Robusta (Robusta coffee, vegan yogurt, purple rice)

Sunset ｜ Sunset over the Sea (Roasted rice, sap)

*Available in full course only

Golden ｜ Golden (Yuba, kumquat, rice paper)

Menu Overview

Nén Tokyo Dinner Tasting Menu

An innovative Vietnamese tasting experience that embodies the essence of Nén Tokyo.

Full Course (9 dishes): ¥21,000 (tax included)

Short Course (6 dishes): ¥16,000 (tax included)

*Service charge of 10% applies separately.

The menu is specifically designed to pair with Nén Tokyo’s 'Non-Alcoholic Pairing' (¥8,800), whose diverse flavors—centered on plants, fermentation, and fruits—complement the plant-based courses. An alcoholic pairing is also available from ¥9,700.

Nén

Founded in 2017, 'Nén Danang' is a pioneering modern Vietnamese restaurant based in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Guided by the philosophy of 'Consciously Vietnamese,' it became the first restaurant in Vietnam to receive the MICHELIN Green Star in 2024. It has continued to earn the award for three consecutive years through 2026, gaining international and domestic recognition as a restaurant that harmonizes environmental consciousness with culinary excellence. In 2022, its sister restaurant 'Nén Light' opened in Ho Chi Minh City and has been consistently listed as a MICHELIN Selected Restaurant.

Chef Summer Le (Summer Le)

Born in Da Nang, Summer Le began blogging about Vietnamese cuisine during her student years to share it with the world, and founded 'Nén' in 2017. Her storytelling approach to dining, grounded in deep knowledge of Vietnamese culinary culture, has earned high acclaim both domestically and internationally. She also studied at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Oita, where her exposure to Japanese aesthetics and food culture profoundly influenced her culinary philosophy and spatial design.

Nén Tokyo Store Overview

Name｜Nén Tokyo (Nen Tokyo)

Address｜4F, Chakotto Daikanyama Main Building, 14-18 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Hours｜18:00–Last Entry at 20:00

Closed｜Mondays

Instagram｜https://www.instagram.com/nen.tokyo/

Website｜http://nentokyo.jp/

Reservations｜https://www.tablecheck.com/nentokyorestaurant/reserve/message

Project Members

Planning & Operation｜Nen Global Co., Ltd.

Project Production｜Transit Creative Inc.

Beverage Direction｜Nihon Shurui Hanbai Co., Ltd.