Who says sushi lovers can’t be vegetarian? For me, it’s one of my favorite cuisines—and Tane Vegan Izakaya proves why. In a world where sushi is filled with fresh seafood and thinly sliced fish, many find it impossible to have the perfect dish without these staples. Yet, Tane shatters expectations transforming the art of sushi into a plant-based masterpiece and delivering a jaw-dropping twist on Japanese cuisine.
One Yelp reviewer raves, “Even if you are not a vegan, this is gonna blow your mind—I did not know vegan sushi could be so good!” Nestled in the heart of downtown Palo Alto—with an impressive 4.9-star rating—this plant-based sushi haven transforms traditional sushi into a culinary experience with bold flavors, stunning plating, and sustainability at its core. Whether you are a longtime vegan or simply curious about plant-based sushi, Tane promises an unforgettable experience.
The moment I stepped into the restaurant, I was greeted by an inviting atmosphere. The restaurant was packed with people all enjoying the deliciousness of Tane. Simple wooden columns lined the interior walls providing a warm touch and connecting to traditional Japanese architecture. The warm earthy tones brought the restaurant to life, creating an intimate, homey feel. Immediately, the host seated my family and me and handed us menus to look over the wide range of options. As a vegetarian, I didn’t realize there could be so many different ways to make a vegan sushi roll—with 9 classic rolls, 12 nigiri choices, and 12 of their own specialty rolls. Their specialty options caught my eye right away and I went ahead and ordered The Wedge, the Sunset, and the Point Reyes rolls.
Within twenty minutes our food was served.
The Wedge came with a fried tempura shell with spicy tofu, green onions, spicy aioli, sweet shoyu, and ichimi—chili flakes—filling the inside. The crispy outer tempura brought a satisfying crunch, giving way to the soft and spicy tofu center, bringing immense heat. The spicy aioli drizzled over the top simply elevated the heat to another level, followed by the sweet shoyu filled with tang, and dwindling the spice yet somehow still complementing the spices perfectly.
The Sunset arrived with avocado, cucumber, seaweed caviar, spicy tofu, and of course their signature spicy aioli. When placed in front of me, I was immediately drawn to the bright orange fire lit on the plate. The fire added a dramatic visual effect that almost allowed the customer to visualize the glowing horizon at dusk—tying beautifully with the dish’s name. When taking the first bite, my tongue was met with the creamy avocado along with the crunchiness of the cucumber, balancing well with the spicy tofu. The seaweed caviar, presented as mini pearls, almost like popping boba, didn’t add much flavor and seemed to be there simply for presentation purposes.
The Point Reyes came with marinated eryngii mushrooms, avocado—my favorite addition to any sushi dish—spicy shredded tofu, pickled jalapeños and pineapple, sweet shoyu, and habanero sauce. While this roll seemed the odd one out of the group, it was by far my favorite. The sweet shoyu balanced perfectly with the spice of the tofu and habanero sauce, keeping my mouth burning with the perfect amount of spice and leaving me wanting more. This was a fan favorite among my family, who are spice lovers, and I ended up ordering another two plates of the Point Reyes.
Tane Vegan Izakaya exceeded all my expectations for plant-based sushi, from their impressive flavor pairings to unforgettable presentations. They truly delivered a unique dining experience unlike any other sushi restaurant I have been to and left my family and me planning our next visit. If you’re looking for a new and exciting restaurant to enjoy a night out, Tane is the place to go—I’ll definitely bring my friends next time!