Japanese
Take-out
Take-out only
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. Organic shop selling fresh produce and Japanese specialty items. Its kitchen makes takeaway hot lunch boxes, wraps and sandwiches which are always vegan. The dishes and soup changes depending on what's available. Note that the shop sells some non-veg products. Previously at 2-1600 Mackay Rd. Take-out only. Reported to serve meat November 2024. Open Mon-Tue 9:30am-4:00pm, Wed-Sat 9:30am-6:00pm, Sun 9:30am-4:00pm.


Venue map for Tama Organic Life
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14 Reviews

First Review by vegancookbookaddict

ABeanz

Points +902

Vegan
28 Jun 2024

Great Japanese Gem

The owners are so lovely here and this is a great place to acquire difficult to find Japanese ingredients. The fresh food is delicious too.

Pros: Authentic Japanese, Lovely owners and employees

tonyakay

Points +3523

Vegan
05 Jan 2024

What a gem!

Was on the east side today and stopped into this gem and am so glad I did! Everything they make is Ⓥ and organic, however they do sell frozen fish in the market shop. Heads up. They have a small kitchen and counter service with two bar seats at the window to dine at. They gave us our order to go but we actually wanted to dine in. The food is so good! Huge Japanese cuisine fan here. I had the Bento Box and Rainbow Roll gf. Couldn’t help but buy all their dried natto and fresh natto in the shop - that’s hard to find! They are a gem and I’m absolutely going back any time I’m near the neighborhood! #Veganuary

Updated from previous review on 2024-01-05

MarcyReimer

Points +18

Vegan
29 Jul 2023

Great service

Service was fantastic. Food was great as well. They really care and it shows

ArianaRoach

Points +442

Vegan
03 Mar 2023

Sweetest customer service, very healthy food

I ordered the bento box (which came with shepherds pie) and there was such a beautiful, delicate selection of foods included. It really felt special knowing how much work was put into it.
But with that being said, I honestly didn’t enjoy the food too much. I know they’re good is super healthy, so I might just not be the right demographic, but I probably wouldn’t go back again.

vegoutvictoria

Points +812

Vegan
31 Aug 2021

Slow service but worth it

Love this little vegan cafe situated in a non-vegan green grocer on East Hastings. The bento box is a must. It’s handmade to order and always has a unique main, brown rice, and salad. The food tastes lovingly prepared.

Give yourself at least 30mins if you go at lunch hour to receive the food. The soup is also good. This and Harken Coffee’s Tomoko Takara are my go-to for vegan Japanese.

Pros: All vegan Cafe

Cons: Can be slow on weekends if you don’t order again

whippetgood

Points +80

Vegan
21 Aug 2020

Uniquely tasty

Loved my bento box featuring potato croquettes. There’s a small counter to eat at. Otherwise the store is filled to the brim with household goods, produce, frozen foods and baked items. Fascinating yet a tad overwhelming.

Pros: Good value, Unique flavours, Nice food presentation

Cons: Cramped space

angel.eyez

Points +28

Vegan
01 Sep 2019

Great food

Food is amazing and clearly made with care. Entire menu is vegan. They do sell some animal products in the grocery aisles so if that's not your thing be aware.

Pros: Food is amazing and all vegan, Menu is different everyday, Small local business

Cons: $$$, Sells animal products in freezer

StefanShinVeda

Points +27

Vegan
21 Jul 2018

It was quite good.

We had the daily menu and the rainbow wrap. The food was a bit bland but still good. A negative surprise was the meats they are selling in the freezer, e.g. local free range chicken and other meats.

Pros: Sells organic groceries, as well as organic fruits

Cons: Sells meats in freezer.

SamanthaKTeng

Points +1469

Herbivore
08 Jun 2018

Love this place!

This place is sooooooo adorable!
They sell fresh produce, dry goods, sauces etc and all types of cute handmade things like unique slippers handmade by Japanese seniors.
They also have a vegan menu that you can eat in or take out.
I tried the rainbow wrap, it was honestly SOOOO delicious. The sauce they make and put in it...so fresh and flavourful. Plus all the veggies in the wrap were organic and the wrap itself was gluten free and house made. I can't wait to try everything else on the menu.
The owner and employees are so friendly. Such a cute place, I love it here.

Mdrutz

Points +286

Vegan
20 Jan 2018

Bento box

Enjoyed the bento box at lunch. Generally tasty, but several of the items were quite bland. Bought dried fermented ramen to take home. The proprietors are friendly and gracious.

Pros: Parking, Variety of products, Gracious proprietors

Cons: Some bland food, Meats, dairy for sale

Zo

Points +207

Vegan
12 Nov 2017

Authentic

Tama organic makes vegan lunch and different specials bento boxes everyday. Super healthy organic and fresh vegetables as they are also a grocery store. Amazing service by the ladies there, always taking good care and doing their best to provide great service.

Pros: super healthy, delicious flavours and verity of meals, , masterful presentation

LindseyElizabeth

Points +733

Vegan
30 Aug 2017

Great vegan Japanese meal options

The owners seem to make mostly vegan (though not always - good to double check if not marked) macrobiotic meals to eat in store or to take out. Always healthy and usually very creative and Japanese style. Vegan bentos are a specialty! Their homemade natto (fermented soybeans - an acquired taste for some) in the freezer section is the best I've ever tried. You can also usually find Vegan Pudding Co. puddings in their fridge. Great choice for local produce as well.

Pros: Tasty vegan options for meals, Great homemade products that are great quality, Friendly staff

scocasso

Points +281

Vegan
11 Jun 2017

Tasty Organic Japanese Food (restaurant review)

Tama organic is a store and a restaurant/cafe. On the store side, there are fresh organic fruits and vegetables, as well as some packaged food and household items, some of which I've never seen anywhere else before.

The food was great. We had a very interesting natto burger. I honestly couldn't taste any natto in the patty, but I was assured that it was in there. Actual Japanese people work here, unlike many many many Japanese food restaurants I've been to. We all had the bento box, which is traditionally a wooden box where the food it separated by different sections; the modern versions are made of more easily washable plastic. So, there was a salad, The 'bun' part of the burger was made from rice, and somehow they pressed and cooked it into the shape of patties. Other sections contained salad, various vegetables, fruit, onion pancake, etc. The service was very good. We also had a nice conversation with the people sitting across from us.

I never did make it to their other location in North Vancouver as I am seldom in that area. Now they are located diagonally across Rupert from the PNE which is much more convenient for me.

Pros: tasty food, organic food, nice staff

vegancookbookaddict

Points +167

Vegan
26 Aug 2015

Beautiful presentation

The food at Tama is tasty, healthy (local and in season) and always something different. I really appreciate the presentation and the work that goes into making the food look so beautiful. The portions are quite large and I always take some leftovers home with me.

Pros: Inexpensive, Large portions, Friendly staff




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