Hekkoro - Fujisawa

If I could give this restaurant five stars, I would! Hekkoro is a very traditional Japanese restaurant. We sat on tatami mat floors at short tables to enjoy our lunch. All the food with a yin yang symbol can be made vegan, and all the food with a peace symbol is vegan as-is! They also offer soy milk ice cream in various flavors. We tried the “cheesy” hōtō and the curry hōtō, both were fabulous. The staff didn’t speak any English, so brush up on your Japanese before going!

I decided to visit this restaurant before reading a previous review about staff not wearing masks during the state of emergency and anti-mask messages being displayed on the walls. I was disappointed to hear this, but upon visiting, I did not see any propaganda and the staff were wearing masks. The restaurant had a wide variety of food choices, with items marked with peace signs being vegan and yin-yang marked items being veganizable upon request. I tried the fermented veggie butter with fried okara cakes and their popular veganized houtou, both of which were delicious. The restaurant's rustic charm gave it a countryside feel, despite being located on a busy street in Fujisawa. The location was more convenient than I expected, only three station stops away from Fujisawa Station. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for its delicious food and charming atmosphere, and hope they continue to focus on their culinary offerings rather than public health advice.

Previous review from 2019: The hot pot is good. I suggest avoiding sitting at the counter since it is not very comfortable. Updated review as of 2021: I can no longer recommend this restaurant with a clear conscience. The staff does not wear masks, even during a state of emergency, and there is anti-mask propaganda inside the restaurant. This is extremely disappointing. Review updated on November 20, 2021.

During my visit, I tried the popular dish, soy milk tantan HT, which was flavorful and satisfying. The set meal, which included rice and four side dishes, was a bit hit or miss, with some dishes standing out more than others. However, the main attraction, the HT itself, was delicious and filling, packed with a variety of vegetables and house-made noodles. For dessert, we sampled the fermented parfait, a unique blend of flavors that may not be to everyone's liking. The restaurant is housed in a charming old Japanese building, adding to the overall special ambiance. While I initially enjoyed my dining experience, a recent update on the establishment's lack of COVID-19 safety measures and anti-mask sentiments has left me unable to recommend it with confidence. It is disappointing to see this change in policy, especially during these challenging times. Please exercise caution if considering dining here.

If I could give this restaurant five stars, I would! Hekkoro is a truly traditional Japanese restaurant. We sat on tatami mat floors at low tables to enjoy our lunch. Any dish with a Yin Yang symbol can be made vegan, and any dish with a peace symbol is already vegan! They also offer soy milk ice cream in various flavors. We tried the "cheesy" hōtō and the curry hōtō, both of which were fantastic. The staff does not speak English, so brush up on your Japanese before visiting!