Tane Vegan Izakaya

About Tane Vegan Izakaya

Tane Vegan Izakaya is an all-vegan Japanese restaurant at 461 Emerson Street in downtown Palo Alto. It serves what it calls high-end plant-based sushi and izakaya-style small plates, describing the cooking as plant-based Japanese cuisine with a Hawaiian twist. Palo Alto is one of four Tane locations. The others are in Honolulu, Berkeley and the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Tane was founded by Chef Kin Lui and environmental activist Casson Trenor. Lui started working in Hawaii restaurants at 15 before moving to San Francisco, where he co-opened the sushi restaurant Tataki and later Shizen, a plant-based sushi bar. In 2019 he returned to Honolulu to open the first Tane. The name means seed in Japanese, a nod to the restaurant's focus on sustainability. Tane says it aims to cut waste, buy seasonal produce from local farmers and use local and organic ingredients whenever possible.

The Palo Alto page frames the restaurant as the South Bay's premier plant-based Japanese restaurant. It describes the experience as one that celebrates life, balance and sustainability through the art of sushi. The welcome note speaks to both longtime vegans and diners trying plant-based food for the first time. It says the team wants its food to be beautiful to look at and gentle on the planet.

What is on the menu

The dinner menu starts with miso soup, garlic edamame, gyoza, a roasted beet salad and a poke salad. Ramen comes in four styles: goma miso, roasted garlic miso, spicy garlic and shio, with butter corn or katsu as add-ons. Shared plates include agedashi tofu, Shizen shiitake, Tane katsu, spicy Brussels sprouts, da bao and loaded potatoes. The yakimono section covers grilled mushrooms, corn and negima.

Sushi takes up most of the menu. Classic rolls include avocado, California, futo maki, gobo, kanpyo, shiitake, kappa, a Philadelphia roll, a spicy "tofuna" roll and a sweet potato roll. Specialty rolls carry names such as Kailua, Waimanalo, Ewa, Leahi, Pacifica, Point Reyes, Monterey, Manila Dune, Sunset, The Wedge and Barbers, mixing Hawaiian and Northern California references. Nigiri come two pieces to an order and swap fish for vegetables and fruit: enoki, avocado, bean curd, eggplant, gobo, mango, inari, okra, pepper, shiitake, tomato and eryngii mushroom.

Dietary and allergy notes

Everything here is vegan. Tane also tries to make the menu work for gluten-free diners by using gluten-free flour for its sushi rolls. Not every dish is gluten-free, though. The menu marks the gyoza, da bao, futo maki, Philadelphia roll and bean curd nigiri as containing gluten. Many specialty rolls and most nigiri are labeled gluten-free. Some rolls are marked for sesame or tree nuts. Read the labels and tell your server about allergies.

Hours, reservations and pickup

Tane serves dinner only and is closed on Monday. From Sunday through Thursday it is open from 5 to 9:30 p.m., with last seating at 8:45 p.m. and last call at 9 p.m. On Friday and Saturday it opens at 4:30 p.m. and closes at 10 p.m., with last seating at 9:15 p.m. and last call at 9:30 p.m. Reservations are available through the link on the restaurant's Palo Alto page. Pickup orders run through DoorDash, with the first pickup at 5 p.m. The restaurant also posts a dining policy on its website.

Who it suits

Tane is an obvious pick for vegans and vegetarians who want a sit-down dinner with sushi. It also works for mixed groups, since rolls such as the California and avocado are familiar to anyone. Ramen and katsu give heartier options for people who are not in the mood for sushi. The izakaya format suits sharing several small plates.

Tips for visiting

Note the last seating times if you plan a late dinner. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday nights. Our vegetarian and vegan guide covers other plant-based options in Palo Alto. Our Asian food guide lists more Japanese restaurants. For drinks or a walk after dinner, our downtown Palo Alto guide covers the surrounding blocks.

Location and getting there

Tane Vegan Izakaya is at 461 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Scoop Microcreamery, bakery or dessert shop, under 0.1 mi
• Palo Alto Bicycles, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• T-Mobile University Avenue, shop, under 0.1 mi
• Yummy Future, cafe, under 0.1 mi
• Starbucks University Avenue, cafe, under 0.1 mi
• Lytton Plaza, under 0.1 mi
• University Avenue, under 0.1 mi
• Cogswell Plaza, under 0.1 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Rangoon Ruby (under 0.1 mi); Pho Ha Noi (under 0.1 mi); Evvia Estiatorio (under 0.1 mi); Pizza My Heart (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.

Before you go

• Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
• Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
• If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Tane Vegan Izakaya Palo Alto page; Tane Palo Alto menu; About Tane. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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