01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked inside warm pita bread are crisp-crusted, tender-centered falafel—chickpea fritters ground fine and fried until golden. While the falafel sandwich that headlines the menu at Ballon in Nakameguro is 100 percent plant-based, made entirely without meat, fish, eggs, or dairy, every bite delivers generous texture and deep savor. Alongside the falafel rests a colorful spread of vegetables, including mayo-free potato salad, fried eggplant, maitake mushrooms, purple cabbage, and grated carrots. A kick of spicy harissa and the creamy, nutty depth of sesame tahini weave the components together, drawing out the natural sweetness and crunch of the produce as you eat.
Pita Sandwiches or Bountiful Bowls
For diners who prefer a gluten-free meal, the falafel salad bowl offers a satisfying alternative to the pita wrap. Piled high with seasoned vegetable deli salads and freshly fried falafel, it makes for a hearty lunch, with a large size available for those after an even more substantial portion. Spicy seasonings or fresh coriander can be added for extra punch, while the rich vegan tomato soup—simmered with kombu kelp and dried shiitake mushroom dashi—rounds out the meal with comforting warmth.
Vegan Soft Serve from Soy Milk and Amazake
Another Ballon signature is the vegan soft serve, crafted without dairy or refined white sugar. Built on a base of soy milk and amazake (sweet fermented rice), it has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel that finishes clean without feeling heavy. Toppings range from the popular pistachio salt crumble, with its savory cookie crunch, to bittersweet caramelized nuts and tangy passion fruit sauce. Paired with coffee brewed from organic beans or an oat milk latte, the dessert turns the shop into a welcoming afternoon café stop.
Orders are placed at a street-facing counter, behind which sits a compact eat-in area, though many people drop by to grab food on the go while out walking. Dogs are welcome both inside and outside, making the shop a comfortable spot to pause for wholesome plant-based bites or chilled treats during a stroll through Nakameguro.
