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Teppanyaki grilled chicken with mustard sauce from We Are The Farm, an organic eatery in central Tokyo.

Teppanyaki grilled chicken with mustard sauce from We Are The Farm, an organic eatery in central Tokyo. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

My family went searching recently for an organic dining option in central Tokyo.

Our quest brought us to We Are The Farm, an all-organic restaurant with a peculiar name, considering its metropolitan location. The 8-year-old eatery in the tony, laid-back Azabujuban neighborhood lists an all-organic menu, from veggies to beef, chicken and even beverages.

We Are the Farm is an all-organic restaurant with a peculiar name, considering its metropolitan location in central Tokyo.

We Are the Farm is an all-organic restaurant with a peculiar name, considering its metropolitan location in central Tokyo. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

We Are The Farm sources its produce from pesticide-free farms with open-field cultivation.

Although some studies show little nutritional difference between conventionally grown and organic foods, more than 94 million Americans shopped for organic foods in 2020, according to U.S. Census data and the Simmons National Consumer Survey. In the U.S., the organic share of total food sales grew from 3% in 2008 to 6% in 2020, according to Statista.com.

We arrived in Azabujuban after a 12-minute taxi ride from the Hiroo neighborhood in Shibuya and walked a short distance to the narrow side street where the restaurant is located.

Inside, we found a café with rustic décor. Small, wooden tables and chairs were equally spaced, with a table for larger groups, a counter with stools and private dining areas. The restaurant seats about 50 and two employees handled traffic on the day we arrived.

Ginger and carrot smoothies from We Are The Farm, an organic restaurant in central Tokyo.

Ginger and carrot smoothies from We Are The Farm, an organic restaurant in central Tokyo. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

I first searched out the beverages. From several organic juices and teas on the menu, I picked a beet-and-guava smoothie. The taste was so energizing that I had two of them.

After starting off with an appetizing omakase salad, I settled on a main dish of teppanyaki chicken breast grilled at a low-temperature and served with a mustard sauce and a side of garlic rice.

The vegetable gratin was another great addition. It consisted of several fresh vegetables, including mushrooms, topped with a slightly crisp but creamy mozzarella cheese.

Vegetable gratin from We Are The Farm, an organic restaurant in Tokyo's Azabujuban neighborhood.

Vegetable gratin from We Are The Farm, an organic restaurant in Tokyo's Azabujuban neighborhood. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

We also recommend the rich and tasty sekai ichi tomato, half of a sundried tomato with fresh cheese melted over the top and basil and kale pesto drizzled around the sides.

My wife was partial to the Oshu onion. Sliced in half and grilled to a golden brown, it had a soft, smoky but pleasant taste on her picky palate, with just the right amount of crunch. My son enjoyed a slice of Japanese wagyu black, a special lean beef.

Sekai ichi tomato from We Are The Farm in Tokyo consists of half a sundried tomato with fresh cheese melted over the top and basil and kale pesto drizzled around the sides.

Sekai ichi tomato from We Are The Farm in Tokyo consists of half a sundried tomato with fresh cheese melted over the top and basil and kale pesto drizzled around the sides. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

Outside of regular meals, We Are The Farm also offers full-course meals with some all-you-can-eat options, like the weekday farm course, that also comes with all-you-can-drink for two hours.

The dinner portions filled us up, so we skipped some alluring desserts.

Because organic food is usually more expensive than conventional food due to its processing and lower production, you can expect to spend a decent sum of money at the “farm.”

My family’s tab came to 8,210 yen, or about $60, including sides and drinks, but it was worth it to get cleaner food options. I gave the meal five stars and let the chef know that everything was near perfection.

We Are the Farm is an all-organic restaurant with a peculiar name, considering its metropolitan location in central Tokyo.

We Are the Farm is an all-organic restaurant with a peculiar name, considering its metropolitan location in central Tokyo. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

We Are The Farm

Location: 3-10-4 Re-Flat 1F, Motoazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Google plus code is MP4J+RX.

Directions: A 5-minute walk from Azabujuban Station.

Time: Monday through Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch; 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for dinner. Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for dinner.

Prices: Main dishes cost up to about $24. Credit cards accepted.

Dress: Casual

Information: 050-5269-7817. You can reserve a spot for dine-in or order online and pick up if you are in the area. Online: wearethefarm-azabu.com; allfarm.co.jp

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