Enjoy Japanese Food! Halal Restaurants in Tokyo

photo by Ikusuki

Sushi, tempra, ramen etc. Japanese food is popular across the world. Enjoying authentic Japanese food is one of the main activities for some tourists. Japanese cuisine has been developed into many areas over its long history, and there are numerous types of food within “Japanese food”. But a downside is, majority of Japanese cooking doesn’t meet Islamic standards. Of course, there are many restaurants and eateries that serves Halal food such as South East Asian or Middle Eastern food across Japan, but it would be best if Muslims can enjoy Japanese food too. Luckily, the number of restaurants and eateries that provide Halal complying menu is increasing in Japan.

Ayam-YA Okachimachi

Having its main shop in Kyoto, their ramen is popular for chicken based rich soup. Salt soup ramen, spicy ramen with red chili and Tsuke-men (ramen with dipping sauce) are the most popular menu. No chemical additives are used! They have Japanese customers but the majority of their customers are Muslim ramen lovers who live in Tokyo. The shop is located in Okachimachi, where Ameya Yokocho is, and only a few minutes’ walk from subway and JR stations. Handy to drop by for quick lunch or dinner.

Ayam-YA Okachimachi
Address: 1F, 4-10-1, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-3834-6656
Trading hours: 11:30 – 15:00/17:00 – 22:00

Asakusa Sushi Ken

Sushi, which is most well-known Japanese food, is often misunderstood as Halal food as it doesn’t use pork meat. But unfortunately, ingredients such as soy sauce or mirin usually contain alcohol, therefore doesn’t meet Halal requirements most of the time. But Sushi Ken has Halal certificate in order to serve authentic Japanese sushi to Muslim customers. All ingredients are Halal, and they also have a prayer room within the shop.

Asakusa Sushi Ken
Address: 2-11-4, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 050-3184-0547
Trading hours: 11:30 – 15:00/17:00 – 21:30

Curry House Coco Ichibanya Shinjuku Kabuki-cho

Curry had been originally made in Central Asia including India. But it underwent the unique development after it was transmitted to Japan, and became one of Japan’s most loved dishes. Among other curry rice restaurants, Coco Ichibanya is definitely the most loved franchised curry restaurant group. Normally, Japanese curry rice is far away from Halal food, but this curry-restaurant giant launched Halal curry shops: firstly, they opened one in Akihabara, then the second Halal curry restaurant in Shinjuku Kabuki-cho in 2018. The shop is close from railway stations and easy to access for everyone who love curry rice.

Curry House Coco Ichibanya Shinjuku Kabuki-cho
Address: B1, 1-19-3, Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6457-3782
Trading hours: 11:00 – 22:00

Origami Asakusa

Origami Asakusa is a traditional type of Japanese restaurant that provides different course menu at lunch and dinner time: their menu includes tempura, sashimi, wagyu shabu-shabu and other seasonal dishes. This restaurant is Halal certified; all ingredients meet Halal requirements. They also have a prayers room and wash place, and a separated storage for alcohol drinks: glasses used for soft drinks are strictly separated from those for alcohol drinks.

Origami Asakusa
Address: 1-2-8, Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-5811-1755
Trading hours: 11:30 – 17:00/18:00 – 21:00

Gyumon

A charcoal-barbeque restaurant Gyumon utilizes a renovated classical Japanese house as a shop building. This restaurant head started over other restaurants to provide Halal barbeque. In order to serve quality barbeque for Muslim customers, the shop staff give full attention to food handling including ingredients and cooking methods. As this is Halal barbeque, meats on their menu are beef and chicken only, but that is not everything. The meats that are served in Gyumon are appropriately bred and processed according to shariah law, not just avoiding pork. This is a very popular place among Muslim people who love good barbeque.

Gyumon
Address: 3-14-5, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-5469-2911
Trading hours: 17:00 – 4:00 (Mon – Fri)/17:00 – 23:00 (Sat & Sun)

Bon appétit!

Even in Japan, there are lots of Halal restaurants but most of them are restaurants that provide Islamic countries such as Indonesia and Middle East countries. There weren’t many Japanese food shops that provide Halal food before, so lots of Muslim tourists often got disappointed as they couldn’t enjoy Japanese food in Japan. Fortunately, the number of restaurants and eateries that serve Halal Japanese food is increasing. So, if you are Muslim and want to try quality Japanese food in Tokyo, why don’t you visit these restaurants.