Halal Food Guide: Tokyo

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Some visit Tokyo for it’s rich and unparalleled culture, some visit for it’s quirky and slightly insane nightlife… Me? It’s all about the food – well, mostly anyways.

The grandeur of Tokyo’s dining scene is no secret – the place is bursting with culinary talent, and it is without a doubt one of the best places in the world to feast. A challenge that visitors of Japan will unquestionably face is deciding where and what to eat during the limited time you have in the country. Walk through the streets of Tokyo, and you’ll hear chefs thwacking ramen noodles, and diners loudly slurping them up, smell all kinds of meat cooking on skewers over charcoal, and see colourful displays of snacks and candies in store windows. Where on earth do you begin?

Japanese is one of my most favorite cuisines and, over the years, I have eaten a lot of Japanese food. My great grandfather happened to have opened the first Japanese restaurant in Malaysia, hence I was exposed to the wondrous delicacies of Japan from a very young age. Before visiting Tokyo, I thought that I had quite a good grasp on what Japanese food was about, but after a few days in the country, I realised that what I knew barely scratched the surface. Some of what I did know was confirmed, but most of what I thought I knew were turned upside down.

Food standards are high in Tokyo – from the quality of the food being served, to the presentation, and to the customer service received. Perhaps these are the reasons why Tokyo has a reputation for being an expensive city. But having said that, I was quite taken aback at how affordable the food and drinks in Japan were. Of course the food isn’t as cheap as those in other parts of Asia, but it is certainly below what was expected. It may be due to the fact that good food can be found at every price range – from cheap minuscule street joints to expensive fine dining restaurants, with varying budgets in between. Even the food at the convenience stores will delight you, and give you a thrill.

When we travel, we like to indulge in authentic local delicacies as we reckon half the joy of discovering a new country is trying out cuisines that are foreign to us. Tokyo, or Japan itself, is perfect for that. In most non-muslim countries, most halal food and restaurants available are that of either Indian or Middle Eastern cuisines. But much to our delight, there were plenty of halal Japanese restaurants that offered different kinds of local dishes in Tokyo.

It’s best not to continue on an empty stomach.

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Little Kebab Station

Okay, I know I said all those things about indulging in local cuisines when traveling, but in our defence we had missed our reservation at another restaurant and this was the nearest option we had. It was late, we were famished, and freezing our toes off, and Little Kebab Station was right there in front of our faces in all it’s Middle Eastern glory.

Little Kebab Station is a corner hole-in-the-wall joint located in Shibuya. They offer both chicken and beef kebab served in a number of different ways. You can also pick the type of sauce you want on your dish – mild sauce, mixed sauce, hot sauce, or yoghurt. Hafiz and I had both went with their beef donburi, and of course paired it with the hot sauce.

The piping hot kebab dish hit all the right spots. Delicious food, generous serving, and fast service. If you wanna take a break from Japanese food, this is the place to go.

Opening hours: Everyday 10:00 – 22:00

Address: 2-16-3 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0043

Gyumon

This halal yakiniku restaurant located at one of the many streets in Shibuya is the real deal. It’s the meal that I remember and reminisce about most – even after all these months (it’s really that good!). Hidden in a quiet alley, Gyumon is the perfect place to refuel after a whole day of exploring the ever bustling city that is Shibuya. The traditional feel that the restaurant emanates through it’s layout and interior promises you an authentic yakiniku experience.

Customers can choose between three different BBQ sets from the menu (take note that one set is for one person). Each set comes with slices of perfectly seasoned raw meat (beef and chicken), rice, salad, and a drink. Half the pleasure of having a yakiniku dinner is getting to BBQ your own food, which means that you are able to grill the meat according to your definition of perfection. Imagine juicy, tender slices of beef with just the right amount of fat, that melts in your mouth… Every bite of the yakiniku goodness elicited a piquant explosion of flavour in my mouth. And you know the restaurant sells good food when even the non-muslim locals come flocking the place.

Although Gyumon consists of two floors, the amount of seats and tables available can barely accommodate the number of patrons that come to dine at the restaurant on the daily. Hence, I highly recommend making a reservation prior to your visit at the restaurant.

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 17:00 – 23:00

Contact: +81 3-5469-2911

Address: 3-14-5 Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan

Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka

We had our first ever bowl of ramen in Japan at Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka. After heading to Japan twice, and tasting different bowls of ramen at various restaurants, that first bowl we devoured within minutes still remains as one of the best. Their menu consists of regular halal ramen, spicy halal ramen, and even vegan ramen. Customers may choose their desired dish in their preferred size (small, regular, or large), through the restaurant’s vending machine upon entering it’s doors.

Each ramen dish is served with a bowl of rice – which you eat with the remaining broth from your ramen, and grilled chicken. We were both so famished when we visited the restaurant that we decided to upsize our spicy halal ramen to large. We ended up leaving the place with a food coma because the serving was much bigger than we presumed! Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka also serves children meals which is a smaller (and cooler) version of the regular ramen. We ordered one for Qaleed, and it came in a shinkansen-shaped plate. This gem of a place has something for everyone!

Be sure to pre-book your seats before heading there as you wouldn’t want to queue for two hours like we did. In the rain. With a two-year old kid.

Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 12:30 – 15:00 and 18:00 – 22:00, Saturday – Sunday 12:30 – 22:00

Contact: +81 3-5925-8426

Address: 1 Chome-11-7 Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan

Naritaya

Conveniently located near the illustrious Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Naritaya is another wonderful place to dine at. Customers are spoilt for choice as there are a number of different dishes to choose from – ramen, dry ramen, soba, multiple side dishes, and even desserts! Their chicken-based ramen broth is incredibly delicious, and each bowl is generously portioned. We also gave their chicken kaarage (fried chicken) a try, which paired really well with the ramen.

On the second floor of the restaurant, is an enclosed prayer room complete with a space for ablution.

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 11:00 – 15:00 and 16:30 – 23:30, Sunday 11:00 – 23:30

Contact: +81 3-4285-9806

Address: 2 Chome-7-13 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

Uogashi Nihonichi Standing Sushi Bar

Disclaimer: This restaurant is not halal certified. Eat at your own discretion.

We weren’t going to leave Tokyo without trying some authentic sushi. No, I’m not talking about the ones you get from convenience stores. I’m talking about the ones that are sliced and made fresh in front of you. Upon my research, I found that standing sushi bars are a thing in Japan – something that has yet to be introduced in Malaysia. It’s an informal dine-and-go concept that allows diners to enjoy delectable handmade sushi and incredibly fresh sashimi at a fast food pace. Google led me to a standing sushi bar that is located right in the smack of Shibuya.

The place was everything I imagined – classy with a tint of sophistication, has a sense of calmness and minuscule like everything else in Japan. Lined up at the bar are intricately cut sashimi slices in all sorts of vibrant colors. We tried some of our favorite sushis as well as some that we wouldn’t even think twice about ordering back at home as a bid to be more adventurous.

The only downside of standing sushi bars is their unfriendliness towards children. We had to take turns in stuffing ourselves silly, and carrying our restless two-year old.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 – 23:30 Satuday – Sunday 11:30 – 23:00

Contact: +81 3-5728-5451

Address: 25-6 Utagawacho Shibuya-ku Tokyo