There hasn’t been a better time for Muslims to visit Japan than now! Due to the growing number of tourists from different regions, Japan has ramped up its efforts toward improving its ability to meet the needs of people of various faiths including Muslims which is great news for us all ☺️
Tokyo in particular has improved in this area by leaps and bounds, especially in terms of its food. In order to keep you updated with the latest developments, we’ve listed 10 eateries that you should definitely visit to sample some of the best Muslim-friendly food you can find in all of this great city!
1) Gyumon
One of the first thoughts that come to mind upon the mention of Japanese food has got to be that of having the freedom to grill your own food in a cosy restaurant which is known as Yakiniku. Gyumon is hands down the best place to go for Muslims in Tokyo to savour this experience!
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This place is completely Halal and provides one of the most authentic Yakiniku experiences you can find. You can choose from a range of different cuts such as shoulder, rib loin or beef round meat or even chicken. Regardless of your choice, you won’t be disappointed as all their meats are of great quality and seasoned to perfection, meaning they taste absolutely amazing! (though that may depend on how good of a cook you are ?)
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Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: Japan, 〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya, 3−１４−5
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 5PM to 4AM, Sunday 5PM to 12AM
2) Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka
Disclaimer: As of November 2022, Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka is closed until further notice.
You can’t say you’ve tried Japanese food if you’ve never tried ramen noodles! Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka is the perfect place to indulge in a sumptuous bowl of ramen after a day’s worth of sightseeing in the city. The ramen noodles there are served in a delicious seabream soup and topped with their special yuzu meringue and paired with grilled chicken which makes for a mouth-watering combination.
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The noodles also come with a bowl of rice in ochazuke style. This involves pouring the remainder of the ramen broth into the bowl of rice and consuming them together so that you get to savour every last drop of the delicious broth!
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Halal status: Halal certified by Otsuka mosque
Address: 1 Chome-11-7 Shinjuku, 新宿区 Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
Opening hours: Mondays to Thursdays 2PM to 10PM. Friday 5PM to 12AM. Saturday and Sunday 12.30PM to 10PM
3) Hanasaka Ji San
This restaurant is the place to go if you’re in Tokyo and happen to be in the mood for some Shabu-Shabu. In case you haven’t tried it, Shabu-Shabu is yet another iconic Japanese dish comprising of sliced meats and an assortment of different vegetables cooked in a hotpot. Hanasaka Ji San is wildly popular among both locals and tourists which only serves as a testament to the quality of their food!
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For 4500JPY you can get their Halal Gozen Set. This meal provides a spectrum of Japanese dishes from tempura to sashimi. The star of the show however is, of course, the wagyu beef. With its fine marbling, the wagyu is absolutely to die for when cooked with the Shabu-Shabu!
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Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: Japan, 〒150-0031 Tokyo, 渋谷区Sakuragaokacho, ３−２２ サクラヤビル
Opening hours: Daily 10:30AM to 3PM (Lunch) 5PM to 12AM (Dinner)
4) Asakusa Sushi Ken
No trip to Japan would be complete without sushi! Asakusa Sushi Ken is the first halal-certified sushi restaurant in Japan. In response to the growing demand for halal sushi, the owners of the restaurant have bravely taken on the challenge of reproducing authentic Japanese flavours with halal ingredients to create something so close to the original that you won’t be able to tell the difference.
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All the sushi is freshly prepared right before your very eyes.
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We suggest trying out their nigiri set which consists of a variety of different Nigiri sushi allowing you to sample a little bit of everything. Alternatively, you can also try ordering their Japanese set. Comprising lots of different dishes from a bowl of soba to sushi, it’s the perfect thing to order if you want to experience the full range of Japanese flavours.
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After a delicious spread, its time to book a rickshaw ride tour on Klook, passing along iconic sites in Asakusa like Kaminarimon Gate, Sensoji Temple and Tokyo Skytree for an immersive experience of Japanese culture!
Halal status: Halal certified
Address: Japan, 〒１１１ー００３２ 東京都台東区浅草２丁目１１−４
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 12PM to 2PM, 5PM to 1AM. Sunday 11:30AM to 3PM, 5PM to 10PM
5) Honolu Ebisu
This is a great restaurant to visit when in Shibuya! Honolu ramen is a popular ramen chain in Japan. Their outlet in Ebisu is their most recent establishment and has been well received by its patrons!
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Their speciality is of course their ramen, of which they serve a wide variety of chicken soy, rich chicken flavour ramen and even spicy ramen for those of you who enjoy a bit of heat in your food.
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Their menu isn’t just limited to ramen though. They also serve halal gyoza which is a type of Japanese dumpling as well as takoyaki! Though I think no introduction is really needed for the latter.
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Halal status: Halal certified
Address: 1 Chome-23-1 Ebisuminami, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0022, Japan
Opening hours: 11:30AM to 2:30PM and 5PM to 10PM
6) Sekai Café
Sekai Café is determined to serve everyone with any form of dietary restrictions from vegetarians to Muslims! Their menu is centred around fusion cuisines offering western style dishes such as burgers, sandwiches and even pizza. Moreover, they also have an extensive drinks menu consisting of refreshing beverages like yuzu soda and some fruit-based frappes.
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The best part is their staff speak English which is really helpful if you're in need of some guidance while in the vicinity. Also, their tables all come with power sockets so you can recharge (pun intended) before you head out again!
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Halal status: uses halal ingredients
Address: 1 Chome-18-8 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 10:30AM to PM Friday and Saturday 10:30AM to 10PM
7) Annam Indian Restaurant
You can hardly ever go wrong with Indian food. Even more so if you choose to dine at Annam Indian restaurant in Ginza. This restaurant is one of the best among the many Indian restaurants in Tokyo and their food is entirely halal! Their menu is wholly dedicated to providing you with authentic North-Indian cuisine with familiar dishes such as biryani, chicken tikka and much more!
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The most popular item on their menu however has got to be their naan set which comes complete with a bowl of delightfully piquant curry for you to soak your bread in. Best of all the portions here are generous which is not only a rare find but a welcoming change for all you foodies out there.
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Halal status: Uses halal ingredients. Disclaimer: Do note that this eatery serves alcohol.
Address: アナム本格インド料理 銀座5丁目店 (Annam Indian Restaurant)
Opening hours: Daily 11AM to 12AM
8) The Kebab Factory
There's no better way to enjoy your grilled meats than rolled in a kebab or sandwiched between a freshly baked loaf of pita! Whatever you fancy, the kebab factory is the go-to place in Tokyo to get your fix on Mediterranean cuisines at really affordable prices. Besides offering both chicken and meat, they also offer a variety of different sauces from original, garlic yoghurt to even wasabi that you can choose to go with your kebab.
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On top of this, they even serve Turkish ice cream, known locally as dondurma, which is always fun considering that it’s probably the only time you’re free to mess around with your food or in this case, have someone else do it for you.
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Halal status: Halal certified
Address: Japan, 〒111-0032 東京都台東区 浅草１丁目１−１２ 第一屋ビル1階・地下1階
9) Cabe Meguro
Not many people will expect to find great South-East Asian food all the way in the far east but at Cabe Meguro, that’s exactly what you’re going to get. This quaint little restaurant brings Indonesian food right smack in the heart of Japan and is a great place to visit if you find yourself feeling homesick and yearning for a little taste of home!
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They serve a whole list of traditional Indonesian dishes such as satay, nasi goreng, nasi campur and much more. They even serve their dishes in a Japanese-style bento which is totally unique and a really creative way of integrating two different cultures together.
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Halal status: Halal certified
Address: Japan, 〒141-0021 Tokyo, Shinagawa, Kamiosaki, 3 Chome−5−4, 田中ビル
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 11:30AM to 2:30PM, 5:30PM to 10PM closed on Sunday
10) Kappou Yama
If you just can’t get enough of Japanese food then this restaurant will surely satisfy your cravings! The people behind Kappou Yama are dedicated to introducing Japanese cuisine to Muslims. They haven’t left a stone unturned and have tried to incorporate as many popular Japanese foods into their menu as they can ☺️
Credit : Halal Japanese Restaurant Kappou Yama on Facebook
They’ve got all your favourites from temaki sushi to Saba miso. The best thing about the restaurant is that they're willing to alter their menu in order to accommodate the different needs and requests of their customers. You can only dine in if you’ve made a reservation though so be sure to plan ahead before heading there!
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Halal status: Uses halal ingredients.
Address: 3-15-1 Uemine, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 338-0014
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 7PM to 9PM Closed on Monday
That brings us to the end of this list! Of course, there are still a number of other great halal restaurants out there in Tokyo and the number is only growing. The great thing is a lot of local restaurants are willing to go out of their way to meet your dietary needs! So fret not, go out there and enjoy yourselves ?