Islam encourages the believers to travel the world to broaden their horizon, and at the same time to marvel at God’s creations. However as Muslims, we can’t help but face some limitations when we travel, particularly when it comes to food.
In the past years, Japan has grown to be more and more Muslim-friendly, thanks to the growing number of Muslim travellers. As a result, halal-certified restaurants begin to spring up like mushrooms all over the country, making it easy for Muslims to feast on all those appetizing local cuisines!
If you find yourself in Japan, don’t forget to check these places out:
1. Ayam Ya
Specializing in ramen dishes, Ayam-ya’s main selling point is their thick and rich broth
credit@ayamya_okachimachi on Instagram
What’s a Japan trip without sampling their authentic ramen?
Credit: @erwinana on Instagram
Ayam-ya offers only 12 dishes in their menu, 10 of which are ramen variations. Be sure to try out Noko Tori Ramen for the extra rich broth. A whole chicken is used for a single bowl, and for this reason they serve only about 20 bowls a day so make sure to be quick! Ayam-ya has a branch in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo each.
2. Gyumon
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In a small alley ten-minute walk away from Shibuya Station sits this small yakiniku joint where Muslims can savour halal meat on grill. The set meal starts at ¥3000 including rice and a drink along with multiple cuts of meat. The meal begins with salad on the house before the star of the show arrives. For those who aren’t a big fan of meat, Gyumon also serves chicken which are absolutely tender and juicy!
Besides the meat strips, Gyumon has started offering halal beef bowls as well. Fragrant white rice topped with steaming beef chunks, beef bowl (or gyudon), it’s easy to understand why the locals love this hearty meal.
Credit: @KelilingJepang on Instagram
If you’re seeking an authentic Japanese yakiniku experience, head over to Gyumon without hesitation. However, since the place is a little tight and popular among tourists and locals alike, make a reservation prior to the visit to guarantee a seat.
3. CoCo Ichinbanya Curry House
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Dig into a plate of piping hot curry rice here at the first halal-certified CoCo Ichibanya Curry House outlet. Situated in Akihabara, the chain that started out as small shops in Nagoya in 1978 is serving halal menu for the first time at this outlet, so all Muslims can come and satisfy their curry cravings.
Credit: Halal Japan on FacebookA selection of curry rice menu is offered, and customers can choose to customize their meal according to the level of spiciness, quantity of rice and other add-ons. Another option is to order a plain curry and add toppings that suit your appetite. The restaurant is a little small, so be there early to avoid a long queue.
4. Asakusa Sushi Ken
What’s a trip to Japan without a taste of sushi?
Credit: Rini Astuti on FacebbokWithout a doubt, sushi can be found everywhere, from the nearest convenience store to the most posh restaurant in town, but finding Muslim-friendly sushi is not an easy task. Asakusa Sushi Ken is here to fix that! In order to meet the demands for halal sushi, Asakusa Sushi Ken stepped up to become the first halal-certified sushi restaurant in Japan.
Credit: @efi.esa on Instagram
The owner and chefs are all Japanese, so they know essentially what it takes to produce fresh and truly delicious sushi! Go for the nigiri set which comes with 10 different sushi, as well as miso soup and chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) to go with the meal. They also serve sushi bowls and rice bowls in case sushi is not filling enough.
5. Hanasakaji-san
Credit:Hanasakaji-san on FacebookFor meat lovers, wagyu beef is what dreams are made of, but halal wagyu was something impossible. Fortunately, Hanasakaji-san makes that possible. With meat sourced from a halal butcher in Miyazaki, Kyushu, Hanasakaji-san is the first halal shabu-shabu restaurant in Tokyo that serves all halal ingredients.
Credit:Hanasakaji-san on FacebookThe restaurant offers two all-day courses: one with washoku (traditional Japanese side dishes) and another with just shabu-shabu. Meanwhile, four courses are available for dinner which vary in the number of side dishes. Approximately 5 minutes from Shibuya Station, Hanasakaji-san is a bit on the posh side with price starting from ¥4000, so only come here when you do intend to splurge.
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