STORY ​Japanese Restaurants with Halal Food- Great Local Cuisine and Ramen! by JNTO on 27 November 2019

When touring Japan, you will think of enjoying "oishi" ramen, meat grills, sushi as their tastes are simply authentic. However, if you or your travel companions like your friends or family are Muslim, you or your loved ones would not be able to go for certain food options due to religious restrictions on some food ingredients and food.

This time, we are going to look at some Halal-certified restaurants, the ones serving Halal food, as well as the facts and points-to-note about Halal food in Japan.

A Guide of Halal Foods in Japan

The number of inbound muslim tourists has been increasing, so there are more and more restaurants serving Halal food in major sightseeing cities including Tokyo and Osaka.
In Japan, there is a number of Halal associations with their qualifying criteria to grant Halal quality standard to restaurants.
Recently, the nationwide famous ramen chain “Ichiran” started serving 100% chicken based soup without using any pork bone or seasoning which contains alcohol such as soy sauce or mirin. Curry rice specialty, “CURRY HOUSE CoCo ICHIBANYA” has opened chains at Akihabara and Shinjuku with Halal options, including food delivery menus for Halal food eaters.

The Japanese restaurant “Gonpachi” also serves skewers and tempura with Halal-approved beef and chicken.

Halal Restaurants with Authentic Japanese Food in Tokyo!

ORIGAMI Asakusa- with Muslim Staff and Prayer’s Room
 

Origami Asakusa is a Japanese restaurant within reach from the main street in front of Asakusa station. The chef is certified for professional knowledge of Halal food ingredients, and the beef dishes are all prepared by Halal-certified wagyu (Japanese beef). The soy sauce for sushi is also found in the Halal approved list. In the restaurant, spaces for hands and foot washing, a prayer’s room with Wudu, and Halal staff are present to attend to you and provide you with necessary assistance.

A chicken hotpot for lunch comes at about 1,500 yen, and Japanese beef shabushabu or sukiyaki hotpot dinner comes at around 5,000 yen.
 

• ORIGAMI Asakusa
• Address: 1-2-8, Hanakawado, Taito Ward, Tokyo
• Access:2-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Subway Asakusa station (Ginza line), or 5-minute walk from Toei Asakusa line Asakusa station
• Operating hours: [Lunch] 11:30 a.m. - 5：00 p.m.（LO 4：30 p.m.）, [Dinner] 6：00 p.m. - 9：00 p.m.（LO 8：30 p.m.）
   

Ramen with Sea Bream Broth
“Halal & Vegan Shinjukugyoen Ramen Ouka”

Ouka is a ramen specialty found near Shinjukugyoen which is designated as a national garden. The popular “Ramen Gozen set” includes ramen, rice, a side dish consisting of young corn, boiled egg and grilled chicken, and tsukune (grilled chicken meatball)! The most discernible feature of the ramen here is its dashi broth made with sea bream. On top of the noodles, is a condensed mixture made with meringue and yuzu, which you mix it with the broth giving a slightly refreshing taste. Just put the rice in the soup after finishing the noodles, and it becomes “sea bream soup rice”, you will be hooked!
 

• Halal & Vegan Shinjukugyoen Ramen Ouka
• Address: 1-11-7, Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
• Access: 4-minutes walk from Subway Marunouchi-line Shinjukugyoenmae station
• Operating hours: [Monday to Friday]12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., [Saturday/Sunday/Holiday] 12:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.