Saturday, August 27, 2011

Halal Food in Japan

Decided to go to Japan Disneyland in July 2010 with my small kiddo before he turns two to take advantage of the lower fare :) My concerns were mostly the language barrier and food accessibility. Spent about a week in Tokyo, Yokohama and Hakone. All in all, halal food was easy to find in Tokyo but we survived on instant noodles, fruits, egg and bread in Hakone. Language wise; it's still easy as the rails maps are in English, and the people are very friendly, though not all can speak English, just arm yourself with an English - Japanese guide book and show them the words if they don't understand your pronunciation, you will most likely then understand their responses thru hand signals and basic english :) 

We found this website very helpful in planning our travel and eating arrangements. 


Halal Food in Japan #1 : Siddique Indian and Pakistani Restaurant in Nihonbashi

We settled for Siddique Indian and Pakistani Restaurant in Nihonbashi (ate there twice! naan was very nice, butter chicken was good and tandoori prawns was fantastic, the milk tea comes without sugar though, so you have to ask for it) The place is packed with locals during lunchtime so best to avoid that timing. (actually saw one guy perspiring eating their mild curry!) The staff are very nice, we actually called them up before arriving to ask for directions and as my husband can't really understand them over the phone, they picked us up at the nihonbashi bridge :) how great is that? Just look out for a indian guy dressed in white cook shirt and black pants; oh well if you can't recognize them, they will definitely recognize u as tourist) For a list of their restaurant chains click here.

Halal Japan #1: Siddique Rest at 2F and Vietnamese Rest at Basement

Halal Food in Japan #2: Khazana at Queen's East Shopping Centre

The next place we ate was at Khazana at Queen's Square ( alight at Minato Mirai station and just a short walk away) Minato-mirai 2-3, Queen's Square "At 3rd", B1F. Open 11am-10pm daily Contact No: 045-682-2873. Get there early to avoid the queue. It offered a buffet lunch at an affordable price. Buffet spread was normal but hey it's halal and its a buffet! So, I ate enough to last me till dinner as hubby didn't tell me he planned to check out another halal restaurant for dinner. 

Halal Japan #2 : Khazana @ Queen's East


That night, we went to World Porter's as hubby read somewhere about a halal Indonesian restaurant there, we went around in circles as there were no signs and what we found was an Indian restaurant instead; but we were not sure whether it's halal. 

We went round and round until we saw a staff dressed in kebaya, so we assumed that she was from the restaurant and asked whether it's halal, she said that the restaurant name is Surabaya, but it's not halal as they serve pork. Oh well.. I'm still full, but hubby was ravenous, so we had to settle for fruits bought at the basement supermarket. 

Halal Food in Japan #3 : Al-Ain at Stalk Tower Ohdori-Koen Bldg

We should have checked out Al-Ain instead, it's a Middle Eastern restaurant run by a Lebanese; Ziad who is a former chef at Kuwaiti Embassy. Restaurant is  at Yokohama Kannai just a few stations away from Minato Mirai. Add: Yayoicho 2-17, Stalk Tower Ohdori-Koen Bldg. B1F. [along Ohdori Koen, about 3 min. west of Isezaki Chojamachi subway station exit 6, at Yayoicho 2-chome crossing, underneath a Family Mart] Open 5:30-11pm. Contact: 045-251-6199 Closed on Monday.

Halal Japan #3: Al-Ain Restaurant

Halal Food in Japan #4: Vietnamese Restaurant at Nihonbashi

On our final day in Japan, we went back to Siddique and noticed that there is a Vietnamese restaurant at the basement, (see frst picture) checked that out but wasn't really convinced that it's halal even thought the staff said it was. So, we ate at Siddique and when we bid our farewell, we remarked in passing regarding the Vietnamese Restaurant and they said yes it's halal! Oh well, maybe next trip then :)

P/S: If you are still planning for your Japan trip and have yet to book your hotel, could you do me a favor and book through this website?  Its's Agoda and I'm an affliate. Chances are you are going through book through Agoda anyway but clicking on the link and booking through it earns me a commission and that would really help me a lot. Thanks!



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15 comments:

  1. hi, i stumble upon your blog while hunting for halal food in japan. planning to visit soon.
    macam semua indian/middle eastern food sahaja dalam variety halal. any halal japanese cuisine?
    thanx!! ^^

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  2. Salam. tengah mencari juga~ planning ke jepun next feb - dok mencari masjid/ musolla area ginza, kt hiroo ade tp kena jln jauh gak
    yang saya jumpa makanan jepun halal boleh cek sini
    1. http://en.mhalalc.jp/company.html (yakiniku & shabu shabu)
    2. http://www.feeljapank.com/visithalal.html
    3. http://www.sunnypages.jp/travel_guide/tokyo_restaurants/turkish/Kebab+Ye/4668/top

    or cek list ni
    http://www.daganghalal.com/HalalRestaurant/HeJapan.aspx

    yg ni ada reference,
    http://pmij.us/halal-haram/list-of-halal-food-in-japan.html

    tp mmmg most of them bukan makanan jepun..hope kalo ada maklumat lain boleh le share

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  3. Hi Aqilah,

    Thanks for commenting, the last time I visited Japan, we only tried Indian food and saw Vietnamese, I did not chance upon any halal Japanese-cuisine restaurants there. Even the website that I refer to (when planning my trip) doesn't seem to list halal Japanese restaurants. But the site provided by nuruladeq is good too seems like there is a yakiniku rest at shibuya link http://en.mhalalc.jp/yakiniku.html
    and shabu shabu also in shibuya link: http://en.mhalalc.jp/shabushabu.html

    Bestnya visiting Japan, I wish I can go there again :)

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  4. Salam Nuruladeq,

    Thanks for all the info, it's very useful hope all the other readers can benefit from it :) regarding mosques in Japan, I'm sure you dah refer to this site http://park.itc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/tuics/OldSite/mosques.htm? Seems the nearest to Ginza is the hiroo mosque..

    All the best for your trip :)

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  5. Thanx Salmah, thanx Nuruladeq. berdebar-debar nak travel solo this autumn~~ ^^

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  6. Salam Semua,

    Saya nk pergi Osaka bln June..tau tak kat mana boleh jumpa halal restaurant in Osaka area?

    Masjid dah alhamdulillah sudah jumpa kat sini,
    http://www.masjid.jp/list.html
    sudah x ada kerisauan dah cuma kalau boleh nak juga rasa japanese cuisine yang halal.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Salam Dunk Ishak,

      Have you seen this website for Osaka halal food? http://osakamosque.org/Halal%20Restauarnts.htm

      All the best for your trip!

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  7. hi Ishak.
    Thanx for the valuable info.Saya cuma tau Tokyo Mosque je.
    By the way, is Musalla sama macam surau in our term?

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  8. Salam,

    (Sekadar berkongsi sedikit berdasarkan pengalaman menetap di Tokyo 2005-2008)

    Di Tokyo ada banyak masjid dan banyak kedai Turkish & South Asian food yang serve halal food. Saya nak listkan satu persatu pun panjang sangat listnya - antaranya Marhaba di Ikebukuro, Karachi di Shinjuku, Shagorika di Asakusa, 2+2=8 di Shimokitazawa dan kedai kebab kegemaran kami di Takadanobaba, tapi maafkan saya, tak ingat namanya :-)

    Ada juga restoran India/Malaysia/Thailand yang serve both halal & non halal meat - cumanya perkakas dapur & minyak yang digunakan tidak bercampur - sebagaimana perkakas dapur & minyak yang digunakan untuk vegetarian & vegetarian food tidak bercampur. Orang Jepun amat takut disaman kerana pelanggan mengadu terkena alergi. Sebuah kedai kecil di Waseda universiti misalnya menjual bento karaage chicken yang halal di samping bento lain.

    Kalau ingin mencuba japanese cuisine - untuk sushi boleh saja ke kedai sushi jepun - tapi bertanyakan ingredients tidak bercampur sake/mirin, cuma tanya - "Osake/mirin haitenai osushi wa arimasuka? Watashi wa osake ga zen zen dame, arergi deskara." (sushi yang tidak bercampur sake/mirin ada tak? Saya tak boleh apa-apa yang ada sake, sebab alergik)

    Oh, dan sesetengah Musolla di Tokyo - Shin okubo Musolla misalnya, bertaraf masjid kerana solat Jumaat juga diadakan di situ. Masjid yang ada sekitar Tokyo selain Tokyo Camii di Yoyogi Uehara, termasuklah Masjid Dar Al Arqam Asakusa (tiada kena mengena dengan pergerakan Al Arqam yang telah diharamkan di Malaysia), Masjid As Salam (berhampiran Ueno/Okachimachi/Akihabara), Masjid Hiroo, Masjid Otsuka dan Masjid Meguro (dalam pembinaan)

    Amalan pelajar Muslim di Jepun - kami bawa kompas kiblat & alas untuk solat ke mana-mana serta berpakaian yang boelh terus digunakan untuk solat. Jadi - di shopping mall, misalnya, kami akan solat di ruang yang agak terpencil atau kalau tidak begitu sibuk, menumpang di bilik penyusuan bayi (ruang larangan untuk kaum bapa melainkan ada bayi bersama :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shukran Sister atas perkongsian, Insya Allah bermanfaat bagi pembaca2 yang lain :) for those who need a brief translation of the above info, the sister shared that there are a few halal restaurants such as:

      1) Marhaba @ Ikebukuro,
      2) Karachi @ Shinjuku,
      3) Shagorika @ Asakusa,
      4) 2+2=8 @ Shimokitazawa and
      5) a kebab stall @Takadanobaba

      you would still need to do some google search on the exact name and location of the restaurants though.

      Some Indian/Malaysian/Thai restaurants also serve both halal and non-halal meat, just that the utensils and cooking oil are not used interchangeably same as how utensils and cooking oil for veg and non vegetarian dishes are separated as Japanese fear being penalised due to complaints from patrons that has allergies.

      some mosques in Tokyo:
      Tokyo Camii @ Yoyogi Uehara,
      Dar Al Arqam @ Asakusa,
      As-Salam Mosque near Ueno/Okachimachi/Akihabara
      Hiroo Mosque
      Otsuka Mosque

      That's the gist of it. Thank you dear Sister :)

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  9. Assalamu'alaikum.

    I am doing a little bit of research on Halal food in Narita and came across this blog which I thank you for listing all places with halal food and method to perform the prayers. It will be very helpful indeed.

    If I can't get any halal food in Narita (seems quite impossible I believe), are there any ways that I can survive there for 2 and a half days? Is travelling to Tokyo to get halal food worth it? Thanking you and everyone reading in advance for your valuable advice and suggestions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Waalaikumussalam Juju,

      Based on previous visits to Narita by my sisters, parents and myself (all on different occasions) we have yet to come across halal food in Narita. If you are just there for 2 and a half days and you don't plan to go down to Tokyo, I don't think t's worth it to take the express train to Tokyo just for halal food. I am sure you can survive with fruits, vegetables, dairy products, bread and if the place that you are staying have a microwave facility, cooking simple seafood dishes using microwave could be an option. If not, do like us typical Malaysian/Singaporean, pack instant noodles and cans of sardines or tuna from home. My mom would usually pack fried anchovies and peanuts in dry chili mix or serunding to eat with bread or rice when we are gg for a holiday in a non-muslim country. I would just normally bring milo 3-in-1, digestive and nutella haha..

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  10. Inside Tokyo Disneyland, any muslim restaurant or where can I get muslim foods? Can somebody answer this stupid question?

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    Replies
    1. @roon demahom,

      There is no halal food at Tokyo Disneyland. The only Disneyland that serves halal food at the moment is Hong Kong Disneyland. We went in Disneyland once near the evening (cheaper admission rate) and survived on bananas and the next day went in again around noon after eating brunch at nihonbashi. I would advise you to either stock up on fruits or bread and some spreads / canned tuna / boil eggs using the kettle and load up on breakfast to last you 1/2 day at Tokyo Disneyland and then bring some along with you into the park to snack on. I remembered the staff checking my bag but somehow or rather I still managed to go through with a bag of bananas and m&ms. Unlike Hong Kong Disneyland where the staff insisted I throw out my Maggi Hot Cup from Singapore!!

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