Sushi is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Japan. Healthy and delicious, sushi is the go-to dish that you can snack on at any time of the day. You can eat it for breakfast at Tsukiji Market along with hot miso soup or as a late-night snack at a rotating sushi bar. You can even whip up a serving or two of sushi in the comforts of your home, with skills gained during sushi classes in Japan. Unfortunately, halal sushi in Tokyo is not the easiest to find and can often leave some feeling excluded. It is sad to think that some people with dietary restrictions and special dietary needs have difficulty finding the iconic Japanese dish. The good news is that there are a few halal sushi restaurants in Tokyo, so regardless of your faith, you can enjoy sushi while you are in Japan.
Heading to Kansai? Check out halal restaurants in Kyoto.
Wondering where to eat halal sushi in Tokyo? Curated below is a list of three certified halal sushi restaurants in Tokyo, and one with a halal menu, where you can bring your family and friends and share delicious food and great memories. And if you're in the mood for some succulent wagyu beef, check out these halal wagyu restaurants in Tokyo to satisfy your cravings.
Halal Sushi in Tokyo
Here are a few great spots where you can enjoy Mustlim-friendly sushi in Tokyo!
- Asakusa Sushi-ken
- Halal Cafe & Sushi Akasaka Saryo Ouka
- Genki Sushi
- Itamae Sushi Ueno
1. Asakusa Sushi-ken
A great place to start is Asakusa Sushi-ken. It was the first certified halal sushi restaurant in Tokyo and only uses the freshest ingredients, all of which are prepared to halal standards. Instead of using mirin (a type of cooking sake) to make sushi rice, vinegar is used, a substitution which is equally flavorful. They have an extensive menu of sushi, which includes side dishes such as chawanmushi (savory egg custard) and miso soup. Their lunch menu changes daily, offering a variety of sushi dishes to their guests, and they also have an omakase (meaning “I’ll leave it up to you”) course of 20 items. Asakusa Sushi-ken’s menu has also expanded beyond sushi, and they offer familiar Japanese dishes such as donburi and tempura sets.
2. Halal Cafe & Sushi Akasaka Saryo Ouka
Update (March 23, 2020): Halal Cafe & Sushi Akasaka Saryo Ouka is now closed.
Halal Cafe & Sushi Akasaka Saryo Ouka is another restaurant to come by if you’re looking for certified halal sushi in Tokyo. They have an extensive menu that includes a range of dishes, from wagyu beef to Japanese sweets and desserts, but it’s also one of the few places to enjoy halal sushi in Tokyo. The restaurant is halal-certified and the owner takes special care to keep their food up to halal standards, ensuring that there is no alcohol used during the cooking process. Like many other restaurants, their sushi dishes don’t use mirin but instead use halal vinegar to help enhance the flavor of the rice. They also make sure to use the freshest ingredients available. Drop by to have a taste of their mouth-watering sushi dishes, then treat yourself to some matcha pancakes from their dessert menu! Craving some halal ramen? Akasaka Saryo Ouka is Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka’s sister shop, one of the halal ramen joints that is on our list of the 6 Best Halal Ramen Shops in Tokyo.
3. Genki Sushi
Another great place to visit for halal sushi in Tokyo is Genki Sushi. They are not halal-certified, but they do not serve pork and offer halal soy sauce to guests. While this restaurant is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, meaning the sushi dishes come past your table on a track, they have an English menu handy so you can order from the menu. Before ordering, it is highly recommended to talk to the staff so you can inform them about your dietary needs, but other than that, Genki Sushi is a nice place to visit if you’re craving for some delicious and cheap halal-friendly sushi in Tokyo.
4. Itamae Sushi Ueno
Update (March 23, 2020): Itamae Sushi Ueno is now closed.
While Itamae Sushi Ueno is not halal-certified and they serve alcohol to guests, they do offer a Muslim-friendly menu. The halal menu does not include alcohol, pork, or pork ingredients. They provide a special halal seasoning for their sushi and use separate cutting boards, knives, and kitchen tools for the items on the halal menu. Itamae Sushi Ueno also provides separate glasses and tableware for halal guests, although their seafood and vegetables are not halal-certified. The specialty at Itamae Sushi Ueno is their blue-fin tuna, and they have consistently won the tuna auction for four consecutive years. Prices are quite reasonable and the ultra-fresh ingredients are sourced from Japanese fish markets.
Check out our essential guide to halal food in Japan for more info!
