Monday, December 24, 2018

Halal Food Review in Kyoto - Osaka Japan (November, 2018)

AUTUMN  TRIP



-HALAL FOOD In Kyoto-Osaka-

The Prophet SAW said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).” [Sahih Muslim]. So, what's travelling if you don't share the knowldge that may benefit other Muslim travellers?

So, i wd try to share some knowledge/reviews on the Muslim food we had in Kyoto-Osaka last Autumn  (16-22 November, 2018).

First n foremost, I wd say Japan is now Muslim-friendly and u cn even get Halal meals once u'v arrived Kansai Airport. However, bear in mind that getting there is not a piece of cake coz  the halal food outlets are usually crowded during peak seasons (unless you are lucky). If you hv toddlers, get them entertained before they get cranky waiting!



1) Arashiyama Restaurant, Kyoto

The first Halal restaurant we had lunch was Arashiyama Restaurant,near Togetsu Bridge. We came here between our visit to Bamboo Forest and Romantic Train. (All guests must fill in their names before they call you to be seated). Although we waited for half an hour, it is worth the effort bcoz the food was superb!!! Halal wagyu is also available with 4,000 yen per meal, tempura shrimp and fried chicken are deliciously crispy and u can't just get them enough. In the autumn cool breeze, my son's hot udon soup is such a comfort food.

We warmly feel welcomed bcoz the staff are incredibly kind and friendly. Indonesian Muslims also work there and it eases the communication for the non-Japanese speakers. Spacious prayer room, together with ablution/wuduk area is also available for the guest's convenience but you need to take a permission pass before getting there.

So, this is a must-try restaurant for you in Kyoto! We also bought halal beef croquettes for our take-away dinner.  Overall, i give this place 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #arashiyama #arashiyamarestaurant #kyotojapan #muslimfoodinjapan #halalfoodinjapan🎌 #halalfoodkyoto #muslimtravelers






2) Naritaya Ramen, Osaka

Next Restaurant is Naritaya Ramen, a famous halal cafe outlet which has branches in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. However, always make sure you check their opening time to avoid dissappoinment. The cafe closes at 9pm  and we missed the great opportunity to have dinner there in Kyoto due to our late arrival. Luckily, we managed to dine in the Osaka branch. The menu here is mostly ramen (Japanese noodles), karage (deep fried chicken) and dumplings. Prayer room is also available but can only be occupied by 1-2 persons. Overall, i give this place 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #naritayaramen #karage #ramen #halalfoodinjapan🎌 #muslimtravelers #muslimfoodinjapan





3) Instanbul Table (near Legoland Osaka)

Starving for heavy lunch while playing at Legoland Osaka with kids? Instanbul Table is another halal restaurant recommended for you. Located in the same plaza, this place serves a variety of Turkish cuisines like kebab, rice, burger and dessert. The food is fairly good but the portion is small for a Mediterranean meal.

This place is definitely not for those looking for Japanese/local food but the only advantage coming here is that the prayer room is located just next to the restaurant. Plus, water tap is inside for ablution (wuduk) and this makes it convenient for guests especially Muslimah. Overall, i rate this restaurant  3/5 🌟 🌟 🌟

#muslimfoodinjapan #halalfoodinjapan🎌
#muslimtravelers #halalfoodosaka
#instanbultable #autumn🍁



4) Red Lobster

Done the whole day at Universal Studio Japan (USJ) , got hungry and cannot wait until you get home? So, this is the only Halal food restaurant you may access, located near the Hard Rock Cafe outside USJ. The restaurant highlights lobsters as their main course, but a wide range of fresh seafood menu is also available. However choices are limited as halal meal are mostly appetizers, side dish and selected lobster menu. All spaghetti 🍝 are non-halal though as they use wine🍷 etc, so we could only order their fried oyster, shrimp popcorn and snow crab.  The taste are incredibly superb and my kids can't just get them enough!

With their friendly staff, great ambiance, scrumptious mouth-watering seafood meal and fast service, i give this restaurant 4/5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟. #halalfoodinjapan🎌 #muslimfoodinjapan #muslimtravelers #halalfoodosaka #halalseafood #universalstudiojapan🇯🇵#redlobster #autumn🍁





5) Kerapirka

Tired of ramen, sushi, soba and udon? Wanted to fly to Hokkaido but your holiday ends in two days? So, this is another halal restaurant recommended for you if you wanna try a taste of Hokkaido. Halal Ainu cuisines (Japanese native food) are available here in Osaka, and the chef himself is Ainu (Hokkaido origin). Getting there requires around 10min walk from the Osaka Kids Plaza.

However, take note that this is an Italian restaurant, so the menu are mostly pizza 🍕 and pasta 🍝. From the conversation with the wife, the chef has worked in Italy for many years, guess that explains why the pizza tastes so Italian-authentic and marvellous 👌

The restaurant is cozy and relaxing, with soft background english music for the guests to enjoy. A prayer space is provided but can accomodate only 1person. We enjoyed ourself talking to the owner as she provided us a lot of info about Osaka and halal food. We received Japanese origami as souvenirs and halal travel biscuits for our kids before leaving. Overall, i rate this place 4/5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟. #kerapirka #ainucuisines #japanesenativefood #italianrestaurant🇮🇹 #halalfoodinjapan🎌 #muslimfoodinjapan #muslimtravelers #halalfoodosaka #autumn🍁








6) Creo-Ru Dotobori (Takoyaki stall)

So, if you are a fan of Takoyaki (Japanese octopus ball-dumpling), Creo-Ru Dotonbori is a place for you. The taste is justttt WOW!!! With around 500 yen, you'll get a set of big, FAT takoyaki with drizzling sweet sauce on top. And trust me, one piece is not enough. You'll be craving for more and more! 🐙🐙 I rate this place 4/5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
#creoru #takoyaki #halaltakoyaki
#muslimtravelers #muslimfoodinjapan
#halalfoodinjapan🎌 #halalosaka #halalfoodreview #autumn🍁 #lainrasadarimalaysia






7) The U-don (Kansai Airport)

'The U-don' at Kansai Airport is a must-try Halal restaurant if you feel like eating hot noodles or beef rice while waiting for your flight. Certified by the Malaysian Halal Consultancy & Training, it is a self-service restaurant which let you select your own main course & side-dish.  After ordering, wait for your meal 2be ready, place them on a tray and finally pay to the counter. You are also required to clean your own table and return your dish to the designated place after a meal. Our beef udon, beef bowl rice are delightfully yummy and flavoursome. I really enjoyed the hot tempura as well.

Other than that, I'm proud to see that the cafe's signage has Japanese and our national language translation (Bahasa Melayu) as well. No matter where i go, i bring 🇲🇾 in my heart ♥. I rate this place 4.5/5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟. #muslimtravelers #muslimfoodinjapan #halalfoodinjapan🎌 #halalfoodosaka #halalfoodinkansaiairport #halalosaka #kansaiinternationalairport #autumn🍁










Lastly, pls bear in mind that the food review is based on our personal experience and preference. As travellers with two toddlers, we have always tried our best to find a child-friendly restaurant to ensure our kids' convenience and safety.  If you visit Kyoto or Osaka, don't forget to try the restaurants we recommended. Share with us in the comments. We also hope you'll enjoy the halal Japanese meals as much as we do! ❤️❤️

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