Restaurant search site for food minorities

Supervisor / Recommender

Takako Doki

General Incorporated Association Japan Halal Business Association Secretariat Public Relations / Director

Click here for introduction

I am currently working as an editor. However, I experienced working as a cook in restrunts, hospitals, and catering industry. Looking back now, I was connected to the Idea of Hala, since then.
At one point, few decades ago, I worked in a cafeteria at an auction site. More than 60% of the visitors to the venue were foreigners, including many Muslims (There were mosque in the venue as well). I remember many people asked me about the food we serve, the types of meat and whether they are Hala qualified.
At a certain time, the cafeteria becomes lively like a festival. Because the Indian restaurant next door to the venue served food for free. Indian dish, such as biryani, curry and sweet drinks were served to the visitors. Over 100 foreigners dressed in red turbans, garabayas and folk costumes gathered in the cafeteria, and everyone had a great time surrounding the same table. Now I learned about Muslim culture, it was a fast-starting Iftar.
Also, I remember that many participants were only eating curry from the Indian restrunt, eventhough there were choices of other food. As I study about Halal, I learned that they did not chose to eat curry, but they did not have a choise. I personally think that they wanted to try some of the Japanese food, if they had a chose. I still regret that moment, when I could not do anything because of the lack of information. “Inconvenience” of food is quite different based on their cultural background, and therefore, I understand now, that it is crucial to create an environment where all people can enjoy delicious meal, regardless of their backgrounds.

In Japan, Halal food is still a minority. Many people from Muslim background visit Japan, but they fell enconvininet about it. Japan Halal Business Association advocates in the halal business: HAVO (Halal, Organic, Vegetarian, Allergy).
The idea is to aim to create products and services that many people can eat and use, regardless of their religion and various backgrounds.
Seeking for delicious, safe and secure meal is commonly shared through the nations. The time demand us to find new ways of living that transcend borders and religions. We hope that Halal will help eliminate food inconvenience and contribute to the harmony of the world where you can respect, coexist, and co-prosper with a more liberal idea to eating and enjoying food.

Refuge and sanctuary for celiac disease and wheat allergy

“Gluten Free cafe Little Bird,” located in Uehara, Shibuya-ku, is a restaurant serve dishes that do not use any wheat, gluten, or barley ingredients.

Little Bird is not well known on the gourmet review sites in Japan, but consistently high-rated throughout the year on “Trip Advisor,” a site which has the world’s largest number of travel reviews.

It has been awarded the Excellence Certificate 2017-2019 and has received great support from foreigners.
Although it is a small cafe with only about 15 seats, there are reasons why foreigners visit Little Bird.

Little Bird is a 3-minute walk from Yoyogi-Hachiman Station, located on the third floor of a building opposite the Tomigaya Library.

Since the entrance to the elevator is narrow and not noted on the signboard, it may be difficult to find the place. It is a hideaway café with a rustic atmosphere on a bare concrete wall.

The original owner of Little Bird was a patissier. And, he also had gluten allergy.
Therefore, he studied allergies and seeked a way to find safe ingredients.
Then, he developed rice flour that is suitable for cooking in order to provide delicious gluten-free dishes.

Also, Little Bird’s menu is particular about originality and taste.
A fluffy pizza, which is usually soft and sticky, is transformed into a crisp texture of rice flour.

Vegetable mix pizza

In addition to Western foods such as hamburgers, pizzas, and pastas, you can eat Japanese food such as ramen, karaage(fried chicken), udon noodles, desserts and drinks, all gluten-free.

Gluten-free ramen (soy sauce flavor)

Rice flour dumplings

For the noodle menu, Little Bird uses made-in Japan ingredients and products.
People visit Japan, but because most foods contain gluten, it is difficult to find a place where you can enjoy Ramen, Udon, and other Japanese food.
For people with gluten allergy, it is difficult to eat outside and cannot choose the menu you really want to eat.

But in Little Bird, all of the menus in the shop are gluten free, so you can choose whatever you like without checking the ingredient list. It is a place that gives “joy of eating with peace of mind” to all people.

Unique Idea emerges because the owners have Gluten allergy

The previous owner of Little Bird was allergic to gluten.
The current owner, Mr. Okamura, also has severe gluten allergy.

For this reason, he understands the feelings of those who are in the same difficult situation, circumstances of having limited food choice.
So there are a number of menus in Little Bird, regardless of the genre of food.

Mr. Okamura is very sensitive to wheat, and he does not allow any wheat products to be contained in any food.

The root of this strict idea comes from a keen desire to create a place where people with allergy can eat peacefully and without stress.
Currently, Little Bird is recruiting franchises and promoting gluten-free campaigns.

Homemade sweets with rice flour and drinks using extra virgin olive oil are also popular.

Rice flour waffle w/ butter and ice cream

Drink with extra virgin olive oil

「 Glutenfree cafe Little Bird」Basic information

Store name	Glutenfree cafe Little Bird
Tel	03-3460-8282
Address	1-1-20 Uehara, Shibuya-ku jp building 3F
Business hours	12:00〜20:00
Holiday	Irregular Holidays, posted on SNS
Budget	～2000yen
Payment method
Parking Lot	N/A
Language	English
Advance reservation	No Reservation Available
Cooking description	Gluten-free cafe using 100% made in Japan-rice flour
Note	237m from Yoyogi-Hachiman Station, 15 seats
Store HP