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.

Very popular Indian restaurant offering authentic cuisine created by experienced Indian chefs

AHILYA is an Indian restaurant that has 3 branches mainly across Tokyo. They have an Indian head chef who had worked at renowned restaurant called Sagar Ratna and a chef who gained experience working at a 5 star hotel in India. The experienced Indian chefs offer authentic Indian cuisine from curries to desserts and ensure that you will enjoy the experience at AHILYA.

Osaki branch is located on the 1st floor of Gate city Osaki which is connected to the South exit of the Osaki station. You need to exit the Gate city first, then enter the the restaurant through the entrance along Yamanote street.

AHILYA Gate city Osaki branch

Inside the restaurant

Unlike inside the Gate city, it is a quiet area that feels like a hidden gem yet it is always packed at lunch time. Yoyogi, Osaki, and Utsunomiya branches specializes in Northern Indian cuisine while Aoyama branch specializes in both Northern and Southern Indian cuisine.

A wide variety of vegetarian items on the menu! Recommend by both Japanese and Indian foodies.

AHILYA’s owner is not a Muslim and they are not certified for halal restaurant. Although they offer some menu items with pork they don’t use beef on the menu since they are all Indian. There is vegetarian menu and also a menu that is free from pork and alcohol available for Muslims.
It may not be an appropriate place to eat for very religious Muslim people as AHILYA offer pork on the menu, but there are Muslim customers visiting here who are ok to eat the food as long as there is no pork in it.

The food here is not overly spicy and the flavors are not overpowering, a balanced taste can be enjoyed by Japanese people too. Tokyo is well-known for the most competitive Indian restaurant hub in Japan, foodies here are very particular about the taste and price. AHILYA has established a great reputation among both Japanese and foreigners in such competitive area.

A must try is the lunch meal set which comes with your own choice of curries from different types of special of the day. On the day of interview, I ordered a chicken curry and a shrimp curry.

Lunch menu B　￥1,000

The chicken curry was spicy and shrimp curry was mild-flavored with coconut milk. It was such a fragrant curry cooked with whole spices such as cinnamon and cardamon, going very well with a freshly baked nann. There is not a wide variety of items on the menu to chose from for lunch, but you won’t go wrong for sure.

Southern Indian style Shrimp curry

They always have at least one vegetarian curry among special of the day, so vegetarian customers can enjoy the food at ease. But the lunch meal set is usually prepared with dairy, which is for lacto-vegetarian who are most common in India. If you are stoic vegan, please ask for details.

Vegetarian set ￥1,000

Dhal curry, spinach curry, yogurt, papad Salad

Vegetarian curry makes a great match with whole meal roti. You can help yourself to nann as much as you like at lunch time.

Wholemeal tandoori roti

AHILYA is easily accessible from the station, please come by to enjoy the beautiful food.

「 AHILYA Gate city Osaki branch」Basic information

Store name	AHILYA Gate city Osaki branch
Tel	03-3492-3084
Address	1F, Gate city Osaki, 1-11-5 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Business hours	Lunch Mondays to Sundays, Public holidays　11：00～15：00 Dinner Mondays to Sundays, Public holidays　17：30～23：00（ＬＯ22：30）
Holiday	N/A
Budget	Lunch　 1,000 yen Dinner　1,000 yen～2,500 yen
Payment method	Credit card accepted（VISA,MASTER,DinersClub,AmericanExpress,JCB）
Parking Lot	Available (Gate city Osaki's parking)
Language	Japanese, English, Hindu
Advance reservation
Cooking description	Authentic Indian cuisine. All the chefs are Indian. Items with pork on the menu available, some halal items also available
Note	3 min walk from the South exit of JR Osaki station. 44 seats.
Store HP