A legendary kebab shop from Roppongi is back in Akihabara! A casual Turkish restaurant that opened in November 2021
Deniz Turkish Cafe & Bar is a casual Turkish restaurant that opened in November 2021.
Deniz Turkish Cafe & Bar
Located in Akihabara Electric Town, a hotbed of doner kebab. The surrounding area is packed with kebab shops, including Star Kebab, Moses’ Kebab, and Antep Kebab, making it hard to imagine how many there are. At Deniz Turkish Cafe & Bar, you can enjoy a unique menu that’s a little different from other restaurants, from kebabs to appetizers and desserts. This family-run restaurant is originally from Turkey, and the staff are Muslim. While they serve alcoholic beverages like beer, all food is halal. The owner is the handsome young man, Bekir.
Owner Bekir
Having lived in Japan for 12 years, he speaks fluent Japanese. This family-run restaurant has long operated numerous kebab shops, and they leveraged their know-how to open a restaurant in Akihabara. Apparently, Akihabara has many kebab shops, but no place where you can eat proper Turkish food, so they specifically chose this location, where there are rows of kebab shops. The name of the shop, Deniz, means “big sea.”
There are plenty of vegetarian options too! Even if you’re tired of Akihabara’s kebabs, you can still enjoy these original dishes.
The restaurant’s signature dish, the COUPLET KEBAB, offers a unique flavor that even those craving Akihabara kebabs will enjoy. This lasagna-like kebab features thinly sliced beef, cheese, and a tomato-flavored sauce wrapped around a thin, chewy wheat dough.
COUPLET KEBAB – 1,200 yen
The rich yogurt sauce drizzled on top melts in your mouth along with the cheese, creating a creamy texture. It’s surprisingly richer and more delicious than it looks. It’s large enough to serve three people! It’s a satisfying dish perfect for sharing with a group.
COBAN KAVURMA is a stir-fry made with onions, bell peppers, garlic, lamb, and plenty of vegetables. The tartness of the tomatoes complements the lamb perfectly, and the meat juices soak into the rice, creating a dish that’s twice as delicious.
COBAN KAVURMA 1,300yen
If you’re tired of meat, we recommend this falafel sandwich. Falafel is a croquette-like dish made from mashed chickpeas mixed with herbs and spices like parsley and deep-fried.
FALAFEL SANDWICH
Crunchy vegetables topped with freshly fried falafel, pickles, and yogurt sauce make for a truly delicious meal. They also offer a wide variety of healthy dishes suitable for vegetarians. They offer hummus and other vegetarian options, including eggplant and chili and tomato paste, which can also be used as dips, making them a great palate cleanser for meat. Many of the dishes are mildly seasoned, not too spicy, and are well-suited to Japanese palates.
FALAFEL PLATE
At night, the bar transforms into a moody atmosphere, illuminated by Turkish mosaic glass lamps.
Akihabara is known as a kebab hotspot, with many kebab shops concentrated in a small area. This large number of shops also means a fair number of customers who are sensitive to quality taste and service. DENIZ is a famous kebab shop known only to those in the know, located in Roppongi and Ikebukuro. Under the same management, the food is guaranteed. The Turkish cuisine, carefully prepared by a veteran chef with over 30 years of experience, is beautifully presented and flavorful.
While many small kebab shops don’t offer dine-in options, this restaurant offers restaurant-quality service and a pleasant atmosphere at kebab prices, making it a recommended choice. At night, the restaurant transforms into a moody bar illuminated by Turkish lamps. With Turkish videos playing on the monitors, you’ll almost forget you’re in Akihabara’s electronics district.
Inside the restaurant
When it comes to kebab in Akihabara, the image of “stand-up eateries” and fast food restaurants on Junk Street is strong, but this restaurant is more of a restaurant. From appetizers to kebabs, desserts, and tea, this is a reasonably priced restaurant that’s also welcoming to women.
BAKLAVA
TURKISH TEA
Supervisor / Recommender
- Halal Supervisor and Foreigner Food Coordinator (Cooking, Consulting, Public Relations)
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Click here for introduction
I currently work as an editor, but my previous job was as a chef, with many years of experience working in hospitals, restaurants, and the food service industry. Looking back, I think my connection to halal may have already been there.
Decades ago, I once worked in a cafeteria at an auction venue. Over 60% of the visitors were foreigners. Many Muslims were present, and the venue had a mosque-like prayer space. I remember being frequently asked questions about whether the meat was halal and what kind of meat it was. At certain times, the cafeteria would become as lively as a festival. The Indian restaurant next door would generously serve free biryani, curry, and sweet drinks to everyone who came. Over 100 people, including people wearing bright red turbans, galabeyas, and traditional attire, gathered in the cafeteria, all sitting around the same table and enjoying a truly enjoyable time. Looking back, it was iftar, the end of fasting, and I understand the significance of sharing, but at the time I was ignorant of halal and Islam, and didn't even consider how to respond. They only ate the curry made by the Indians in the restaurant. As I studied halal, I realized, "I wanted to eat Japanese food, but I couldn't." I regret not doing anything even though there was something I could have done.
If only it didn't contain pork! If only it didn't contain wheat or buckwheat! I could eat it... Food insecurity is different for each person.
That's why I think it's important to learn about the differences in culture, religion, and lifestyle that underlie it, and to create an environment where everyone can enjoy delicious meals in comfort.
The desire for delicious, safe, and secure food is universal. The times are calling for people to live in new ways that transcend borders and religions. I hope that halal can be a gateway to eliminating food insecurity, contributing even in some small way to a society where people can coexist and prosper with more liberal thinking, and to global harmony beyond.
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