Halal Izakaya “Hikaruya” to open in Jujo Shopping Street on February 10, 2023
Hikaruya is an izakaya located a two-minute walk from Jujo Station. While there are many izakayas in every city, it’s rare to find one run by a Muslim. This izakaya is a rare find, as almost all of its food is halal. Hikaruya is located on the second floor, up the stairs to the left of the clothing store Popo Midoriya, just off the Jujo Ginza Shopping Street from Jujo Station.
Exterior
Entrance
The manager is Ahmed, originally from Bangladesh. He originally came to Japan to study. He fell in love with the country and decided to work here. He worked in the IT industry for a while, but was captivated by the excitement of the food and beverage industry and began working at an izakaya. He learned izakaya menus and Japanese language skills while working, and later served as assistant manager at an izakaya before going independent. He spent over 20 years in Japan and is now a naturalized Japanese citizen. He speaks fluent Japanese, is cheerful, and is a great conversationalist.
Inside the restaurant
Many people are aware that Muslims are prohibited from eating pork and drinking alcohol. So, is a Muslim-run izakaya a contradiction? Some may wonder, so we asked the manager. According to Ahmed, while alcohol is indeed haram, he wanted to create a place that people of all nationalities and religions, including Muslims and Japanese, could enjoy. While working in the food and beverage industry, he realized that izakayas are a place where communication with Japanese people can easily take place and where people can become friends. He opened his current restaurant in February 2023. Therefore, to ensure that Muslims can dine with peace of mind, there are no pork dishes on the menu. Everything on the food menu is halal, except for the yakitori chicken thighs.
Five-piece omakase skewers
This is the restaurant’s popular handmade beef menchi-katsu. The batter is freshly fried and crispy, while the inside is plump and delicious.
Menchi-katsu
Despite the recent rapid rise in prices, the manager’s desire to “allow customers to eat and drink freely without worrying about money” led to low prices on all menu items. When the restaurant first opened, sours and highballs were priced at just 100 yen, so cheap that customers were worried. As Muslims, we didn’t want to make a profit off alcohol, so we operated at prices close to cost. However, we now offer draft beer for just 270 yen and chuhai for just 180 yen. Even so, these prices are still quite reasonable. In addition to standard menu items like skewers and pickles, Senbero Izakaya also offers snacks and desserts from Ahmed’s home country of Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi-style parfait
The homey atmosphere of Jujo, where perfection isn’t required, is comfortable! Food menu starts from 110 yen, offering great value for money.
Hikaruya is known for its reasonable food prices, starting at ¥110, and excellent hospitality. Here are some popular dishes. A must-try when visiting Hikaruya! The 15cm-long giant fried shrimp is ¥297. It’s served with a generous amount of tartar sauce.
Minced Cutlet Giant Fried Shrimp
The popular vegetable pizza is topped with a crispy thin crust and plenty of vegetables and cheese. The generously topped ground beef pizza is ¥550.
Various pizzas ¥550
All ground meats are halal. They also offer whole roasted chicken by reservation. Their party courses are also very affordable. Hikaruya is often run by the manager alone, so cooking may take some time depending on the restaurant’s occupancy. The building is a bit old and not particularly stylish. It may not be suitable for those looking for the quality of a major izakaya chain, but it has received very positive online reviews, with comments such as, “It’s incredibly cheap, but the food is delicious and the service is amazing! You can tell they’re working really hard, and the manager is a really kind and nice person.” “The interior is like a vacant room, but it’s clean.” “It has a mysterious coziness that really reflects the Jujo spirit of not paying attention to the details, and it really is Kita Ward!!”
The manager’s kind personality makes this an izakaya you’ll want to support.
They also have some unusual menu items, such as an assortment of Bengali snacks including samosas and spring rolls, so be sure to give them a try.
Appetizer kebab
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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