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.

Delicious all-you-can-eat vegetarian curry buffet with fresh salads and Japanese mustad spinach naan.

Nataraj is an Indian vegetarian restaurant that has branches mainly across Tokyo. They offer beautiful dishes created with the wisdom of Ayurveda with an abundant of fresh vegetables grown on their own farm. These dishes are very delicious and healthy, prepared with high quality ingredients. Nataraj also attracts non-vegetarian customers who are highly conscious of beauty and health. Nataraj Harajuku Omotesando branch is a 6 min walk from JR Harajuku station and a min walk from Meijijingumae station, located on the 8th floor of Q plaza building on the Meiji street.

Inside the restaurant

Q plaza building is an urban commercial complex that has won “the good design award,” containing stores and restaurants that live up to the image of a trendy center. Nataraj takes up the entire 8th floor and has a very sophisticated atmosphere with lots of greens, you wouldn’t think it is an Indian restaurant. It is very bright and spacious with a beautiful view of the city.

Inside the restaurant

Nataraj accomodates a variety of needs for vegans and oriental vegans, lacto-vegetarians avoiding meat yet consuming dairy products which are quite common in India. They also highly value the customer’s health and wellness, therefore do not use any artificial seasonings, preservatives, artificial colorings, and genetically modified food. There are a wide selection of beautiful homestyle vegetarian curries that are made with plant-based ingredients such as beans and soymeat combined with spices and organic vegetables. As they are very particular about the quality of sugars and oils, you will notice the detoxifying effects that make your body feel healthier and lighter, instead of feeling heavy and greasy in your stomach that can often be caused by typical Indian food.
My recommendation is definitely the lunch curry buffet which is a great deal. This buffet includes 4 different types of daily curry specials, natural yeast nann, komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) nann, turmeric rice, salads, and desserts that you can help yourself to as much as you like for 90 minutes.

Lunch curry buffet (Weekday-1290yen, Weekend & public holiday-1490yen)

Nataraj curry has a lots of flavors made with soy meat, onions, tomatoes, and spicy sauces. Chunky soy meat makes this curry very satisfying.

Nataraj curry

There are 4 types of vegetable curries with different ingredients and different level of how hot it is, spicy one to mild one with milk. They have special of the day rotating the menu, so you will be excited to find out what’s available on the day of you visit.

Vegetable curry

Although the lunch buffet is an extremely reasonable price, this doesn’t mean that they compromise on the quality of the food like it can be of a typical all-you-can-eat type of restaurant. Nataraj carefully selects the ingredients such as domestically-grown wheat and natural oil with no additives. These curries are cooked with lots of roughly-cut fresh vegetables which are very satisfying, also making them enjoyable for male customers.

Nataraj also offers seasonal special menus such as “Spinach curry gourmet fair” or “Pumpkin curry gourmet fair,” prepared with fresh vegetables grown on the own farm.
Nataraj menu is written in English and Japanese with detailed information of specific dietary needs such as vegan and allergies, so they create an atmosphere that many people can enjoy their food feeling at ease.

Harajuku Omotesando branch opens for “afternoon tea time” with a variety of vegan sweets

Nataraj Harajuku Omotesando branch opens for “afternoon tea time,” which is from 3 o’clock until 5 o’clock, considered to be rare for Indian restaurants. You can enjoy Indian desserts and vegan cakes besides menu such as curries and biriyanis.

Tea time

This is a very popular item, pumpkin tart and coconut chai ice cream, topped with soy whipped cream and handmade blueberry sauce with a hint of spice, and crunchy cookies.

Pumpkin tart and coconut chai ice cream

There is another popular item called mango Syurikand, with mango and yogurt made in the kitchen. Why don’t you take a rest here after shopping with delightful cool sweets?

You will feel healthier after eating! Beautiful organic & additive-free dishes prepared with fresh vegetables from thier own farm that are great for your body and mind.

Nataraj has an unwavering concept of “to create healthy vegetable dishes that make your body happy and leave you feeling comfortable after eating, fulfilling body and mind.” Unlike the restaurants simply offering vegetalian menus, it’s their hospitality that makes Nataraj so special, being very particular about the ingredients such as natural yeast nann made of domestically-grown wheat, fresh vegetables grown on thier own farm, and additive-free oil, wishing customer’s health and wellness.

Curry meal set

As the concept suggests, there are certain people that feel the detoxifying effects such as feeling the comfortable warmth afterwards. I was one of them. I am not stoic vegetarian, but I have been choosing vegetarian/vegan options as I have not been founding meat as delicious for a while. I feel that plant-based dishes are beneficial for my body, making me feel better. Although there is much smaller population of vegetarian in Japan compared to the Western countries, I think there might be quite a few people like me who notice the benefits of plant-based diet.

It has such a great atmosphere with night views, and is a perfect place not only for those who want to enjoy food in a relaxing atmosphere and health-conscious customers, but also for girl’s parties and dinner dates.

Inside the restaurant

Please come to experience their beautiful wholesome dishes full of the original tastes of fresh vegetables with a hint of Ayuvedic ancient wisdom.

「 Nataraj Harajuku Omotesando branch」Basic information

Store name	Nataraj Harajuku Omotesando branch
Tel	03-6427-7515
Address	8F, Q plaza, 6-28-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Business hours	11:30～23:00 (L.O.22:30)
Holiday	N/A（closed on 12/31~1/1）
Budget	Lunch～1,500yen, Dinner 2500yen～3,500yen
Payment method	Card accepted：VISA, JCB, AMEX, MASTER, Union Pay
Parking Lot	N/A
Language	Japanese, Hindu
Advance reservation
Cooking description	Vegetarian Indian cuisine with fresh vegetables grown on thier own farm
Note	6 min walk from JR Harajuku station, 1 min walk from Meijijiingumae station
Store HP