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.
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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