Just a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku East Exit! Pamukkale, a Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant with a panoramic view of Shinjuku’s sparkling nightscape
Pamukkale Shinjuku is a Turkish restaurant located a three-minute walk from Shinjuku Station’s East Exit. The name “Pamukkale” refers to a Turkish tourist attraction registered as a World Heritage Site and the owner’s hometown. The entrance is located at the back of the Toshin Building, where there is a convenience store on the first floor. Take the elevator to the fifth floor to find the restaurant’s entrance.
Pamukkale Exterior
Pamukkale Interior
The spacious interior offers a panoramic view of Shinjuku through the glass walls. The Ottoman-inspired interior is beautifully decorated with Turkish lamps. Pamukkale offers traditional Turkish dishes like shish kebab and manti, as well as Mediterranean favorites like paella. If you’re unsure what to order, starting with the appetizer platter is a surefire way to go. Sample small portions of chickpea hummus, eggplant ratatouille, yogurt and spinach salad, and tomato and chili paste. Dip your platter into fluffy Turkish homemade bread.
Meze
Turkish Bread
This pide is a classic Turkish pizza shaped like a long, narrow boat. It’s topped with minced meat and eggs. This freshly baked, homemade pizza is fluffy, chewy, and delicious.
Turkish Lamb and Vegetable Pizza
It’s surprising to find gyoza in Turkish cuisine, but adding yogurt to them is even more interesting! These are Turkish-style homemade gyoza with yogurt sauce. This popular dish has even been featured on television.
Turkish-style homemade gyoza with yogurt sauce
And when it comes to Turkish cuisine, there’s the familiar kebab, a staple in Japan. At this restaurant, you can enjoy beef and chicken kebabs prepared by top Turkish chefs.
Kebab
As a Muslim country, Turkey does not eat pork, but it is known for its tolerance of alcohol. In fact, Turkish wine has a long history, and in recent years, Turkish wine has been gaining attention. In addition to Turkish wine and beer, the restaurant also offers a Turkish distilled liquor called raki, so please be sure to enjoy some Turkish alcohol along with one of the world’s three great cuisines.
Turkish cuisine, one of the world’s three great cuisines, is a deep flavor that combines Eastern and Western cuisines.
At Pamukkale, most of the staff are from Turkey, and the owner is Muslim, so there are no pork dishes on the menu. All food, including meat, is halal. The most popular item is the kebab platter. Paella was added to the menu because of the rich regional flavors and the prevalence of fish and seafood in coastal areas.
Seafood Paella
Turkish food culture has a long history, and the traditional cuisine established during the Ottoman Empire is said to have had a major impact on the world. Furthermore, as a key location on the Silk Road trade route, the country was a crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures. Surrounded by the Mediterranean and Black Seas, it has been influenced by Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and neighboring countries. While this cuisine may seem unrelated to Japanese cuisine, perhaps due to its Asian roots, it somehow finds its mysterious flavor deeply appealing.
Rice Pudding
In the back of the restaurant, traditional Turkish rugs, luxurious silk carpets, teacups, ceramics, and talismanic jewelry are on display. The shop boasts a wide selection of goods, rivaling those found at specialty shops like a local bazaar, and some items are even for sale. The carpets are laid out, and many people come here to pray.
Turkish Interior
At night, the Turkish lamps and candles glow brighter, creating a moody atmosphere perfect for a date. Pamukkale is located in the heart of Shinjuku, yet offers a laid-back atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city, offering a sophisticated drink and a relaxing drink. On weekends, we recommend spending an elegant time watching a belly dance show.
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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