What can I eat?
Pick your diet. See the Japanese dishes that are safe bets, the hidden traps to watch for (dashi, mirin, wheat in the soy), and the exact words to order a safe version or show the staff.
Food permitted under Islamic law: no pork, no alcohol, meat slaughtered correctly. In Japan, look out for mirin, cooking sake and soy sauce (which can contain alcohol) and pork-based broths.
What to watch for in Japan
- Pork in ramen broth (tonkotsu), gyoza, tonkatsu, and as a hidden topping
- Mirin and cooking sake — alcohol used in glazes, simmered dishes, teriyaki
- Regular soy sauce and miso may contain trace alcohol
- Shared fryers/grills between pork and other meats
Safe bets to order8
- SushiNaturally pescatarian. Halal-certified sushi exists (even the soy sauce). Vegetable sushi suits vegetarians — confirm the rice seasoning.
- RamenTraditionally pork-heavy, but Tokyo now has excellent fully-vegan and halal-chicken ramen.
- TempuraStandard batter is wheat (not gluten-free) and egg. Rice-flour, gluten-free and halal tempura counters now exist; vegetable courses suit vegetarians.
- YakitoriChicken-based; tare often contains mirin/sake (alcohol). For halal, choose certified yakitori or order shio and ask about the glaze.
- Wagyu beefHalal-certified wagyu yakiniku exists in Tokyo — beef slaughtered to Islamic rules, no pork or alcohol on the grill.
- SashimiNaturally pescatarian and gluten-free if you use tamari instead of wheat soy sauce.
- Japanese curryRoux often contains wheat and sometimes dairy/meat. Halal and vegan curries exist — see our picks.
- YakinikuMeat-centric. Halal-certified yakiniku exists in Tokyo (see our halal venues); tare may contain wheat or alcohol, so confirm if it matters.
How to order it safely
Show this to staff
Halal
豚肉とお酒（アルコール）は食べられません。
Butaniku to osake (arukōru) wa taberaremasen.
I can't eat pork or alcohol.
- みりんや料理酒は使っていますか？Do you use mirin or cooking sake?
- ハラル認証はありますか？Is this place halal-certified?
Always confirm your own dishes with the staff — our useful phrases make it easy.