Sushi is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Japan. Healthy and delicious, sushi is the go-to dish that you can snack on at any time of the day. You can eat it for breakfast at Tsukiji Market along with hot miso soup or as a late-night snack at a rotating sushi bar.
You can even whip up a serving or two of sushi in the comforts of your home, with skills gained during sushi classes in Japan. Unfortunately, halal sushi in Tokyo is not the easiest to find and can often leave some feeling excluded. It is sad to think that some people with dietary restrictions and special dietary needs have difficulty finding the iconic Japanese dish.
The good news is that there is at least still one halal sushi restaurant in Tokyo, so regardless of your faith, you can enjoy halal sushi in Japan!
Heading to Kansai? Check out halal restaurants in Kyoto.
Watch: Halal sushi and ramen in Tokyo
Allow byFood host Shizuka Anderson to take you on a tour of Tokyo's best halal ramen and sushi spots!
Or, to experience it for yourself, join one of our Japanese halal food tours — you'll get to try halal-friendly Japanese food, learn about halal in Japan and dining etiquette, plus so much more.
Find out more: Ramadan in Tokyo & Where To Eat
Halal sushi in Tokyo
1. Asakusa Sushi-ken
A great place to start is Asakusa Sushi-ken. It was the first certified halal sushi restaurant in Tokyo and only uses the freshest ingredients, all of which are prepared to halal standards. Instead of using mirin (a type of cooking sake) to make sushi rice, vinegar is used, a substitution that is equally flavorful.
They have an extensive menu of sushi, which includes side dishes such as chawanmushi (savory egg custard) and miso soup. Their lunch menu changes daily, offering a variety of sushi dishes to their guests, and they also have an omakase (meaning “I’ll leave it up to you”) course of 20 items.
Asakusa Sushi-ken’s menu has also expanded beyond sushi, and they offer familiar Japanese dishes such as donburi and tempura sets.
Find out more: Best affordable omakase sushi in Tokyo
Halal sushi in Tokyo: Now closed
2. Halal Cafe & Sushi Akasaka Saryo Ouka
Halal Cafe & Sushi Akasaka Saryo Ouka is another restaurant to come by if you’re looking for certified halal sushi in Tokyo. They have an extensive menu that includes a range of dishes, from wagyu beef to Japanese sweets and desserts, but it’s also one of the few places to enjoy halal sushi in Tokyo.
The restaurant is halal-certified and the owner takes special care to keep their food up to halal standards, ensuring that there is no alcohol used during the cooking process. Like many other restaurants, their sushi dishes don’t use mirin but instead use halal vinegar to help enhance the flavor of the rice.
They also make sure to use the freshest ingredients available. Drop by to have a taste of their mouth-watering sushi dishes, then treat yourself to some matcha pancakes from their dessert menu! Craving some halal ramen?
Akasaka Saryo Ouka is Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka’s sister shop, one of the halal ramen joints that is on our list of the best halal ramen in Tokyo.
3. Genki Sushi
Before ordering, it is highly recommended to talk to the staff so you can inform them about your dietary needs, but other than that, Genki Sushi is a nice place to visit if you’re craving some delicious and cheap halal-friendly sushi in Tokyo.
4. Itamae Sushi Ueno
As of March 23, 2020, Itamae Sushi Ueno is closed.
While Itamae Sushi Ueno is not halal-certified and they serve alcohol to guests, they do offer a Muslim-friendly menu. The halal menu does not include alcohol, pork, or pork ingredients. They provide a special halal seasoning for their sushi and use separate cutting boards, knives and kitchen tools for the items on the halal menu.
Itamae Sushi Ueno also provides separate glasses and tableware for halal guests, although their seafood and vegetables are not halal-certified. The specialty at Itamae Sushi Ueno is their blue-fin tuna, and they have consistently won the tuna auction for four consecutive years.
Prices are quite reasonable, and the ultra-fresh ingredients are sourced from Tokyo's fish markets.
To find more open halal restaurants in Tokyo, read our Essential Guide to Halal Food in Japan.
Hungry for halal wagyu beef? Check out these halal wagyu restaurants in Tokyo to satisfy your cravings.
Editor's note: This blog was originally written by Catherine Flores. It was updated by the byFood team in February, 2025.