Halal Food in Kyoto: Real Reviews of Matcha Udon, Ramen, and BBQ Spots
[Internet Repost]
I’ve put together 19 photos and real-life breakdowns of my experience dining at various Halal-certified restaurants in Kyoto, Japan, along with a price comparison in RMB. This covers everything from the matcha udon and fried chicken set at Yoshiya in Arashiyama to a taste and portion test of Halal ramen and Wagyu BBQ spots near Kyoto Station.
I had pretty high expectations for the food coming to Japan, but honestly, some spots were a total letdown. Between the steep prices, tiny portions, leaving still hungry, super salty noodles, and just not vibing with the flavors, it was hit or miss.
Yoshiya (よしや)
I wasn’t planning on hitting this spot near Arashiyama, but it ended up being the best meal I had in Japan. The udon noodles were super soft, topped with plenty of green onions, and they offer both regular and matcha-infused versions. The fried chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, seasoned with black pepper. The portions here are actually decent, so one order is enough to keep you full. The female staff wear hijabs and the restaurant provides warm water, though the service is a bit lacking since you have to pour your own water. They do accept WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Bali-Bali Indonesia
This is a great value Indonesian spot in Kyoto with a huge menu and solid flavors. The chicken ramen wasn't nearly as salty as what you get at local Japanese shops. It’s tucked away on the third floor, not right on the main street. Everything we ordered was non-spicy. The chicken ramen comes with the soup and noodles separate, so you pour the broth over the noodles yourself. The vermicelli in the soto (traditional soup) was surprisingly refreshing, though the sate (skewered grilled meat) was grilled a bit too much to the point of being burnt. There is a place for dua (prayer) on the fifth floor. Heads up: they only take cash.
Halal Ramen Honolu Premier Kyoto Nishiki
This is part of the Honolu chain, which has locations in Kyoto and Osaka. We grabbed the fried chicken ramen and chicken ramen, though the "ramen" here is basically just instant noodles. Both broths were pretty salty. The fried chicken was decent. The restaurant is on the second floor and the ventilation isn't great, so it got a bit smoky after they cooked the Wagyu. There’s a prayer room, and you can pay with your Suica card. They also sell their own Halal goodies, like instant noodles, chocolate, and seasonings. Just a heads up, the three Honolu locations near Yotsubashi aren't the ones we visited.
Ayam-YA
Since I was still hungry after Honolu, I decided to grab a bite somewhere else. Heads up: this place is cash only, and you have to order at the kiosk by the entrance before grabbing a seat inside. The fried chicken skin was super thin and crispy—it was my first time having chicken skin like that, and Japan really knows how to use every part of the bird. The shoyu (soy sauce) ramen was also a bit on the salty side.
Matahari Padang Kyoto Halal
This Indonesian spot is on the third floor of a small alley right by the Kamo River. You can see the river view from the balcony, but you can’t actually eat out there. Everything is pretty spicy, and there aren't many non-spicy options. Since I can’t handle much heat, I tried the "mild" dishes, and the food came out pretty fast. The beef tendon curry used a tom yum base with a coconut flavor, but for me, it definitely wasn't "mild"—it was pretty spicy. The chicken was marinated well, but also spicy. Keep in mind that this place is cash only. Honestly, I liked the Bali-Bali Indonesian restaurant better.
I’ll keep updating you guys on Halal food spots from around the world.
#Halal #JapanHalal #HuiMuslims #VisitJapan #JapaneseFood
I’ve put together 19 photos and real-life breakdowns of my experience dining at various Halal-certified restaurants in Kyoto, Japan, along with a price comparison in RMB. This covers everything from the matcha udon and fried chicken set at Yoshiya in Arashiyama to a taste and portion test of Halal ramen and Wagyu BBQ spots near Kyoto Station.
I had pretty high expectations for the food coming to Japan, but honestly, some spots were a total letdown. Between the steep prices, tiny portions, leaving still hungry, super salty noodles, and just not vibing with the flavors, it was hit or miss.
Yoshiya (よしや)
I wasn’t planning on hitting this spot near Arashiyama, but it ended up being the best meal I had in Japan. The udon noodles were super soft, topped with plenty of green onions, and they offer both regular and matcha-infused versions. The fried chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, seasoned with black pepper. The portions here are actually decent, so one order is enough to keep you full. The female staff wear hijabs and the restaurant provides warm water, though the service is a bit lacking since you have to pour your own water. They do accept WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Bali-Bali Indonesia
This is a great value Indonesian spot in Kyoto with a huge menu and solid flavors. The chicken ramen wasn't nearly as salty as what you get at local Japanese shops. It’s tucked away on the third floor, not right on the main street. Everything we ordered was non-spicy. The chicken ramen comes with the soup and noodles separate, so you pour the broth over the noodles yourself. The vermicelli in the soto (traditional soup) was surprisingly refreshing, though the sate (skewered grilled meat) was grilled a bit too much to the point of being burnt. There is a place for dua (prayer) on the fifth floor. Heads up: they only take cash.
Halal Ramen Honolu Premier Kyoto Nishiki
This is part of the Honolu chain, which has locations in Kyoto and Osaka. We grabbed the fried chicken ramen and chicken ramen, though the "ramen" here is basically just instant noodles. Both broths were pretty salty. The fried chicken was decent. The restaurant is on the second floor and the ventilation isn't great, so it got a bit smoky after they cooked the Wagyu. There’s a prayer room, and you can pay with your Suica card. They also sell their own Halal goodies, like instant noodles, chocolate, and seasonings. Just a heads up, the three Honolu locations near Yotsubashi aren't the ones we visited.
Ayam-YA
Since I was still hungry after Honolu, I decided to grab a bite somewhere else. Heads up: this place is cash only, and you have to order at the kiosk by the entrance before grabbing a seat inside. The fried chicken skin was super thin and crispy—it was my first time having chicken skin like that, and Japan really knows how to use every part of the bird. The shoyu (soy sauce) ramen was also a bit on the salty side.
Matahari Padang Kyoto Halal
This Indonesian spot is on the third floor of a small alley right by the Kamo River. You can see the river view from the balcony, but you can’t actually eat out there. Everything is pretty spicy, and there aren't many non-spicy options. Since I can’t handle much heat, I tried the "mild" dishes, and the food came out pretty fast. The beef tendon curry used a tom yum base with a coconut flavor, but for me, it definitely wasn't "mild"—it was pretty spicy. The chicken was marinated well, but also spicy. Keep in mind that this place is cash only. Honestly, I liked the Bali-Bali Indonesian restaurant better.
I’ll keep updating you guys on Halal food spots from around the world.
#Halal #JapanHalal #HuiMuslims #VisitJapan #JapaneseFood
