Tokyo Food Page Restaurant Listings - Middle Eastern and African restaurants

Turkish

Ikebukuro -- Cappadocia. 3987-6049

This friendly neighborhood spot offers a big menu of Turkish favorites, including numerous lamb dishes. Budget around Y2000 at dinnertime for food; multi-course prix-fixe dinners are priced Y2800-4500.

Minami-Ikebukuro 3-8-3. Open noon-10:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

Shinjuku -- Bosphoras Hasan. 3354-7947

One of the better Turkish restaurants in town, Bosphoras offers a wide selection of shish kebabs, Turkish pizzas, salads, and other authentic fare.

Shinjuku 3-6-11, 2F. Open 5-11:30pm daily.

Omotesando -- Topkapi. 3498-3510

Kita-Aoyama 3-6-26. Open 5:30-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Gaienmae -- Harem. 5786-2929

Authentic Turkish cuisine; budget around Y6000 at dinnertime. Note the new location.

Kita-Aoyama 2-3-1, C.I. Plaza B1F. Open 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Gaienmae -- Gelik. 3404-9177

There's a belly dancer Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 8pm.

Minami-Aoyama 4-9-30, 2F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Shibuya -- Ankara. 3780-1366

A very appetizing selection of appetizers and an impressive assortment of kebabs and chef's specialties for such a small restaurant. The chef isn't afraid of spices, using more red pepper and garlic than is usual for Tokyo. The interior is spare, but the music adds to the atmosphere.

Dogenzaka 1-14-9, B1F. Open 5:30-11:30pm (LO) daily.

Shibuya -- Anatolia. 3486-2995

Nicely prepared mezes and kebabs from an extensive menu. Open Mon-Sat for lunch and dinner, Sunday dinner only.

Shibuya 2-19-20. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Azabu-Juban -- Burgaz Ada. 3769-0606

The recipes at Burgaz Ada are from Constantinople, not Istanbul, as the chef is ambitiously working to recreate historical dishes from the Ottoman Empire - the roots of modern Turkish cuisine. Full-course menus Y4,800-13,000, wines from Y4,500/bottle.

Azabu-Juban 3-7-4, Azabu Rikudo 3F. Open 6pm-2am daily.

Akasaka -- Istanbul. 3501-4080

Good Turkish cooking from this Tokyo Turkish pioneer (the original Shinjuku restaurant has been in business since 1988). Belly dancing Wednesday through Saturday nights. Budget around Y4000 at dinnertime.

Nagatacho 2-14-3, Akasaka Tokyu Plaza 2F. Open 11:30am-3, 5-11:30pm. Closed Sundays.

Middle Eastern

Ikebukuro -- Palmyra. 3981-8293

Syrian cuisine; prix-fixe dinner menus from Y2800, or a la carte.

Ikebukuro 2-58-8, TO Bldg 2F. Open 5pm-midnight. Closed Mondays.

Yoyogi -- Bistro Hitsujiya. 3320-3651

Everyone's favorite Yoyogi-area all-lamb restaurant. They do kebabs from all over, cous cous and lamb steaks. There's also a big menu of Cajun specialties, including some serious gumbo.

Yoyogi 1-59-1. (located midway between Nishi-Shinjuku and Yoyogi) Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Harajuku -- Hannibal Deux. 3479-3710

Great, authentic Tunisian cooking in a cheery and spacious basement dining room. The roast fish is especially recommended. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Sendagaya 3-53-3, B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30pm-midnight. Closed Sundays.

Meguro -- Nefertiti. 5719-5455

Veteran chef Mahamout Al-Houri, who worked in a five-star hotel in Egypt before coming here, serves authentic Egyptian delicacies like grilled pigeon stuffed with rice, mulukhiya (moroheya) soup, and kushari - a mix of lentils, rice and macaroni in a spicy tomato sauce. The decor features lots of curtains, antique lamps and hookahs to set the mood, and there's belly dancing most nights. Budget around Y4-5000.

Kami-Osaki 2-17-4, 2F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Roppongi -- Aladdin. 3401-8851

Nicely done kebabs and other authentic Persian dishes, from the management of the former Ali Baba.

Nishi-Azabu 3-2-6. Open 11:30-2, 5:30-10:30pm daily.

Yotsuya -- El Saraya. 3353-9394

Egyptian cuisine. Lunch buffet Y850; prix-fixe dinners from Y5000 or a la carte.

Saneicho 1, Horiuchi Bldg 1F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.

Kagurazaka -- Agadir. 3266-1767

Tokyo's first Moroccan restaurant is a bit overpriced and short on atmosphere, but they're trying hard. Especially recommended are the pastil (chicken or seafood stuffed in a toasted rice pastry shell and topped with powdered sugar) and the cous cous.

Kagurazaka 3-6. (Walk up Kagurazaka hill from Iidabashi, turn left a block before Bishamonton Temple.) Open 5-11pm (LO) daily.

Kanda -- Al Mina. 5297-3789

Palestinian cuisine.

Kanda Tacho 2-2-3, Genki Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Nakano -- Carthago. 3384-9324

Terrific Turkish, Tunisian, and Lebanese specialties, great music, and a very comfortable atmosphere. The wine list covers the Mediterranean from Spain to Algeria to Morocco, with some nice Spanish choices. The couscous and tajine dishes are especially good, as are the lamb kebabs and the mixed appetizer platters.

Nakano 3-34-3. Open 6-10pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.

Kichijoji -- Cafe Layla. 042-226-7957

Syrian cuisine.

Kichijoji Minamicho 2-13-4, Unius Office One B102. Open 6pm-1am daily.

Sangubashi -- Kri-Kri. 5388-9376

Cozy surroundings, unhurried service (unfortunately), and foods from all over, including the Mid-East and North Africa.

Yoyogi 3-38-12. Open 6-11pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.

Higashi-Kitazawa -- Enrique Maruesco. 3467-1106

Moroccan cuisine.

Kitazawa 3-1-15, Coop Inage. Open 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Sangenjaya -- Roiseau. 3418-8603

A tiny French-style cafe (just 7 tables) serving coffee, Chinese teas, cocktails and... cous cous (Y1200 including a side of lamb chops).

Sangenjaya 2-13-17. Open 11:30am-midnight. Closed Mondays.

Futago-tamagawa -- Le Maghreb. 3709-2664

A casual cafe serving real Moroccan cuisine - lamb and dried fruit tajine, grilled snapper flavored with garlic, and spicy meat kebabs. Prix-fixe dinner is Y3900. Open till 2am Fri/Sat; lunch served on weekends.

Tamagawa 3-10-11. Open 5-11:30pm. Closed Mondays.

Yokohama Kannai -- Al Ain. 045-251-6199

Arabic, Lebanese and Moroccan food (set dinners for each, or a la carte) prepared by Lebanese owner/chef Ziad, formerly a chef at the Kuwaiti embassy. From the superb mezze and pita bread to delicious grilled meats and perfect cous cous to the sweet baklava and other desserts, you're assured of a complete Middle Eastern experience. If that isn't enough, order a hookah with a bowl of apple-flavored tobacco to share with everyone else at your table while you watch the belly dancing (Friday and Saturday nights from 8:30).

Yayoicho 2-17, Stalk Tower Ohdori-Koen Bldg. B1F. (along Ohdori Koen, about 3 min. west of Isezaki Chojamachi subway station exit 6, at Yayoicho 2-chome crossing, underneath a Family Mart) Open 6-11:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Israeli

Tameike -- Pita the Great. 5563-0851

Falafel and other hot and cold pita sandwiches. There's a small outdoor terrace seating area, or you can take out.

Akasaka 2-11-7, ATT Shinkan. Open variable hours. Closed weekends.

Ekoda -- Shamaim. 3948-5333

An Israeli restaurant and pub, one minute from Ekoda south exit. They serve falafel, humus, salads, stuffed pastries and soups, plus shish kebab and one or two other meat dishes. 50 seats; reservations recommended. The all-you-can-eat special is Y2,000. Open noon-midnight Saturdays and Sundays.

Sakaecho 4-11, Art Bldg 2F. Open 5-11pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

African

Ikebukuro -- Afiya. 6907-9338

Run by a young Japanese woman, the tiny, eight-seat Afiya is Tokyo's only Senegalese wine bar, serving Senegalese food accompanied by a mostly French wine list that starts at around Y3200/bottle.

Ikebukuro 2-13-7, Miyama Bldg 1F. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays and holidays.

Ikebukuro -- O Village. 5951-2264

Home-style cooking from Cameroon; menu highlights include spicy grilled sea bream; fufu corn dumplings; ndole (spinach and peanut paste served with shrimp and bananas); and curried okra soup. At lunchtime everything is Y500; the choice of four dishes includes couscous served with a tripe stew, and a creamy, peanut-flavored fish and chicken curry.

Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-22-13, Dai-go Nakamura Bldg 3F. Open 11am-2:30, 5pm-midnight daily.

Takadanobaba -- Couscous. 3368-3022

The menu offers just a handful of dishes - tasty and inexpensive, although not particularly African.

Takadanobaba 4-13-12. (on Waseda-dori, just past the post office) Open 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Shinjuku -- Esogie. 3353-3334

Esogie's owner Lucky Isiwe has recreated a little slice of Lagos in Shinjuku 3-Chome. Nigerian funk plays on the bar's powerful sound system, and there's always something good cooking on the stove. [Show more]

Shinjuku 3-11-2, Muraki Bldg 3F. Open 6pm-midnight (Fri, Sat -4am). Closed Wednesdays.

Ebisu -- Teranga. 3461-7475

This African bar-restaurant serves Senegalese dishes like mufe peanut stew and thiebou yapp (marinated beef with onions, olives and garlic), plus original fare like egg pizza and bar snacks.

Ebisu-Nishi 1-8-10, Takahashi Bldg 3F. Open 5pm-12:30am. Closed Tuesdays.

Hamamatsucho -- Calabash. 3433-0884

Malian and Senegalese cuisine is served here, along with South African wines.

Hamamatsucho 2-10-1. Open 6-11pm. Closed Sundays.

Akasaka -- Safari. 5571-5854

Run by a veteran of the legendary Rose de Sahara in Nishi-Shinjuku, Safari offers a range of African dishes - peanut stew, doro wat, jolof rice, Ethiopian injera - along with unusual items like fried kangaroo and roast ostrich. Budget around Y5000 at dinnertime.

Akasaka 3-13-1, Bells Akasaka 2F. Open 11am-3, 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Kagurazaka -- Tribes. 3235-9966

An African-themed restaurant with Afro-French fusion dishes and a selection of exotic meats. The wines are mostly from South Africa, and a full-course dinner for two plus a bottle of wine runs about Y10,000. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Wakamiyacho 10-7. Open 7pm-3am daily.

Kichijoji -- Africa Tairiku. 0422-49-7302

Popular with members of the African expat community, African Continent serves West African food and hosts regular concert nights. Menu suggestions include yam and fish soup, moimoi (tofu made from black eyed peas) and suiya (grilled mutton).

Kichijoji Minamicho 2-13-4, Unius Office One B103. Open 7pm-2am. Closed Mondays.

Naka-Meguro -- Queen Sheba. 3794-1801

It's hard to describe Ethiopian food as bland, but many of the dishes here taste very similar, and aren't as exciting as they ought to be. They also have live entertainment, including magic shows.

Higashiyama 1-3-1. Open 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.

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