A must-visit muslim Chinese restaurant in Tokyo, Aliya Ikebukuro offers a wide range of authentic Xinjiang cuisines. Enjoy a hearty lunch with free flow buffet to go with your main dish!
One of our most favorite things to do when we’re in Tokyo is exploring new restaurants. This time, we’re traveling a little bit north to Ikebukuro to try the top rated Chinese restaurant in Tokyo: Aliya Ikebukuro. Located within the walking distance from Ikebukuro Station, Aliya is an established Chinese restaurant, highly recommended by the Chinese community.
Though the Google Maps review is not so high (3.8/5), we trust our Chinese friends’ recommendation to check it out!
See also: Japanese Approved: Seven Best Halal Food in Tokyo
Aliya Seishimbishoku Ikebukuro
Address: 〒171-0021 Tokyo, Toshima City, Nishiikebukuro, 1 Chome−43−3 日精ビル 2F (Google Maps)
Located in a major shopping and entertainment district of Ikebukuro, Aliya (中華×完全個室 アリヤ清真美食 池袋店) is a go-to place for Chinese students and workers in Tokyo. Despite being surrounded by Chinese-owned eateries and establishments, the restaurant is always bustling with customers. When we visited for lunch recently, most tables were already occupied by groups, which is a rare sight for a halal restaurant in Japan.
Like most restaurants in Japan, Aliya offers a special lunch menu with a cheaper price. There is also all you can eat buffet for a limited time. With only 980 yen, you can choose variety of lamb and meat dishes for the main. As for the buffet, it is a free flow white rice, soup, side dishes, dessert, and drinks. The buffet usually finishes at 1-2 pm, so it’s better to come early.
Other than the lunch menu, you can also order dishes from the grand menu. We really recommend the lamb skewers! You can enjoy juicy and tender grilled lamb, full of flavors for 140 yen per skewer (min. 3 skewers). Top it off with almond tofu and mandarin oranges to complete your meal!
If you visit outside of lunch time, they also give a fruit plate for free. A great way to cleanse your palate after oily and spicy meal. (By the way, for me it didn’t feel as greasy as other restaurants✨).
Recommended Menu at Aliya Ikebukuro
- Lamb skewers ラム肉串焼き! It doesn’t smell gamey at all!
- The beef noodle 牛肉刀削麺 – If you like Chinese hand-pulled, La Mian, noodles, here they serve a wide and thin noodles! The noodles are very fresh and chewy, but also silky in texture.
- Stir-fried thinly sliced lamb 薄切ラム肉の炒め煮
- Steamed dumplings 水餃子
If you come in large groups (for sharing), we also recommend to try their stir-fried dishes!
More about Aliya Seishimbishoku Ikebukuro
Since the restaurant is very popular among Chinese, most of the staff speak Chinese and limited (loud) Japanese. This can come off as rude for some people, but we personally don’t have issues with the service style. Though if you don’t speak either languages, it’s better to request for English Menu to make ordering easier.
Another thing that we noticed is the muslim-influenced interior. Perhaps because it specializes in Xinjiang or Uyghur cuisine, the restaurant is heavily influenced by muslim cultures.
How to Get to Aliya Ikebukuro
To get to Aliya, you can take JR or Tokyo Metro to Ikebukuro Station. The restaurant is 200 meters from the JR North Exit.
Pros
- Diverse menu – all Halal
- Amazing food 10/10
- Huge portions, suitable for sharing
- Strategic location, not far from Ikebukuro Station
- Good for take out!
Cons
- A little noise issue, which can be bothersome especially if you’re with small kids
- Cleanliness is not top-notch
| Halal Status | Self-certified |
| Capacity | 150 seats |
| English Menu | Available upon request |
| Business Hours | 11:00 – 23:00 Lunch 11:00 – 14:00 (L.O. 13:30) |
| Payment Method | Cash Paypay |