Asakusa Sushi Ken

When you slip through the sliding door and enter Asakusa Sushi Ken, it feels like any other traditional Japanese sushi shop, with a sushi counter staffed by skillful chefs flashing sharp knives, a classic Japanese restaurant interior, and cheerful shouts of “irasshaimase” from the waitstaff. Unless you look at the signs outside, there’s nothing to give it away. But Sushi Ken’s unique offerings have actually made it one of the most popular restaurants in Asakusa for Muslim travelers!

Asakusa Sushi Ken specializes in Edo-mae sushi, Tokyo’s own traditional sushi style, featuring locally-caught fish, shrimp from the Hokuriku region on the Sea of Japan, Hokkaido seafood like uni (sea urchin), and many more seafood options, both fresh and cooked. What attracts many of the restaurant’s customers, however, isn’t what ingredients they use – it’s what they don’t. Despite being run by local Japanese staff, Sushi Ken has made an effort to offer sushi that uses only halal ingredients, providing a rare opportunity for the many Muslim travelers who arrive in Tokyo in search of classic Japanese food. It’s a unique oasis for many international travelers embarking on a Tokyo food tour with dietary restrictions!”

Menu Highlights

Sushi Ken is open for both lunch and dinner, but their affordable lunch sets are probably the most popular option on the menu. Order the standard sushi set for 1,800 yen to get a 10-piece plate (9 pieces of sushi and one hunk of Japanese omelette), or get the 1.5x size version for extra sushi slices and rolls, coming in at 3,000 yen – all lunch options come with a bowl of miso soup!

Both of these sets feature a rotating selection of seasonal fish and seafood, but you’re likely to get a taste of fresh tuna, salmon, and shrimp, along with some light and refreshing white fish, and whatever else the chef thinks looks best whenever you happen to visit! The restaurant carefully selects halal-certified soy sauce, vinegar, and other ingredients (consulting the local Muslim community for advice where needed), but you would never know that if they didn’t make it abundantly clear online and on the sign in front of the shop. The slices of fish are generous, and the rice is well-seasoned – this is the classic Tokyo sushi experience!

Observant diners might notice one unusual thing about the sushi at Asakusa Sushi Ken, but this rare feature actually makes it more authentic than most Tokyo sushi shops. Sushi rice is generally seasoned with a little bit of salt, sugar, and vinegar, and at Sushi Ken they use red “akazu” vinegar on the rice. Hundreds of years ago in the Edo period (1603-1868), when sushi was just arriving on the scene as a popular new street food in present-day-Tokyo, akazu vinegar was the standard choice for seasoning sushi rice! These days, it’s rare to find, making the sushi at Sushi Ken a special treat for sushi lovers who eat halal, and also those who don’t!”

A Prayer Room in Asakusa

Wondering where to find a quiet space to pray in Tokyo? With the help of the local Okachimachi Mosque, Sushi Ken set up a small prayer room for customers to use on the restaurant’s second floor. Just ask the staff to show you to the room during your visit!

Add Halal-Friendly & Authentic Tokyo Sushi to Your Asakusa Itinerary

Whether you’re locked into a packed schedule of serious sightseeing, or just planning to spend the day wandering around Asakusa and enjoying the traditional vibes, Sushi Ken is a convenient stop for lunch or dinner. Just around the corner from the shop you’ll find some of Asakusa’s most popular shopping spots, including Don Quijote and a huge Uniqlo with a giant paper lantern, while the neighborhood’s busy covered shopping arcades are just beyond. Walk just a few minutes on foot to discover Asakusa landmarks like Sensoji Temple and Hanayashiki Amusement Park, or head in the other direction to shop the huge selection of kitchenwares available along Kappabashi Kitchen Street – you can even pick up a super high-quality sushi knife like the ones you saw at the restaurant!

Asakusa Sushi Ken (浅草 すし賢)
2-11-4 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo
Hours: 12:00 – 15:00 | 17:00 – 22:00 | closed Wednesdays
Official Website (jp)

To get to Asakusa Sushi Ken, take the Tsukuba Express to Asakusa Station (just across the street), or the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Tawaramachi Station, about 7 minutes away. For travelers who are already in Asakusa to see the sights and eat the street food, the restaurant really is in the middle things, only about 4 minutes from Sensoji Temple. It’s easy to stop by for a quick sushi lunch in the middle of a busy Tokyo itinerary, but we would recommend making reservations ahead of time if possible (available via the restaurant website). Sushi Ken has a steady stream of customers throughout lunch and dinner, but it’s usually easy to make a reservation the day before you go, to make sure you get a table! Add Sushi Ken to the schedule when you want to relax, soak up the traditional Tokyo vibes of Asakusa, and enjoy some great Edo-style sushi!

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