Gohan Café MARE HALAL

In Higashi-Ikebukuro, Gohan Café MARE HALAL pairs the comfortable, everyday rhythm of a Japanese café teishoku meal with a diverse, borderless halal menu. Lunch options are broad and varied: weekly meat features, aromatic curries, stir-fries, and noodles make deciding what to order an engaging part of every visit.

The lunch lineup includes a plump, gently baked hamburg steak so tender it gives way under a pair of chopsticks. A creamy, rich demi-glace sauce mellows and enhances the savory depth of the meat. Substantial meat options also include a fragrant, crisp-fried karaage set and a beef steak lunch cooked to your liking. The accompanying small side dishes are thoughtfully prepared, with salads, simmered dishes, and soup lending home-style balance to the tray.

Another major draw is the aromatic selection of Asian and ethnic specialties. Spicy, authentically seasoned plates range from a Burmese-style shrimp, egg, and vegetable curry to Amedahin (Burmese beef curry), cashew-accented chicken korma, and seafood green Thai curry. Diners can also choose lamb couscous with vegetables or shrimp and lettuce fried rice, tailoring each meal to the mood of the day.

For a quick drink, the café blends soy milk smoothies with matcha and black sesame or komatsuna greens and fruit, with the option to swap soy milk for cow's milk. Seating includes counter spots near the front and rear, well suited for a quiet solo lunch, as well as a raised tatami-style koagari seating area for groups, keeping the atmosphere relaxed whether you stop in alone or with company.