Last updated: July 5, 2026
If you have dietary restrictions, “probably fine” isn’t good enough. That’s why every restaurant on this site is checked against primary sources — official certification lists, the restaurant’s own website or social media, or direct confirmation from the restaurant — before we publish it.
We never guess, and we never copy information from other blogs or listing sites. Here is exactly what our labels mean, and what we check before using them.
Our Halal Labels
🟢 Certified Halal
The restaurant holds halal certification from a recognized certification body in Japan. We confirm the restaurant appears on the certifier’s official list before using this label, and we name the certification body in every article.
What we check: certifier’s official list, scope of certification (whole restaurant vs. specific menu), date we confirmed it.
🟡 Muslim-Friendly
The restaurant is not certified, but has officially stated (on its website, official social media, or in-store signage) that it accommodates Muslim guests — for example, no pork and no alcohol used in cooking.
“Muslim-friendly” means different things at different restaurants. So we never use this label alone: every Muslim-Friendly listing includes a detail box telling you exactly what the restaurant does and does not do:
- Pork and pork-derived ingredients (lard, gelatin, tonkotsu broth): used or not
- Alcohol in cooking (including mirin and cooking sake, which many travelers don’t know about): used or not
- Halal-slaughtered meat: used or not
- Separate cooking equipment: yes / no / unconfirmed
If we could not confirm something, the detail box says “unconfirmed” — we will never fill a gap with a guess.
🟠 Pork-Free
No pork or pork-derived ingredients, but the restaurant may use mirin, cooking sake, or other alcohol-based seasonings, and the meat is not necessarily halal-slaughtered.
This label is for travelers with a more flexible personal standard. If you follow a strict standard, Pork-Free restaurants are not suitable for you — and we say so on every listing.
Our Vegetarian & Vegan Labels
🟢 Vegan
The restaurant officially offers vegan food — either the entire menu or a dedicated vegan menu — and we have confirmed that the dashi (stock) and seasonings are plant-based too.
This matters because Japan’s biggest hidden trap for vegetarians is dashi, the fish-based stock used in miso soup, noodle broth, simmered dishes, and many sauces. A dish with no visible meat or fish is very often not vegetarian. We check for it specifically. (Read our full guide to the dashi problem.)
🟡 Vegan Options
A regular restaurant with clearly designated vegan dishes on the menu. We name the exact dishes in the listing. We do not list restaurants that “can probably accommodate you if you ask” — that’s not something you can rely on when you walk in.
🟠 Vegetarian-Friendly
Meat-free and fish-free dishes are available, but stocks or seasonings may contain fish (dashi) or other animal products. Suitable for flexible vegetarians and pescatarians; not suitable for vegans or strict vegetarians.
The “Last Verified” Date
Restaurants change — menus, suppliers, owners, and certifications all change. Every listing on this site shows a Last verified date at the top. If a listing hasn’t been re-checked in over 12 months, we flag it so you know to double-check before visiting.
If you visit a restaurant and find that something we published is out of date, please tell us via our contact form. We re-verify reported listings within 72 hours.
One Honest Disclaimer
We verify carefully, but we are a guide — not a guarantee. Restaurants can change their menus or practices at any time without notice. If your requirements are strict, please confirm directly with the restaurant before you visit. Every listing includes the restaurant’s name and address in Japanese so you can show it to staff and ask.
Please double-check before you visit. Restaurant menus and policies can change without notice. This guide reflects what we verified as of the date shown above, following the process described in How We Verify. If your requirements are strict, please confirm directly with the restaurant — and if you spot something outdated, let us know. Full disclaimer here.