Zaeka (Fukuoka): Pakistani Biryani by a Karachi Chef, Islamic-Slaughtered Meat

Since 2008, Zaeka has been Tenjin’s Pakistani anchor: biryani made by a Karachi-born chef, with the shop’s own website stating the meat is slaughtered according to Islamic law. The chicken biryani sells out at 25 servings a day, and lunch courses start well under ¥1,000 — one of the cheapest reliable halal-meat meals in central Fukuoka.

What We Verified

• Islamic-slaughtered meat, stated officially — the shop’s “kodawari” page describes slaughter according to Islamic law and cooking free of animal-fat oils. Checked July 9, 2026.
• No alcohol served; pork-free — per its Halal Gourmet Japan listing (third-party but consistent with the shop’s positioning; the Instagram handle itself is @zaeka_fukuoka_halal).
• Prices — lunch courses ¥780–1,380; dinner courses ¥1,380–2,800.
• Open since 2008 — a long-running fixture near Oyafuko-dori.

What We Could Not Confirm

• Certification body (none named — self-declared).
• Mirin / alcohol-based seasonings (no official statement).
• Vegetarian menu availability (older listings mention it; current menu page doesn’t show it).
• Sunday schedule (site shows both “closed Sunday lunch” and “open year-round” — call 092-732-7513).

What to Order

The chicken biryani (25 servings/day, first come) — order mutton biryani a day ahead. The Otsu course (rice, two curries, salad, soup, drink) at ¥1,380 is the easy dinner pick.

Useful Phrases

お肉はハラール屠畜ですか?
Oniku wa harāru tochiku desu ka? — “Is the meat halal-slaughtered?”

カレーのベースに動物性のブロスは使っていますか?
Karē no bēsu ni dōbutsusei no burosu wa tsukatte imasu ka? — “Does the curry base use animal stock?”

ナンに卵や乳製品は入っていますか?
Nan ni tamago ya nyūseihin wa haitte imasu ka? — “Does the naan contain eggs or dairy?”

Restaurant Information

Map

A Karachi Kitchen, Since 2008

Zaeka has been operating from the same second-floor location in Tenjin’s Maizuru district since 2008, run by a Karachi-born chef, serving the same Pakistani menu — biryani, medicinal-spice curries, kebabs — that the shop opened with. Its trajectory tells you something about how Muslim food infrastructure in Japan has evolved. When Zaeka opened, halal-conscious restaurants were a genuine rarity in Fukuoka; the shop was one of a handful of options for the small local Muslim community. By 2026, it’s still one of the shorter list of halal-oriented restaurants in the city, but the context around it has shifted — international students, business visitors, Southeast Asian tourists have all grown as customer bases. What hasn’t changed is the shop’s commitment to selling out its 25 daily chicken biryanis on a first-come basis, and to keeping lunch course prices below ¥1,500. It’s a straightforward place, priced honestly, run by people who know their tradition.

Follow the Shop Directly

The most current photography of any restaurant comes from the restaurant itself. Here’s where Zaeka posts.

📷 Instagram · @zaeka_fukuoka_halal · See the shop’s own photos →

Please double-check before you visit. Restaurant menus and policies can change without notice. This listing was verified on the date shown above using the sources 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.