Nasco Food Court on Islam Alley (イスラム横丁) in Tokyo’s Koreatown “Shin Okubo (新大久保)” offers traditional, Japanized Turkish-ish doner kebabs with chopsticks.
In Shin Okubo.
Shin Okubo (新大久保) is Tokyo’s biggest Koreatown. The neighborhood is diverse: there is a street filled with halal-friendly shops and restaurants. People call it “Islam Alley (イスラム横丁 / Islam Street / Islamic Alley / Islamic Street).”
Nasco Food Court at Islam Alley in Shin Okubo.
At Nasco Food Court.
Nasco Food Court’s menu.
Islam Alley’s iconic eatery is Nasco Food Court. It’s more of a kebab stand than a restaurant. Nasco Food Court’s signboard says “INDIAN DELICIOUS CURRY ARABIAN FOOD / TURKISH FOOD.” That’s a perfect dosage of pleasant exoticism to Japanese eyes.
In Japan, desi food and Middle Eastern food – more precisely, Indian food and Persian food – are often mixed up. It’s basically Freddie Mercury. The Middle Eastern section is often reigned by Turkish-ish doner kebabs featuring cumin-dominated ketchup mayo sauce. This whole gastronomic range is absolutely queer and delicious.
My Japanese Turkish-ish doner kebab served with chopsticks.
Japanese Turkish-ish doner kebab is my favorite Japanese food. It’s only second to “American dog.”
Japanese Turkish-ish doner kebabs never screw up. Whether you’re in Tokyo or Kyoto, you get the same result because it’s Japan. Nasco Food Court’s doner kebab was as good as it gets. This dish has been my flavor of Tokyo trips since the Abdullah Gül era (2007-2014).
P.S. At my table was a textbook for Japanese learners. Someone was obviously studying here while working on his/her/their(really?) business. This is Japan’s Ninomiya Sontoku (二宮尊徳)-level hard work. I highly appreciate it.
Nasco Food Court | 2−10−8 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, 〒169-0073, Japan
