STAR KEBAB
+ AKIHABARA, TOKYO

The moment I turned the corner and saw this place, I thought, “Finally, they got some seats and stuck a roof over one.” Surely you’ve seen them, the kabob truck fixtures about the streets of Tokyo with their giant, glistening spindles of meat and that alluring sweet aroma. In my opinion, it’s a tough sell in a city with no benches and a constant flow of pedestrian traffic. Eating a big messy pita isn’t an easy task in Tokyo. It looks like that’s about to change though, with the introduction of STAR KEBAB.

Just a short walk from JR Akihabara station, STAR KEBAB may be small, but their indoor seating is warm and welcoming. What’s funny is that few people would make the connection between Akihabara and kebab cuisine, but you would be surprised how many you’ll find down the grid-like back streets of Akihabara. Among them though, STAR KEBAB is surely the king. With an easy photo menu and lots of variety including several specialities such as Kofte(Turkish meatballs!) and an odd “White Energy” yoghurt drink, this restaurant is sure to please. For those with a big appetite, there are two sizes offered for most dishes, regular, and “big boy.” Prices typically range from 600 yen to 1,100 yen per dish. Rather than settle for one item, I chose their recommended combination plate, the, “Gotchiso Set” of sliced beef and roasted chicken(1,100 yen). I was offered a choice of three types of dressings for the meat, normal, spicy, or their house special.

After a short wait, my plate was served steaming hot with generous portions of meat and salad. The beef was tender and delicious, thoroughly seasoned and perfectly cooked. The dressing was tangy and creamy, a good compliment for the roasted meat. Easily one of those dishes you could eat for a long time and always feel like you have room for more. The chicken was the kind we daydream about, roasted to the point where the skin was crisp and falling off and the meat was all juicy and nice. A great combination, and the perfect size for a long day of walking and nerd shopping in Akihabara.

If you’re in a hurry and don’t feel like sitting down, they have an open window for express service. Staff are multilingual, my waitress was very friendly and spoke English(I think most of the staff were Turkish). There are two locations, one is the main restaurant(titled Akiba Terrace) and the other is a take away stall(see map). If you’re not in the mood for Japanese curry or fried pork on rice, this is a great alternative to the usual Akihabara standards.

STAR KEBAB
Station: JR Akihabara
Tel: 03-6804-8330
URL: www.kebab.co.jp

(4 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)

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