Enjoy snack time at Halal Bakery “Café Liasion” in Tokyo *This shop is no longer Halal certified

*This shop is no longer selling Halal certified products, but still selling Muslim-friendly products. (Non-pork, Non-alcoholic, etc.)

Written by Sk. Nishat Abdullah-san

Bakery foods are usually considered as non essential food in daily life and not usually included in daily lunch or dinner menu. But they are essential elements in snack times. Everyone likes to have snacks along with tea or coffee while meeting or talking to friends or colleagues. Muslims in Japan are also not out of this community. In Islam, keeping communication and meeting friends or relatives is considered a noble performance. The question is that, how much scope the Muslim people have in Tokyo to arrange a snack time for friends or family members? The answer is, very few. Tokyo is stuffed with a lot of famous café and bakery shops filled up with customers. But, none of them are Halal and therefore, a very few Muslims visit there. Even in some café, the environment is not always Muslim friendly. So, Muslim people cannot enjoy snacks, tea, or coffee along with their family members like growing kids or conservative wives.
Café Liasion is a Halal bakery shop which provides us the opportunity for enjoying mouthwatering snacks prepared undoubtedly from Halal ingredients in a totally Muslim friendly environment. The environment is very much Muslim friendly because, staffs serving here are mostly ladies wearing Islamic dresses along with “Hijab” (An Islamic custom for the ladies to cover their hair with a piece of cloth). This reminds even non Muslims about the holy and peaceful regulations of Islam. The interior is gorgeous, but calm and quiet.
Previously, I thought that, as the bakery foods are made usually from flour, milk, sugar etc. ingredients which are undoubtedly Halal. But, later I came to know that, Japanese bakery products sometimes contain “Gelatin” and “Shortener” which are usually made from pork elements. So, they are not always Halal. This should be known by all Muslim newcomers in Tokyo. Here arises the necessity for the bakery foods to be prepared in Halal way. Moreover, most of the Muslim people in Tokyo usually take their daily food cooked in house. But, bakery foods like breads are not such as to be easily prepared in house. So, at this moment it seems to feel the need for more and more bakeries preparing Halal foods in Tokyo in order to make the stay in Tokyo for Muslims more comfortable.
About the foods, they are fantastic in a word. Around 20 menus they have. Some of them are namely Cinnamon roll, Raisin ball, Walnut bun, Soft bagel, Cheese bagel, Whole wheat bun, Strawberry patties etc. Among them Cinnamon roll and Strawberry patties were most tasty to me. There are also a number of Halal drinks as a companion for the snacks which are also tasty. Mango smoothie was awesome.
Café Liasion is a place which would be beyond imagination for the Muslims who have been living here for long time. But, now a days, a widespread campaign for the Muslim friendly Japan has made a lot of change. I think the owners of the other Halal restaurants in Japan can also think about the dress code for their staffs to be conservative according to the regulations of Islam which will inspire more Muslims to visit their restaurants. This will also inspire Muslim girls in Japan to work in these restaurants and companies. I wish the prosperity of this campaign in the long run.