An assortment of kabobs at Aladdin, a Persian restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
Aladdin Hiroo is one of those hole-in-the-wall restaurants that most people miss, but once you discover it, you’ll fall into another world of flavor.
The Persian restaurant is nestled on the outskirts of Shibuya in a residential area called Hiroo. As you walk to the restaurant, you can hear shops along the street playing “Holding Out for a Hero,” by Bonnie Tyler.
Aladdin serves traditional Persian food at affordable prices. I started with the baba ganoush, an eggplant and sesame-paste dip topped with olive oil and garlic that paired perfectly with naan. The price of the dip was 825 yen, or about $5.25.
Like most Middle Eastern restaurants, the kabob is a staple at dinnertime, and the way it’s prepared at Aladdin is true to its origins.
Naan from Aladdin, a Persian restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
The chef molds the seasoned minced meat onto a metal skewer by hand to get the ridges that give the kabob its signature look, then slowly cooks it over an open flame, fanning it from time to time.
While you may not get an actual view of them preparing the food, the Aladdin’s Instagram page shows behind-the-scenes explanations of how they make their dishes.
The main courses I tried were the Ghafghazi kabob, a mix of lamb and chicken, and the kubideh kabob, which is minced beef and lamb. The Ghafghazi plate was 2,090 yen, or about $13.29, and the kubideh plate was 2,750 yen, or about $17.49.
Baba ganoush, an appetizer from Aladdin, a Persian restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
The Ghafghazi plate is perfect for those who do not want the full gamey flavor of a lamb kabob. The chicken flavor is dominant with just a hint of lamb. By the end of dinner, I was scooping up all the baba ganoush and meat sauce with my remaining naan so as not to leave a drop of flavor behind.
One of the best parts of the experience at the restaurant was meeting Hamid Mehdikhani, originally from Tehran, Iran, and now the host and server. He was friendly and attentive, adding just the right amount of conversation throughout the meal.
When I asked what brought him to Japan, he said, “The money.” His warm personality and easy conversation were the perfect complement to dinner.
The interior of Aladdin Hiroo, a Persian restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
Aladdin Hiroo
Location: 5 Chome-14-14 Hiroo, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0012
Directions: From Hiro-o Station, take exit 2; Aladdin Hiroo is a 2-minute walk down the street. Google plus code: MP2C+2H Shibuya, Tokyo
Hours: Open 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Monday; closed Tuesdays.
Prices: Entrees from 1,700 to 4,200 yen; soft drinks are 400 yen, with specialty drinks and alcohol from 500 to 700 yen.
Dress: Casual
Information: persia-aladdin.com
