The area around the north exit of Ikebukuro is a city full of exoticism that symbolizes the changing Tokyo. At the Pakistani restaurant "Marhaba" in the back, there is a rice dish "Mutton Biryani" that uses plenty of lamb. If your body asks for a sheep, let's go.

From the north exit of Ikebukuro to the back

Around the north exit of Ikebukuro. Along with the pink signboard, there are restaurants serving Chinese regional dishes that are rarely seen elsewhere, and there are also several ethnic food stores. If you walk down the street, you can hear words other than Japanese well, and at night, bargains will appear, calling out to passers-by who feel tipsy.


But it's a little quiet during the day. The area where Marhaba is located is also less popular. I walk a little from the station, so I sweat, and when I enter the store, the air conditioner feels good.

Perhaps the shop staff who responds are not native Japanese, but the tempo of the conversation has changed a little, but the order is taken without misunderstanding.

A simple dish of sheep and rice

The mutton biryani set you can order for lunch is 750 yen (tax included). You can choose a drink, so ask for a lassi.

When I visited, there weren't many customers because it was just before the end of the daytime business. The food came out without waiting. A simple and uncertain composition of rice and mutton. There are many mini salads.

Rice is a long grain rice that is indispensable for South Asian cuisine such as Pakistan and India. It's slender and crisp, and goes well with curry and soup.

However, since biryani is cooked rice, it is betrayed in a good way if you expect a light taste. Each grain of rice is soaked with the quirky aroma and taste of mutton. By the way, spices are also used like dry curry, but the flavor of sheep is overwhelming rather than modest.


The crunchy meat is firm and chewy, and when you bite it off, you feel that you are eating sheep. Chew the meat and sip the umami-soaked rice. Just by repeating it alternately, you will feel energetic.

Drink after meals. Lassi does not contain ice, and the foam has a soft texture. It's cold properly. The mild sweetness cools down the taste of mutton.


I feel like I fully enjoyed the exotic atmosphere of the north exit of Ikebukuro. Let's come visit again. However, at noon.