Carvaan, a Middle Eastern- and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, combines class and affordability in Shibuya, Tokyo. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
A birthday celebration for a friend turned out to be an opportunity for a culinary experience in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine during a recent weekend in Tokyo.
Carvaan is in the heart of Shibuya, the energetic entertainment district of Tokyo. Twelve stories high inside the Shibuya Scramble Square shopping mall, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.
Carvaan is the ancient Persian word for caravan, and the inspiration behind this restaurant’s style and menu. Inside you’ll find old-world Arabian décor, including ornate tapestry, directly imported burnished tableware and calm-inducing low lighting, making a great atmosphere for night dining.
Wooden tables centered on the floor are surrounded by multiple booths lining the walls with room for 82 people.
The menu helps diners unfamiliar with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dining with appetizers up front and main dishes following. A separate menu lists drinks.
An Arabian lamb entrée from Carvaan in Shibuya, Tokyo. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
You might assume Carvaan, with its elaborate décor and food presentation, could be a pricey dining experience, but surprisingly that was not the case.
We shared a couple of vibrant green kale salads garnished with walnuts, pomegranate and quinoa at 1,980 yen – about $12.50 – for a full plate and 1,430 yen for half. With a combination of earthy and citrusy tastes, it was both healthy and delicious.
Being a fan of lamb dishes, I tried the Moroccan lamb and pomegranate tagine, or slow cooked stew, for 2,970 yen. Chunky Arabian lamb shanks come with cumin spiced basmati rice in a sweet and tangy pomegranate and orange juice sauce.
An order of oven-baked ancient Arabian wheat bread rounded out my dinner. My son managed a succulent Arabian lamb burger with a side of potato wedges.
Sides on the table included Egyptian falafel, or deep-fried fritter usually made of fava beans or chickpeas, and moussaka, a traditional Greek eggplant casserole.
A seasonal Granny Smith baked apple dessert, featuring a hot, baked green apple stuffed with walnuts, raisins, crumble, and Ugandan vanilla custard cream, topped off with gelato and caramel sauce at Carvaan in Shibuya, Tokyo. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
My whole party sampled the seasonal Granny Smith baked apple dessert, featuring a hot, baked green apple stuffed with walnuts, raisins, crumble and Ugandan vanilla custard cream, then topped off with gelato and caramel sauce. No complaints about that choice.
Other dessert choices included a Turkish baklava, a crispy pastry with pistachios, and various flavors of house made gelato.
A chilled, organic Egyptian hibiscus tea for 770 yen was sweet and satisfactory enough for me. Other beverages included juices, coffee, and alcohol-free wine and beer.
The restaurant offers international beer and wine at the craft beer shop, brewed in-house, located at the entrance with stool seating nearby.
Carvaan also offers vegan, vegetarian and halal options.
Unique to the restaurant are also the natural ingredients it imports from various countries. A couple of these include the Gandhara rock salt from Pakistan and a palm blossom sugar out of Cambodia.
Carvaan’s relaxing atmosphere combined with excellent service, fine cuisine and good portions make it a charming experience.
Other locations are found in Hanno and Yokohama. Carvaan delicatessen shops can be found at Shibuchica, in Shibuya Station’s underground shopping mall, and Yokohama. Food there can be purchased for takeout.
Carvaan
Location: 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya Scramble Square 12F, Shibuya-ku, JP 150-6112
Hours: Open 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily for lunch and 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for dinner
Prices: Expect to pay up to 3,000 yen for most entrées.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station.
Information: Online: carvaan.jp; reservations and credit cards accepted.
Dining and Cooking