Turkish Ryori Asena

At JPY 4,000–4,999 for dinner and JPY 1,000–1,999 for lunch, Turkish Ryori Asena delivers Saitama's most affordable entry into Turkish cuisine at Tabelog 100-level quality. That pricing puts it below most of the city's recognized dining venues while offering the format discipline that earned it Tabelog 100 Asian Cuisine / Ethnic Cuisine EAST 2024 recognition. Book 10–14 days out for weekend dinners, though weekday lunch slots open as late as 48 hours ahead.

Opened in 2020, the restaurant occupies a third-floor location in Urawa's Nakacho district, an eight-minute walk from Urawa Station's central gate. The 26-seat space arranges tables for two and four across a single floor plan, with power outlets available at most seating positions, a practical feature for solo diners and working lunches. The room reads as low-key functional rather than atmospheric; families with strollers are welcome, though the venue does not stock children's chairs or menus. An outdoor terrace permits smoking, but the dining room operates non-smoking throughout service.

Halal Format and Booking Logistics

The menu centres on Turkish cooking with halal options available, a relatively rare configuration among Tabelog-recognized venues in the Greater Tokyo area. Wine and cocktails supplement the drinks list, with a mandatory drink order per guest during dinner service (children excluded). Payment accepts cash or PayPay only, no credit cards or electronic money. The 90-minute table turn during lunch hours is strictly enforced during busy periods, and the restaurant requests advance notice via its official website rather than through Tabelog's seat-only booking function. Walk-in attempts during peak weekend dinner slots rarely succeed given the compact capacity.

What You're Booking Compared to Saitama Peers

Turkish Ryori Asena lands at the lower end of Saitama's Tabelog 100 price spectrum. Unagi Hamana charges JPY 6,000–7,999 at lunch and JPY 8,000–9,999 at dinner for its eel-focused format, while Wataya runs JPY 3,000–3,999 lunch and JPY 6,000–7,999 dinner. If halal requirements or Turkish cuisine format matter to your party, no peer in the city offers a comparable combination at this price tier. For groups of 10–20, the venue accepts private bookings Monday through Thursday; 15+ guests can book the full space Friday through Sunday.

The location sits within walking range of several other Saitama dining options: Acacier Kitaurawa honten and Acacier Urawa ten both operate in the broader Urawa area, alongside Aki Foods, Bagel Shop vivant, and Beach Story. Those looking for Turkish or halal dining across Japan may also consider Jōdo Saké Bar in Los Angeles or Onigiri Time in Pasadena for related cuisine formats, though neither operates in Japan. Additional dining across the region appears in our full Saitama restaurants guide, with accommodation and nightlife covered in our full Saitama hotels guide and our full Saitama bars guide.

The restaurant opened post-pandemic in May 2020, which positions it among Saitama's newer Tabelog-recognized venues. Its Tabelog 100 selection came in the 2024 cycle, with scoring at 3.54 as of the award announcement. That places it in the middle tier of the Asian / Ethnic Cuisine EAST category, where slots range from high-volume regional staples to niche format specialists.

Quick reference: 26 seats; table service only; cash or PayPay accepted; halal options available; reservations via official website; closed Wednesdays; lunch 11:30 AM–2:00 PM, dinner 5:30 PM–10:00 PM.