01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At Ara Harajuku (アラ 原宿), charcoal-grilled meats emerge fragrant with smoke, while the relaxed atmosphere calls to mind an Italian neighbourhood trattoria. This lively Italian-style tavern occupies the second floor of a building on a side street in Jingumae, with the energy of the open kitchen adding to the convivial atmosphere.
Generous Charcoal Grilling and Italian-Style Skewers
The charcoal-grilled meats, a much-loved house speciality, are a natural place to start. The selection includes Kuroge wagyu ichibo, prized for its pronounced lean-meat flavour, thigh from Yamanashi-grown Mio chicken, and Ezo deer shintama, each grilled until juicy with careful attention to the heat. For a group gathered around the table, an assorted platter of the chef’s selected meats brings together a range of textures and flavours. There are also spiedini, Italian-style skewers such as pork belly confit with Shimonita leek and beef heart with Brussels sprouts—easy to enjoy with a drink in hand.
Seasonal Small Plates and Classic Pasta
A range of thoughtfully put-together small plates makes the wait for the charcoal grill’s next serving all the more enjoyable. Seasonal ingredients feature in dishes such as caprese with burrata and seasonal fruit, freshly fried potatoes with white truffle aroma, and marinated bigfin reef squid with rapeseed blossoms. For a satisfying finish, choose pasta such as rigatoni in a spicy ragù made with flavourful Doro-buta offal, classic carbonara, or vongole rosso with its shellfish-rich broth.
Italian Beer and Easygoing Wine by the Glass
The drinks list features a strong selection of bottles from Baladin, a leading Italian craft brewery, with options ranging from crisp white beer to spicier styles to suit the food. Wine is served in a casual, dining-hall style, by the glass or carafe—an easygoing choice for a relaxed drink with friends. Fruit-forward house sours, including a freshly squeezed citrus sour from Ponpoko Land and a Sicilian lemon sour, bring a bright note to the meal.
Inside, warm wood tones set the scene, with counter seats close to the cooking and tables where guests can settle in comfortably. The lively setting suits an evening toast or a casual date, while lunch offers pasta and roasted Yonezawa pork, making the tavern a flexible choice for different everyday occasions.
