とうがらしちゃん
Yesterday, while browsing Facebook, I came across a post in a Nepalese cuisine group featuring a luxurious Dal Bhat. Wow! I definitely want to try this. The location is in Naka-Meguro, at a place I had never heard of before. So, today, I decided to take advantage of my day off and go check it out. After exiting Naka-Meguro station, crossing the bridge, and walking along the Meguro River, I turned right on a certain street. I arrived around 11:30 am. The interior of the restaurant had a calm atmosphere, with a TV screen on the wall showing a muted Korean drama. There were counter seats, a 4-person sofa table on the right, and three 4-person tables on the left. The Dal Bhat was not on the lunch menu, but it was available on the grand menu. I had confirmed the night before that you could also have it for lunch. This restaurant specializes in both Korean and Nepalese cuisine. Although it has closed now, there used to be a place in Itabashi called "Sunkoshi" that offered both. The owner and chef there was half Korean and half Nepalese. I remember being very satisfied with the Dal Bhat at "Sunkoshi," so my expectations were high for this place. The menu listed the Dal Bhat as "Kanasetto." It was priced at 1680 yen before tax, which is a bit higher compared to the area around Shin-Okubo, but similar to "OLD NEPAL" in Gotokuji. If the quality is good, then the price is not high at all. I was told it would take some time, but it was served in about 15 minutes. The meal included Dal, mutton curry (or chicken curry), tarkari, sag, golbheda ko achar, bhat, cut vegetables, yogurt, and papad. The Dal was thick and not very soupy. It was more like something you would put on top of rice rather than pour over it. The salt level was mild, with a gentle flavor. Honestly, it wasn't to my liking. I prefer a thinner consistency. The mutton curry was overly salty. The meat itself was tasty, but I couldn't understand why they made it so salty. It might be good as a side dish with alcohol, though. The tarkari with potatoes was delicious, with a nice balance of salt. The sag, stir-fried with plenty of greens and cumin, lacked a bit of saltiness. I apologize for being picky about salt, but I believe that in Nepalese cuisine, unlike Indian cuisine, the right amount of salt is crucial as they rely more on spices for flavor. The dessert included plain yogurt, but I prefer it with honey. Overall, this Dal Bhat didn't meet my preferences. I would have been better off going to "OLD NEPAL" in Gotokuji or having the one-coin Dal Bhat at "Kastamandap" in Otsuka three times for the same price. For 1680 yen, they could have included chai or lassi as well. However, this is just my opinion based on the Dal Bhat I tried. I haven't tried other Nepalese or Korean dishes at this restaurant, so I can't make a definitive judgment. After posting this review on Facebook, someone pointed out that this is the price range for Nakameguro, and that it might attract new customers precisely because of this location and price point. People who come here may not go to cheaper and tastier Nepalese restaurants in Shin-Okubo. Indeed, that makes sense. It is the presence of those customers that makes this restaurant thrive. I apologize for my critical comments. Next time I go, I will try other Nepalese and Korean dishes with a group of people.