[2021/06/05] Just like the previous Saviha and before and after it, I had Nepalese cuisine from Shun Yakuyo. This time, they had Maton Choela, which had chunks of lamb and absolutely no lamb smell, and it was delicious. However, I still don't quite understand the difference between Choela and Sadheko. Sorry. The Momos were closer to Nepalese in shape and used chicken meat, so they were light. But when you dip them in the sauce, they instantly taste like Nepalese food. (From "Okubo Halal Story") [2021/05/16] I went to Shun Yakuyo as usual. They didn't have the Momos (Nepalese dumplings) that I was looking forward to, so I picked out some other items. This time, Nimkin was available, so I bought two packs. I also bought the "Ladu (Laddu, Ladoo)" that caught my eye last time. Additionally, I got Daikon simmered dish and Cauliflower curry stir-fry. The Cauliflower curry stir-fry was indeed curry-flavored, so you can eat it as is or with rice. Now, the Ladu that I was curious about. When I asked if it was sweet, they said yes. I asked if it was like Gulab Jamun, and they said yes. Indeed, Ladu is like sweet syrup-soaked Ohagi. It was extremely sweet. It has a hint of coconut aroma from the coconut flakes, but it was just a very sweet snack. (From "My Hobby is Shopping (Food)") [2021/05/09] After filling up on Senbei Kashi, it's time for some shopping. First stop, "Shun Yakuyo." Let's see if there's anything good here. Oh, what's this? A mysterious snack called "Ladu." I've never seen this before. The other items seemed to be the usual ones. For my parents, I got bamboo shoot rice and simmered Daikon for their meals. If it were for myself, I would have chosen Biryani without hesitation... (laughs) I also got Chicken Sadheko and Chicken Spinach Tikka. The Chicken Sadheko had larger chicken pieces this time, giving it a substantial bite. The spiciness from the onions was mild, and it was delicious! Sometimes, the onions can be really spicy, right? (laughs) The Chicken Tikka with spinach was a first-time purchase, and the spinach paste made it overall mild in flavor. The chicken was tender and tasty. The simmered Daikon had a well-infused flavor, showing that their Japanese dishes are also well-made. (From "Changes in the Okubo Power Map!?")

【2021/03/17】After work, I made a quick stop at Okubo. I went to Shunya Oya and found Nimkin! Phew, I finally got it. (Tears) These Nepalese-style crackers are crispy and crunchy with a hint of spices, giving them a unique international flavor. But they are also great as a snack or appetizer. The expiration date is March 31st, but I guarantee they'll be gone in no time. (Laughs) ("Would you like this cake warmed up?") 【2021/03/12】I strolled around and reached "Shunya Oya." I wanted Nimkin but struck out today. That's three strikes in a row. In baseball, that's an out! (Laughs) Instead, I bought Lothi (=Selroti?). However, today's Lothi was a bit soft and oily. I prefer it a bit crispier with less oil. I also had a donut after a long time. It's about 13cm in diameter and costs only 100 yen. It's subtly sweet but not overly so, a mysterious donut. I wonder if they have these in Nepal, or if it's an American donut with a twist. I also bought a 100 yen samosa. It feels like I traveled to Nepal and India after crossing the mountains in China. (Laughs) Well, it's okay. This is Tokyo. No passport needed. ("The disease of wanting to go to China") 【2021/03/06】Sarai Kebab → On the way to Nishi-Okubo Park, I stopped by "Shun Oya." They didn't have Nimkin this time, so I only got Chicken Tikka. But I was very intrigued by the "Lovely Kebab" I saw at the storefront. It seems to be a fried chicken tulip like karaage, but the name is just so intriguing. Since it wasn't expensive, I should have bought it. (≧▽≦) This is from last week at "Shun Oya." I bought Lothi and Duck Choela. Lothi was like a very crunchy karinto, sweet and addictive, but eating too much might hurt my teeth. I should probably limit myself to once a month. Duck Choela was delicious, but it was difficult to eat because it had bones! I probably won't repeat this one, probably. (^^;) ("Stories from China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, but not Korea.")

Since the declaration of a state of emergency, it has become easier to take a break from drinking on weekdays if you are conscious of it. It's hard to go out for a drink after work because it quickly becomes 7 o'clock, or it's already past that time. It's too much trouble to stop by a convenience store, and I don't want to accumulate cans at home. So, the trend is to just not drink. (However, as a result, I end up drinking for 6 or 8 hours on my days off, so it's kind of pointless.) I had a big drinking session in Nakano on Sunday, so I took a break from alcohol yesterday. I used the extra time to do the laundry, make boiled eggs, and cook dal. I also bought a plastic container of Murako Achar and if I mix it with the dal at work, it becomes a proper dal bhat. The dal doesn't use onions, just masoor dal, salt, garlic, turmeric, chili, coriander, cumin, green chili, and finally ginger. I use about 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of each spice powder. It's simple and delicious. The Murako Achar is quite spicy and adds a nice accent. I would prefer it to have a bit more acidity. Since the daikon is pickled in oil, salt, and spices, it doesn't really have an expiration date, so it's not included in the half-price sale. Also, I thought it was sealed properly, but it leaked a bit and now my backpack smells like mustard oil. Be careful when purchasing.

[2021/02/10] On my way back from work, I made a stopover in Okubo. I bought some side dishes at my usual place, "Shun Yaoya." I got the usual cheese naan, tandoori pork, and for the first time, chicken pakora. When you think of pakora, do you imagine Indian tempura? This chicken pakora is seasoned with curry powder, so it tastes like curry-flavored chicken tempura. It was deliciously spicy! The tandoori pork was also flavorful with spices and had a deliciously fragrant pork taste. (From "Japanese Cuisine Lover") [2021/01/31] Yesterday, after running errands, I stopped by Okubo and went to "Shun Yaoya." They were out of the sesame naan that I wanted, so I bought cheese naan, shish kebab, and nimki instead. The shish kebab is made with ground chicken, so it's light. With plenty of cabbage, it makes a great side dish on its own. (From "NO KEBAB, NO LIFE!?") [2021/01/16] Before buying kebabs at Nakano, I stopped by "Shun Yaoya" and bought a variety of items. I intended to buy cheese naan, but they also had sesame naan, so I bought both! The sesame seeds are plentiful and look delicious, right? I also got momo (labeled as "Nepalese dumplings" on the package!). It's made with chicken, so it tastes different from lamb, but I like the sauce that comes with it. And then there was the tandoori pork (labeled as tandoori grilled pork). Tandoori chicken is common, but it's rare to see pork instead of chicken. The prices seem to be gradually increasing. The whole tandoori chicken is now 850 yen (previously 699 yen), and the chicken biryani is now 399 yen (previously 299 yen). Despite the price increase, it's still very affordable, and as a casual deli item from a greengrocer, it's quite aggressive, don't you think? After returning home, I tried them. The tandoori pork uses pork belly, giving it a moist texture. The appearance and aroma are like tandoori chicken, but when you taste it, the world of pork instead of chicken unfolds in your mouth. But it's delicious. This goes well with rice. After eating, I had some sesame naan and cheese naan. The sesame naan has a fragrant sesame flavor and is perfect for snacks or appetizers. It's a must-buy when you find it. After all, it's only 280 yen. Great value for money. (From "Okubo Monogatari") [2021/01/05] After finishing work, I headed straight to Okubo on the Sobu Line. I visited my usual "Shun Yaoya" and found nimki, so I bought 2 packs. It's a crispy, spiced cracker that's perfect for beer snacks. I used to love it but haven't seen it on the shelves lately, so I was disappointed. It was great to buy it after a long time. And for my parents' breakfast tomorrow, I got cheese naan. But I couldn't resist snacking on it. When warmed in the oven, it had a texture like freshly baked, with the cheese melting deliciously! (From "Ethnic Solo Lunch") [2020/12/06] While in Okubo, I went shopping at "Shun Yaoya." Since the rice left in the fridge wasn't enough for 3 people, I bought additional chicken biryani as well as chicken tikka for side dishes. The chicken pieces were large. I also got vegetable curry and chicken sa-deko. It was my first time buying curry here. The vegetable curry with taro and cauliflower looks promising. Continuing from last time, I also bought sa-deko, but this time it has plenty of chicken. I also got samosas for 100 yen each. I love samosas. I've always liked the crispy crust. For dinner with the items I bought, I was already full from the biryani at lunch, but I still ate a lot of chicken. The chicken tikka was tender and flavorful, and I thought it would be great on rice like a donburi. The chicken sa-deko had a spicy onion flavor. I might prefer this over the beans. The extra-large samosa was delicious too. It's not very spicy, so don't worry. The vegetable curry ===========

After finishing work and walking home, I realized it was already past 7 o'clock, which meant I couldn't order alcohol at the restaurant anymore. Dining out without the option of having a drink doesn't appeal to me, as dinner and alcohol usually go hand in hand for me. Interestingly, this time coincided with the discount period at the local grocery store, where the deli items were half price. The store was crowded with people buying discounted vegetables for dinner or aiming for half-priced deli items. I spotted a middle-aged man who clearly seemed to be single, buying around five discounted bento boxes. As for me, I found a whole tandoori chicken and couldn't resist buying it. Pairing it with a canned chu-hi made for a more than satisfying dinner. Most of the restaurants open after 8 pm are unappealing to me, and they seem to attract customers who don't usually go there. I don't really feel like drinking tonight, especially on a weekday. It looks like days like this will become more common. It's just as the government intended.

A fruit and vegetable shop that also sells prepared dishes in the Okubo area. Known for their delicious curries and biryanis, but I recently discovered their Murako Achar (Nepalese pickled radish) which is unbelievably tasty. The radish is dried and pickled with a spicy salt mixture (the spiciness is key!) and various spices like mustard pack a punch. It's so addictive and you can keep eating without getting tired of it. They also sell naan, cheese naan, chicken tikka, which are perfect for enjoying at home with their pickles. Since it's primarily a fruit and vegetable shop, it's convenient to buy various vegetables and fruits there as well. If a shop like this is nearby, I would definitely become a regular customer.

After finishing work in the afternoon, I took the Sobu Line from Asakusabashi to Okubo Station. I walked around the Okubo area again today. One of the destinations was "Shun Greengrocer", a greengrocer that also sells Nepalese side dishes. I wanted samosas, but they were not available, so I chose BHATTA SADEKO, chicken kebabs, and Japanese-style fried shishamo. The shishamo was plump and delicious. The chicken kebabs had a strong ethnic flavor due to the spices used. They would be tasty sandwiched in bread or wrapped in the naan sold at the store. Bhatta Sadeko, also known as Bhatmas Sadeko, is a salad with plenty of soybeans, fried for a unique texture. It is quite spicy due to the generous use of raw onions. It can be enjoyed as a pickled dish or salad. By the way, Sadeko means mixed dish, and there are other dishes like Budeko (stir-fry) and Choela (marinated grilled meat). Nepalese cuisine is deep and fascinating!

Yesterday, after running errands, I walked around the Okubo area to buy ingredients and prepared foods before heading home. First, I stopped by Green Nasco, and then walked to "Shun Yaoya". I always check this place out hoping to buy Muraco Achar, but I've been striking out recently. Yesterday, they were selling it in plastic bottles, so I bought two. It's quite spicy and tangy, but it goes well with rice. I love the crunchy texture of the daikon. Also, yesterday I felt like I didn't have enough rice that I had cooked, so I also bought Chicken Biryani. It had plenty of large chunks of chicken for only 350 yen. The fluffy basmati rice was well-seasoned, and the quality at this price is amazing. The last time I bought it, it was a bit bland, but this time it was perfect, so I will definitely be buying it again. (from "Weekend Bullet Asia Travel!?)

I finally made my way back to Okubo after touring around Tokyo. Once I got here, I felt like stopping by my usual "Shun Greengrocer" shop. When I went inside, I noticed they were really pushing the biryani. Even the tandoori chicken was served with biryani. It seemed like a good deal. I decided to buy the "Nimkin" snack. When I asked if it was sweet or salty, they said it was salty. It turned out to be a crispy snack made with spicy samosa skin. The texture was great, and the fennel seed aroma was irresistible. I love this kind of snack! It's not too salty, so you can eat as much as you want. If they're still selling it next time, I'll definitely buy more. (It's the season for new openings!)

An area I don't usually go to. After reading Koton's review, I headed straight there! And there it was ✨ Lots of samosas piled up! They are bigger than I thought~ The big donut also caught my eye! It looks delicious! But since Koton mentioned "it was just normal bread," I decided to go for the samosas (150 yen + tax) and I like processed food so I also got a sweet potato tempura skewer (should I buy this here?) for 199 yen + tax, which is cheap ✨ I carried them around for a day, brought them home, and had them for breakfast the next morning! I eat the sweet potato tempura skewer as a salad ingredient, one skewer at a time ✨ It seems to have pickled ginger mixed in, giving it a slight pink color. I love pickled ginger, so I'm happy! However, the texture of the processed food is a bit different from what I usually have, a bit more crispy. It has its own originality! The samosas are huge! Even when cut in half, they are still plentiful ✨ I may have never had samosas before, but they are so delicious~ The shape is interesting and the filling is full of vegetables and spicy like a croquette ✨ It has become one of my favorite foods!

I had been wanting to try Cell Roti, but it seems like it's something you eat at festivals or celebrations, so I hadn't had the opportunity to try it. I searched for a place where I could eat it regularly and ended up at this shop based on recommendations from multiple MyRebi users. I stopped by after having lunch at Nangaroga. When I entered, I thought it was just a regular grocery store, but it turned out to be an international deli world. The main focus was on Indian-Nepalese cuisine, but they also had dishes like fried rice. And everything was cheap. I found what I was looking for. The label said "Roti," but... this is Cell Roti, right? It is, right?! I decided on the Cell Roti (290 yen, excluding tax) with determination. They also had giant donuts (198 yen) and giant samosas (150 yen). Even though I had read in MyRebi reviews that they were huge, seeing them in person was even more shocking. The tongs were placed oddly high, making it difficult for me to reach being short. I turned a plastic bag inside out, grabbed the donut, and turned the bag right side out again. I did the same for the samosa. There were many other appealing deli items, but I got the fried items and the giant-sized items, so that was it for today. My husband is away on a business trip, so I can eat whatever I want freely. When I got home, I first tried the Cell Roti I had been longing for. It was quite oily, and the tray was sticky with oil. I lightly microwaved it and then toasted it in the oven. It was oily as expected. It was chewy, slightly sweet, and the texture of the rice grains was prominent. One would have been enough, but I had all three for dinner. I imagined it would be like Wada based on the shape, but it was completely different. I didn't quite like the crunchy texture of the rice grains. The next morning, I microwaved the giant samosa and then toasted it. This was delicious! It had large cuts of potatoes, green peas, carrots, and a hint of curry flavor. I ate it without any condiments, but it would probably taste good with ketchup or something. The skin was thick, but it retained a crispy texture, not too oily, and made for a happy breakfast. I was full with just this and coffee in the morning. I planned to have the donut for dinner and went to work. Even if something unpleasant happened at work, just thinking "When I get home, the giant donut will be waiting for me!" made me push through. The dinner that day was a simple vegetable stir-fry, vegetable soup, a boiled egg, and the giant donut. After hydrating a bit, I microwaved it and then toasted it. It was just like regular bread. Not too oily, slightly sweet like a dinner roll. The dough was packed tightly, so after finishing it, I felt like my stomach was going to burst. It was cheap and tasty, but the only thing I really want to have again is the samosa. I also want to try the Biryani and Achar. I plan to stop by for lunch in the Okubo area and then for dinner on the same day.

Yesterday, I bought a 30% off chicken curry at the usual vegetable shop. There was no shortage at 6:00 pm, with a full lineup of products, but it seems they moved up the time sale due to an approaching typhoon. I had never bought curry here before because I didn't want it to be a Nepalese-style creamy curry, but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious. The spices were well-balanced and aromatic, and the red oil floating on top was quite light. I paired it with frozen naan that I always keep at the office for a lunch under 500 yen. It's interesting how Japanese companies have slow decision-making processes. If you're going to come in around 2:00 pm and leave at 5:30 pm, why not just take the day off? It seems like the purpose of coming to work is lost on some people. As I walked to the office from home, I watched the crowded platform from a distance.

Sometimes I try to cook at home to save money, but when I go to the nearby "My Basket" store, I see dishes like ¥500 dal curry and ¥600 biryani, which makes me feel like it's almost the same price as cooking at home. Then I remember that it's almost time for the half-price sale here, so I don't buy anything at My Basket and come here instead. I buy a salmon bento and bean sprouts, which total around ¥200. I lose my motivation to cook at home. When I get home, I wrap the rice in plastic wrap and freeze it. Instead, I stir-fry cumin and green chili bean sprouts with salt, pepper, and curry powder, and serve it in the empty space on the plate for my evening drink. I wonder how many people are saved by this store.

Yesterday, on my way home, I stopped by "Shun Yaoya" in Okubo for some shopping. The Muracoachar I was looking for was not available, so I ended up buying some momo instead. The package says "Momo Nepalese Dumplings." It reminded me of a Filipino student who wrote "Philippines" in the nationality section. It's quite difficult to write foreign words in katakana. The shape of the dumplings is crescent-shaped like Japanese gyoza. I usually see momo in the shape of xiaolongbao, so this was a first for me. I was surprised when I tried it. The filling tasted like Nepalese dumplings with a hint of spices, not like regular chicken dumplings. It was light and flavorful because it used chicken meat. The sauce also had a distinct momo flavor with hints of coriander and cumin. It's amazing that you can buy this kind of food for 300 yen for 6 pieces. It's a truly heartwarming experience.

"Another visit to 'Shun Yaoya' in Shin-Okubo. Last time I was there, I was impressed by the whole roasted tandoori chicken, so this time I decided to buy it. I also got some Murako Achar and samosas. The samosas are surprisingly large and cost 150 yen each. They have a nice spicy kick to them and are quite delicious. As for the tandoori chicken, it was impressive with a whole chicken for only 699 yen, which is quite reasonable. Luckily, we replaced our microwave last year and it can fit a whole chicken, so I reheated it in a heat-resistant container. The tandoori chicken had a nice spicy flavor but was overall light and tasty. The meat was tender and easy to eat. The biggest hit was the Murako Achar. It's basically Nepalese-style pickled daikon radish, with a perfect balance of daikon texture, sourness, and spiciness. I couldn't believe it was only 199 yen. I could easily finish two packs of this. (laughs) ('I love junk food!' (laughs))"

This is a vegetable shop located between Shin-Okubo Station and Okubo Station. I have been using it because vegetables and fruits have always been cheap, but after seeing it featured on TV, I bought chicken curry. It was only 250 yen, cheap, but mild and delicious. There are various flavors of chicken and they all looked delicious.

Becoming a food reviewer on Tabelog, I feel a strange sense of duty to eat out more often, even though no one is asking me to. I find myself visiting new restaurants just because they are new, even when I don't really need to. This Tabelog activity has a significant impact on my health and finances. So, I decided to save some money and visit this place after leaving work early. I usually go for Chomin or Chicken Tikka as a snack with drinks, but this time I decided to try the Biryani. It was only ¥160 (tax included) instead of the regular ¥299, which is incredibly cheap. Feeling guilty for always looking for half-price deals, I also bought some cabbage. I stir-fried the cabbage with mustard oil, onions, green chili, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and salt to make a Bengali-style vegetable stir-fry. The microwaved Biryani had a strong and junky flavor. Looking at the ingredients, I noticed they used animal extract and yogurt powder, which are not typically found in Biryani, but for ¥299, I decided not to dwell on it. I worry about whether they are making a profit at that price, so I recommend anyone buying it to also purchase at least one vegetable. That's how I think you can develop a good relationship with the restaurant. Just like how you wouldn't go to an izakaya and only order water from the start (even if you don't drink, there are soft drinks available).

On my way back, I stopped by Shin-Okubo and once again went to "Shun Yaoya". It's a mysterious grocery store that sells Indian and Nepalese deli dishes. Today, I didn't find the mutton biryani I was looking for, but I bought the chicken biryani (listed as chicken biriyani). It has big pieces of chicken and the aroma of basmati rice is enticing. A proper biryani for 299 yen. Fantastic. Oh, and I also like wrapped foods, so I got a samosa. It's 150 yen for one. A palm-sized big samosa for 150 yen. Great value. It's filled with plenty of potatoes and vegetables with a subtle curry flavor, making it easy to eat. The crispy edges of the dough are delightful. Continuing with the wrapped food theme, I also bought a chicken tikka roll. It contains vegetables and chicken tikka with a light tangy dressing. The tortilla wrap is thin and packed with vegetables, so it's like eating a salad wrap sandwich.

Yesterday, I couldn't resist and went back to the restaurant again, just like I did on Thursday (lol). I couldn't forget the mutton biryani. However, when I got there, there was no biryani available, instead they had green peas pulao. Well, that's okay too. My parents don't eat mutton, but they do eat green peas. I also bought 2 packs of chicken tikka. I wanted to get samosas for 150 yen as well, but that will have to wait for next time. I also bought some coriander since it was cheap at the vegetable corner. When I got home, I had dinner right away. The pulao had a nice flavor to it and I was surprised that they used basmati rice at this price. It had plenty of green peas and a decent amount of oil, so I felt satisfied when eating it. The chicken tikka was also well-flavored and the skin-on thigh meat was tender. Getting 4 pieces for 299 yen felt like a good deal. It would be really convenient to have a store like this nearby.

I walked from Shin-Okubo Station to Okubo Station to catch the Sobu Line. On the way, I came across a vegetable shop called "Shun Yaoya." Despite being a vegetable shop, they were selling curry, naan, and chicken tikka! And they even had mutton biryani for only 350 yen! I was really intrigued by this! I really wanted to buy the biryani, but I didn't have time to eat it, so I had to pass this time. But I will definitely try it someday! Instead, I bought some "doughnuts" and cheese naan this time. The doughnuts were more like fried bread than sweet pastries, with a slightly sweet taste like sandwich bread or dinner rolls. They looked oily but weren't actually greasy, and could be enjoyed as a snack or a meal. The cheese naan was delicious, but the price of 300 yen was a bit surprising. But for that price, it's still worth buying as a snack to take home.