如月 来夏
When you cross the Oogado from Shinjuku Station and head down Kotaki Bridge Street, it feels like there are a lot of new shops in this area, perhaps because I haven't been here in a while. The long-established "Tonkatsu Niimura" seems to be thriving, while the newly opened trendy ramen shops are multiplying. Even the famous "Nanzen Kanden" has appeared. In a narrow alley off Kotaki Bridge Street, there is a door painted in a striking mint blue, giving off an Asian vibe similar to the nearby "Fish". This area between Seibu Shinjuku and Okubo is a curry battleground, with renowned places like "SPICY CURRY Rokka" and competitors like "Fish", "Achakana", "Dais", and "Ippekope" fighting for customers. If you expand the range a bit, you'll find "Mouyan Curry" which has relocated and reopened as "Mon snack", and the main branch of "Tariya". The restaurant is run by the owner and two staff members, and the small space means there are often lines during weekend lunch hours. On this day, there were only a few customers ahead of us, so we were able to enjoy our meal in peace. The menu, written in simple Japanese on a blackboard, only features the regular chicken curry and a limited edition shrimp tomato keema curry. The rice portion was average. The two curries, neatly arranged on a bed of saffron rice, are separated by a dam of rice. Breaking the dam and mixing the two curries is a must at this place. The blue curry, resembling a half moon in the night sky, floats beautifully. When you combine the two half moons, you get a full moon. The interpretation of this artistic curry can change depending on how you view it, making it interesting. The taste is also authentic, with the shrimp tomato keema curry combining the strong flavors of shellfish with the depth of the tomato base. It may be a taste that not everyone is familiar with, but those who like it, love it. The creamy sweetness of the chicken curry balances out the intense flavors. The bright red Fukujinzuke in the pot on the table may be unexpected at a traditional spice curry restaurant, but it reminds you that you are in Japan. The carrot achar, cilantro, and shredded chili peppers complement the flavors, allowing you to taste the spices like cumin and kasuri methi directly. It's a reminder that in the summer, nothing beats sweating it out with a spicy curry. However, the distance to get here is quite far, so by the time we arrived, we were drenched in sweat. Eating spicy curry on top of that is like killing two birds with one stone, as you can detox while enjoying the meal. I'll have to try the Ginza branch next time.