I often dream of appearing on TV shows where they ask me, "What does curry mean to you?" and I always respond with, "Well, curry is like breathing." In my dream, of course. Recently, I invaded "BAR NICO" based on information from my dear follower Tokyo Korobokkuru. The owner of the bar runs two other bars very close by (actually next door). This place used to be a pasta restaurant, but after it closed down, the owner opened this third establishment, focusing on curry and gin, and started serving lunch. It's basically a curry restaurant that used to offer curry at the neighboring bar. Exciting, right? I ordered the beef tongue spice curry and Okinawan pork green curry with carrot salad and onion achar on the side. The turmeric rice was topped with fresh coriander, making it visually appealing. The beef tongue spice curry had a basic tomato base with a hint of whole spices like cloves and cardamom, making my breathing excited. The beef tongue was incredibly tender and well-cooked. The Okinawan pork green curry was a coconut curry with mild herbs and spices, but with a refreshing spiciness that kicked in later. The pork was so tender and juicy, it felt like it was jiggling in my mouth the whole time. It was like breathing for me. The flavors were so intense that I had to ask, and it turns out the owner of "BAR NICO" and the owner of the famous curry restaurant "Hub More Curry" are friends and have collaborated on the recipes. No wonder it was so amazing. This is a game-changer in the eastern Tokyo area. With the state of emergency ending tomorrow, the day of drinking gin and eating curry is not far off. My breathing is getting heavier just thinking about it.

I have been on a curry kick lately and have been exploring curry restaurants around my home. I recently tried out this restaurant that had good reviews. My favorites are the biryani at Ningyocho Ankit, the rasam at Tsuki to Kame in Morishita, and the meals at Rassam in Ryogoku. I tried the meal set with three different curries at this new place. The menu for the day included dal curry, wild boar curry, and green curry. They were all decent but none of them stood out to me. I especially didn't enjoy the dal curry because the coriander flavor was too strong and it wasn't tasty. (т-т)

I went to a second bar and they also served curry! I had gin and soda the whole time. The homemade gin was really satisfying! Both the curry and snacks were full of spices and had an authentic taste. It seems like a good place to go for curry for lunch. Even past midnight, the place was still crowded, showing that it's a lively spot from day to night.

Located at the riverside of Kiyosumi Shirakawa, there is a trendy-looking restaurant called "Gin and Curry". As a middle-aged man, I felt a bit intimidated by the youthful and stylish atmosphere, but decided to give their lunch a try. I had the Okinawan pork belly green curry for 1100 yen, and it was delicious. Also, I got some insider information that wasn't on Tabelog – the price range for gin. They offer gin starting from 1000 yen, with an additional 200 yen for tonic water, I believe. I might gather up the courage to visit for dinner sometime. (Although craft gin can be a bit pricey, right?)

PayPay's 30% cashback offer in Koto Ward was limited to certain stores, so I couldn't discover many new places, but I found something interesting while visiting a place I hadn't been to in a while. I didn't notice before, but they have been serving curry for lunch. I visited in November. It's a small restaurant with only 5 counter seats. They seem to only serve lunch on the first floor, even though there is a second floor. The menu seems to change daily and is displayed on a blackboard outside. They offer 4 types of curry, a lamb set meal, all priced over 1000 yen. The curry is served a la carte, making it a bit on the expensive side for lunch. However, I was curious about the spicy curry, so I ordered the most expensive one, the beef tongue spice curry for 1300 yen. The curry looked vibrant and colorful, and it tasted delicious with a nice spice aroma. It came with pickles, grated carrots, and fresh coriander, adding to the overall flavor. The base curry was not too spicy but had a rich aroma. The beef tongue was tender and flavorful. It was clear that they put effort into preparing it. I can see why the curry reviewers before me gave high ratings. However, as someone who prefers cost-effective lunch options, 1300 yen for a single dish is a bit expensive, especially considering the portion size. I understand that spicy curries tend to be pricey at any restaurant, but I personally prefer meal sets with a variety of items. Payment can be made using PayPay. I hope to participate in the cashback festival in Koto Ward next time. I would like to try a different curry!

It's been a while since I visited NICO. The first floor seems to have been renovated. This time, I dined at the bar on the second floor, which is also scheduled for renovation. We had the Special Meals, which were full of variety. They are known for their use of meat, such as game curry and Okinawan pork cooked in green curry, all with a gentle yet distinct meaty flavor. When I asked where they learned to make curry, I found out that they are good friends with the chef from the famous curry restaurant Hubmore Curry in Daikanyama, so they learned the basics from him. Although it's a bar, the chef used to cook before becoming a bartender, so the deliciousness comes from learning from a skilled person with a strong foundation. The gin paired well with the curry, as it had hints of cardamom spice. It was a wonderful afternoon.

BAR NICO (Takahashi 11-1) Beef Tongue Spice Curry and Okinawan Pork Green Curry Combination (1350 yen) Located in Koto-ku Takahashi, the green building known as "BAR NICO". The recommended dish is the "Beef Tongue Spice Curry and Venison Curry Combination", but venison can be difficult to obtain, so sometimes it's available and sometimes it's not. I love both Green Curry and Pork, so I have no complaints. The beef tongue is tender, and the pork is even more tender. Of course, it's delicious! The spice curry stimulates the appetite, and the faint sweet coconut aroma of the Green Curry puts you in a dreamy state. The side dishes of onion achar and carrot rape are refreshing. The cilantro topping is also a great addition. There are many other curry dishes that catch my eye, such as "Cod Brandade Style Curry" (1000 yen) (Spanish-style with cod, potatoes, cream, and Parmesan), "Firefly Squid and Nanohana Red Curry" (1000 yen), "Oyster Coconut Tomato Curry" (1100 yen), and "15 Vegetable Kiwi Curry" (1000 yen). Just listing them makes me hungry for this wonderful lineup. As it is a bar specializing in gin and curry, the counter is lined with various types of gin. I recently bought "OSUZU GIN KYOTO" at "Imadeya Kiyosumi Shirakawa" (Hirano 2-6-8) and found it very stimulating, so I am very interested. I will come back to try other curries! I want to try gin that I have never seen before! It's totally off-topic, but while eating curry, I was reminded of the old days in Kichijoji (very personal reminiscence).

Visited the restaurant in search of curry. However, when I saw the word "lamb", my heart changed. *Not lamb rum, but lamb meat. I also love lamb rum. Lamb meat cumin stir-fry set meal @ 1,000 Lamb meat cumin stir-fry, I was hooked on it a while ago and even made it at home. But the taste at the restaurant is different. The cumin is whole, not powder, so the aroma is very fresh. The flavor is adjusted with spices, so the saltiness is quite mild. The lamb meat has no smell, with plenty of onions adding sweetness. The portion is generous and satisfying. Goes well with cilantro. The rice from Toyama Prefecture is shiny and deliciously sweet. Honestly, the seasoning of the lamb stir-fry didn't feel like it would go well with rice (it might be good sandwiched in pita bread), but the rice itself was delicious and I was able to eat a lot. The side vegetables were an ethnic carrot rapé and onion achar. Each vegetable matched well with its own spices. Next time, I will definitely come for the curry.

The genre of the restaurant is listed as "bar/dining bar", but I suggest changing it to "curry". There is a rapper friend in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa who has been recommending Nico in Tsukishima even before the pandemic. Both alcohol and curry piqued our interest. We heard that the popular curry served at night could now be enjoyed during lunchtime, so we finally made our first visit. The aged appearance of the building was impressive and cool. It raised our expectations for delicious curry and good drinks. They have a wide selection of gin, which was disappointing considering the alcohol ban. Regardless, we ordered the beef tongue spiced curry and two types of octopus curry. The portion of jasmine rice was small, but it was welcomed as I've been eating too much lately. I personally like curries that go well with rice. The beef tongue was easy to cut with a spoon, and the octopus had a good texture. The restaurant's signature dishes apparently include beef tongue and venison, but due to the difficulty in sourcing venison, they have introduced different menu items. The spice balance, saltiness, rice texture, all matched my preferences. The staff was also friendly and easy to talk to. If it were closer, Nico would definitely become a regular spot for me.

There used to be a spice cuisine and curry bar called NICO between Morishita and Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. It was run by a female chef who had trained at a famous restaurant, and the food was delicious, so I used to visit often. However, NICO no longer exists in the same way. Technically, NICO still exists, and the female chef has opened her own restaurant in the area, so you could say they are both still around, but in a different form. I recently passed by NICO and saw the word "curry" displayed, so I went in out of curiosity. In the kitchen were two men, indicating that it was indeed a different establishment. It seems that this place has now started serving curry, possibly inspired by the original NICO. I tried the beef tongue spiced curry and the venison game curry, both of which were rich in spices. The beef tongue was cooked in a tomato base, while the venison was a keema curry. Both dishes were simply delicious. It seems like they would pair well with drinks as well. I might visit again at night to see what else they have to offer. The change in direction from before adds an interesting twist to the experience.

Curry with a tangy acidity that leaves a lingering taste. Octopus curry. I think I'll try other menu items next time.

The bar serves curry during the day. There are only counter seats available. The menu changes frequently, this time I had laksa. I thought it might be a mistake since it's a curry place, but it was delicious. The flavor was just right, with a strong spice taste. I almost finished the soup (I'm on a diet). If the Singaporean dish is this good, I have high expectations for the curry. I'll write another review after trying the curry. There aren't many curry-focused restaurants in this area, so finding this place was really great! Thank you for the meal. I'll definitely come back.

Second visit for lunch, this time I had a combination of clam red curry and Okinawan pork belly green curry! Both were delicious and it's hard to choose which one is better.

The food is terrible. The service is awful. It used to be an Italian restaurant on the first floor, and the staff there were very friendly and the food was delicious. However, due to the pandemic, it seems they couldn't survive, so it turned into a curry shop and bar. When I tried it, the service was the worst and the food was below average. I never want to go back again.

I visited for lunch and had the venison curry with extra rice and sauce for 1400 yen. The venison had a good texture without any gamey taste, and the spices were well-balanced and delicious!

There is a lively restaurant between Kiyosumi-Shirakawa and Morishita, which is rare in this area. Here at NICO, many customers come for their second or third visit, but it's a shame to not visit more often! The Osteria NICO has a young and cute chef who makes authentic Italian dishes. I ordered bread, homemade sausage, sautéed green beans, and pasta with sakura shrimp and spring cabbage. With two beers and three glasses of wine, the total was around 4,500 yen. I thought I ordered too much for one person, but everything was delicious. The white wine poured generously alongside helped me finish everything. This place is part of the NICO group of three restaurants, so you can order food from the other two restaurants as well depending on your preference. I visited ORGANICO this time, and even as a woman dining alone, the friendly owner will keep you company. I wish it was closer to my neighborhood, I would definitely visit more often!