monch312
This time we went on a curry tour and visited a restaurant called "TADKA" where you can enjoy South Indian cuisine. The location is just a few minutes walk from Karasuma Oike Station on the subway. It's located on a small street off the main road. As expected of a restaurant selected as one of the top 100, even though we went at a time outside the lunch peak on a holiday, there was a line outside. The restaurant is not very big, the turnover is not very fast, so we waited for about 30 minutes to finally get inside. Since it's a pay-first system, we placed our order, sat down, and waited a few more minutes for our food. It's better to go with some extra time to spare. The menu has two options, a simple one and a set menu, and you can choose with or without meat. I wanted to try a variety of dishes, so I went for the "Veg Meals" which comes with 8 side dishes (tax included 1,650 yen). The dishes for the day were: Pachadi, Sambar, Goma Kolumbu, Rasam, Spinach Kootu, Green Mango White Sauce Sundal, Beet Poriyal, Carrot Pickle, Wada, Rice (can be changed to Basmati Rice for an additional 150 yen), and Papadam. The total payment was 1,800 yen.
Food - The overall taste is mild. Not very sour or spicy, not oily, and on the lighter side. However, it's not bland, some dishes have distinct flavors, with the aroma of spices and the sweetness of coconut. Each dish has different flavors and textures, but they all go well together. The side dishes other than the basic dishes like Sambar and Rasam were delicious, and the meat dishes that other customers were having looked really good, so it's better to add more side dishes even if it costs a bit more. I recommend adding more side dishes rather than changing the rice to Basmati, as I didn't feel the uniqueness of Basmati rice.
Service - You pay first and then wait for your food at your table. It's like a cafe style. The side dishes seem to change daily. It's posted next to the cash register, so you won't know until you enter. Since the waiting time is quite long, if you can see outside, you might be able to quickly place your order once inside. It took a while to get in, but after that, the food came out quite quickly.
Atmosphere - The restaurant has depth and is dimly lit. It has a stylish bar-like design. The seating is mainly tables, with a few seats at the counter near the entrance.
Cost performance - These types of meals tend to be a bit pricey... It's quite expensive for lunch, but you just have to accept it.
Overall - The restaurant leaves an impression with its stylish atmosphere. Meals like this really stand out. Personally, I'm not a big fan of trendy restaurants, but I think it's worth a visit.