ぱりそら
I heard that there is a curry restaurant where you can choose hearty and unique toppings, so I went to the popular restaurant Curry Condor in Nishi-Ohashi. The base curry comes in only one type for 600 yen, and you can customize it with thick slices of char siu, fried pork cartilage, cheese, eggs, and more. Each topping is full of volume. The restaurant is located near Nishi-Ohashi and Yotsubashi stations. The unique font of "Curry Condor" on the sign is a landmark. The interior of the restaurant has a long counter with only 8 seats. The TV was playing a daytime program, creating a peaceful atmosphere. It was just past 2 pm on a weekday, so there were only a few other customers, and it was calm. The menu is written in katakana on a blackboard above the counter, using a unique font. Lunch is available from 12:00 to 15:30 from Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12:00 on Sundays (closed on Mondays) (Please check with the restaurant for the latest information on business hours and operations). Menu items (all prices include tax): - Curry Rice: 600 yen - Large Serving: +200 yen - Unlimited Rice and Curry Refills: +300 yen Toppings: - Char Siu: 200 yen - Tonkatsu (pork cutlet): 200 yen - Pork Cartilage: 200 yen - Shrimp Fry: 200 yen - Chicken Karaage: 200 yen - Minced Cutlet: 200 yen - Chicken Cutlet: 200 yen - Fried Vegetables: 200 yen - Croquette: 150 yen - Pumpkin Croquette: 150 yen - Cheese: 50 yen - Egg (raw, sunny-side up, scrambled): 50 yen Wow, so many toppings to choose from! I was intrigued by the shrimp fry and fried vegetables, but I decided to go with the house specialty char siu and an egg sunny-side up. The curry is heated in a small pot for each order, and the char siu is sautéed on a small griddle and the egg is cooked separately. In less than 10 minutes after ordering, the extravagant curry was served. The owner handed the curry plate to me from the counter, and I received it nervously because it was so full. I then received a small dish of pickles with a toothpick and a spoon. - Curry (Char Siu & Sunny-Side Up Egg): 600 yen + 200 yen + 50 yen Wow, what a feast! The curry was overflowing on the oval stainless steel plate. There were four thick slices of glossy char siu stacked on top of the rice, and a beautiful sunny-side up egg. It looked so appetizing even before I started eating! First, I tried the curry and rice. It was rich and thick, with a strong punch of flavor. The European-style curry had a sharp spiciness, fruity sweetness, and acidity. It was oily and heavy, with meat pieces melting into the sauce. According to the owner, they use various fruits in the curry, along with beef tendons and chicken. The spiciness and depth of flavor were beyond my expectations, and I found it addictive as I continued eating. The oil with nuts added a flavorful touch, enhancing the taste. The rice was cooked just right, fluffy and slightly firm. Despite the generous portion, the curry was spicier and richer than I had imagined, so I found myself eating the rice quickly. There was plenty of curry sauce left at the end, showing the luxuriousness of the dish. Some customers ordered only the curry without any toppings, and I could see how enjoyable it would be even without them. After tasting the curry, I added the toppings. The thick char siu had four slices, and although they were thick, they were tender enough to be cut with a spoon. The meat had a firm texture with a good balance of tender meat and melting fat. The char siu was sautéed on the surface, giving it a fragrant aroma. Biting into the thick char siu was so satisfying! The sunny-side up egg had a runny yolk that flowed beautifully, with a crispy edge and perfectly cooked white. It was an ideal texture and complemented both the curry and the char siu. The combination of the curry, char siu, and sunny-side up egg was a golden trio. Whether eaten with the curry and char siu or with the curry and sunny-side up egg, it was a luxurious topping. The rich, spicy, fruity curry, the meaty and satisfying char siu, and the runny yolk of the sunny-side up egg created a perfect harmony.