ropefish
Sapporo Soup Curry's original pioneer is Magic Spice, founded in 1993. However, even before Magic Spice started using the term "soup curry," there were several other restaurants that were already serving what we now call soup curry. These pioneers of the pre-history of soup curry had their roots in India or Sri Lanka, unlike Magic Spice which had its roots in Indonesia. One of the pioneers of Sri Lankan-rooted "soup curry" is Pore Pore, established in 1978. On the other hand, the oldest soup curry shop known for its Indian-rooted "medicinal soup curry" is Ajanta Indian Curry Shop, founded in 1971. Ajanta started as a café and began serving its unique fusion of spice dishes and Chinese medicine-inspired "medicinal curry," which became popular. The shop owner, Mr. Tatsushiri, introduced chicken legs as an ingredient for the broth around 1975, which led to the current form of the curry. The shop sign was changed to "Ajanta Medicinal Curry Main Store" around this time. The basic style of soup curry that various shops now offer in Sapporo already existed. While Magic Spice may have popularized the term "soup curry," these older establishments like Pore Pore and Ajanta may have influenced Magic Spice to some extent. In 2001, the owners of Ajanta divorced, and the shop was taken over by Mrs. Michiko, while Mr. Tatsushiri opened a new shop called Ajanta Sohonke with his apprentice. This is why there are now two Ajanta shops in Sapporo. There are differing opinions on which one is the legitimate successor, but both have their own supporters. In my book "Japanese Curry Culture Guide," I feature Ajanta Indian Curry Shop as the oldest shop in the history of soup curry. Ajanta Indian Curry Shop moved to a new location in 2017 and passed the baton to a new head chef in January 2022. Ajanta Sohonke is currently run by the apprentice of Mr. Tatsushiri. Ajanta Indian Curry Shop in Minami Ward, Sapporo, is a shop that split from Ajanta Indian Curry Shop in 2011. Ajanta Indian Curry Shop, the oldest soup curry shop, still maintains its homely café atmosphere. Their menu includes Chicken Curry, Vegetable Curry, Chicken and Vegetable Curry, Lamb Curry, Lamb Muscle Curry (sometimes available), Herb Curry (for children), and Cashmere Curry (Sundays only). If you want to experience the origin of Sapporo Soup Curry, this is the place to go. The Chicken Curry, completed around 1975, is the oldest soup curry. The shine on the surface comes from the Masala oil, which is the key to Ajanta's flavor. It may look oily, but it's not greasy. The combination of Indian spices and Chinese medicine creates a slightly bitter and fragrant taste unique to Ajanta. The generous amount of chicken and vegetables, simple yet delicious, offers a taste that never gets old. The enduring popularity of this classic dish shows its timeless appeal. The taste remains the same as it was nearly 20 years ago when I first tried it. However, please note that the default spiciness is ===================