Finally, the night drinking demand in Okachimachi is starting to recover. Despite the lively atmosphere of the above-ground food stalls, here is a cozy spot where people from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh in the neighborhood enjoy their drinks. The name of the place is "KHANA KHAJA," which means "meals and snacks" in Nepali. Perhaps due to the many vegetarians among the Indian gem traders in the Okachimachi area, the variety of vegetarian menu options here is quite extensive. There is also an Indian vegetarian restaurant called "Veg Herb Saga" nearby, but it's nice to be able to drink alcohol here. ★Draft beer ¥350 - A fantastic price for the city center! It even comes with papad and green chili chutney. ★Vegetable Manchurian ¥950 - A vegetarian version of Chicken Manchurian, a representative dish of Indo-Chinese cuisine. We asked for it to be spicy. Unlike Gobi Manchurian made with cauliflower, this dish is made with mixed vegetables and beans formed into balls, fried, and then coated in a spicy-sweet Manchurian (Mandarin-style) sauce. The flavor is sharp, but compared to other restaurants' Manchurian dishes, it felt like there was less garlic. ★Vegetable Hyderabadi ¥1090 ★Chapati ¥350 - We also ordered the Hyderabadi vegetable curry from South India, and we requested it to be spicy. It's a dry curry with plenty of vegetables, spicy and satisfying. ★Lassi Sour ¥299 - The alcohol here is really cheap. And quite strong too. This place doesn't get much attention, but it's quite a hidden gem.

I am very satisfied with the ladies set. It was lunchtime, so it quickly became full. The cost performance was good and the food was delicious, so I am satisfied. The dressing for the salad was a bit sweeter than other restaurants, I think. It is easy to eat because it doesn't have a strong taste. It was a naan set, but it came with mini rice, so I could enjoy it twice. ^_^

It is located right in the middle of Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station. It was on the basement floor, but the interior was quite crowded. There were familiar faces of curry from a certain country. I ordered the lunch set with spinach curry and mango lassi. The salad dressing was generously poured and I couldn't tell what flavor it was, but it was delicious. The naan was freshly baked and large. It was a satisfying meal.

I went to "Kanakaja" located in a mixed building facing Showa Street near Ueno Station and had the mutton curry set. The interior of the restaurant had a quaint old-fashioned atmosphere. The building itself felt very old. I sat at a table inside and ordered the mutton curry set. I chose the spicy option for the mutton curry. For my drink, I selected mango lassi. After a short wait, the mutton curry was brought to me. It came with a large naan and turmeric rice. The mutton curry was generously filled with lamb meat and had just the right amount of spices, making it delicious. The naan was soft and chewy. After the meal, I enjoyed the mango lassi. Once I finished eating, I paid the bill and left the restaurant to head back home. #Kanakaja #khanakhaja #curry #currylovers #muttoncurry #mangolassi #gourmetlovers #gourmetindian #gourmet #Indiancuisine #naan #turmericrice #salad #Ueno #Taito #lunch #foodie #foodlover

Today, the bad weather in the morning cleared up as if it were a lie, and Princess Mako happily met with Kei Komuro. The scene of Princess Mako leaving the Akishino residence, greeting Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, and then embracing her younger sister Princess Kako naturally had a touching quality. During the press conference that followed, I had a feeling of something unusual from the moment Kei Komuro led Princess Mako out. Starting with consideration for those affected by the new coronavirus, Princess Mako, who initially seemed reserved, turned to face the audience and opened her eyes wide, and I thought, "This is it!" The contrast between her pure white eyes and the glossy jet-black eyes, which had an almost soy sauce-like luster, is essential for humans, and that contrast is what captures people's hearts! The press conference that followed, with Princess Mako's side taking a one-sided approach but making some bold statements, labeling previous reports as biased reporting, and using her overwhelming contrast and compassionate face to overpower the reporters, reminded me of a scene from "W no Higeki" where Yoko Yakushimaru's character, like a powerful goddess, pushes back the experienced entertainment reporters who gather around her like hyenas at a press conference. The flawless dimple of pure truth seemed to further enhance that power infinitely... At around 11:30 a.m., I found myself in the usual basement mini food court where the Japanese soba shop had not yet opened. So, I decided to dive into the standard curry shop that boldly advances as the main stream of the Indian-Nepalese Japanese invasion festival. "Keema curry," "Karasawa?" "No. 2 (Is No. 2 not good?)" "Nomi mono ha?" "Mango lassi." The background music was silent. There were no other customers. As I sat at a table near the entrance and stared at the monitor in the back, for some reason, a still image of "2021/Happy New Year" continued to reign, and with the silent Indian staff, I waited for my curry to warm up, "Keema curry" priced at 750 yen. The salad seemed to have more dressing than usual, and I decided to name the thin carrot-colored dressing "five thousand dressing" as a sign of respect for India's 5,000-year history. The freshly baked naan that began to kiss the table due to gravity, which was getting dirty with my keema, was eagerly torn apart by me using my unclean hands... The glossy sheen on the surface of the naan, like butter, seductively clung to each of my unclean fingers, captivating me with an indescribable eroticism. Yet, no matter how tainted I may be, it doesn't matter! Because once it crawls out of the ground and into the air, the intense daylight pouring down from the sky will purify any deeply ingrained impurity in an instant.

Keema Curry 750 yen Today, I had lunch at this place near Ueno Station that I have never visited before. I entered at 11:50 am, with 3 customers already inside and no one behind me. The lunch menu here is so extensive that it's hard to decide. A. Daily Curry 900 yen B. Chicken Curry 800 yen C. Mutton Curry 900 yen D. Vegetable Curry 800 yen E. Keema Curry 750 yen F. Seafood Curry 900 yen G. Dal Curry 800 yen H. Spinach Curry 900 yen I. Butter Chicken Curry 900 yen J. Cheese Naan Set 1,200 yen K. Kanakaji Set 1,400 yen L. Ladies Set 990 yen M. Kids Set 600 yen N. Curry Rice Set 800 yen Spiciness levels range from mild, normal, medium, hot, very hot, to extremely hot. Drink options include chai, oolong tea, lassi, mango lassi, and coffee. Each order comes with naan or rice, and a salad. After a few minutes of contemplation, I decided on Keema Curry with hot spiciness, mango lassi, and naan. Soon, the salad and soup were served, and as I was eating them and waiting for the main dish... In just about 1 minute after ordering, the meal arrived. As is common in Japanese curry shops, a huge naan with Keema Curry and a side of turmeric rice were presented. The Keema Curry was generously portioned and piping hot. Although I ordered medium spiciness, it was actually quite hot compared to other places. As someone who enjoys spicy food, I found it satisfying enough. Maybe I didn't need to go for the extremely hot level after all, but I am curious to try it next time. The Keema Curry had a lingering taste of lamb, which I didn't mind but found interesting. The soup was thick like a potage and had a sweet oriental aroma that lingered after each sip. After finally finishing the massive naan, I was quite full, but there was still turmeric rice left. I topped it with the remaining Keema Curry and managed to finish it all. I refreshed my palate with mango lassi after the meal. I was completely satisfied and had a delicious meal. Visited for lunch on September 9, 2021. Rating: 3.28

This is my favorite Indian restaurant in the Ameyoko area in 2020. I discovered this place during my trip to Tokyo. There were no photos, but the set menu included a salad. Due to the impact of COVID-19, I was able to stay in a nice hotel for around 3000 yen. I hope we can return to a world where we can travel and enjoy wonderful times without masks.

I had lunch at a restaurant called "Kana Kaja" in Ueno. It's an Indian and Nepalese cuisine restaurant located near the JR and Hibiya Line, but it's a bit shady as it's in an underground food court. The place used to be another restaurant called "Harushu" which I visited about 6 and a half years ago. The lunch menu includes salad, drink, unlimited naan (you can refill twice), and rice for around 750 to 900 yen for a single dish. I ordered a two-dish set with lamb and the daily shrimp. The salad had a sweet dressing, a bit too much for my taste. The soup that came unexpectedly was disappointing as it lacked flavor. The lamb was very spicy but delicious, with a nice balance of onion sweetness and spice. The shrimp was medium spicy with a strong coconut flavor. The tandoori was mild but well-cooked. The naan was a bit thick and chewy, with uneven thickness. The rice was flavored with turmeric and had a good texture. I received a half naan as a refill, but I preferred the rice over it. The iced chai drink tasted like it had extra cinnamon added. The curry was tasty, but the naan was not the best, and considering the ambiance of the restaurant, I would rate it slightly above average.

I visited a Thai restaurant before, but it was a bit crowded and I felt somewhat uneasy about the social distancing at the table I was seated at, so I decided to come to this restaurant instead. I looked at the lunch menu and chose the cheapest dish, which was the keema curry with Extra Hot spice level, and I also ordered a mango lassi for my drink. First, a salad and soup were served. The soup had a unique spice flavor that I didn't dislike, and the salad, mainly made of cabbage, had a delicious homemade dressing. I saved the salad to eat with the naan later. The main curry dish arrived on one plate, but the naan was too big and didn't fit on the plate. The curry came with rice, so I didn't feel like it was lacking in quantity. In fact, for a woman, it might be too much. I started by eating the naan, tearing it with my hands and dipping it into the curry. It wasn't very spicy, so I added some chili powder from the table. That did the trick for the spiciness! As I ate, I also noticed the sweetness of the naan. One of my favorite ways to eat is to sandwich the salad vegetables with the naan. It may sound strange, but I like it. I poured the curry over the saffron rice and enjoyed the chunks of minced meat and the spicy flavor. I had about half of the curry left, but I couldn't eat any more naan. I got a refill of rice and leisurely finished my meal with the mango lassi.

I arrived at the restaurant a little after 12:30. Despite the current situation, I am grateful that they are serving lunch as usual. I ordered the Keema Curry (750 yen) with a Cheese Naan upgrade (250 yen). I had a salad while waiting, and the curry arrived in about 7 minutes. The Cheese Naan had a generous amount of cheese, with a slightly salty taste. It was on the chewy side, and the cheese was the stretchy kind with a good flavor. It was very filling. The curry (Keema) had a moderate amount of meat and was moderately spicy, suitable for those who don't like too much heat. It didn't have a strong spice flavor, but it was delicious and suitable for Japanese taste. I wish there were a bit more ingredients in it. Overall, I would rate it 3.5 stars.

Dal curry 800 yen (tax included) with naan, rice, salad, and soft drink included. I always noticed the sign while commuting and was curious about it. The restaurant is located in the basement of a building, with access from both Showa Street and a side street. When you go down the stairs, you'll find a soba shop, this place, and a Thai restaurant. It felt a bit empty and lonely, but looking in from outside, there were customers inside, so I decided to go in. I was greeted with a cheerful "Irasshaimase!" by what seemed to be Indian or Nepalese staff. I was seated at a table for four. I chose the Dal curry, which was the daily special, with a spice level of medium. I also ordered an iced chai for after the meal. While waiting, I noticed that rice was included in the meal, so I asked for it to be omitted. They have free Wi-Fi, with the password posted on the wall. I started with the salad, which was decent. Then came the curry and naan. The curry was on the watery side, with a relatively simple flavor. The naan was crispy on the outside and chewy inside. The curry had a good amount, so I ended up eating most of it with a spoon, leaving just the chewy naan to enjoy. It had a simple and delicious taste. The iced chai was light and refreshing. After finishing my meal, I checked Eatigo and found a coupon for a 10% discount. I was surprised when they actually honored it, reducing my bill to 750 yen. The staff was very grateful and friendly. I will definitely come back again. Just a note, the restaurant allows smoking, so be prepared for that if you visit.

"Have you decided on what to order?" "Yes." "Chinese restaurant?" "Not the Chinese Tei, it's the one with the yellow sign for dumplings across the street." "Gyoza Tei?" "It's not Gyoza Tei! Just adding 'Tei' to everything doesn't make it right (laughs)." Today's part-time job at the usual izakaya is Y-chan. Already quite drunk, even though I managed to get through yesterday without drinking a drop. I know it's not a good idea, but I can't help but drink heavily the next day. Y-chan tried to warn me that I was walking in the wrong direction, but it was too late. After that, I visited two new snack bars. The first one was a haunted house, and the second one... I don't really understand why some places either give excellent service or completely ignore you. It seems like they rely too much on verbal communication and ignore the nuances of interpersonal interaction. A rainy day with strong rain meant I needed an umbrella. I had a pretty bad hangover. On days like this, curry is better than osechi! So, I went to my usual underground curry shop because it was easy to enter due to the rain. It was still early, and I was the first customer for lunch. The only thing I'm not happy about is that the menu is limited, or maybe I just can't order anything else. I ordered the "Keema Curry" for 750 yen. I first received a salad and soup. The dressing was an orange-colored one that is common in these types of restaurants. I always doubt that it's carrot dressing because the color is too vivid. The soup, which was tomato soup, seemed less rich and flavorful compared to the one at my regular shop in Jujo. Then, the main dish arrived on a round plate, and everything was served on it! It feels like the naan bread is getting bigger every time I visit! For 750 yen, getting soup, a small serving of rice, and a drink is reasonable compared to other similar restaurants. "What's this called?" He was trying to name the Enoki mushrooms for today's curry, so he brought a bag of them and asked me what they were called. I wasn't sure, so I wrote it on a napkin. When he showed me the bag with "Enokitake" written on it (maybe they're not good with hiragana), I was able to say "Enoki mushrooms," but if I had only seen the item, I might have thought they were shimeji mushrooms. Sometimes, I feel extremely embarrassed when I don't know things in these situations, but I've accepted that it's better to feel embarrassed each time than to study in advance. Suddenly, the line of a perfectly shaped mouth behind the frosted glass window wavered. The doorbell rang immediately, syncing with the sound of the bell, my heart raced. I felt a hint of Latin allure in that exotic mouth, but the slender woman who entered was not Japanese, but rather a fellow Mongoloid like us with a noble lineage... Mongoloid women have a unique and powerful beauty, but I prefer Russian women. And her name is already decided to be Natasha.

Returning to a thick, long down jacket on the second day. The air is truly cold enough to sting the skin, but the people passing by don't seem to be as heavily armed as I am. Perhaps their thick coats have already been sent for dry cleaning. This contrast between respectable, family-oriented individuals and forever eccentric me makes me feel somewhat melancholic. Today is earlier than usual. Realizing that I need to have lunch here during the busy lunch hour due to work, I head to the underground haven known as "Kana Kaja" in Ueno. I am seated at a small table near the entrance in the crowded curry restaurant and quickly order the Keema curry set. The curry is decent, nothing fancy, and the accompanying soup is a strange but not unpleasant experience. As I eat, I overhear a conversation between young colleagues discussing baldness, a topic that seems to be amusing to many. While I have my own concerns about baldness, I find the topic amusing and can't help but chuckle. However, the conversation goes on and on, testing my patience. This lack of sensitivity towards others' feelings is frustrating, but I try to brush it off. Overall, baldness seems to be an interesting topic of discussion for many, even if it can become tiresome after a while.

Last night, I ended up staying at the usual izakaya until closing time (which is 11 pm), and then I went down the hill to a ramen shop. Just then, I received a message from S-chan saying, "Y and I are drinking in Tojo, come join us!" The tricky thing is, the waitress at this ramen shop always opens a 300ml bottle of sake for me without saying a word, and recently she even started bringing out hamburgers without me asking for them. So when the hamburger arrived, I was in a bit of a dilemma because I usually start with that here, but I also have my own mood for the day (laughs). However, being the timid person that I am, I couldn't say anything... Well, even so, when S-chan called me, I couldn't resist, so I quickly finished the hamburger and headed back to the theater street. The leftover cold sake will be kept for me by the waitress, sealing it with plastic wrap, so I guess it's fine (laughs). The next day in Ueno on January 17, 2019: I entered a curry shop called "Kana Kaja" where the background music first played a music video, but when a man entered after me, it suddenly went silent and switched to a tennis match featuring Kei Nishikori. This curry shop, run by an Indian (or Nepalese?) person, had a curry that I first tried less than 10 years ago, and at first, I thought it was delicious, but recently I've come to realize that most of them are made from mass-produced base products. However, there are places with relatively good variations and some with poor ones. As I observed, the quality of the curry at this shop, which used to be called "Harsh," seems to have gradually declined. The man who initially ordered cheese naan and then switched to regular naan for the refill made me wonder if the refill would be regular naan or cheese naan. The refreshing taste of the mango lassi after the meal was soothing to my stomach. One thing I want to point out is that despite the change in the shop's name, the service has been consistently pleasant since the previous shop, which I have yet to understand if there has been a change in management. Returning to last night: When S-chan called me to join them for drinks with their part-time job friends, I knew I would just end up paying the bill, but I went anyway. It was still an unknown shop for me. As soon as I stepped in, I asked, "Excuse me, where are the two ugly female college students?" which was a preemptive strike. I was quickly beaten up in return... After a while, a woman tapped my shoulder and when I turned around, it was the familiar Y-chan (again, now Y was wearing it). Despite hearing that she had married and given birth in a rural area, Y-chan was here (in Tojo) drinking alone at one in the morning. Maybe it was not good that I was with young girls, but despite our long-awaited reunion, Y-chan seemed cold. They say, "He who chases two hares will catch neither." I gave up on pursuing the mature woman Y-chan and instead joined S-chan and Y's group. S-chan, despite being quite drunk, kept an eye on me and teased me occasionally (laughs), but basically, I just settled into the solo drinking mode - after all, I know my role well. I've been drinking for decades, so don't think I don't know what I'm doing. I just came here to pay my bill and won't do anything extra. So I can relax and focus on my own thing.

Special set (butter chicken, lamb spinach curry x2, naan, rice, salad, tandoori chicken, soft drink), 1380 yen. Chose medium spiciness. It's delicious in a normal way. In other words, it's not more than that.

The restaurant had changed without me realizing it. When I came, it was called "Harsh". The curry had a slight tanginess and was quite tasty, but later the name changed... Now it's an Indian-Nepalese restaurant again. Compared to before, there are more authentic Indian cuisine restaurants around Ueno Okachimachi. In the past, there were only "Andhra Kitchen" and "Veg Herb". Now, popular places like "Venus", "Veg Kitchen", and "Halim Kebab" have emerged. It seems that Japanese people who have tasted authentic Indian cuisine will not be satisfied with the traditional Indian-Nepalese curry. I ordered the "Cheese Naan Set" (1,200 yen) from the unchanging menu. The curry was once again the "Butter Chicken" VERY HOT. The drink was Mango Lassi. I'm getting tired of this combination. The meal started with soup and salad. I have been criticizing Indian-Nepalese restaurant salads as "Shomona Salad" for 9 years. It's no longer funny (^-^) The soup was unusual. When I drank it, it tasted like... miso soup? But it's a strange taste for miso soup. It tastes like miso soup with curry in it. A strange taste, but I can drink it (laughs). The curry has arrived. The cheese naan is cut into pieces. It's very hot with plenty of cheese. It's more like pizza than naan now (^-^). It's quite delicious. Much tastier than eating bad Neapolitan pizza. Now, onto the curry. The usual Butter Chicken. I asked for it to be spicy, so it's reasonably tasty. The best part is that it's piping hot. It's definitely not at a temperature where you can eat it with your hands (laughs). It was decently delicious. But I'm tired of this type of curry. So, I can't give it a very high rating <(_ _)>

It is located underground and hard to find, but I will visit when I come to Ueno. The lunch is cheap and delicious. It used to come with dessert, but unfortunately it's no longer available. I appreciate that they have maintained their prices in the midst of high costs.

Lunch - Moran curry rice set for 750 yen. Ladice set for 990 yen.

We also have a wide variety of drink options available. Enjoy pairing our Indian curry with a cold beer, or try our cheese naan with Indian wine. Please come and enjoy them.

Shoup Momo serves delicious Indian food and wine.