Today was a travel day heading to Sendai, so I stopped by the company briefly. I had breakfast at Tokyo Station, quickly grabbed my carry-on, and was driven to the station to catch my train. I visited a relatively new area in Gransta, where I found Toyoken, a restaurant serving breakfast. It had been a while since my last visit, so I decided to try something delicious. I was seated promptly and ordered a glass of wine while looking at the menu. I opted for the Matsuzaka beef Royal Black Curry in a half-size portion for around 1500 yen, along with a salad and coffee set for about 800 yen. After a while, the salad and the spicy-smelling curry arrived. The curry, infused with the rich flavor of the meat, was a delightful blend of flavors. The salad served as a nice palate cleanser, allowing me to savor the dish until the end. The restaurant had a calm atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle of the station, offering a sophisticated setting to enjoy a leisurely meal. Overall, it was a great dining experience. Thank you for the meal.

There were two types of shaved ice available. Despite the time limit until 5 pm, the atmosphere inside the shop was quiet and relaxing. The black honey kinako flavor was a bit bitter, more suited for adults. It cost 1600 yen, but the portion size was not too big and easy to eat.

I saw a poster for shaved ice at Tokyo Station and decided to go eat it on a whim. It was a bit pricey for something so simple, but the shaved ice I had was delicious, marking my first of the year. Also, the curry that someone else was eating looked really good, so I want to try it for lunch next time.

Before returning to Osaka, I had about an hour to spare, so I wandered around inside Tokyo Station. Every place was crowded with lines, except for this one... I decided to enter right away. Turns out they had already finished serving courses, so I realized it was that kind of restaurant. I ordered a hamburger steak and lobster bisque a la carte. When I cut into the hamburger steak, the juices flowed out... The demi-glace sauce was incredibly delicious. But what stood out the most was the lobster soup, it was amazingly tasty. The side of potatoes had a rich buttery flavor and the carrots were sweet. I finished with an iced coffee to cleanse my palate. And my wallet was also cleansed.笑

It was a late lunch hour, so I was seated right away. I ordered the Matsusaka Beef Black Curry for 2,200 yen. I had heard about this place on TV, where they carefully sauté Matsusaka beef and flour for over a month to create this dish. The salad presentation was beautiful and perfect. And then, the curry. The sauce was pitch black. When I tried it, it had a smooth and elegant taste. I couldn't resist ordering the Pudding a la Mode that I saw on the menu, and it was a firm and rich pudding topped with ice cream and fruits, creating a vibrant dessert.

I ordered the Matsuzaka beef royal curry set for lunch at the famous Western-style restaurant Toyo Ken inside Tokyo Station ticket gates. First, there was a salad. The portion was small but the fresh vegetables were delicious. The curry came with rice and sauce served separately. It had a nice balance of acidity and depth, giving a good impression of Western-style curry. The meat was tender and tasty. The ice cream at the end was just a small bonus. The curry was delicious as a Western-style dish, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was surprisingly calm considering it was inside the ticket gates. However, I couldn't help but think it was a bit pricey. But considering the location, I guess it's understandable...

I suddenly felt like eating curry while inside Tokyo Station, so I decided to stop by a curry restaurant. It was lunchtime on a holiday, and Tokyo Station was bustling with people. There were 2-3 groups ahead of me, but I was seated in about 20 minutes. It seemed like there weren't many staff members, as there were empty seats inside the restaurant but they were spacing out the seating times. I ordered the beef curry and hashed beef rice that I wanted. They were incredibly delicious... The hashed beef rice had a slight acidity to it, and the beef curry had a refined taste that I really liked. The only downside was that the service was quite slow for a restaurant inside the station. If you're in a hurry, it's best to double-check. The speed of service is different from typical curry restaurants, haha.

I visited the long-established Western-style restaurant "Toyo Ken" inside Tokyo Station for lunch on a weekday. Located in the Tokyo Station Gransta restaurant area, the interior of the restaurant is calm and doesn't feel like a typical station eatery. I ordered the "Matsusaka Beef Royal Black Curry" set. The Matsusaka Beef Royal Black Curry, as the name suggests, is black in color, with a rich and creamy roux complemented by Matsusaka beef and crunchy onions. It's great to be able to enjoy the taste of Toyo Ken easily at Tokyo Station. I would like to come back to try other menu items as well.

The atmosphere is casual and perfect for passing time. The taste is traditional and sharp, really delicious. I can't put into words how good it is. I wonder if I can recreate it at home. I want to come back to explore more. Thank you for the meal.

Established in 1889, the long-established Western-style restaurant Toyo Ken in Tsu, which was revived by the beloved two-star chef Narisawa in Akasaka in 2014. I quickly rushed to my favorite restaurant. The taste of Toyo Ken can now be enjoyed casually at Tokyo Station. Before heading out on a trip, I stopped by for lunch. I love both the European-style curry and the hashed beef rice, so I chose the Matsusaka beef Royal Plaque Curry & Matsusaka beef Hashed Beef Rice set. And of course, I couldn't resist ordering the Onion Gratin Soup that is always on the menu. It was delicious.

The curry at Osumashi Curry was delicious and we were able to enjoy it slowly. The atmosphere was quiet with no background music, almost like being in a train station. The prices were a bit high but it was worth it for a relaxing meal even on a weekday afternoon. The wagyu beef curry was strikingly black and a bit sweet. It was lighter than it looked but still filling. I would like to come back next time to try the pudding a la mode.

The 6000 yen course includes: 1. Choice of soup 2. 3 types of grilled dishes or hamburg steak 3. Choice of curry rice or hashed beef rice 4. Dessert 5. Choice of coffee or tea You can enjoy your meal in a calm atmosphere, and the taste of the dishes truly reflects the experience of this long-established restaurant. You can also order bottled wine starting from 5000 yen.

From Tokyo Station, I went on another business trip. I wandered around Gransta to grab a bite to eat. With the restrictions being relaxed, Gransta was crowded even on weekdays, with foreigners, freshmen, and students. Every easily accessible restaurant had a line. Among them, I spotted a curry menu that caught my eye. Lately, I've been eating a lot of curry around Tokyo Station, so I hesitated when I saw that the curry here was over 2000 yen. It was no surprise, as it was from the renowned Western-style restaurant, Toyo-ken. After some contemplation, I decided to enter the restaurant. The interior was elegant, and the staff were very professional. I sat at the counter, as they mentioned it was available. Looking at the menu, even the cheapest curry was priced at 1980 yen. This time, I chose the Matsusaka Beef Royal Black Curry & Seafood Luxury Curry Rice (lunch set for 2970 yen)!! It's a combination of beef curry and seafood curry. It costs 2970 yen, which is equivalent to how many bowls of curry I could eat at the Alps in Yaesu underground the other day!! As I was thinking about that, the salad set arrived. It was served ice-cold, making it feel like it would purify my blood. Just as I finished the salad, the curry was served. Is this service also included in the price? The Royal Black Curry was indeed very dark in color. The Seafood Curry, on the other hand, seemed plain at first glance. I tried the Black Curry first... It was incredibly rich and flavorful. Truly a royal taste. The roux at the bottom, along with butter and vegetables, blended well with the richness and umami of Matsusaka beef. It was a luxurious taste. The spiciness was not too intense. Next, I tried the seafood curry... Oh, this was more like an Americaine sauce with a curry flavor, with a strong taste of shrimp (similar to lobster?). Other seafood flavors were also present, but it had a strong shrimp and bouillabaisse-like approach. This felt more like something to eat with pasta or gratin rather than rice. Although I didn't mix the two this time, I definitely preferred the Royal Black Curry. Despite being a luxurious dish, I finished it quickly. The coffee served after the meal was perfect timing. And this coffee was delicious!! I wonder if I could just come here for the coffee? I enjoyed the high-class taste and left satisfied!! Thank you for the meal!!

Located in the restaurant area inside Tokyo Station, there were 3 groups ahead of us and the wait time was about 15 minutes. There was no time limit for seating, so it was unclear when we would be seated. However, the staff kindly asked if our reserved departure time for the shinkansen was okay. I ordered a combination curry of fragrant beef curry and seafood curry. The beef curry was rich and flavorful, very satisfying. The seafood curry was also delicious, but it couldn't quite compare to the beef curry in terms of taste, so I felt the combination was a bit unbalanced. Next time, I will try just the beef curry on its own.

It did not exceed expectations... Used it during lunchtime, the service speed was fast. I had the Matsusaka beef black curry lunch set. The Matsusaka beef in the curry was delicious and flavorful, but there was only one piece which felt lonely. The rice was a bit mushy, which was a big downside. It seems to have a long history, but I would like them to learn from a delicious Western-style curry restaurant. Repeat: C (if there are no other options)

I decided to have dinner at Toyo Ken inside Tokyo Station after returning from a trip, as all the other places were too crowded on a Saturday evening. I ordered the Matsusaka Beef Royal Black Curry for ¥3,080 and the Matsusaka Beef Hayashi Rice for ¥3,080. Despite curry and hayashi rice being seen as common dishes, the use of Matsusaka beef explains the high prices. The atmosphere inside the restaurant seemed elegant with many sophisticated customers. The hayashi rice had a noticeable tomato acidity, while the curry was more to my liking (my companion preferred the hayashi rice). Both dishes contained onions with a firm texture, which I personally prefer slightly softer. The Matsusaka beef slices were thin and small, not the chunky meat I had imagined, which was a bit disappointing. Moreover, there was a clear difference in the amount of beef between the hayashi rice and curry, with the former having more. Nevertheless, the fatty meat was quite rich, so the smaller portion might have been sufficient. I enjoyed the curry roux, but the overall taste of the ingredients did not quite match my personal preference.

I had a meeting at Tokyo Station and decided to have Matsusaka beef black curry at Toyo Ken in Gransta. The rich and creamy curry sauce paired perfectly with the white rice. When I asked a JR station staff for directions, they told me it's located inside the station, and an entry ticket for 140 yen (up to 2 hours) is required.

Upon returning from an expedition, I stopped by "Toyo Ken" at Tokyo Station as I suddenly craved curry. Although there were various menu options that caught my eye, I stuck to my original plan and ordered the curry. It arrived fairly quickly. As for the taste... I was hoping for a slightly spicier curry, so it left me feeling a bit disappointed. In the end, it just wasn't to my liking. The price was also a bit disappointing, so I would say the value for money is on the lower side.

The hamburger has just the right amount of juiciness and a perfect balance of meat juices that overflow as soon as you take a bite. The juiciness spreads gently, which feels nice. It's not too heavy because of the moderate meat juices, making it easy to eat. The natural sweetness and umami of the meat spread wonderfully in the mouth. I recommend eating it without the demiglace sauce as you'll find yourself devouring it quickly. Of course, the demiglace sauce is delicious too.

In 2020, I went to Tokyo Station to try the beloved Black Curry from Toyo Ken, which opened inside the station. Toyo Ken is a long-established curry restaurant founded in 1922 in Tsu, Mie Prefecture. They were once appointed as the purveyor to the Imperial Household Agency in the Meiji era and catered for events like the completion parties of Tokyo Station and the National Diet Building. I love Toyo Ken's curry so much that I even visited their main shop in Tsu, Mie Prefecture before. In Tokyo, they have a shop inside Tokyo Station and another one in Akasaka. The Akasaka shop is surprisingly stylish for a curry restaurant, while the Tokyo Station one has a more casual atmosphere, making it easy for solo diners to enjoy. On this day, I ordered a half-size portion since I wasn't very hungry, but I was surprised by how little it was. It was almost like a child's portion! Next time, I want to make sure to order a full-size portion and fully enjoy it. ❤︎

Today's lunch was the Seafood Luxury Curry at Toyo-ken in Tokyo Station. I believe it's part of their morning menu. I opted for the mini size, which was just the right amount for lunch. The seating was spacious and relaxing. The curry had a rich seafood flavor and was delicious. I will definitely visit again.