I went to Barisco in Chitose Funabashi to try UMU's curry for the second time. Last time, I had the simple and delicious Spicy Authentic Curry, but this time I wanted to try UMU's specialty Tantan Keema Curry. Unfortunately, it was sold out the day before. Instead, I ordered the Poêlé Curry. It was a luxurious Spicy Curry with poêlé white fish, squid, and scallops on top. The garlic flavor was enhanced by the poêlé seafood. I had beer and a Chai cocktail with my meal. The Chai was homemade by UMU and paired well with the rum. It seems like they have carefully crafted the Chai to complement the rum. I'm already planning my third visit to finally try the Tantan Keema Curry.

I went to BARESCO in Chitose Funabashi to try UMU's curry, which was highly praised by the music industry's curry boss, Yuhi Komiyama, on the podcast "Komuzo". UMU's authentic curry is different from the trendy curries of today, not focused on being Instagrammable, but incredibly delicious. The curry I had that day was a straightforward chicken curry with a lot of spices. The sauce, made without flour, only seemed to have chicken solids, but it actually contains a lot of vegetables, making it a healthy spice curry. I was surprised to learn that celery and mushrooms are sautéed, blended, and added to the curry. It takes a lot of effort, which is why the spices have such a deep flavor. Additionally, the drinks were a great deal at only 500 yen. Regulars mentioned that this is one of the few places where you can get a Heartland beer for 500 yen. The conversation with UMU was enjoyable, and I also had a lemon sour and a gin rickey for 500 yen each. Delicious curry, good drinks, and fun conversations for less than 3000 yen – what a great deal. UMU's curry is only available on Mondays and Tuesdays, so it's not easy to visit from afar, but I definitely want to come back on a holiday.

There is a rumor about a standing bar that serves authentic curry. I was curious, so I decided to go check it out. The compact interior had a few chairs available. The menu changes daily, and today they had lotus root keema curry and chicken and mushroom curry. I ordered a combination of both and it arrived promptly. The rice and curry were neatly divided into quarters, like a BMW. The turmeric rice with barley looked healthy and tasted delightful. The lotus root keema curry had a unique texture, with the crunchiness of the lotus root adding to the enjoyment. The chicken and mushroom curry was rich with generous portions of chicken and mushrooms. I savored every bite and finished my meal. I had a great curry experience at Chitose Funabashi. Thank you for the meal.

There is no menu for 500 yen per drink, you order by talking to the master. I had already taken a few sips, but the drink is a highball.

About 2 minutes from Chitose Funabashi Station. It's located between a flower shop and a butcher, in a small space of about 3 tatami mats. It's a standing bar with only a counter. They have been serving lunch for the past three weeks. The lunch menu includes homemade bolognese and seasonal vegetable brown rice curry. Each dish is 700 yen, or 900 yen with a drink set. You can also get a large portion for an additional 100 yen. Lunch is available until 3 PM. I had the seasonal vegetable brown rice curry, which was more like a keema curry with lots of vegetable toppings. It also had a soft-boiled egg in between the curry and rice, making it quite filling. It was delicious. However, the chair they brought out for me kept sinking lower and lower as I ate, making it difficult to finish my meal. The staff were friendly and talked a lot, which I personally found a bit overwhelming. Overall, it's a lovely place for those who enjoy standing bars.