caicai-nana
I decided to visit Shimokitazawa in September 2022 to eat curry and explore on my own. After about an hour of wandering around, I chose this restaurant. It is located just a short walk from Shimokitazawa Station on Higashi Street. I climbed the unique art-filled staircase and went up to the second floor. It was lunchtime on a weekday and the seats were starting to fill up. It seems that soup curry is popular with both men and women! *It seems to get quite crowded on weekends. The interior of the restaurant, like the exterior, had slightly dim lighting and unique art decorations. The atmosphere was cozy! I looked at the menu placed on the table and filled out an order form. I chose the following 5 items:
1. Select main ingredients from about 10 options
2. Choose from tomato, Japanese-style, or shrimp soup
3. Choose spiciness level from 8 options (*Be careful as the salt content increases with spiciness)
4. Add toppings
5. Choose rice portion (refills allowed)
My order was as follows:
1. Chicken and vegetable curry with crispy skin
2. Tomato soup
3. Spiciness level 1
4. No additional toppings
5. Medium rice portion 180g
There was no additional charge, and the total bill was ¥1,520. Also, during weekday lunch, you get a complimentary lassi or tea. I chose lassi.
*The service was quick. Despite being somewhat crowded, the staff were polite and created a comfortable space to dine in. The moment I took a sip of the soup, I tasted umami, sweetness, a hint of bitterness from sautéed onions, saltiness, and a balanced tomato acidity...! The broth was made from pork bones, chicken bones, beef bones, and aromatic vegetables, along with the selected tomatoes. It was a wonderful harmony of flavors. Despite the strong presence of spices, it felt gentle... This is the kind of soup curry that energizes you! The vegetables were deep-fried, and each one had a distinct and delicious taste!! Among them, the flavors of baby corn, lotus root, and daikon were particularly impressive... The vegetables were so carefully prepared that they could be considered the stars of the dish! The leg chicken was cooked slowly at low temperature before being fried. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside... I even ate the bones!! The meat could also be considered the star of the dish. Soup curry. To have such a variety of flavors on one plate... It naturally increased my satisfaction. Even after finishing the meal, I felt no discomfort in my body, but rather felt energized^ ^ This soup curry is good for your body. In the fiercely competitive curry district of Shimokitazawa, the prices may be a bit high, but this place is worth it!! I will definitely go back again♪