Especially in summer in Japan, I want to eat very spicy curry to forget the summer heat. Japanese Curry is slightly different from the original Indian curry. Curry was introduced to Japan in the 19th Century and it used to be very expensive but gradually became an everyday food from the early 20th Century.
Each Japanese has their own favorite curry shop. Here are my most favorite curry shops which I have visited several times in Tokyo.
1. Bondy in Jinbocho
The balance of rice and curry sauce is so important when eating curry. Bondy’s curry is the best for me. There are various kinds of curry with styles ranging from meats to seafood, vegetables, mushrooms and clams.
I usually order Beef with Cheese. This is the first place that I ate out with one of my coworkers. He was obsessed with Japanese curry and recommended Bondy as his No.1 curry in Tokyo.
2. MOTI in Akasaka
MOTI Indian curry restaurant was the first restaurant for me to go to with my father when I was a highschool student. MOTI’s nan is so soft and sticky and the smell is tender and sweet.
When I have visited there for lunch, I find my friends and I always order the same favorite curry every time. My favorite is Chicken curry, but you can also choose from mutton, vegetable, shrimp and more.
3. Ginza Shiseido
Shiseido provides one of the most expensive curries in Tokyo, but it is well worth eating. It takes 3 days to cook its original curry sauce. I like the atmosphere of the restaurant with nostalgic and traditional service they provide.
4. CoCo Ichibanya near main stations
When my friends visit Tokyo, I always recommend going to CoCo Ichibanya. CoCo Ichibanya is a chain restaurant, but the quality of service and food is excellent.
There are so many choices of sauce and side dishes, but it is really fun to choose. I usually eat level 10, the hottest type of sauce. It’s hot, but enjoyable.
5. House Curry at supermarket
My mom cooked curry almost every month and kept it for 2-3 days for dinner and weekend lunch. Curry can be eaten with not only rice but also Spaghetti, Japanese noodles and bread.
When I visited my cousin in Italy, I brought 10 kg of rice and several kinds of curry sauce. In Italy, she cooked Japanese curry with Italian onions, carrots, potatoes and chicken for us. It tasted of mixed flavors of Italian and Japanese.
I always buy House Foods’ curry sauce at home, because my mom always used it. Retort-pouch curry is also easy to eat and bring back to your country. You can find them everywhere at convenience stores or supermarkets in Japan.
