NERIMA: Kerala Bhavan... friendly service with a splash of boring curry and nan

My friends special of the day "800yen Today's Set" had some volume!  Definitely hit this up because compared to my more expensive choice Cost Performance was solid.

My 960yen C-Set with Nan, rice, malai tikka chicken and 2 servings of soupy bland curry! Nan just tasted like low grade bread... you know the budget private brand stuff you buy at the supermarket vs the bakery.  I've never had nan so boring before in both flavor and texture.

Lemony chicken was moist and tender... best part of the meal.

C set comes with a dessert.

This guy provided service with a smile the entire afternoon.  One thing I love about Indian restaurants in Japan is that its one of those rare occasions I can start and end in English.

Closed with a hot milk chai.

Overall would I go back again... hell no!  But I must have just ordered the wrong thing or the locals in Nerima have not tried any amazing Indian spots in town because the foodie ranking was quite high. Anyways if you are in need of a friendly smile and cheery service then by all means go and order the "Today's Set."

Shop: Kerala Bhavan Nerima

Shop Website: http://www.keralabhavan.com/

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132102/13008993/

Address J: 東京都練馬区豊玉北5-31-4 松村ビル 1F

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Toyotama Kita 5-31-4
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YOTSUYA: Tala Kitchen for some 580yen buttery curry! A bit soupy but tasty.

I think Japan is most beautiful at the end of March and beginning of May when the weather starts to warm up and the amazing Sakura flowers begin to bloom...  looking forward to the next 2 weeks!

About 2pm... this sign caught my eye... simply because of the 580yen price point for curry of your choice, salad and nan or yellow rice.   Even with my hand full of groceries I had to check it out.

Was outside peeking in when the shop waiter stepped outside and said come in come in... oh no! I was spotted and ventured inside.

And there it was... my 580yen Butter Chicken Curry, Nan and Salad with sesame seed dressing.

The butter chicken curry was a bit soupy versus other places where its more creamy.  Rather than dipping this curry requires scooping with the nan due to its wateriness... but honestly for 580yen it hit the spot!  Oh as for the chicken... it should have been renamed Butter Curry with Chicken Bits~.

Nan... Hmm... I'm not sure if there are different versions of this via ingredients but it seemed a bit lower grade.    Hmm... can't quite explain it.  Perhaps eating instant pizza vs a pizzeria.

Small cozy interior.  Counter seating along the window for 4, counter seating facing the entrance for 2 and there were 3 tables.

Ash tray... never a good thing for me.  Luckily nobody was smoking during lunch.

My view from the counter seat.

Menu outside the entrance.  Tala Kitchen will definitely hit your spot similar to having a late day coffee or tea... but unless you are willing to pay 750yen for the double curry or 980yen double curry and 2 pieces of Chicken Tika it will only satisfy your craving for curry and will leave you feeling hungry.  Service was excellent  and water refills prompt... But I have never seen butter chicken curry for 580yen before so I may give it a go someday. 

Shop: Tala Kitchen 

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130902/13136657/

Shop blog: http://ameblo.jp/tarakitchen/

Address J: 東京都新宿区四谷2-9-15 サンサーラ四谷 １Ｆ、２Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya 2-9-15
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AKIHABARA: Siddique Akiba Shop.... Thai Curry, Viet Pho and Indian!?

An off day wandering Akihabara for a bit of lunch and noticed a sign for 500yen Vietnamese Pho... hmm... I've recently been hooked on Pho24 and the craving kicked in.  BUTT... this is the most common Indian Curry chain in Tokyo (you can read my Chicken Skin Curry experience here). 

What caught my eye at the entrance was their one coin 500yen Pho... So had to give it a try.  Menu included Vietnamese and Thai foods.

My Chicken Pho arrived... hmm... very strong black pepper taste... got bored after a few bites but it was just weird eating Pho in an Indian restaurant.  I didn't finish this.  But if you are on a budget visiting Tokyo then this will definitely fill you up.

Friend went with the Gapao Rice... she couldn't finish it because it was extremely spicy.  The beef reminded me of the mushy stuff used in Taco-Bell... didn't really look like ground beef.  Think they heavily used red pepper for this... also odd eating Thai food at an Indian place.

Lunch menu comes with a salad with orange colored dressing... this shop isn't very clean and the 1st floor door is wide open so you sweat during your meal... and this salad, it just didn't seem very clean, like there were germs hidden inside ready to get you sick.  I may be wrong but cleanliness just didn't seem a part of this shops atmosphere.

Here is the Indian Curry menu and prominently on the very bottom is the famous 500yen soft mushy chicken skin curry (Tori-Gawa-Curry)!  Now if you visit any of the Siddique shops please try the chicken skin... its freaky but addictive.

Shop: Siddique Akiba Shop

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131101/13037323/

Shop Website: http://www.siddique.co.jp/

Address J:  東京都千代田区外神田3-16-14

Address E:  Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, SotoKanda 3-16-14

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KAMIYACHO: Nirvanam 1,200yen Indian Buffet... Highly ranked at 3.94pts

Only about two small blocks from Kamiyacho Station (Hibiya train line) and above a beef bowl spot.

Arrived at an early 11:30am for a seat and we started.

First round...

I think we need to reuse out plates but just picked up a clean one and doubled up... the staff won't take your used plate away.

2nd plate... everything was very tasty.

This sweet rice dessert was great... took the edge off the spicy curries.

Not sure what this was but they sell little items near the register.  

Overall a great restaurant but if you arrive at noon then be prepared to line up for a while... when we exited the line went all the way down the 2nd floor staircase.  Definitely worth a try...

Shop: NIRVANAM

Location: Kamiyacho Station (One stop from Roppongi on Hibiya-Line)

Foodie Blog: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130704/13019915/

Shop Website: http://www.nirvanam.jp/

Address J:  東京都港区虎ノ門3-19-7 大手ビル ２Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Minato-ku, Toranomon 3-19-7

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SHINJUKU: Shiddique Indian Restaurant.... Shocking 500yen Curry!

You just can't miss the Huge 500yen Curry sign of Siddique Indian Curry in Shinjuku.  But my lure into this establishment was the strategically placed Indian fellow down the street at the major crossing... he handed me a tiny coupon for 500yen Curry plus a free drink of my choice.  Hmm.... It was dinner time and why not?

With coupon in Hand I entered Siddique... 

Asked the giant waiter what Curries were for 500yen... It was the Chicken "Kawa" Curry and Butter Dal Curry... the other choices ranged up to 1,000yen+ from what I remember.  

The Photo of the chicken looked pretty good... seemed a bit stir fried in Curry and I expected something very flavorful.  But the interesting part was yet to come... Does anyone know what the word "Kawa" or kanji "皮" means in Japanese... I mean you shouldn't even have to know this in an INDIAN Restaurant right?!?

My free Mango Lassi arrived... perfect thickness and veeeery good.

And so arrives my soupy curry... hmm... ok, maybe its tasty.  I dug around a bit for the chicken but I couldn't find it.... not even one piece!  Wait... when I order "Kawa" at a yakitori spot its usually chicken skin... CHICKEN SKIN CURRY!?  Really, is this for real?  This was so wacky to me... 

Notice the wonderful mushy pieces of chicken skin... yup, nicely boiled and all mushy.  Anyways while I was trying to enjoy my meal I heard alot of other Japanese people ordering the same thing.  Chicken skin here, Chicken skin there, the stuff was a huge hit... cause its hella cheap right?  YES!  Anyways the Nan bread sucked monkey balls... I don't know what kind of wheat/flour they used but it was like a loaf of bread that was microwaved and that quickly hardened... hmm... loved the square cubes of butter slowly melting on my Nan.

Honestly the strange chicken skin was freakishly addictive... it was like eating something gross but you just couldn't stop yourself from trying just a little more.  Anyways I highly suggest you run far away from the Chicken Skin Curry as you can and use that 500yen for a nice bowl of ramen at Hakata Tenjin Ramen in Shinjuku.  I won't be back!

Restaurant: Shiddique Indian Restaurant in Shinjuku

Main Website:  http://www.siddique.co.jp/

Shinjuku Shop Website: http://www.siddique.co.jp/shop/shinjyuku_east.html

Foodie Website:  http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13022806/

Address J: 東京都新宿区西新宿7-10-20

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 7-10-20

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MEGURO: (CLOSED) Rasoi Indian Restaurant... waiters traditional clothing are truly unique.

I ventured into Rasoi years ago and decided to take Mari over the weekend.  You won't find clean cut Indian staff here but very traditional (I'm assuming) guys with head gear, very long beards and long one piece Indian clothing.  The impact of the waiters is very strong with their dark mysterious faces but thats until they start to speak and smile... the staff was so friendly.  What added to this mystic was the very dark restaurant setting with equal interior design. You gotta check it out.

The Lunch Specials (Click to Enlarge).

It was a cloudy day so the interior may have been a bit darker than normal.

Lunch special salad...

When I ordered my Chicken Curry the waiter said it was spicy... he was correct.

Mari's creamy shrimp curry was so mild and good... will go for this next time. She ordered the rice but it was just regular Japanese rice coated in butter.

Chai and Lassi. Comes with the Lunch. Go for the Chai! It was great.

Located on the same floor as The Meguro Tavern London Pub

SHOP: Rasoi Indian Restaruant

LOCATION: JR Meguro Station.

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1316/A131601/13004816/

Hotpepper.jp:  http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000133752/

Address J: 東京都目黒区下目黒1-3-28 サンウッド目黒 ２Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo-to, Meguro-ku, Kami Meguro 1-3-38

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ルソイ, インド料理, インドカレー, 目黒駅, Rasoi, Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, mariko, meguro, lunch, dinner, インド料理 ルソイ, 北インド料理