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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OCHANOMIZU: Ganesha Ghar... A new discovery in JP Indian Curry

Former co-worker invited me out to check out an Indian spot he found via http://ponpare.jp/kanto/ .   An amazing 2,815yen meal for 980yen... how can you go wrong?

Course begins with a 400yen beer

We actually arrived at 5:50pm (shop opens at 6pm) but when we left around 7 it was still empty.  Think the hidden location in the back alleys of Ochanomizu may have been a reason.

Yogurt salad with a hint of curry seasoning.

Very juicy and tender Chicken Tikka with some spicy onions (sooo tasty) and a I think a rolled crispy Papad.

Sag Paneer Spinach and Cheese vegetable curry... had a very thick creamy texture and I didn't realize it had cheese inside, the texture was so similar to Chicken. (1,000yen)

Butter Chicken but not the usual butter/yellowy looking curry but there seemed to be a hint of tomato mixed into this... probably our favorite curry of the night.  Had a nice spicy kick and deep tasty flavor. (1,100yen)

Meal closed with some Vanilla Ice Cream with Mango topping.

Indian restaurants are great for lunch as you can get a great dish of curry, drink and most spots have all you can eat Nan for around 1,000yen but dining can take you into a totally different price range that opens up so many other options in Tokyo. If you aren't on a budget and in the mood for Indian I have to hands down recommend Ganeshar Ghar where curry prices are less than most... plus service was friendly, great Indian music on the BGM and shop was very clean. 

Shop: Ganeshar Ghar Ochanomizu Branch.

Shop Website: http://www.comfortable-dining.com/ganesgaghar-ocha-nisiogi.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13021576/

Address J:  東京都千代田区神田小川町3-11-2 インペリアル御茶ノ水Ｂ １０５

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Kanda, Ogawamachi 3-11-2

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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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SHIMBASHI/HAMAMATSUCHO: Mandala 2nd. Curry Done Right!

New Office, new town...not one to be prisoner of the restaurants in the building.  Checked out Tabelog Shinbashi and I was ready to start exploring.  Mandala 2 was one of the first highly ranked lunch spots I found in the Shimbashi/Hamamatsucho area.  All Indian chefs, service was quick and extremely friendly...

Went for the Butter Chicken Lunch, there are a few choices and one selection for vegetarians.  Now if you ever want to know what a delicious dish of Indian curry tastes like then this is your spot.  Lines start at around 11:50am so I suggest going at 11:40 or around 1pm when the lunch crowd dies down.  But there will be a steady line thru the afternoon.

You can select between mild, hot and super hot curry seasonings, the Nan had the perfect balance of chewy and crispy, and you close with a small yogurt dish.  I seem to find myself here once a week but its definitely 

worth it.  

Restaurant: Mandala 2nd

Location: Between Shimbashi and Hamamatsucho Station.

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1314/A131401/13009273/

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g518600/

Address J: 東京都港区新橋6-7-2 ヤマトヨビル1F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Shinbashi 6-7-2

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