Recent Reviews
This curry shop is located in a prime spot in Otemachi. Since it was lunchtime, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get in right away due to the area, but I was seated at the counter (on the second floor) without any problems. The view from the window was great, and the overall space was open and airy. This time, I had the one-curry lunch (mutton, ¥1,100). It was delicious, but I wasn't sure it lived up to the hype of the reviews. I guess it's a good deal for a ¥1,100 lunch in this prime location, but it made me realize again how high the level of the curry shop in Fujisawa was the other day.
Authentic Indian Curry. This restaurant stands alone in the Otemachi office district, with a very calm atmosphere. In a way, it doesn't feel very much like an Indian restaurant. I had the biryani and curry set. The spices were strong, and while the heat was mild, I still broke a sweat due to the effect of the spices. The curry set comes with two types of curry, two types of soup, a chapatti (a bread similar to naan), basmati rice, salad, and fried food. It's a bit pricey for a regular lunch, but considering the atmosphere and the authentic feel of the food, it's worth it.
Today, I decided to have curry for lunch and searched for a place nearby. I found this place, which I had never been to before. It was right under my nose, and I hadn't noticed it. I went there and was convinced. It's a two-story building, standing alone, like a detached building of the Otemachi First Building. Next to it is a large forest, and it's in the heart of Otemachi, but it's a space away from the hustle and bustle and the crowds. I never knew such a place existed. According to the guide, it's a South Indian restaurant, and lunch is a buffet style on the first floor for ¥1,000 for curry rice, and on the second floor, table service with sets starting at ¥1,100. I love naan, so I was torn between going to the second floor or not, but today I decided to have curry rice on the first floor. At the entrance, I was asked if I wanted the first or second floor, and when I said the first floor, the staff set up a tray and other things for me. For ¥1,000, you can choose one side dish, so I chose the fried food from among the tandoori chicken, fried food, and boiled eggs. For the curry, I chose the Koji-Saar (Spicy Chicken Curry) from among mild, medium, and spicy. It's interesting that the type of curry itself differs depending on the spiciness level. They put rice on a metal plate, and even without saying anything, the portion was generous. The curry was as thin as soup curry. I paid at the self-checkout, and they accept PayPay. At around 11:40 am, there were three other customers on the first floor, and it seemed like it could hold a maximum of about 20 people. I wasn't assigned a seat, but I sat at the counter. It's glass-walled, so you can see outside. The raw vegetable salad had a vinegar-based dressing. The curry was so thin that I didn't pour it over the rice, but instead put the rice into the curry bowl and ate it. It was quite spicy, as it was labeled spicy, and although it was thin, it had a good flavor. It was a real curry made by a real Indian (I didn't peek into the kitchen, but the staff were South Asian, so I assumed so). The fried food seemed to be potatoes. It's not a dish you see often in Japan, but it was delicious. Since it was curry, I started eating quickly. There were no condiments on the table, so no flavor changes. I finished it in less than 10 minutes, returned the dishes myself, and left the store. I was fully satisfied for ¥1,000. I wonder if I should try the medium spice next time, or go to the second floor and have a set with naan. It was so delicious that I was already thinking about my next visit even after I finished eating.
We visited this restaurant because we wanted to try South Indian food in the Otemachi area. On weekdays, they have a buffet style lunch on the first floor, but on holidays and weekends, they operate on the second floor. When I ordered chai, the waiter poured it in a very authentic style. I ordered biryani, which was very delicious and filling. The raita was also delicious. I like the decor, which is very detailed. It's a relatively new restaurant, and the contemporary atmosphere doesn't quite match the food, but it was definitely more delicious than the Michelin-starred South Indian restaurant I had in Ginza before. Thank you for the meal.
A Revisit to Dakshin After Their Move: A South Indian Meal to Power Up Your Afternoon. Dakshin, once nestled in the basement of the Yaesu district, has undergone a magnificent transformation, relocating to Otemachi thanks to the area's redevelopment. The new location boasts a stunning exterior and an enviable spot. Having only dined at Dakshin in the evenings before, this was my first experience with their lunch menu. I opted for the thali, a South Indian platter. The thali allows you to choose two curries from a selection of three, but I couldn't resist adding an extra curry for a complete experience. The thali with basmati rice costs ¥1,700, and the additional curry is a mere ¥150 – a steal for any curry enthusiast. For the accompanying bread, I chose the dosa over the naan or poori. While I won't go into detail about each dish, suffice it to say that every curry, rasam, and sambar was exceptional. The way they layered the spices in the curries was particularly impressive. The oil absorbed the aromatic spices, creating a multi-layered flavor that hinted at a secret recipe. Even the plain dosa was subtly sweet and fragrant. The restaurant is mostly glass-walled, with a long counter on the second floor. As you savor your lunch thali, you can gaze out the large windows at the surrounding office buildings. This meal is sure to energize you for the afternoon ahead.