Hyperlocal Tokyo

The food was pretty average, neither good nor bad. But for ¥1,550 (as of October 2024), it's a great deal to enjoy a chicken biryani and curry set with a choice of curry, accompanied by achar, fresh vegetables (with a touch of cilantro), cumin and cilantro raita (delicious), mango pudding, and a cumin seed lassi (also delicious) while listening to light Indian music while waiting for a train at Ueno Station. It's definitely more satisfying than the soba noodle bar next to the central ticket gate.

I'd been curious about this place for a while since I often transfer at Ueno on my commute. I ordered the vegetable curry, but it was quite sweet and didn't have much spice. I chose naan, but it didn't really go well with the vegetable curry. The naan itself was dry and lacked flavor, not my preference. The salad had cilantro, so be careful if you don't like it. The mango pudding was delicious. The restaurant has a calm atmosphere and is easy to enter even if you're alone, so I'd like to try something different next time.

I had the Biryani Set with Spicy Chicken Curry for ¥1,290 (July 2024). The biryani was slightly sweet, with a distinctive dry onion flavor. The chicken portion was satisfying. The spicy chicken curry had a moderate level of spice. However, since the chicken was duplicated, I might have preferred a different curry.

I was looking for a quick lunch before heading out on a trip, and this place was just what I needed. It lived up to its reputation for being "fast, cheap, and delicious." I ordered the single curry set with shrimp curry. The shrimp curry was sweet, but also had a delicious spiciness that made me keep going back for more rice. The accompanying salad and Indian-style pickles were a great textural contrast and a perfect palate cleanser. To top it off, there was mango pudding for dessert, which was amazing! I finished my meal in exactly 30 minutes and was completely satisfied. I'll definitely be back!

With a 30-minute layover for lunch, I found myself facing long lines at the ramen shops, soba restaurants, and even the Western-style eateries. Just as I was about to resign myself to a station bento, I spotted a poster for my favorite biryani! I practically ran over, relieved to find no queue. The ordering process was straightforward, with a wait of about 5 minutes before my biryani arrived on a single plate. I usually opt for mutton curry, but this one was said to be mild, so I went for the spicy chicken. The basmati rice was slightly small-grained. The salad and raita, perhaps an achar, were light and refreshing, adding a nice touch of tanginess. The biryani itself was packed with chicken, which kept popping out from the rice. The chicken in the curry added to the avian abundance, making it a truly chicken-filled feast! The cramped space and self-service for water and clearing plates were a bit of a challenge, but otherwise, it was a fantastic lunch.