Hyperlocal Tokyo

I visited for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant is located in the Curry Street section of the Yaesu Underground in Tokyo Station. This time, I chose the classic Keema Curry (¥1,200). I added a boiled egg as a topping, as recommended by the staff. The curry that came out was a visually stunning dish I'd never seen before, with a round mound of spice-packed keema topped with shishito peppers. Apparently, taking a bite of the shishito pepper while eating the curry enhances the flavor of the spices. The smooth sauce was spicy, but not as hot as it looked. The lingering spice flavor was excellent.

Located just a 2-minute walk from the Yaesu South Exit of JR Tokyo Station, "Columbia 8 Yaesu Underground Street Store" is a curry shop that opened in 2022 (Reiwa 4). The shop's main branch is in Kitahama, Osaka, a fierce battleground for curry, and this location is part of the "TOKYO CURRY QUARTET" area in the Yaesu Underground Street, directly connected to Tokyo Station. I visited on a weekday at 5 pm and was seated immediately without a wait. I ordered the Keema Curry with a boiled egg. The curry arrived about 4 minutes after ordering. I was told to eat the curry while nibbling on a shishito pepper, so I held the pepper in my left hand and the spoon in my right. First, I savored the curry alone, which had a clear spice flavor and a pleasant kick of heat. It was already delicious, but I wondered what the shishito pepper would add. I took a bite and... Ah, I see! It resets your mouth and nose, allowing you to experience the spice and heat anew with each bite. It was a bit of a revelation. You can enjoy a grapefruit juice as a palate cleanser, or reset with the shishito pepper – there are many ways to enjoy the meal. The portion size was just right, and I enjoyed every bite.

The curry was delicious with a strong spice flavor. It was more like eating spices than a curry. For first-timers, it's recommended to try the keema curry, which costs 1,200 yen. The rice also has flavor, it's not plain white rice. The curry doesn't cling to the rice much, but it has a complex blend of various spices. The occasional sweetness of raisins adds an accent. The bitterness of the shishito peppers and the sourness of the grapefruit juice are combined for a unique flavor experience. It's a testament to the diverse flavors that exist in the world. It's delicious and the small portion of rice makes it healthy. However, it's likely to be divisive. It's hard to describe, but it's definitely for connoisseurs. It's not umami, but a different taste sensation.

While walking through Yaesu Underground Street, I stumbled upon an area filled with curry shops. I chose this one because it looked so photogenic. It was a keema curry, and everything from the beautifully designed plating to the spicy curry, the rice, and the peppercorns was perfectly balanced and delicious. I was surprised to learn later that it's a Hundred Famous Stores. I highly recommend the keema curry for first-timers.

“Spoon in the right hand, green pepper in the left” Today, I’d like to introduce you to 【Columbia8】 (Columbia8 Yaesu Underground Street Store)!! 【Location】 The store is located at Yaesu Underground Street South 1 B1F, 2-1 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. 【Business Hours】 11:00 - 22:00 【Price】 Keema Curry 1,200 yen This time, I’m visiting this restaurant that was newly selected as one of the Hundred Best Curry Restaurants in 2024!! It was a new face in the updated list of the Hundred Best Curry Restaurants, so I was excited to enter!! The catchphrase “Spoon in the right hand, green pepper in the left” is interesting, as it’s the epicenter of Osaka spice curry! First, you eat the green pepper to experience the bitterness of the ingredients, and then you eat the curry to enjoy the spices and spiciness of the curry even more!! You can also enjoy the curry with the sourness and spiciness of the grapefruit drink! Just seeing the staff explain this to each customer in detail makes me feel like it’s a good restaurant!! It’s not too spicy, so it’s relatively easy to eat, so I recommend it! The restaurant is small, with a total of 17 seats at the counter and tables, but you won’t be rushed out after eating, so you can enjoy your meal at your own pace!