Hyperlocal Tokyo

This restaurant is famous for being the birthplace of Katsu Curry. While the main branch is in Ginza, I was in the Tokyo Station area around lunchtime, so I visited the restaurant in the Tokyo Station underground mall (to be precise, the Yaesu Underground Mall) to enjoy the original flavor. Since it's just a curry corner in the underground mall, it's understandable that it doesn't have the same atmosphere as the main branch. However, I assumed the taste would be the same, so I went there. In terms of taste, the conclusion is that it was delicious, but the cutlet and curry weren't as impressive as I expected. Maybe my expectations were too high. The cutlet wasn't very well-drained of oil. The rice was too soft. The curry roux had a good European-style aroma, but it wasn't particularly noteworthy. I guess the equipment and staff at the station underground curry corner have their limitations. I'll have to visit the main branch next time to try the real deal.

A visit to "Ginza Swiss Yaechika", the birthplace of Katsu Curry, located directly connected to the Yaesu Underground Exit of Tokyo Station. It's situated in the TOKYO CURRY QARTET in the Yaesu Underground Shopping Mall. The Ginza main store is a 2020 Hundred Best Restaurants for Western Food. There are various theories about the origin of Katsu Curry, but it's said to be "Kawakin Senshu", "Ouroji" in Shinjuku, and this place. Arriving around 5 pm on a weekday, there was no wait, and I was able to enter smoothly. I ordered the Original Katsu Curry for 1,400 yen. It was served in about 5 minutes. The curry is delicious, a Western-style curry with a rich vegetable flavor. The cutlet is crispy and juicy, a perfect match for the curry. It's truly a cutlet, not a tonkatsu! I enjoyed it all the way to the end.

## No. 696: 'Ginza Swiss, Yaechika Branch' - October 17, 2024 -------- 🏬Store Information ------------------- ▷Address: Yaesu Underground Street, 2-1 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo ▷Nearest Station: Tokyo Station ▷Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM ▷Closed Days: None ▷Payment: Credit cards accepted / Electronic money accepted / QR code payment accepted ▷Smoking: No smoking allowed in the entire establishment ▷Tabelog: 3.65 -------- 🍽️Order ------------------- ◽️Original Katsu Curry: ¥1,400 ◽️Fried Egg: ¥200 -------- 📝Introduction and Review ---------------- I've always wanted to try their original Katsu Curry. As a curry lover, I couldn't resist the allure of the 'original.' This place is located in Yaesu, in an area where four curry shops are clustered together. I've also been wanting to try the biryani place nearby for a long time. I've had it bookmarked on Tabelog since before I started working here last November, but I never got around to going. Knowing it would be packed during peak hours, I left the office at 11:00 AM to avoid the crowds. Thankfully, only half the seats were filled, so my plan was a success. I already knew what I wanted to order: the original Katsu Curry with a fried egg on top. The classic European-style curry was topped with a crispy, golden-brown cutlet. It had a truly regal presence. While it was a classic European-style curry, it had more of a spicy kick than a mild flavor. It was more spicy than sweet. Spice lovers will be in heaven. I'll refrain from going into the history of how European-style curry isn't actually from Europe and was created by Japanese people, as it tends to bore people. But, true to its name, this dish had a taste of old-fashioned Japanese spice usage. Thank you for the delicious meal!

This curry shop is located in the "TOKYO CURRY QUARTET" within the Yaesu Underground Shopping Mall. This commercial facility brings together four different types of curry shops: soup curry, Indian curry, spice curry, and Western-style curry. Among them, Ginza Swiss, the Western-style curry representative, is also famous as the "originator of katsu curry." If you're curious about the story behind it, feel free to look it up!🎶 So, I ordered the "Original Katsu Curry (¥1,400)." This is the real katsu curry. 😂 The crispy katsu is served with a curry sauce that includes vegetables and minced meat simmered until tender. I crave it every now and then. 🍛

First, I want to commend the service of the young ladies working there. It might just be my personal preference, but I found their demeanor genuinely pleasant. I also like the atmosphere of the place. I ordered the curry rice with a fried egg for 1100 yen. It was a thin, watery curry lacking any richness or thickness, which wasn't my taste. Still, it was "decent" and I finished it quickly. I guess I'm a curry lover at heart. This watery type of curry makes me feel like the portion is so small. The rice and pickled ginger were not skimped on, which was good.