Hyperlocal Tokyo

I recently visited "Nile Restaurant" in Higashi-Ginza. This restaurant opened on April 18, 2024. On this particular day, I was lucky enough to get a table without waiting in line. First, I ordered a beer and enjoyed some pappad (papadum) while waiting for the "Murgi Lunch." The pappad here is unique because it doesn't contain pepper, making it light and flavorful, perfect for pairing with beer. After a short wait, my Murgi Lunch arrived. This dish features a curry simmered for hours with spices, bone-in chicken, and turmeric rice. The staff kindly deboned the chicken for me. Then, I mixed the remaining chicken and turmeric rice myself. It was delicious! The aroma was fantastic, the chicken was incredibly tender, and the accompanying potatoes and cabbage provided a nice contrast. However, it was quite spicy. The heat was gradual, but it definitely made me sweat. The generous portion size, contrary to its appearance, might be another reason for the restaurant's popularity. Thank you for the delicious meal. I will definitely be back. 【Dishes I had】 - Murgi Lunch (¥1,500) 【Drinks I had】 - Large Beer (¥750) - Glass of Wine (¥750) ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー Price: 4/5 Taste: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 Space: 4/5 Service Speed: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Hospitality: 4/5 Menu Variety: 5/5 Date-Friendly: 4/5 ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 【Personal Notes】Stay Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (2 people) ※Cost per person: ¥3,300

## Access Located in the heart of Ginza, a short 3-minute walk from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, lies "Nile Restaurant," a long-established Indian restaurant. With over 70 years of history, it's a popular curry spot that represents Ginza. ## Ambiance The interior exudes a retro, nostalgic atmosphere, hinting at the restaurant's long-standing history and enduring love. The seating is primarily tables, and the walls are adorned with Indian-inspired decorations, creating a unique exotic ambiance. The warm hospitality of the staff is also memorable, making it easy to relax and enjoy your meal even on your first visit. ## Menu & Review Murghy Lunch ¥1,700 The "Murghy Lunch," a signature dish at Nile Restaurant, is a plate featuring bone-in chicken, mashed potatoes, and cabbage served with a curry sauce. The spice-infused chicken is tender and falls apart easily, a hallmark of its texture. The curry sauce boasts a pleasant level of spice and a deep, rich flavor. Mixing it with the potatoes and cabbage enhances the overall taste. The portion size is generous, offering a satisfying meal with a clean, refreshing aftertaste. The staff's unique style of mixing the curry adds to the dining experience, allowing you to savor the evolving flavors as you eat. ## Crowds & Clientele - Service Speed ◯ - Crowdedness: Lunchtime can be extremely busy with lines, but evenings are a hidden gem. - Demographics: Primarily curry enthusiasts, tourists, and solo diners aged 20-60. ## Usage Scenarios (Lunch & Dinner) - Solo ◎ - Friends ◎ - Date × - Business Meeting/Entertainment × - Banquet × This special curry offers a taste of history at a renowned Ginza establishment, where the flavors remain unchanged. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I visited this place for the first time on a weekday evening in late June 2024. The restaurant was relatively empty. I ordered the Omakase course (¥2,950). It included three curry-flavored dishes, three types of naan, a Murghilunch, and a drink. Everything was delicious, but since all the dishes had a curry flavor, there wasn't much variety. The Murghilunch, which I was looking forward to, was quite spicy for me, as I'm not a fan of spicy food. This might sound like a harsh review, but all the dishes were delicious, and I was satisfied with the authentic flavors. Thank you for the meal.

This popular restaurant is famous for its Murghilunch (available anytime), which is a prime example of a signature dish. The dish arrived quickly after ordering, and the server performed a show of removing the bones from the chicken with a knife before saying, "Mix it all together and eat it." This style of mixing everything together is what makes it a signature dish. Mixing the chicken, cabbage, potatoes, and other ingredients creates a flavorful dish with a spicy kick. The spice is impactful, but the heat is just right, making it a truly excellent curry. It's not like the European-style curry you'd find at Bondee in Jimbocho, but rather a spice-forward type. However, it's worth noting that the meal doesn't come with salad or a drink, and at 1600 yen, it's priced like a restaurant in Ginza. The turnover seems to be quick. The interior is colorful and has a great atmosphere. Eating Murghilunch at the Nile Restaurant in Ginza is a must-try experience for any curry enthusiast.

A curry restaurant in Ginza. It's located within a 5-minute walk from Higashi-Ginza Station. Among the curry restaurants in the Higashi-Ginza area, this one is probably the most famous. It's a super old establishment founded in 1949. Apparently, it's the oldest Indian curry restaurant in Japan. I visited around 11:30 on a Saturday. There were a few people in line, but it was just as they were opening, so I was able to enter right away in the flow of people. I was taken to the second floor. The Egyptian-like statue in front of the store and the murals on the second floor are full of Indian vibes (°▽°)! I already knew what I wanted, but I wasn't given a menu and was asked, "Murghy?" I said, "Yes, that's what I'd like." Is that what everyone comes here for? Lol. All the staff members are of Indian descent. ✔︎ Murghy Lunch (¥1,600) It arrived in about 10 minutes. There's a big chunk of chicken on top, but the staff member deboned it all for me. Apparently, the right way to eat it is to mix the deboned chicken, rice, warm vegetables, and mashed potatoes all together. I just ate it the usual way (^◇^;) But it was still delicious! The chicken is domestic chicken breast, and it's been thoroughly braised. The warm cabbage vegetables are also infused with the flavor of the curry. The rice is Japanese rice, but it's turmeric-colored. The curry has a spicy flavor, but it's not overly hot. It's a very easy-to-eat curry◎ This curry is addictive. I had Murghy curry for the first time. It's a curry that's been adapted for Japanese tastes, and I polished it off without a hitch. Thank you for the meal(^^)!!