Mamezō

I had the special curry. The chickpeas in the curry was delicious. The sauce was bit strong for my taste at the time i was eating; however, after I came back to the hotel, the craving for the taste of the sauce came back. Will be back again.

Unilocal 100 Challenge 2015 — ⁴⁴⁄₁₀₀
Frist off, it might be good to know that this restaurant has been in business here since 1978 — that’s 37 years! Now, I haven’t been in Japan that long and can barely recall when I first found this hidden gem, but it was probably close to 25 years ago.
So I’m a bit hesitant to review this place as I’d like to keep it a secret, but at the same time, it is definitely worthy of the praise and exposure that people seeking REAL, authentic, slow-​cooked Japanese curry seek. This is not your typical fast food style curry shop you see in front of train stations. No, it has a very comfy, down-​home atmosphere but bright and tastefully decorated to keep up with the times.
Short story:
+ Atmosphere: ⁵⁄₅ stars (lots of wood, incandescent lighting, warm, comfortable, nice subdued jazz on the BGM, original artwork created by the restaurant owner adorning the walls and alcoves)
+ Food: ⁵⁄₅ (hard to describe the richness of slow-​cooked, slow food. Delicate dance of flavors from the vegetables, spices and other fresh ingredients. Very rich and heart-​warming!)
+ Service: ⁴⁄₅ (depends on your waitperson but generally prompt, polite and attentive)
+ Value: ⁵⁄₅ (lunch/​dinner sets vary in content and price but VERY reasonable for the quality, variety and prices of what you order — curry this good can fetch prices at least twice as high at trendy, «exclusive» restaurants in other parts of Tokyo)
+ Tradition: ⁵⁄₅ (since 1978 but the secret is in the sauce! They’ve had decades to refine the distinctive flavors of their curries.)
Long story:
As mentioned, I’ve been coming here for years and years. It’s only because of joining Unilocal last year that I happened to be remember this on a hand-​written list of places in Kichijoji that I’ve curated over the years. Thankfully, the menu had not suffered, and in fact, not changed greatly over the years. The quality and flavors are the same, if not better, than they have ever been.
On weekends and during weekday lunch hours, you’ll need to wait to get in, but during off hours, it’s a little oasis that takes you away. The lunch menu is available until 5 pm, and basic prices are around ¥1,000, which includes curry, rice, condiments and choice of drink. The dinner menu for slightly more adds salad, a yoghurt dish, and a small glass of wine or beer to the lunch set. Yes, you get two drinks!
One other great thing is each entrée has three choices of sizes, priced accordingly. Plus, extra condiments like egg (raw or soft-​boiled), extra rice and other toppings are always available ala carte. Obiviously they’ve had many years to refine their menu in choice, value and variety.
I will refrain from trying to describe how delicious the curry is. Keep in mind it is not the exotic spicy variety you find in Indian/​Nepalese restaurants, nor is it the watery variety you would cook at home or at an outdoor barbeque using a mix purchased at the local supermarket. You just have to try it.
For vegetarians, there are several choices available. For meat eaters, there is chicken, beefier pork — you can mix and match as well! My personal favorite is bean which includes the richness of the vegetable curry but features four types of tender, perfectly cooked beans that are nicely complimented by the curry.
Try it, you’ll like it!