The restaurant's signature and best-selling bowl. It features a tender, slow-cooked chicken leg submerged in a rich, spice-rich broth along with exactly 20 different seasonal vegetables—including items like burdock root, lotus root, and charred pumpkin. Reviewers consistently praise the incredible variety of textures and the way each vegetable is prepared separately to maintain its individual character. It is a brilliant example of how hearty and nutritious comfort food can be.
Tips from diners
Get the 'Pari-Pari' (crispy) chicken option instead of the 'Yawarakai' (soft) one. The crunch of the skin against the spicy broth is the best textural contrast in the bowl.
The required side order for many regulars. A bowl of high-quality rice is topped with cheese and torched until golden and bubbling. It is designed to be dipped into the spicy curry soup, creating a rich and indulgent bite. Reviewers often mention it's the best way to handle the higher spice levels of the broth.
A favorite for those wanting a more robust and fatty meat option. The pork belly is braised until meltingly tender and then finished on the grill for crispy edges. It sits in the same flavor-dense broth, paired with a slightly smaller but still impressive selection of market vegetables. Reviewers highlight the richness of the pork as being a perfect match for the spicy soup.
Tips from diners
The pork is very rich. Pair it with the 'Coconut' soup base—it adds a creamy sweetness that balances the fatty meat and spices perfectly.
Originally from Sapporo, Rojiura Curry SAMURAI brought the Hokkaido 'soup curry' tradition to Shimokitazawa and quickly became a neighborhood legend. The restaurant focuses on 'one-day's worth of vegetables' in every bowl, using a rich, spice-heavy broth that is simmered for hours. The space is cozy and rustic, perfectly capturing the bohemian spirit of the area, and is celebrated for its commitment to high-quality sourcing from Northern Japan.
The original Shimokitazawa shop is very small and the line on weekends can be 60+ minutes. Arrive at 11:15 AM (before the 11:30 AM lunch opening) to walk right into a table. The line moves faster for takeaways.
They have 10 levels of spiciness. Level 4 is their 'standard' and has a good kick. If you're a real heat seeker, go for Level 6 or 7, but be warned—it's genuine chili heat.
The interior is rustic and filled with interesting art—it feels like a cozy Sapporo cabin. It's one of the best spots in Shimokitazawa for a relaxed, flavor-focused meal after exploring the neighborhood's vintage shops.
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