I wanted to visit an Indian restaurant in the prefecture but couldn't make it happen for a long time. Finally, I made it! When I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by a pleasant smell of spices. I ordered the Fish Curry (made with sea bream) and Mushroom & Nut Pilaf for 1500 yen, and while waiting, I looked at the posters inside the restaurant. The chef had been going to India every year before the pandemic and had learned home cooking there. As someone who can't travel abroad, it must be even harder when it's work-related. The dishes that were served from the kitchen were surprisingly delicious! The Fish Curry was made with a coconut milk base and flavored with mustard seeds, star anise, and cinnamon, creating a well-balanced taste without much spiciness but with just the right amount of saltiness. It was so good that I couldn't stop eating with a spoon. The Basmati rice was also delicious. The side dishes of green vegetables and eggplant were perfect for refreshing the palate. Unfortunately, my memory of home-cooked Indian food is from a village where there was no electricity or gas, and they cooked chapati and stir-fried vegetables using dried animal dung as fuel. If I were invited to a wealthy family's home, I wonder if dishes like these would be served. I hope to be invited to such a home the next time I go to India. The restaurant also had a sign saying, "May the day come soon when we can travel abroad." I strongly agree! Thank you for the delicious Indian home-cooked meal. I am curious about the chicken and oysters too, so I will visit again.

I stopped by a curry restaurant on a whim. The menu didn't have any pictures, so I wasn't sure what kind of set it was. Curry lovers might understand, but it was difficult for a beginner like me. I decided to go with the menu that said "coconut". There were many overseas photos displayed, it was impressive.

Today's lunch was curry. I had decided on it since the morning, hoping to maybe encounter a new curry if I was lucky. When I arrived, I was asked about the number of people. I said I was alone, and was told that there was one serving left. Usually, I come with my colleagues, but today I came alone. So, I chose the last happiness - Tamil-style chicken biryani + chicken curry set. The chicken biryani was spicy with lots of spices, just the right amount. This is why this restaurant is popular. The chicken curry was also reliably delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed it. After eating, I had a chat with the owner for the first time in a while since there were no other customers. We talked about curry, international topics, and more. Nepalese curry will be on the menu starting from July next week, so I will definitely come back then.

Overall, I understand that they are particular about their food, but it doesn't really translate into customer satisfaction. I probably won't go back. Food/Taste: Octopus Biryani and Mebaru Curry for 1900 yen. The dishes were a bit bland, so I secretly added some salt (laughs). As a Japanese person, I prefer fish with a bit more saltiness. Eating the fish with curry left me with too much Biryani. Service: I didn't really understand the service. I asked about a spice I saw, but the owner misunderstood and thought I was complaining about something strange in the food. Atmosphere: I still don't understand why I rated it 3.5 last time. When I think about it calmly, it's just average. Drinks: It's disappointing that they don't have Lassi. For the price of 1900 yen, the value for money isn't great. After visiting multiple times, I realize that the value for money isn't high.

【2023.06.17】Today is a special lunch for working on Saturday. I saw this dish on Facebook and suddenly had a craving for it, so I decided to visit the restaurant. Of course, it was also a chance to welcome back the owner who had returned safely. When I opened the door as usual, the owner greeted me from the kitchen: "Welcome!" I replied, "Welcome back." Looking around, I could see a touch of Nepal in the restaurant. The Nepalese curry would be ready soon. I ordered the Fish Curry with whole Kawahagi (filefish) that I had seen on Facebook. The curry paired perfectly with it. It was incredibly delicious, beyond words. The Kawahagi had tender flesh but large bones. I also tried the Mixed Rice with octopus and shimeji mushrooms, which was bursting with spices. It had been three months since my last visit, but this is it, this is the place. My colleagues at work ordered the Salmon with Fish Curry, which was also highly recommended. They enjoyed it with the Pilaf Rice. In this hot season when health can easily deteriorate, curry is a must. And if you want to eat curry in Itoshima, this is the place to go.

A dish that will make curry lovers tremble. It's very difficult to express in words, but it offers a unique experience with a variety of delicate ingredients, flavors, and spices. I even hesitated to stop using a spoon and eat with my hands in order to fully experience the authentic curry.

This is a curry restaurant I found in Itoshima and have been going to for a long time. The owner trained in curry overseas, so the curry is really delicious ❤️ My son, who was a middle school student at the time, has grown up and now understands the taste of authentic curry, so he often comes here. We went to eat together on this day. He was laughing, saying he didn't understand this deliciousness when he was a child 😂 Now it's even more delicious because we've been coming here for a long time, even though it's been featured in magazines. It was a blissful time.

This time I am summarizing two months' worth of visits to Spoon Song. Even when I was too busy to go often, I sometimes went three times a week. But I never get tired of it, in fact, I want to eat there every day! It is my absolute favorite restaurant by far. [April 20th (Thursday)] - Arakabu's Mapas and Half & Half Rice Set... The Half & Half rice was Chicken Biryani and Nut Pilaf. The Mapas at Arakabu is a delicious dish that you can only taste here. [May 10th (Wednesday)] - Chicken Kolambu and Chicken Biryani Set... "Kolambu" is a hard and light curry with a strong black pepper flavor. It goes really well with Biryani. [May 11th (Thursday)] - Red Snapper Mapas and Nut & Potato Pilaf... The Mapas is a mild South Indian curry with a coconut base. The combination with the Pilaf with plenty of potatoes is so delicious that you would want to eat it over and over again.

In this kind of serious Indian curry restaurant, it's common for the flavors to be a bit lacking in salt for Japanese people. If you're planning to go, I recommend bringing some salt with you!

This month, I enjoyed the usual menu items for a whole month. As always, everything was delicious and I could eat them dozens of times and still say "yum (*´Д`*)". The dishes I had this month are as follows: [March 1st (Wednesday)] - Chicken Korma and Chicken Biryani set: The Korma curry had a strong black pepper flavor and went perfectly with the Biryani. [March 8th (Wednesday)] - Red Snapper Chettinad and Nut & Mushroom Pilaf set: The tomato-based Chettinad curry had different levels of spiciness, and when eaten with the Pilaf, it was incredibly delicious. [March 22nd (Wednesday)] - Red Snapper Mapas and Potato & Nut Pilaf set: The coconut-based mild Mapas curry with chunks of potatoes and the Pilaf were a addictive combination of flavors. [March 29th (Wednesday)] - (2 types of curry) Shrimp Mapas, Chicken Malabar, and Lemon Rice set: I shared this meal with my daughter. Both curries were mild and delicious.

Saturday work lunch. Today there was a sudden visitor, so three of us decided to have lunch together at a famous curry restaurant. I ordered Malabar Chicken with Pilau Rice, which had a South Indian flavor. The Malabar Chicken was coconut-based and easy to eat, I finished it quickly. The Pilau Rice was made with Indica rice and spices, with potatoes adding a nice touch. My two companions ordered Tamil-style Chicken Biryani with Chicken Curry. The Biryani was spicy, while the Chicken Curry was mild. As a curry lover, this was nothing out of the ordinary for me, but for my young companions, it seemed to be too intense. Perhaps it was too strong for them?

Title: A Luxurious Month of South and North Indian Curries This month, in addition to the usual South Indian curries, they also offered original North Indian curries, making it a truly luxurious month. I always go for the "chef's choice" here, so my reviews may not be very helpful, but I hope you can get an idea of the variety of curries they offer. (Of course, they also have their regular menu curries, and most of the time I end up trying those.) [February 2nd (Thursday)] - Veg Mapas and Lemon Rice Set: Mapas is a coconut-based mild South Indian curry. It goes well not only with seafood but also with vegetables. Today's vegetables included sweet potatoes from Mr. T's farm, along with eggplants, cauliflower, tomatoes, and other local vegetables. I want to eat this veg curry regularly (or even daily)! [February 9th (Thursday)] - (North Indian) Saag Chicken & (South Indian) Lemon Rice Set: A fusion curry from Spoon Song. The saag (spinach) curry here is rich and incredibly delicious! (It's a shame it's not on the regular menu.) Surprisingly, it goes really well with lemon rice, and I was completely hooked! [February 15th (Wednesday)] - Taraki Mapas & Lemon Rice Set: This is a set that is on the regular menu. (Note: The fish may vary depending on the season.) It's consistently delicious! [February 16th (Thursday)] - North Indian Keema & Lemon Rice Set: I ended up coming two days in a row! Another opportunity to enjoy the South and North fusion curry. This is a must-try for those who love rich and hearty curries. [February 22nd (Wednesday)] - Veg Malabar & Lemon Rice Set: Malabar is also a Mapas-style South Indian curry. I was happy to have Malabar after a long time.

After working on Saturday, I always look forward to a delightful lunch. Today, I went with my usual colleague and we headed out! It's lunchtime now. Despite worrying about it being crowded, we were able to find seats easily. It's been a while, so both of us are smiling. The excitement of choosing our dishes, and the anticipation of savoring that flavor... And after some hesitation, we both ordered the Fish Curry with Mushroom Pilaf Rice from Kerala, South India. The Fish Curry was made with wild yellowtail for me, and my partner chose cod fillet. We asked for it to be coconut-based. The taste was so delightful and the aroma was amazing. We also had the Mushroom Pilaf Rice, which was exactly what we were looking for in terms of spices. It was a perfect taste. We were so happy and satisfied. Even though we just finished eating, we already want to come back. This is all thanks to the owner, Mr. Yamashita. Our stomachs are full, and we are filled with happiness.

The Spoon Song is my source of energy♪ I hope to be able to visit the restaurant frequently this year as well. I tend to accumulate posts and my updates are always a bit late, but I can't change my laid-back pace, so I'll update little by little. [January 19th (Thursday)] - Taras Mappas & Mushroom Pilau Set... Mappas is a mild South Indian curry based on coconut. The combination with seafood and pilau is excellent! [January 22nd (Sunday)] - (Extra Edition) Memorial Buffet for Mr. T... Details are in the image. [January 26th (Thursday)] - North Indian Veg & Lemon Rice Set... An original curry with potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, and tomatoes. The unique flavor when combined with lemon rice is refreshing and unmatched.

I visited Spice Hajime for the first time this year. Of course, I eat curry at home (even for breakfast), but I must have the real thing. It had been about 7 months since my last visit, but it felt like no time had passed at all. I love curry, so I don't mind coming here multiple times, but sometimes the timing just doesn't work out. There are times when I can come and times when I can't, causing a gap in between visits. This time, I chose the Classic curry. The Chicken curry was incredibly flavorful. It starts off sweet, but then the spices kick in slowly. The deliciousness spreads in my mouth, and I start to sweat a bit. It's not overpowering, but amazing. The rice was not the usual Indica variety, but Japanese rice. I enjoyed it along with the curry. Here's to another great year ahead.

- December 1st (Thursday): Red snapper belbere and mushroom pilaf set... "Belbere" is a spice curry unique to this place. Once you try it, you'll definitely get hooked! - December 7th (Wednesday): Codfish mapas and mushroom pilaf set... A mild dish, but the spice in the spoon song's mapas is strong. It goes perfectly with seafood! - December 11th (Sunday): Oyster mapas and octopus & nut pilaf set... The oyster season has arrived! Despite being small, it has a rich and satisfying taste. - December 15th (Thursday): Veggie mapas and mushroom pilaf set... This month's recommended dish! Full of seasonal vegetables, it's so delicious that you'll want to eat it over and over. - December 22nd (Thursday): Codfish & potato malabar and mushroom pilaf set... The codfish and potato are doing a fantastic job in this dish! - December 24th (Saturday): Oyster & cauliflower Tamil and mushroom pilaf set... "Tamil" is a refreshing tomato-based curry. The vivid and exhilarating spices make it irresistibly delicious! - December 29th (Thursday): My choice - Head-on shrimp Tamil and mushroom pilaf... Ending the year with head-on shrimp Tamil! We enjoyed it deliciously and happily, exchanging bites with my daughter's codfish mapas and mushroom pilaf.

Unbelievable⁉️ It seems like it's been since May since I last came. I didn't realize so much time had passed. Maybe because it's a weekday, I was able to easily get a seat. Also, maybe because it's a Wednesday, the menu was limited. From that, I ordered ■ Tamil-style Chicken Biryani + Chicken Curry. I always have trouble deciding. The Fish Curry is delicious too. I always want to have two servings. □ Tamil-style Chicken Biryani The Indica variety (long grain rice) stands out. It has plenty of chicken pieces. □ Chicken Curry (Kolambu) It was a spicy curry with a tangy flavor. Before heading to India, I wanted to replenish my spice supply.

[November 2nd (Wednesday)] - Chicken Colombo and Pilaf & Biryani Set: The Chicken Colombo, with a strong black pepper flavor, is so delicious that you'll become addicted to it after just one bite. It goes perfectly with rice, especially with Biryani. [November 5th (Saturday)] - My Classic Chicken Curry - Daughter's Chicken Malabar and Pilaf Set [November 9th (Wednesday)] Today, I shared curry with my curry buddies. It was great to see them again and we had endless conversations! - Kammas Chettinad - Salmon Mapas - Pilaf Rice [November 12th (Saturday)] Just like last Saturday, my daughter and I had another SS lunch together. My daughter's curry was made with the master's original "gentle spices." This kind of thoughtfulness is just heartwarming. - My Tamil Spiced Bream and Pilaf & Biryani Set - Daughter's Tomato-based Spiced Chicken Curry Set [November 17th (Thursday)] - Mackerel Chettinad (Curry) and Pilaf Set: The mackerel, carefully deboned, is made with only fresh ingredients, so there is no fishy smell. It's a light and delicious dish. [November 19th (Saturday)] Once again, my daughter and I had an SS lunch together like last Saturday. It's great that we could enjoy it three times this month! - My Classic Veg Curry - Daughter's Chicken Malabar (Curry) and Pilaf Set [November 24th (Thursday)] - Cod Mapas (Curry) and Pilaf Set: Mapas is a coconut-based mild spiced curry. It's absolutely amazing when eaten with Pilaf. [November 30th (Wednesday)] - Red Snapper Tamil Spiced (Curry) and Pilaf Set

This month, just like last month, I replenished my spices three times. I have had dishes like "Salmon Chettinad" and "Classic Chicken" many times, but "Conger Eel (Hamō) Mapas" was a first for me this time! Conger eel... yes, that long fish that is usually boiled. It was unbelievably delicious, making my eyes and nostrils widen with its roundness and flavor. [October 13, 2022 (Thursday)] - Salmon Chettinad x Taco Pilaf Set: The lightly seasoned Salmon Chettinad paired with the fluffy texture of Taco Pilaf was absolutely amazing. I could easily go for another plate of this! [October 19, 2022 (Wednesday)] - Classic Chicken Curry: A Chicken Curry from the early days of Spoon Song. This rich and unique "African BURN" style curry with original creative spices is a must-try when it occasionally makes a comeback. Keep an eye on the latest updates on Facebook or Instagram. [October 27, 2022 (Thursday)] - Conger Eel Mapas x Mushroom & Nut Pilaf: Mapas is a mild coconut-based spice curry. It goes well with any seafood, but personally, the conger eel was exceptional and reached a level of deliciousness that moved me! I feel like I want to have it again before the end of the year!

I would like to eat Spoon Song's curry at least once a week if possible. However, this month didn't go as planned, and it turned out to be a month of spice replenishment, with only 3 visits. (But even being able to eat it 3 times is enough to feel lucky, right?) I always have it made for me as "chef's choice," and no matter what, it's always delicious! So tastyーー♡ Now, I wonder how many times I can go next month~? [September 8, 2022 (Thursday)] - Red Snapper Mapas (curry) and 2 types of rice plate...... The deliciousness that never gets old no matter how many times you eat it (≧∀≦) Oh yeah! It was so yummy today too♫ By the way, the 2 types of rice plate are half and half of Chicken Biryani and Tako Pilaf (without tako w) because the Pilaf portion is only for one person. [September 22, 2022 (Thursday)] - Chicken Kolambu (curry) and Chicken Biryani plate...... The intense spiciness of black pepper in Kolambu is irresistible♪ Of course, the Biryani and side dishes are doing a great job too (^^) [September 28, 2022 (Wednesday)] - Tamil Spice Curry with Horse Mackerel (curry) and Tako Pilaf plate...... I have tried various fish curries here before, but this time it was my first time trying Horse Mackerel! It was made with fresh horse mackerel that can even be eaten as sashimi, so there was no fishy smell, and it paired well with Tamil spices♪ It was a dish that could be eaten easily and smoothly (^^)

Recently, the variety of curry restaurants in Fukuoka has been increasing, and I wanted to try various places as an amateur. I bought a book about Fukuoka curry restaurants last year, but I didn't have a chance to check it out. However, I finally had some free time and started reading the book. I came across one particular popular curry restaurant in Itoshima called "Spoon Song" that my partner had mentioned is rarely open. I happened to see that it was open as I passed by, so I decided I had to go! I invited my partner, but they were too full from the previous meal, so I went alone. The restaurant looked quite inconspicuous, almost like a hidden hut, and the only indication that it was a restaurant was a small sign. It was around 2:00 PM on a rainy day in summer, and there was only one car parked outside. Sometimes they close early, so I hesitated for a moment before entering. The owner, who seemed intimidating but actually had a kind voice, assured me that they were still open. I went in and was seated at a counter by the window. The owner informed me that they only had one dish available for lunch, which was written on a blackboard. I asked if they had fish curry, but unfortunately, it was sold out. The owner then suggested a half-and-half option with a choice of fish, either flathead mullet or thread-sail filefish. I couldn't catch the name of the fish, so I just picked one. The owner started preparing the meal, and the aroma of spices filled the air, making me even hungrier. While waiting, I overheard a conversation between two women at the next table, which felt like a conversation from a different world. The food arrived freshly made, consisting of biryani, a soup curry-like dish, and a whole fish, probably the thread-sail filefish. The biryani had a nice texture that paired well with the soup curry. Surprisingly, the thread-sail filefish had no fishy smell at all and was delicious. The biryani was served half-and-half, with half topped with fresh octopus. It was my first time trying octopus biryani, and I was impressed by how delicious it was despite the appearance and atmosphere of the restaurant. This was my first time trying South Indian curry, and I found it to be flavorful with a mild spiciness that was easy to eat. I would love to try it again if I have the chance. It was almost closing time, and I wished they had beer to go with the meal. The owner had a note on the wall mentioning that they travel to the southernmost states of India, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, every year to learn and adapt South Indian home cooking, which explains the quality of the food. The owner seemed like a rock enthusiast but turned out to be a very nice person. The bill came to around 2000 yen, probably because it was close to closing time, and I felt like they gave me a discount. It's not easy to find a restaurant where you can enjoy such high-quality South Indian curry, so I think it's a gem in Itoshima. My partner, who used to live in Itoshima, hasn't tried it yet because the restaurant is rarely open. I would love to visit again. #Curry #SouthIndian #India #IndianSpiceCuisine #FishCurry #FukuokaGourmet #FukuokaCurry #ItoshimaGourmet #ItoshimaCurry