I came across a curry restaurant that looked like a hidden gem on Instagram. I made a reservation just in case and used a holiday to visit right away. The navigation was unreliable once I entered Chihaya Akasaka Village, so I relied on the photo-guided directions in the Instagram highlights to find my way. The restaurant was an old house that had been stylishly renovated. Next to the café space, there was also a gallery selling quirky books (which I ended up buying). I ordered the following dishes: Grilled eggplant and herb salad for 650 yen, Cold pumpkin and coconut soup for 700 yen, Nepalese-style fried chicken for 700 yen, Meal set for 1600 yen, with an additional topping of spiced and pickled egg for 200 yen, and an extra curry of braised curry for 200 yen, and Chickpea and tamarind chai for 600 yen. It was a one-drink system, so I enjoyed a homemade fig syrup soda while waiting leisurely. This soda is delicious! First, I tried the salad, which had grilled eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a variety of herbs like mint, coriander, and dill. I love the herbaceous flavors, but it might be a hit or miss for some people. Next was my first experience with pani puri. The crispy hollow balls were filled with tomato chutney, topped with arugula, and then filled with cold pumpkin soup to be eaten in one bite. It was delicious! The fried chicken was juicy and packed with spices. There was also a Taiwanese-style version, which is sweet and spicy. The meal set included vegetable sambar, mung bean curry, eggplant moju, cucumber and coconut salad, tomato chutney, and carrot and black sesame achar, along with a choice of curry. But one curry wasn't enough, so I opted for a combination of prawn in sweet shrimp broth and braised curry. The shrimp was tender, the braised curry was rich, and the bean curry was sweet and tasty. The spiciness was just right for my sensitive stomach. I mixed everything together and enjoyed it thoroughly. I finished with a gentle chai to refresh myself and leisurely read books from the gallery. The open and airy atmosphere of the restaurant was getting a bit warm as lunchtime approached, so I settled the bill and left. It would be nice to come back for a relaxing tea time in spring or autumn. Note that it was the Bon holiday season, so the restaurant was fully booked. I bought some muffins as souvenirs, so I'll enjoy them as a snack when I get home.

Meals platter with 4 kinds of curry for 2,200 yen. One drink order required - hot coffee for 500 yen. If no order is placed, a drink charge of 300 yen will be applied. Curry options include: Lemon Coconut Chicken Curry, Pork Chili Curry, Keema Curry, and Sake Kasu and Sawara (Mackerel) Curry. Also available is the Meen Kolanp (Bonito Curry).

I went there. It is located in the mountains. I didn't get lost as much as I thought, but there were some roads closed off. Be careful. The atmosphere is nice. By the way, it's a one-drink minimum so it will cost over 2000 yen. The meals are delicious but... expensive. I recommend the large rice portion and the three-item platter, but... it's expensive. I ordered chai and it was rich and delicious!

Today's menu at the cafe includes a small-sized daily special spiced pork curry and blood orange juice. There are various art exhibitions happening, and there is also a beauty salon on the premises. With a veranda and surrounded by nature, it's a space where you can relax and reset from your busy daily life.

Since it's on top of a mountain, it's cool in the shade. However, it still gets hot in the kitchen without air conditioning when using the stove. I sweated while eating. I would like to visit again in a season other than summer.

The lunch was delicious and full of carefully crafted dishes in a peaceful setting surrounded by nature.