ハラミ串
[Overall Review] Located about a 2-minute walk from Chofu Station, this cafe is tucked away in a corner of a building on the first floor, surrounded by eateries hidden from the main street. Established in 1985, it is a bit of a longstanding establishment. While there are many cafes boasting about their curry, this one stands out with its years of experience. I tried their most popular dish, the Keema Curry with an added omelet on top, and it was priced at only 750 yen. The curry recipe from almost 40 years ago still tastes delicious, which was quite surprising. It's impressive that they have maintained such affordable prices. Chofu is a fairly large town with a variety of dining options, but this place is truly a legend.
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I've been coming to Chofu quite frequently for work recently. Today, with limited time for lunch, I decided to visit this cafe that seemed like a quick and easy option. However, when I arrived at the restaurant just before its 12 o'clock opening time, there were already about 10 people lined up. It seems to be more popular than I had anticipated. The facade of the building is made of dark-colored brick, giving it a somewhat old-fashioned look. The interior has 4 tables and 2 counter seats, with a cozy and warm wooden decor. There were 2 staff members working. The decor and furnishings give off a sense of history. Even the pink telephone is still in use, which is quite impressive. It exudes a Showa-era ambiance. The menu offers four types of curry: beef, keema, chicken, and pork, each of which can be turned into an omelet rice dish. Other options include hashed beef rice, grilled meat rice, omelet rice, pasta, and toast. The menu has a traditional coffee shop feel. Some slightly unusual items such as curry udon, Kyoto-style parent and child bowl, and cream stew rice may appeal to enthusiasts. The drink menu mainly consists of coffee, tea, and soft drinks, with alcohol options available as well. However, it's not the kind of place where you'd sit and drink for a while. Despite the more extensive menu than expected, it seemed like the keema curry was a popular choice among the customers, especially when ordered with an omelet on top. Following the trend, I ordered the Keema Curry with Omelet Style: - Keema Curry 650 yen - Omelet Style (additional 100 yen)
The Keema Curry is made with 17 spices and a base of onions and consomme. It is the most popular dish at the restaurant. When you take a bite, you feel a slight warmth in your mouth, with mild spiciness. The flavor is enhanced by the onions. In the omelet style, the egg sits on top of the rice, with the keema curry poured over it. It's different from the wrapped style. While it may not exactly be an omelet rice, it's a great combination of egg, curry, and rice. The curry has a bit of broth, which blends the egg, rice, and curry together. It's well thought out.
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[Final Thoughts] This curry may not have the trendy spiciness of modern spice curries, but it has a balanced mix of flavor and spice. The fact that this taste was perfected almost 40 years ago is surprising. And the fact that it is still offered at such an affordable price is even more shocking. This curry may just be the pinnacle of cafe dining. The bill for today's meal came to a total of 750 yen. Thank you for the meal.