peakhunter
Today I had work in Hachioji, and during lunch I happened to come across Milis and decided to visit them for dinner that night. I originally planned to go to Tantan for lunch, but as I was walking along the road crossing the JR Chuo Line, I caught a whiff of spices. My nose was surprisingly sensitive to spices, and I was impressed by that. I've been exploring different curry places for about 3 years, mostly based on recommendations from others or guidebooks. This was the first time I found a place on my own, guided by my own nose. There was only one review from someone I follow, so it truly felt like a hidden gem! The storefront with a signboard caught my attention with the smell of spices, and it said "Ayurvedic home cooking" with a picture of black curry which intrigued me. I had not planned to have dinner in Hachioji, but I decided to go there that evening. I arrived at 6 pm and there was one other customer. I was seated at the counter with 3 tables and 2 counter seats facing the wall. I ordered the "Ayurvedic home cooking plate" and a Lion Lager. They also had Nepalese Ice Beer, but since it was a Sri Lankan plate, I went with LION. There was an original "twisty potato" that looked tempting, but I resisted. While waiting for the plate, I leisurely looked through the menu and saw that the curry dishes looked delicious and they had a variety of unique dishes. Chicken Tikka with different flavors like Malai, Garlic, and Spinach, and I later found out they also had a Detox Chicken Tikka similar to the charcoal curry. I wonder if they have Charcoal-grilled sardines at Sri Lankan curry shops? The Cheese Naan looked delicious too, and this place seems perfect for a spice-infused drinking session with curry-loving friends. As I was daydreaming about having a curry meetup with my friends, the plate arrived! It was smaller than I expected, but the presentation was beautiful. A staff member who spoke Japanese well explained the contents to me. The plate included Curry with dried tofu, Carrot curry, Coconut stir-fried spinach, Coconut salad, and Sri Lankan bean stir-fry. I was surprised by the dried tofu curry, but it was delicious with a texture similar to meat. The carrot curry didn't have a gravy but had a curry-flavored side dish feel. The spinach was a tasty Poriyal. The coconut salad was not like a typical salad, more like Pol Sambol, with a nice orange color and a perfect amount of spiciness from the chili. I enjoyed mixing and trying each dish. After the meal, I looked through the menu a bit more and found they had Momos! I was puzzled as to why a Sri Lankan curry restaurant would have Nepalese Momos, but when I asked, I learned that it was originally a Nepalese restaurant that added spice dishes to please customers. The owner also incorporated Sri Lankan Ayurveda into the menu with the Sri Lankan plate and Detox curry. It all made sense! It's a great restaurant, and I definitely want to come back here again.