"Botanical Curry - A Long-awaited Experience! Curry #166 out of 206 in 2023. On September 13, 2023, this was my 3,638th curry since 2017. It was also the 98th curry place from the Tabelog Top 100 Curry Restaurants in 2022. Botanical Curry offers a unique dining experience with its irregular bi-monthly openings.
I've been wanting to visit Botanical Curry for several years. When I inquired about it a couple of years ago, they were preparing to open a second branch in Umeda, and the main branch in Honmachi had become irregularly open only 1-2 times a month. They now announce their opening days for the first half and second half of the month on Twitter. However, even with this information, it's not easy to go on the announced days. But I didn't give up, kept checking for announcements, and finally, I was able to visit this time.
I took the 6:00 AM Shinkansen and arrived at Shin-Osaka at 8:22 AM, then lined up in front of the restaurant at 9:00 AM to secure the first position in the queue. I placed my order at 10 AM when they distributed the meal tickets. I ordered the Botanical Curry with Shrimp Curry, added +1 level of spiciness, requested less rice, and added pickles and eggs.
When the plate of Botanical Curry was placed in front of me, it was visually stunning, with a complex and intricate world of flavors and aromas. Each color on the plate offered different tastes and textures. Eating it was a delightful experience, with the sharpness of the spices giving a satisfying kick. Different flavors emerged from various parts of the plate, creating an ever-changing world of spice curry. Every time I come to Osaka, I strongly feel that spice curry is truly a part of Osaka's food culture. People in Tokyo who try to replicate it must understand and incorporate Osaka's culture and atmosphere to reach this level. Food is indeed a culture.
It was incredibly delicious! A great achievement reaching the 98th spot on the Tabelog Top 100 Curry Restaurants in 2022. #GoggleMask #AchaarIKEDA #Curry #SpiceCurry #Osaka #BotanicalCurry
Personal Rating:
Overall: 3.9
Taste: 4.8
Service: 3.8
Ambiance: 3.7
Value for Money: 3.3"