RICKY DLS 英会話 blog

Picante got competition: Soup curry cafe Kochoo opened just around the corner and even though less elaborate, it is quite attractive especially for small budgets. Lunch chicken starts from 790 yen for a decent bowl of soup with rice. Add 100 yen if you want it spicier. I chose 11 on a spice level from 1 to 13 and I’ll go higher next time. The texture is neither creamy nor thin, just right, and the soup has a sweet aftertaste similar to Lavi. As for the beverage that’s included in the lunch menu, tomato juice is available and that’s a big plus. The service is fast, friendly and efficient. Great place, I’ll definitely go back. Kochoo, N13, W4. Phone 011-737 6655

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Now that the World Cup is going into the quarterfinals I have time for other stuff rather than just watching soccer, lol. I realized to my delight that a new branch of Lavi just opened at Sapporo Station. The interior is very similar to the original at Maruyama, dominated by dark wood, magenta walls and tropical paintings. The soup curry broth was authentically Lavi: medium texture and delicious in spite of the slightly sweet aftertaste. I chose deer and it was way too greasy, I’ll stick with the traditional vegetables & chicken next time. Portions at Lavi are tiny so make sure to order extra soup (oomori). Spicy level 35 was rather mild for my taste. Sapporo Station Esta, 10F.

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The North 24 neighborhood got a new addition to its soup curry scene: Goonies III opened last month on the premises previously owned by Mohan Dish. I went there for lunch today and entered through an inconspicuous wooden door. Only the signboard on top indicated that the place was open at all. I was, however, positively surprised to see that the once run down venue had been completely remodeled, with walls painted in bright orange (Goonies’ signature color), antique sofas and lots of wood. There are only two tables and I was seated at the counter but it didn’t feel crammed or anything. There’s no lunch menu so I ordered the chicken from the regular menu in an “original” soup (other choices are tomato and seafood) with soup oomori (extra soup). The ten or so ingredients were served in a clear consomme-style soup and actually it tasted more like a curry soup mixed with chicken consomme than a soup curry. On a scale from 1 to 5 I chose piquancy level 5 and it was way too mild for my taste. The dish included rice, all for 1,050 yen. The food was alright but what’s really attractive is the nostalgic flair of the place. To make a long story short, it feels cozy and I’ll probably go back there. Goonies, N24, W4. Goonies downtown.

And there’s some funny Japanese English written on the menu …!

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

It was snowing last night and I was freezing to the point where I wanted to escape to a tropical island. I found a solution, only temporary but nevertheless worth it: Crazy Spice warmed me up and took me on an hour-long journey to a jungle safari, meal included. The restaurant is furnished in authentic rainforest fashion, with tall tropical plants and dark bamboo abundant. My favorites are the two giraffes that seem to be wandering around, and the elephant head that comes out of a wall. I went for lunch today like I said and I got the last vacant table. I had the roast pork lunch special that came in a spicy soup with broccoli, pumpkin, asparagus, potato, carrots and mizuna (a Japanese leafy vegetable). Out of the two soup choices available (normal and mayakku) I chose the latter one (heavy type) and spicy level 15 which seemed just right for an early lunch: it was rather mild. The soup was well served and accompanied by a large plate of white rice. In other words: I got full! I also had ice chai which was included in the lunch, all for 890 yen. Excellent food, great service, super cost-performance. No wonder the place is that popular. Nice way to start the day and I feel a lot warmer now in spite of the yucky weather. North 16, West 5. Phone # 011-7379048

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

I had lunch at Picante today and the incredible thing is that after all these years people are still lining up for lunch! Well we were lucky actually because we got a table immediately even though we had to park the car in the parking lot that’s next to Picante (not free of charge). As soon as we sat down people started lining up in the restaurant, in the little waiting lounge and even outside. Like I said, we were lucky. My friend had seafood soup curry spicy level 4 and complained that it wasn’t hot enough. I ordered chicken-vegetable level 5 and even that was not very hot - which means the folks at Picante do not live up to their name: “Picante” is Spanish for “spicy” and I am still always surprised at the popularity of Spanish names for brands, shops, cars etc. in a land as far as Japan! Then again, Spanish is the most beautiful language in the world, no doubt about that. Anyway, today’s soup curry base was “38 long years of wind”, a powerful name for a light and salty but good soup. The fun thing about Picante is that depending on the weekday they serve a specific soup base. So let’s say if you like the “summer in NY” taste you will know when you should go there (Monday). The service today was fast, friendly and efficient and I even got a free apron, so past flaws in their service are forgiven and forgotten, lol. N13, W3

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Today and yesterday have been the two coldest days this winter so far, with daytime temperatures around -8 degrees centigrades and nighttime around -15. I needed to warm up and headed for the new Picante soup curry in downtown and I realized that this is a self service soup curry shop! You order at the counter and pay upfront. The only service they provide is to bring the soup to your table, but at the same time you are reminded to return the dishes to the counter once you finish. To be honest, I was baffled. It is no surprise that all customers were people in their twenties. The cost, however, is the same as their sister outlet’s in North 13, so that’s a bit odd. The menu is basically a simplified version of Picante in North Ward, meaning that the ingredients are the same but there’s only one type of soup and no choice of spicy level. If you want it hotter, there’s chili powder on the table. The place can’t really be called a restaurant as it’s quite small and there are only three tables. There are several small counters though were one person each can be seated so I’d say they used the space efficiently. And, same as at Picante N13, lots of rules. Put your bag here and your coat there etc. If you ask me, it’s an OK place to have lunch every once in a while but I can’t say I love it. The soup is good, very small, far from amazing. There’s rice omori (extra) but no soup omori, and when I’m done with the soup there’s usually a lot of rice left. Strategically this place was well planned as it is located in a neighborhood where there aren’t any soup curry shops. N2, W1.

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Mohan Dish on North 24: great food, great price, great service. I haven’t been blogging about soup curry lately and in case you were thinking I’ve had enough of it - you’re wrong! The thing is I’ve mostly been visiting the same places, basically in the North 24 neighborhood due to easy access in winter. I had dinner at Voyage the other day and arrived there at 22:45 PM sharp, only to be told that it was beyond last order time. I pointed to the clock to let them know that it was exactly 22:45 (last order). The waiter asked me to wait and called the manager. I ended up being served and the soup curry was pretty good for a change so that made up for having to beg for it. On another occasion I went there and the soup was below average, I had Turkish lamb at that time and I do not recommend it. I also visited their sister outlet Picante and even though the food was very good the service was a joke, the waiters got stuck on ridiculous details like where you’re supposed to put your bag, coat etc. Picante just opened their second branch near Odori Park. I guess both Voyage and Picante have become too popular so these days they’re neglecting customer service. On another note, I had authentic Indian curry at Mohan Dish today and both the food and service were outstanding. I even got a complimentary chai.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

This is a great Japanese/Indian restaurant in a not so great location, but if you live or work near Sapporo Station it’s worth going there for lunch: barli barl at North 14. Two young women run the place and they’re very dedicated to serving good, fresh and fast curry. I say Japanese/Indian because the taste is definitely adjusted to Japanese taste buds but that doesn’t make it less pleasant. I had lunch there today “hisashiburi ni” (long time no eat) and was really surprised considering the cost performance: I got a salad, chicken-onion curry, a large portion of yellow rice and lassi for incredible 750 yen!! They also offer speedy delivery home or office delivery. I’ll definitely go there again soon for some good homestyle curry and also because I admire with what determination and optimism the two women run the place in spite of the absence of customers in this dreadful recession. barli barl, N14, W2. Phone 011-737 4414

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I stumbled into Sama by pure coincidence and was actually on my way to a different soup curry eatery in North Ward. Hungry and a bit tired - I was on foot - Sama popped up in front of me like a gift from heaven. The interior of this recently opened branch is cozy and divided into two parts. One part has “horigotatsu” tables and the other part large tables and benches next to a huge Hokkaido-style heater (as big as a refrigerator!). I thought I wanted to sit next to the heater during the winter months but since it was relatively warm on that day I opted for the horigotatsu (dig-kotatsu!). What’s interesting at Sama is that there are three choices of soup: coconut, tomato and the traditional Japanese asari. I ordered coconut soup with veggies and soup omori (extra soup). Big surprise when the waitress served a huge bowl of soup curry filled to the top! I usually leave hungry after eating soup curry but this time I left satisfied and well-fed. I picked spicy level 25 on a scale of 1 to 30 - not spicy enough. Sama also offers delivery. Other soup curry restaurants I’ve visited recently are Ajanta, Run and Surya. Ajanta is a well-established, spacious eatery in East Ward, selling its own line of instant soup curry. While eating the first thought that came to my mind was “men must like this” - heavy and a bit oily, kind of like ramen. Ajanta also has an outlet in Ebetsu and as far as the branch in Sapporo is concerned, it is the proud owner of Sapporo’s best mural (see pic). Another curry shop I found through plain coincidence is Run along the streetcar line. Run is run by an Indian family, it is clean and the food is very good. I ordered a small nan bread with my curry instead of rice and was surprised about the size of the “small nan” … it was huge! The service was excellent and I’ll definitely go back there. Surya in Zenibako crossed my path on my way back from Dream Beach. The food is good and the staff nice but the highlight is the terrace where you can watch spectacular sunsets over the Sea of Japan. Sama, N16, W3 and three other branches. Ajanta, N23, E20. Run, S7, W6. Surya, Otaru Zenibako, across from the JR Station and four other branches.

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It was one of these days … I was running errands when I realized that I had a flat tire. I happened to be a few blocks away from Medicine Man and hence, I popped in for some spicy power food. I must say the taste has evoluted from a thin, tasteless soup three or four years ago, into a tasty, well-presented broth worth the term soup curry. I have only one complaint: The spiciest choice (level 10) tasted like they had never heard of chilies. Medicine Man, S12, W10.

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