Hello, fellow travel lovers!
Today, I visited the extremely popular curry restaurant in Sagamihara, "Curry Shop Maboroshi."
It’s a renowned restaurant that has been selected multiple times as one of Tabelog’s Top 100 Curry Shops. This is a must-visit!
The Road to Getting a Numbered Ticket
According to the information beforehand, numbered tickets are distributed around 9:30 AM. Determined to get one, I aimed for 9:30 but arrived at 9:15! …Two people were already in line. My expectations were rising!
After waiting for 15 minutes, the aroma of curry spices drifted from the exhaust fan… my stomach was already growling. At 9:30, a cheerful staff member appeared and said, “We’re handing out the numbered tickets now!”
What surprised me here was their system of taking orders first! Each person wrote down their number of guests, curry type, spice level, toppings, and contact information on an order sheet. Once all 16 people in line had filled out their orders, the staff took them inside.
After waiting for five minutes, I received a numbered ticket with the designated time on it.
I secured a spot in the first round at 11 AM! It took about 40 minutes from the time I started lining up. For now, I take a break and leave.
Finally, it’s curry time!
At 10:58 AM, I returned to the restaurant. It was a cold day, but the excitement of waiting for the opening made me forget the chill!
Just as I was about to capture the moment the noren curtain was hung… I was immediately ushered inside with a friendly “Please come in!” and missed my photo opportunity (haha).
As I stepped inside, the air was filled with the rich aroma of spices, creating a mysterious and inviting atmosphere.
The restaurant has a nostalgic Showa-era retro vibe, giving it a sense of history.
Tasting Time! Pork Curry & Chicken Curry
First up is the pork curry (regular size, spicy)! The dish is packed with chunky pieces of meat—so much that it hardly feels like a regular portion! The pork has a firm texture, and just looking at it is enough to make me feel full.
Instead of the usual fukujinzuke pickles, a sweet salad with raisins, corn, and tomatoes was served. Surprisingly, it was perfect for resetting the spiciness of the curry and made for an excellent palate cleanser.
Next up is the chicken curry (regular size, medium spice). This one is packed with chunks of chicken breast, and inside the roux, there’s a whole green chili! Crushing it releases an extra kick of heat. As I crushed it, the intense spice spread through the air, stinging my eyes and nose. Biting into it carelessly would be a risky move (haha).
The roux has a rich sweetness and depth, with a hint of spices that strangely remind me of digestive medicine. I wish I knew more about spices to identify them, but one thing is certain—it feels incredibly good for the body! After eating, I felt warm from the inside out.
While eating, I happened to glance up… and noticed that the noren curtain had been taken down!? Could it be sold out already!? I hurried to take a photo, but it was too late. This really showed just how incredibly popular this place is.
An Unexpected Encounter with a Food Truck!?
Leaving the restaurant completely full and heading to the parking lot… I suddenly spotted a food truck!
Even though I was already full, my foodie instincts kicked in, and I ended up getting tacos for dinner (haha).
Anyway, this meat-packed, delicious curry is definitely worth trying at least once!
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
