I wandered into the one in Ochanomizu soon after it opened and fell in love. The curry wasn’t bad either. The quirkiness of the concept (gorillas! funny names! Y2500 signature curry!) cracked me up, and then the dark, thick curry kept me happy. I haven’t been back, but that’s more a recognition of the fact that I’m getting fat than anything else.
Funny point one: the names for the sizes that you can order (and what a good idea – multiple sizes?): Healthy Class, Economy Class, Business Class, First Class. Funny point two: the signature dishes: “Major Curry” with a big katsu, some weiners, ebi fly, boiled egg, and just a smattering of cabbage, then “World Champion Curry”, like Major but with twice as much of everything! Funny point three: C’mon, you have to ask? A gorilla mascot? Actually, the curry is sort of gorilla-colored.
Perhaps this is point the fourth, but I also love the fact that it’s from Kanazawa. It’s always nice to see the provincials giving the city folks a run for their money. Plus two stores in New York City (New York City? Get a rope.) and other convenient Tokyo locations like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Akiba, Takakadadanobaba etc.
When in Ochanu, I recommend (far, far above Sumatra curry on Yasukuni Dori, which I heard was ranked one of the top 3 or top 10 curry places in Tokyo. Maybe it was one of the top 10 curry places on Yasukuni Dori in Jinbocho…).
http://www.gogocurry.com/