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This is definitely a one-​of-​a-​kind restaurant featuring very traditional Japanese-​style home cooking, but wait, the story is just beginning.
Without disclosing all of the juicy details, it might be worth noting that the restaurant, its sole location here tucked into the passageway between buildings, is somewhat tricky to find, but that adds to the fun of discovery.
About thirty years ago, the Carendo story began, born out of the desire to combine traditional home-​style Japanese curry with something that paid more direct respect to the curry traditions, recipes and spices of India.
The owner had, in a previous life, traveled back and forth between Japan and the many open air spice markets across India in search of suppliers for major Japanese food producer companies. Having actually seen, smelled and tasted the multitude of curry dishes in their native settings, he had a vision to go beyond simply using Indian ingredients to season the typical Japanese «kare rice» dish.
What you will see offered here is the result of over thirty years of trial and error, refinements and variations made as times, spices and people’s tastes have changed (but not changed) over the years. The standard base is a nicely seasoned keema with ground beef or chicken. The curry itself is cooked and slow simmered for over thirty hours, because you know, curry is alive with spices and it always tastes better after an overnight of aging.
Note my tips for the variations you can get: curry over rice, over an omelette over rice, in udon noodles (interesting and tasty!), and others. Check out the menu, and don’t miss the little notes on the wall. After you’re thoroughly at a loss, ask your waitstaff. You’re sure to be surprised and delighted,
Media notes: The restaurant has been featured in books, magazines and TV «gourmet tour» shows so prevalent in Japan. Of course, there is no shortage of famous personalities who have made the journey out to Chofu to taste the unique interpretation of curry. Among the most recent and famous were the members of the teenage (?) idol group Arashi. Go ahead, ask the owner «master» to share the story with you.
Caution: Seating for only 17 people; very crowded at lunchtime and on weekends. If you want a leisurely meal, choose off hours. If you’re lucky enough to be one-​on-​one with the master, just one innocent question will reveal stories better heard in person than summarized here on Unilocal.
Come with an open mind towards curry, restaurants and flavors. You’ll leave wondering when your next visit will be to sample more of the menu. It’s retro and uniquely progressive at the same time.