Sajilo Cafe

( Unilocal 100 Challenge 2015 — ²⁄₁₀₀)
OK, so I normally don’t write a review after visiting a business/​location just once, but today’s was actually the second time on site, with the first lunchtime experience.
The restaurant/​café purports to be a café, and it is certainly decorated like a cool, trendy and somewhat hipster place in retro antique style design and décor. However, missing are the decorations and paintings of elephants, Buddhist deities and the like. Instead, once you approach the place, you’ll immediately notice the fragrant spices of Indian/​Nepalese cuisine begging you to enter. So I did.
Arrived slightly after traditional lunch hour and waited outside for about five minutes as the end of the lunch crowd straggled out and back to their jobs. Had a table for four all to myself. Score!
Actually, the counters and seating overall are pretty cramped, even by smaller stature Japanese standards. Guess arriving at this hour negated that factor though.
Felt both hungry and adventurous, so I went for the two curry plate, which also included a very nice fresh green salad, choice of rice or naan (I chose the latter) and choice of beverage (I chose iced chai).
Don’t know why but I’ve recently become very picky about Indian/​Nepalese curries. This place had probably the BEST I’ve had in all these years in Tokyo. One was a daal/​chicken and the other was vegetable. Both were simmered down to a thick, heavenly paste that just filled your senses with exotic spices with every bite. The beans were tender and chicken melted in your mouth — heavenly! The vegetables were probably more than half a dozen varieties — sorry, was too busy enjoying the curry to count details.
Note: They purposely make their curries only slightly spicy (mild), so you can order up the «fire scale» if you like pyrotechnics. I stuck with the standard, just for starters. Wise choice it was! (And safe for kids!)
Naan can be nonsense (sic), but this one was large, fluffy and perfectly baked. How can one tell? If it gets hard and leathery AFTER it cools, there are problems with the dough, water content and baking. This one had NO issues at all. It remained, soft, chewy and flavorful from beginning to end.
Why spend two or three times more for a meal experience that is half the value? This place nails it! I love the food, atmosphere and value. I’m sure you will too!
Bonus: They have FOUR locations! One more in Kichijoji (near Seikei University), one in Suginami (north of Nishi Ogikubo station on the Chuo line) and one in Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture. I’ll post the photo of the locations with this review.

A little out of the way, a little small, but always good. Probably the best naan I have ever had and by some miracle, they seem to be able to make it oil free. It also has one of the more unique decors you will ever seen from a curry restaurant. It feels more like a French country café (if such a thing exists). Very welcoming and delicious food.