Ciao Curry Shinjuku Nomura Building

I have eaten dozens of times over many years. This place is great. Youthful atmosphere, good music, friendly staff and good food. Located in the basement of the Nomura building, it’s a small shop that has a lot of space. There are eight counter seats and either six tables for four or 12 tables for two. I come here usually around 3:00 or 3:30 and there are only a few people. I’m guessing at lunch it’s packed. Here’s why I give this five stars. They have several dozen curry dishes at several different prices depending on what you get. I like the chicken «Popeye» curry which is curry with spinach, tomatoes, scrambled eggs, and onions. You chose your rice quantity. There’s standard 300 gram, but order 200 grams and the price drops or 400 grams the price increases. Choose the spice level. From 0 — 2 it’s free. Go to spice level 3, add 10 yen, level 4 add 10 more yen, to level 20 or something. Don’t like eggs, then the price drops. Want bacon Popeye spinach or shrimp Popeye spinach, they got it. Add or subtract from a number of vegetables and meat or shellfish, the price goes up or down accordingly. The dish comes out with the rice flattened across the plate with a bit of curry. The rest is served in a gravy dish that you serve yourself. On the table choose from free pickled cucumbers or pickled daikon or raw onions if you dare. The smell alone is powerful. The entire kitchen is open, so a counter seat will allow you to watch the chefs at work. They have a point card as well. Bright, clean restaurant. The curry is less Indian in my opinion and more like soup curry. I think someone added a bit of extra spice today as my usual 3 feels like a 4, but that could be the weather making it hot!