Curry is a food that, alongside ramen, could be called one of Japan’s national dishes.
Since around the 2010s, “spice curry,” made with a focus on spices unique to Japan, has also become popular.
And the number of spice curry restaurants in Kurashiki has been growing, too.
One of them is “Curry Shop Cardamom (CARDAMON, hereafter Cardamom),” in Nishi-Achi-cho, Kurashiki City.
In addition to two regular menu items—keema curry and shrimp curry—there is a curry that appears as a weekly special.
Since the special changes every week, it’s exciting to see what curry will be available each time.
As soon as you step inside, the wonderfully fragrant aroma of spices wafts through the air, and you quickly find yourself getting hungry.
A curry-loving writer will introduce Cardamom, a curry specialty restaurant that’s irresistible to curry fans.
The information provided was current when this article was published in November 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Cardamom is a curry specialty restaurant near AEON MALL Kurashiki
Cardamom is a curry specialty restaurant in Nishi-Achi, Kurashiki City.
You can enjoy spice-focused curries known as spice curry, as well as ethnic-style curries.
The moment you enter, you’re greeted by the pleasant aroma of spices.
It whets your appetite.
The white walls and wood grain make a striking impression, while the houseplants create a relaxing atmosphere.
There’s plenty of space between the seats, too.
▼ There are four seats at the L-shaped counter in front of the kitchen.
▼ There is also one table for two and two tables for four.
Cardamom is located near the boundary between Nishi-Achi and Mizue.
It is about 800 meters southwest of AEON MALL Kurashiki.
It is right by the “Mizue” intersection on Prefectural Route 396 (Sakazu-Nakashima Line), a major road.
This makes it easy to reach by car.
Cardamom’s menu centers on three kinds of curry
Information as of November 2020. Prices include tax.
Cardamom’s menu mainly features three kinds of curry.
They are 850 yen each.
Two of the three kinds, “keema curry” and “shrimp curry,” are regular menu items.
The remaining kind is a “weekly special” curry that changes each week.
You’re probably wondering, “What kind of curry will they have this week?”
In that case, check the posts on Cardamom’s official Instagram.
When we visited for this article, the special was “sag chicken curry.”
You can also add toppings to your curry. There are two options: “keema curry” (300 yen) and “cartilage kebab” (250 yen).
The following items are each 100 yen.
- Large serving
- Coconut snack
- Drink
The drinks available are:
- Coffee
- Chai
- Cola
- Calpis
Curry is also available for takeout.
Takeout curry is 750 yen each for all three kinds.
You can also order just the curry sauce to take away, for 550 yen each.
If you order by phone in advance, it’s convenient and ready to take away right away.
The keema curry is made without water, letting you enjoy the savory flavor of the meat
The regular menu item “keema curry.”
Keema curry is the kind of curry that the owner, Hirai, has been making the longest, and it is Cardamom’s signature curry.
A wonderfully rich aroma filled the air as soon as cooking began.
The keema curry is piled generously on top of a mound of rice shaped into a round.
Coriander is placed on top of the curry, but you can ask for it without coriander when ordering.
▼ The keema curry is brown and contains plenty of ground meat.
Cardamom’s keema curry has very little liquid and a thick, paste-like texture.
Because it’s made without water, you can directly taste the savory flavor of the ingredients, especially the ground meat.
▼ With the first bite, the savory flavor and sweetness of the ground meat spread across your palate.
There’s also a pleasant hint of spice.
It has a moderate level of heat—not too spicy—and goes perfectly with rice.
▼ The rice is Kinuhikari, grown in Okayama Prefecture.
I kept eating and finished it in no time.
▼ You can also add keema curry as a topping to other curries.
Apparently, they started offering keema curry as a topping in response to customers who wanted to order a “half-and-half” curry.
▼ By the way, when you order curry, it comes with a side of pickles.
Of course, pickles are served with the other curries too, not just the keema curry.
“Shrimp Curry” stands out for the texture and flavor of the shrimp and the taste of coconut milk
Another regular menu item is the “Shrimp Curry.”
When I tried it, I also added keema curry and cartilage kebab as toppings.
The shrimp curry is striking for its beautiful golden-yellow color.
You can also order the shrimp curry without cilantro.
▼Unlike the keema curry, the shrimp curry is thin and runny.
▼And, just as its name suggests, the shrimp curry makes an impact with its generous chunks of shrimp.
▼And it’s not just shrimp—there’s plenty of shimeji mushrooms, onions, daikon radish, and other ingredients, which is a real treat.
▼Scoop it up with a spoon and you can see just how runny it is.
When I tasted it, the distinctive sweetness and flavor of coconut milk spread through my mouth.
I could also taste the spices, and it had a delicious, pleasantly mild heat.
The texture of the vegetables, such as shimeji mushrooms, and their gentle sweetness add to it as well.
I also felt that the curry itself had a subtle shrimp flavor.
We add the shrimp to the curry and cook it after we receive your order.
That’s why you can enjoy the shrimp’s flavor and texture.
▼The shrimp have that springy, bouncy texture you’d expect.
The flavor of the shrimp goes perfectly with the curry.
The shrimp curry has an addictive, complex deliciousness, with the sweet flavor of coconut, the flavor and texture of shrimp, a moderate kick of heat, and the texture and gentle sweetness of vegetables all coming together.
I think it’s a curry that’s sweet and mellow, while still letting you enjoy the spices and a little heat.
And of course, the shrimp are a highlight.
The keema curry topping is the same as the keema curry served on its own.
I’ll introduce the cartilage kebab later.
Weekly Curry
As the name suggests, the weekly curry changes every week.
So I can’t help wondering what kind of curry they’re serving this week.
The curries vary widely, from Cardamom originals to ethnic-style curries.
▼When I visited, it was “Sag Chicken Curry.”
It’s a curry made with spinach and chicken.
Sag chicken curry was a popular curry that had appeared several times in the past as a weekly special.
▼The curry’s greenish-brown color makes a strong impression.
Of course, it gets its greenish color from the spinach.
We add pureed spinach.
To preserve the spinach’s flavor and nutrients, we add the spinach puree to the curry after receiving your order and simmer it.
The curry also contains cheese.
The curry looks like it might be thick.
▼But in fact, it’s light and runny.
When I tried the curry, I could taste a subtle hint of spinach amid its sweet-and-spicy flavor.
And the cumin flavor is just right.
▼The main ingredient, chicken thigh, comes in fairly large pieces.
And there were quite a lot of them.
The chicken is tender and delicious, with its savory juices gradually coming through.
▼On another day, the weekly curry was “Japanese Chestnut Chicken Korma.”
▼The large chestnuts are served with their inner skins on, making a big impression.
This curry, made with seasonal chestnuts, was served when I visited in early autumn.
The cartilage kebab topping tastes like tsukune, with a crunchy texture that adds a nice touch
The “cartilage kebab” topping.
Two large, oval-shaped cartilage kebabs are added to the curry as a topping.
They are made with chicken thigh.
▼The cartilage kebab is similar to yakitori tsukune.
▼There are lots of pieces of cartilage inside.
The savory flavor of the chicken spreads as you eat, and the cartilage’s crunchy texture is addictive.
The outside is also grilled until crisp and fragrant.
It contains spices, so it’s pleasantly spicy and might make a good snack with drinks.
Drinks are a great deal for just 100 yen extra!
Cardamom offers four types of drinks.
You can order any of them for just 100 yen extra with your curry, making them a good value.
▼I ordered chai.
The flavors of ginger and cinnamon are delightful.
Cardamon serves distinctive curries, including keema curry, shrimp curry, and a weekly special.
We interviewed Mutsumi Hirai, the owner of Cardamom.
Curry Shop Cardamon (CARDAMON) Information
| Name | Curry Shop Cardamon (CARDAMON) |
|---|---|
| Address | 11-2 Nishiachi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-465-5044 |
| Parking | Available Two spaces in front of the shop and eight shared spaces to the southwest of the property |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Saturday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Not accepted Phone reservations are available for takeout only (excluding drinks) |
| Seating | 14 seats in total ・Counter: 4 stools ・One table for two ・Two tables for four |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Families | Strollers allowed |
| Website | Cardamon Official Instagram |
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Cardamom’s keema curry is made without adding water!
They also use a generous amount of cardamom in the spice mix.