The charm of spice curry lies in the complex and pleasant flavor of spices that spreads in your mouth with just one bite.
In the center of Soja City, there is a specialty shop that serves carefully crafted spice curry.
It is called Shaka Spice (SHAKA SPICE).
The owner, who has been studying spice curry on his own, offers three types of spice curry as regular menu items. You can enjoy them as individual dishes or in combinations of two or three.
Additionally, there is a chicken keema curry that is not spicy, so even those who are not good with spice can enjoy it.
Let's delve into the commitment and history of Shaka Spice, which not only focuses on ingredients and spices but also on cooking methods to enhance umami.
Shaka Spice is a spice curry specialty shop located directly across from Soja City Hall
Shaka Spice is a specialty shop for spice curry located in Chuo 2-chome, Soja City.
It is situated at a corner of a building directly across from Soja City Hall, separated by "City Hall Street."
The owner, Moriya Motomasa, who has loved cooking since childhood, opened the shop in 2024 after a strong determination.
Although Moriya has no experience in the restaurant industry, he provides carefully crafted curry by studying curry making and spices on his own.
The interior has only 9 counter seats.
Menu Introduction
Information as of April 2025 (Reiwa 7). Prices include tax.
The main spice curries are available in three varieties on the regular menu.
- Chicken Curry
- Beef Tendon Curry
- Coconut Shrimp Curry
You can enjoy the curry in three ways: "Curry 1 Type" for enjoying one type, "Aigake (2 Types)" for choosing two types, and "Zengake (3 Types)" for enjoying all three at once.
Compared to chicken and beef tendon, the coconut shrimp is slightly milder in spiciness.
In addition to the three regular types, there is also a "Chicken Keema Curry" that is not spicy.
All curries are available in a regular size as well as a smaller Kids Size (limited to elementary school students and younger).
Seasonal Limited Curry may also appear.
Seasonal limited curry can be included in the Aigake (2 Types) option depending on the content.
Similarly, the Chicken Keema Curry can also be included in the Aigake (2 Types).
Neither the Chicken Keema nor the limited options can be included in the Zengake (3 Types).
Additionally, there are plenty of toppings available, and there are also sets with salad and drinks.
There is also a wide variety of drinks, with Masala Chai and various types of Lassi being popular.
Curry is also available for takeout.
Popular and Recommended Menu
Introducing the popular curry from Shaka Spice, the store's top recommendation.
All curries come with turmeric rice.
On top of the rice, there are fried onion chips, chopped red onion, and broccoli sprouts.
Additionally, each curry is served with crispy papad, homemade cucumber and tomato pickles, and homemade cabbage achaar.
Cilantro (strong>Okayama Mild Cilantro) is also a highlight on top.
If you are not fond of it, you can request no cilantro when ordering.
Chicken Curry
The Chicken Curry is a basic flavored spice curry.
Its characteristic feature is the large chunks of chicken.
There are plenty of large pieces in it.
Since it's chicken curry, it must have a lot of chicken!
The presence of chicken is our pride in the chicken curry!
It's not just about putting in large pieces of chicken.
The cooking time is adjusted to ensure a chewy texture and to fully enjoy the flavor of the chicken. After much trial and error, they have found the most delicious cooking time.
Moreover, the flavor of the chicken seeps into the curry as well.
To make the most of the chicken's deliciousness, the spice blend is also adjusted.
It has a slightly spicy flavor.
It pairs well with the turmeric rice, making it easy to eat.
Beef Tendon Curry
The Beef Tendon Curry is also a popular curry.
Like the chicken curry, it features large pieces of beef tendon.
Since it's called beef tendon curry, I thought it should have plenty of beef tendon in it, so I added a lot.
When sourcing, I specify a good balance of fat and lean meat to our suppliers, ensuring we receive quality ingredients.
Like the chicken curry, the beef tendon curry is also adjusted in cooking ingredients to ensure the beef tendon can be enjoyed deliciously.
Furthermore, the Beef Tendon Curry contains Japanese ingredients, which is also a highlight.
It has a flavor that is somewhat more familiar to Japanese tastes compared to Chicken Curry and Coconut Shrimp Curry.
The sweet and spicy flavor of the curry, combined with the hearty texture and the sweetness and umami of the beef tendon, makes it very delicious.
Coconut Shrimp Curry
Coconut Shrimp Curry is a curry with a slightly different texture compared to the other chicken and beef tendon curries.
As the name suggests, it uses a lot of coconut, and the curry has a whitish color, making it impactful.
This was inspired by a curry commonly eaten in the coastal region of Kerala in South India.
It is standard to include shrimp as the main ingredient in coconut curry.
If there is too much coconut, it becomes too sticky, and if there is too little, the flavor weakens, so adjusting the amount of coconut was quite challenging.
The shrimp used is a variety called Vannamei shrimp.
There are plenty of them included.
After trying various varieties, it seems that Vannamei shrimp matched best with coconut curry.
When you try it, it has a smooth texture.
The unique sweet flavor of coconut spreads, and the spiciness feels mild.
Additionally, the shrimp flavor is rich, and the bouncy texture is impressive.
Chicken Keema Curry
The Chicken Keema Curry is a curry that uses plenty of ground chicken.
The key point is that the ground meat and onions are sautéed thoroughly.
When you take a bite, the roasted flavor, along with the sweetness of the onions and the umami of the chicken, spreads in your mouth.
It pairs well with rice, and I found myself eating it quickly.
The Chicken Keema Curry is only available without spiciness.
If you want to add spiciness, please add your preferred amount of chili oil from the table.
In fact, Chicken Keema Curry is the first curry I made when I started cooking curry.
The key to Chicken Keema Curry is sautéing plenty of onions and ground chicken!
Shaka Spice offers unique curries full of spice flavor.
I spoke with the owner, Moriya Motomasa.
Shaka Spice (SHAKA SPICE) Data
| Name | Shaka Spice (SHAKA SPICE) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-2-1 Chuo, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 0866-31-6521 |
| Parking | Available 2 spaces south of Araki Bookstore, about 300m east |
| Business Hours | 【Monday to Friday】11:00 AM to 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM 【Saturday】11:00 AM to 2:30 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Sunday May vary during year-end and New Year holidays or event participation |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservation Availability | Yes ・Reservations for seats are only for visits after 5:00 PM ・Takeout reservations are possible at any time during business hours |
| Seating | Counter × 9 seats |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | Child-friendly utensils available |
| Website | Official Instagram |
A popular topping is the Spice Egg.
A soft-boiled egg is marinated in a homemade sauce with spices.
It has many fans, and some customers even take the Spice Egg home by itself.
Additionally, cheese and the popular Green Chili Achaar for those who love spicy food are also available.
The Achaar is also homemade.