Yakuzen Curry Jinenjo, it will change your life

Hey guys,

Alluded to once or twice, I'd like to tell you all a story about Yakuzen Curry Jinenjo, the greatest Japanese curry I have ever eaten

Located in the middle of Yanaka, one of my favorite old neighborhoods.  Old doesn't mean very much in Tokyo, because the city is only a few hundred years old regardless--until the Tokugawa Shogunate moved the center of government to here, Edo was just a sleeping little fishing village.  Add that to the fact that the city was entirely leveled twice in the 20th century (first with the great Kanto earthquake in the 20s and then again during the War in the 40s) and it means that there are very few truly old neighborhood in Tokyo

Yanaka is one of them, though, and although it's been slightly tourist-icized it's still more honest compared to places like Sensoji temple which is just a giant tourist trap (not that it's not an awesome tourist trap, but that's a story for another day).  You can still find shops in this area that make traditional Japanese candy by hand, or that roast tea out on the sidewalk in front of the shop.  Other shops in the area specialize in traditional woodblock printing or handmade textiles or handwoven bamboo baskets.  There's a gorgeous museum, really just the perfectly preserved atelier of scholar/philosopher/architect/sculptor/overacheiver Asakura Choso.  What I'm trying to say is that this place is awesome

But the capstone of all of this?  Yakuzen Curry.  11 Indian spices, 8 Japanese vegetables, and 6 Chinese herbs--almost all hand-grown on the premises.  Add on toppings like squash, green beans, fresh grated ginger, mountain yams, fresh ground pepper, Chinese kikuan nuts, and and and . . .

It will make you believe in the divine

This curry is fantastic, unapologetically punch-you-in-the-mouth bold.  Not a chili pepper spice, but a black pepper spice that lingers on your palette for an hour afterwards.  The sauce is thick and rich, the texture of the beef is spoon-tender, and the toppings mean that every bite is different and all are equally delicious

All of this plus the fact that the curry is cooked by possibly the coolest dude in existence, Tanaka Kazuhiro-san:

He's cooler than you, and he makes tastier curry than you.  Just accept it

Go to Yakuzen.  All of you.  Do it.  Order the curry.  Talk to Tanaka-san about baseball (his favorite player is Hisashi Iwakuma, meaning he's a Mariner's fan.  This is awesome).  If you're lucky enough, he'll draw you a picture of his facebook profile picture so you can find him online (there are like 50 Kazuhiro Tanakas in Tokyo alone)

I think he did a pretty good job, actually

The only bad thing about the experience?  Last time I was there, I was so excited to eat the handmade banana pudding with azuki beans that I forgot to take a picture.  Sorry guys.  Guess I'll just have to go back . . .

Noah out