Walking in, the first exciting thing about Magic Spice is the exotic, heavy-on-red interior decor of the restaurant. It kind of has a comfortable South-East Asian vibe to it. The place is pretty big, with some 70 seats, and it is located a 6-minute walk from the Shimokitazawa Station. This is one of the best curry restaurants in the area. They serve spicy curries that are a lot more liquid than what you'll generally find in Tokyo.

・Chicken（¥1,000）
・Veggi Beans（¥1,030）
・Momo（Nepalese gyoza）（¥1,050）
・Veggi Mushrooms（¥1,100）
・Keema Beans（¥1,140）
・Pork and Fish Stew（¥1,080）
・Beef（¥1,160）
・Hamburg Steak（¥1,160）
・Seafood（¥1,210）

Once you've chosen your curry, you can decide the level of spiciness you want. They have 7 standard choices and a special 8th option that is limited to 5 servings a day. The resto recommends you choose the "nehan", which means Nirvana, level if it's your first try. This one is an extra ¥200.

Why people like this place so much has to do with the curry's soup. It combines a fresh herbal taste that is balanced out by a good level of spiciness. The balance is just right.

The most popular dish at Magic Spice is the chicken curry. The meat is simmered a long time so the chicken is infused with all the flavors of the broth and is very tender.

The veggies are really tasty as well. You'll find plenty of peas, carrots, daikons, and eggplants in your bowl. These are simply simmered without being fried, so it makes for a meal on the light side. The entire bowl with the chicken is only around 500kcal.

Another nice point is that you can adjust the flavor of your dish with the unusual condiments placed at the tables. There is a lemon and lime vinegar (left), a powder with 5 kinds of hot peppers (center) and a fragrant powder mix made from 30 kinds of Indian spices (right).

Next time you're wandering in Shimokitazawa, why not try this curry restaurant called Magic Spice? You can't miss the storefront!