Went to “Sake and Spice Matsuko”, a curry restaurant in Nihonbashi that is open irregularly and by appointment only, for those in the know.

A friend of mine once told me about this interlaced spiced curry restaurant that I had been curious about. I went to “Sake and Spice Matsuko” in Nihonbashi.

Open irregularly, but reservations are required. The menu changes daily and consists of one plate of two different types of curry with side dishes. The contents are confirmed on the restaurant’s instagram on the day of the meal. Many of the curries are novel and unusual combinations, which makes them very appealing.

Please note that if you make a reservation after looking at the menu, the restaurant is often already full.

This system is a bit of a gamble for those who have many dislikes, but we recommend making reservations in advance. I wondered what kind of curry I would encounter from the tremendous amount of dishes in their repertoire. There is one hurdle to overcome before trying it, but my curiosity got the better of me and I gathered up the courage to make a reservation.

Reservations are determined by communicating with the owner, Matsuko, via DM on Instagram. The menu we saw that morning was “Duck Onion Keema and Mackerel Lemon Curry.

Duck…I’m not very good at duck, so this is a very exciting case.

The entrance is marked by the sign “Hashi” on the first floor (the restaurant is usually open as a bar) and the letters on the door. Inside, there are eight seats at the counter and one table for two. There seem to be many single women who seem to be at work.

Some regulars give gifts to Matsuko-san, who just celebrated her 5th anniversary. Those who are not working can also enjoy curry and beer or sake.

It is fun to watch from the counter as each dish is carefully prepared in the restaurant, where the delicious smell of turmeric rice wafts out every time the lid of the rice cooker is opened!

Rice in the middle, side dishes and spiced eggs as toppings are arranged on top of it, and two kinds of curry on both sides.

Matsuko, with her cute, bashful smile, explains the curry. It looks delicious!

In case the duck didn’t work out, I added some pak choi to change the flavor (I’m too scared), but no worries.

It is easy to eat because it is not duck-headed. The meaty and satisfying dish is made with ground pork to prevent it from becoming dry.

The duck skin is roasted separately before being coarsely ground, and the work is very fine!

It went well with the green onions and was safely and deliciously consumed.

The Mackerel Lemon Curry is a gorgous fillet of mackerel. This curry has a sour lemon flavor and is well accented by the spiciness of mustard seeds! The rice goes well with it, perhaps because it has miso as a secret ingredient.

Both were mixed with side dishes to change the flavor, or with a thickened egg, and I enjoyed them in various ways, including with the resulting lush pak choi. It is a restaurant where I am happy to encounter new curries and want to come back again.