Highly Popular Harajuku Curry: MOKUBAZA's Taste Bud Rhapsody
Located in the alleys of Harajuku, Tokyo, “MOKUBAZA” is a small restaurant famous for its unique keema curry (minced meat curry). Starting as a late-night bar and now a culinary paradise for gourmets, the curry here is not only a taste sensation but also a visual and cultural feast.
Restaurant Features: A Glamorous Transformation from Bar to Curry Sanctuary
Stepping into MOKUBAZA, you’ll find it’s nothing like a traditional restaurant, but rather a chic bar hidden in the alleys. The wooden décor exudes a retro vibe, with walls covered in CD and magazine collections, as if telling the story of the owner’s love for music and life. Originally opened in 2004 as a bar featuring over 200 types of alcoholic beverages, who would have thought that a humble bar dish—keema curry—would lead to the addition of lunchtime hours in 2008, skyrocketing its fame and making it one of Harajuku’s culinary landmarks.
MOKUBAZA’s specialty lies in its dedication to curry. The restaurant doesn’t take the conventional route, forgoing commercially available curry powder or chemical seasonings. Instead, they use over 20 types of spices with domestically produced Japanese beef and pork, combined with onions stir-fried for 10 hours, to create a unique flavor. This curry, somewhere between Japanese and Indian style, has both a rich spiciness and a gentle taste, making it addictive from the first bite. The interior space is small, with counter seats and small tables arranged tightly, but this intimate atmosphere makes every customer feel like they’ve entered the owner’s secret hideout.
Atmosphere: A Wonderful Symphony of Rock and Food
When it comes to atmosphere, MOKUBAZA is definitely a breath of fresh air in Harajuku. During the day, it’s a pilgrimage site for curry lovers, with a constant stream of people lining up. At night, it transforms into a bar, with dim lighting, clinking glasses, and the music playing in the background, exuding a lazy yet stylish vibe. The green walls and crystal chandeliers add a touch of retro charm, while the rows of bottles behind the bar further emphasize its dual soul—a feast for the taste buds during the day, and a place for the soul to unwind at night.
Signature Dish: Cheese Keema Curry, a Visual and Gustatory Double Kill
When it comes to MOKUBAZA’s signature dish, it’s undoubtedly the Cheese Keema Curry. This dish, when served, will definitely make you want to take out your phone for a photo frenzy—the rice is covered with a thick layer of mozzarella cheese, topped with a fresh and tender raw egg yolk in the center, resembling a giant sunny-side-up egg, with a cuteness that’s almost unfair!
The first bite brings an instant fusion of the rich cheese and the spicy aroma of the keema curry, with the smoothness of the egg yolk adding a touch of gentleness to the overall flavor. This curry isn’t as sweet as Japanese curry, nor as pungent as Indian curry, but rather uses layers of spices to create a deep flavor, with a slightly spicy aftertaste that makes you want to take one bite after another. It’s said that the restaurant makes it by hand every day, spending over 20 hours from stir-frying the spices to simmering the meat sauce, all in pursuit of the perfection of this “ultimate dish.”
Whether you’re a curry lover or simply looking for a special place to dine, this place can meet your expectations. Next time you’re in Harajuku, why not venture into the alley and wait in line for this amazing Cheese Keema Curry? It’s guaranteed to leave you satisfied and smiling!
Japanese voice menu translation provided at the back
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- Restaurant Name: MOKUBAZA
- Budget: ¥2,000～¥2,999
- Cuisine: Curry, Bar
- Phone: 03-3404-2606
- Reservations: Reservations accepted (Dinner only, lunch reservations not accepted)
- Business Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday: 18:00～22:00 (Last order 21:30)
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, National Holidays: 11:30～15:00 (Last order 14:30), 18:00～22:00 (Last order 21:30)
- Sunday: Closed
- Closed on Sundays, National Holidays on Monday, and National Holidays on Tuesday (Open on National Holidays from Wednesday to Saturday)
- Closed during New Year’s holidays and Obon festival
- Address: 1F, 2-28-12 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 6-minute walk from Exit 2 of Kitasanndo Station (Fukutoshin Line)
- Children: Allowed
- Payment Methods:
- Credit cards accepted (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners)
- Electronic payment not accepted
- QR code payment accepted (PayPay, d払い, Rakuten Pay, au PAY)
- Smoking: No smoking allowed
- Official Website: http://www.mokubaza.com/
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店舗とのコラボレーションで、無料の音声メニューを作成いたします。ご興味のある方はぜひご連絡ください！goodxssss@gmail.com
Excuse me
Menu, please!
Order, please
This one, please
Thank you for the meal
Water, please
How do I eat this?
A small plate, please
May I take a photo?
Excuse me, please change the grill net.
Check, please
Where do I pay?
How much is it?
Can I use a credit card?
I will pay in cash
May I have the receipt, please?
Voice Menu, Easy Ordering
All images are from the store's official website. Prices are based on on-site rates.
Curry Menu
CURRY MENU
Regular
レギュラー
Medium Serving
中盛り
Large Serving
大盛り
Cheese Keema Curry
チーズキーマカレー
Keema Curry
キーマカレー
Half Cheese Keema Curry
ハーフチーズキーマカレー
Cheddar Cheese Keema Curry
チェダーチーズキーマカレー
Nuts Keema Curry
ナッツキーマカレー
Coriander Keema Curry
コリアンダーキーマカレー
Avocado Keema Curry
アボカドキーマカレー
Avocado Cheese Keema Curry
アボカドチーズキーマカレー
Double Cheese Keema Curry
ダブルチーズキーマカレー
Twin Cheese Keema Curry
ツインチーズキーマカレー
Roasted Tomato Keema Curry
ローストトマトキーマカレー
Baked Keema Curry
焼きキーマカレー
Baked Egg Keema Curry
焼きエッグキーマカレー
Baked Avocado Keema Curry
焼きアボガドキーマカレー
Topping
TOPPING
Cheese
チーズ
Avocado
アボカド
Coriander
コリアンダー
Nuts
ナッツ
Egg
たまご
Cheddar Cheese
チェダーチーズ
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Drink Menu
DRINK MENU
Lassi (Indian Yogurt Drink)
ラッシー
Mango Lassi
マンゴーラッシー
Ginger Ale
ジンジャーエール
Sweet
甘口
Dry/Spicy
辛口
Coca-Cola
コカコーラ
Mango Juice
マンゴージュース
Passion Fruit Juice
パッションフルーツジュース
Guava Juice
グアバジュース
Cranberry Juice
クランベリージュース
Peach Juice
ピーチジュース
Pineapple Juice
パイナップルジュース
Grape Juice
ぶどうジュース
Darjeeling Tea
ダージリンティー
HOT
ICE
Oolong Tea
ウーロン茶
HOT
ICE
Iced Coffee
アイスコーヒー
Beer
ビール
Kirin Lager
キリンラガー
Guinness
ギネス
Hoegaarden
ヒューガルデン
Glass of Wine
グラスワイン
Red
赤
White
白
Non-Alcoholic Beer
ノンアルコールビール
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