There is a small shop called Taj Mahal in Hakusanoura, behind Niigata City Hall. Although this street is dotted with sushi restaurants and kappo restaurants, it is not a main street or shopping street, but rather a quiet residential area. The yellow sign standing there is a landmark.

As the sign says 'Indian Cuisine', this is an authentic Indian curry shop. It's so small you'd think it was a coffee shop, but it's famous amongst Niigata's curry and hot-spice lovers.

The restaurant has two sets of tables and a counter. All together, it seats a little more than 10 people. The dimly lit restaurant is filled with Indian ornaments and sundries. (The manager and all the staff were Japanese).

I sat down at the counter and looked at the menu... It seems that the number of Stars is an indication of spiciness, but isn't there something like a lot of Stars? Incidentally, five Stars are said to be "extremely hot"... I wonder what the situation is like with Green Kashmiri Kali-Ray.

When I was unsure, the manager approached me to talk to me. 'I recommend the Black Kashmiri Curry.' He said. The menu also says: 'Spicy but delicious. Once you try it, you'll be addicted'.

I couldn't find an answer if I hesitated any longer, so I followed the manager's recommendation and asked for 'Black Kashmiri Curry'.

It took about ten or so minutes of waiting. Here it is. Black Kashmiri Curry with salad. It contains large potatoes and chicken. At first glance, it looks like a normal curry. A little carefully, pour it over the rice and take a bite.

No, no, it's spicy, it's spicy!　How should I say it, it's so spicy that my tongue is numb and I don't know whether it's spicy or not! It's so spicy that it goes far beyond the curry from PRIME that we went to the other day!

It is impossible to put just the roux in the mouth. You pour a little bit of the roux on top of the rice, alternating with a drink called "lassi" (which looks like yoghurt) that comes as a service. Then, heaven help you, a pop-up on the counter comes into view.

Of course, we take our plates to the counter. The "lassi" is drunk down before you know it, and you manage to finish the rest of your meal with cold water and rice. The manager asked me, "Was it spicy?" but my heart is already in a state of abandonment.

He then told me, "The guests who were sitting over there a while ago were eating Green Kashmiri Curry".

Green Kashmir Curry ... ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Black Kashmir Curry ... ☆☆☆☆☆

No, I felt like I was eating it without a care in the world, but..,

The first time you eat it, your tongue goes numb anyway and you can't taste it well, but after a few times your tongue gets used to it and you can taste it again.

Finally, I was a bit curious about this pop-up. The spices in curry have various benefits and are 'Indian herbal medicine'.

And Indian-style curries in general are a low-calorie diet food! (But it's so spicy that I always end up having more rice! （But it's so spicy that I always end up having more rice...)

Shop information

Taj Mahal Niigata

• Opening hours Lunch: 11:30-14:00 / Dinner: 17:00-21:00.
• Residence: 1-369 Shirazanoura, Chuo-ku, Niigata City