Dajirin Nippori

I wanted to love this place since the kitsch decor is delightful and the host/ owner had a MadHatter quality, which was initially fun as he welcomed us. However when a waitstaff came to take our order, she insisted we begin with our drink orders, which confused me into believing a drink was included... in the meal - or otherwise required. My friend was wiser and requested water so I followed her example. We ordered our dishes, and learned they do not come with rice or naan, which is usually included in most Indian restaurants I've been to all over the world (including India). Then the owner came back to us to implore us to order drinks because he would give us free tea on the house after our meals, and moreover, we did not have a reservation. I was afraid he was ready to kick us out! We relented and ordered two Chai teas, which were pricy and not amazing. At this point I was feeling pretty uncomfortable. Then he insisted we share every dish, which was not ideal because my friend is on weight loss drugs and cannot eat the same amount as me. The Darjeeling salad looked interesting but sadly, it was a bit of ice burg lettuce with Japanese sesame dressing. Aloo Goby was less than mediocre, and naan was not leavened adequately. We faked our way through "sharing" all the while aware of his scrutiny. During the changing of plates, he was extremely harsh with his staff right in front of us. In the end we could not finish everything, and two waitstaff plus the host came to ask if the food was not good. What could we say, except pleasantries to please him? At that point I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. Because we refused our "free" post meal teas, he offered us a discount of 25 yen. Seriously... This is a place for fun photos, but not high quality food, or comfortable service. Dear owner, you made the place beautiful, you can do so much better with the food, service, and treatment of your staff!

Visited October 2025

Returning to Darjeeling restaurant in 2024, after my daily visits back in 2017, was like stepping into a cherished memory that hasn't aged a day. The moment you walk in, the decor is transcendent. The food journey here is nothing short of phenomenal, especially for vegetarians. But what truly sets... Darjeeling apart is the unparalleled service and the extraordinary host. His kindness, gentleness, and generosity fill the space with warmth, making every guest feel like an old friend. An incredible storyteller and a tea expert, he weaves magic into the air, leaving you hanging onto his every word. His passion for tea and storytelling elevates the dining experience, making it not just a meal, but a journey through the senses. My heart (and belly) were overflowing with contentment, as I once again got to experience the magic of Darjeeling. It's a rare gem where every visit feels like the first, where every meal is a celebration, and where every goodbye is a promise to return. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Visited February 2024

I have been visiting the Darjeeling for 10 years now and it is by far the best restaurant in all of Tokyo. The atmosphere is magical, relaxing and the restaurant has a great feel-good factor. The owner is one of the kindest, most professional tea connoisseurs in the world, with a successful history ...in Ginza and north Tokyo. He is an expert on global culture, world history and tea. His manners are impeccable, with very charming waiters too and I have personally, along with many friends and colleagues over the years, witnessed the owner's kindness to all customers that visit. He is very popular among all nationalities and customers always marvel at the magic he creates in this restaurant space. Highly recommended, 5* experience. Worth every penny. Furthermore, I strongly contest any rare but sinister negative reviews bullies in the local community have posted against this kind businessman out of sheer spite, racism or jealousy. He is the envy of many. Dressed impeccably in white, serving on his customers like a prince in waiting. He deserves great appreciation from the local Japanese community for bringing the Darjeeling and all of its magic to Tokyo. Thank you, Ranjan. Namaste. Gabriella White - Chartered Institute of Journalists, Waseda University and the United Nations Global Peace Mission, Yoga Teacher and Meditation Certified.

Visited February 2024

Pros *Decoration *Visually good looking and good taste food (but not better than other cheaper Indian restaurants). Cons *SHADDY finance management - accepts cash only (do not clearly inform customers in advance) *Emergency Safety RISK - the space is too narrow as they placed too many seats with... tables in limited space (pretty sure that would go against American and European safety standards) *DIFFICULTY TO NAVIGATE INSIDE - as stairs are too small and not enough space to comfortably walk inside the restaurant *Host is rude - considering my experience and other comments about the host, I can say confidently that he makes an impression of a big favour that he tries to help you to get empty space as they are too full, that is not exactly true, he will still make you wait until upcoming available table becomes available without doing anything special. Eventhough the words he use are normal but his tone and actions are very rude. He point fingers for too long when directing customers, he forces customers to change seats and requests in loud way, he knocks toilet door when it is occupied and his presence contains very negative and controlling energy, (reminds me of very aggressive boss) , I felt sorry for Japanese staff working there as they seem to be under pressure. *Hygiene is very poor - the menus contain fabric which doesnt seem to be cleaned and have looots germs and bacterias. The Indian staff has been seen having long uncut finger nails while they serve food and dishes while touching edge parts of cutlery that customers put in mouth when eating. Not surprised when had a stomachache 30 minutes after leaving the restaurant. * PRICES are too high - because restaurant is located in tourist popular place, there are lots of people and prices in restaurant do not match service and quality/portion of food, as similar quality of food can be obtained in much cheaper Indian restaurants (even with better service). For a proper meal, customer needs to spend around 4,000 yen to get full while his selection will be still limited to 2 dishes and cheapest drink.

Visited September 2023

Darjeeling is a very striking restaurant with beautiful decorations and a very traditional vibe. It is popular and was patronised by Indian and Japanese people while I was there. The quality of food is excellent and there is a good range of drinks. Would particularly recommend the lassi and also th...e Nan breads, which are enormous and delicious. The only slight disappointment on the food front was the poppadoms. Important to note that they don’t accept credit cards, though. Cash only, so best be prepared.

Visited November 2022