まめ蔵

吉祥寺駅から徒歩6分ほど、井の頭通りから小道を入った静かな場所にある、1978年創業の老舗カレー専門店「まめ蔵」に伺いました。外観は赤レンガの建物の1階、木製の扉とグリーンに囲まれた温かみのある佇まいで、観光地の賑わいから少し離れた落ち着いた雰囲気です。 店内は、白壁に木の梁が通る落ち着いた空間に、ぺぺぺ画伯による子ども心をくすぐるようなイラストや陶器が飾られ、まるで絵本の世界に迷い込んだかのような温もりがあります。天井近くの棚には招き猫や手作りのオブジェが並び、長年地元に愛されてきた空気感が伝わってきました。 この日は「スペシャルビーフカレー」と「プレミアムモルツ」を注文。カレーにはひよ...こ豆、レンズ豆、ズッキーニ、ナス、プチトマトなどがふんだんに入り、ほろほろのビーフとともに、スパイスの効いた半熟卵が添えられた贅沢な一皿。ルーは10種類以上のスパイスと赤ワインを使い、3日間寝かせて仕上げているそうで、辛すぎずマイルドながらも深いコクが印象的でした。 観光客向けというよりは、地元の常連に支えられてきた静かな名店。食べログの「カレー百名店」にも複数年選ばれており、派手さではなく信頼と歴史で勝負する、吉祥寺らしい一軒です。スパイスの刺激よりも滋味深さを楽しみたい方におすすめです。 Located about a 6-minute walk from Kichijoji Station, “Mamezo” is a long-established curry restaurant founded in 1978. Tucked away in a quiet alley off the main Inokashira Street, its red brick exterior and wooden doors surrounded by greenery create a calm and welcoming vibe. Inside, the space is cozy and charming, with warm wooden beams and white walls decorated with whimsical illustrations and ceramics—some drawn by the local artist “Pepepe Gahaku.” The setting feels like stepping into a storybook world, filled with playful touches and nostalgia. I ordered the “Special Beef Curry” and a glass of Premium Malt’s beer. The curry was hearty yet refined, featuring tender beef, chickpeas, lentils, zucchini, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes, topped with a perfectly spiced soft-boiled egg. The roux, said to be prepared with over 10 kinds of spices and red wine, aged for three days, had a smooth texture and deep umami, without being overly spicy. Unlike trendy or flashy places, Mamezo is cherished for its warmth and consistency. It has been featured in Tabelog’s “Top 100 Curry Shops” multiple times. Ideal for those looking to experience a quietly exceptional local curry in a setting that feels like home.

July 2025に訪問

Well I had tasted several Japanese curries before and they all seemed to be made out of the same stuff, reminiscent of the Golden Curry packet curry mix. Not so with Mamezo. I had the mushroom curry and it consisted of thin strips of mushrooms in a delicious deep brown richly flavoured curry sauce w...ith its own character unlike anything I had tasted before. The others in the party had differing curries with beef and vegetables and all were reportedly of the same quality. There was nice jazz playing, and the restaurant had a homely feel with lots of little memorabilia items around. It was a small dinky little restaurant in the Nakamachi area of Kichijoji, heading away from the station, just past that landmark neglected property with the vacant front yard and the tree growing through the roof! Then turn right two alleys past it then go 20 meters or so. I can still taste that curry now!! Do yourself a f(l)avour! Sorry about that!

November 2011に訪問