The fourth stop on the " Curry Tour Tokyo 2020-2021 ." TANGTANG designer Masato Tanno and curry-loving office worker and Instagrammer Sato2 head straight to Nihonbashi for their "Curry Tour." Located in the business district is "Benibana Bekkan," a restaurant founded in 1937 and established in 1950, offering teppanyaki and Western-style cuisine. The two head up to the second floor, which exudes the atmosphere of a modern Western-style restaurant.



In addition to the "Curry Tour" logo, "SPICY CURRY Roka," "Murugi," and "Ginza Swiss" T-shirts, a new "Benibana Bekkan" T-shirt has now been launched!

The curry at Benibana Bekkan is described as "a restaurant that taught me the lesson that 'spicy is delicious'."

The catchphrase devised by Sato2 was, "A restaurant that taught me the lesson that 'spicy is delicious'." This time, Tanno ordered the chicken cocotte curry, and Sato2 ordered the seafood cocotte curry.


"The cocotte curry at Benibana Bekkan is much spicier than average, yet it's so delicious. It's a masterpiece that was created by skillfully adapting the flavor of Sri Lankans, who understand the umami and characteristics of chili peppers, to suit Japanese tastes. I like the taste the best around Nihonbashi," says Sato2.


Ms. Tanno explains, "I asked the store manager, and he said that a specialist has specially blended Sri Lankan spices for Benibana's Cocotte Curry, and that because it's simmered slowly in a pot, the flavor and aroma of the spices don't escape."

An exclusive interview with the owner! How to enjoy the curry at "Benibana Bekkan"

Q. What are your most popular menu items?
This is a cocotte curry (chicken, shrimp, seafood, and greens)!


Q. What are the key features and special aspects of your Cocotte Curry?
This is a secret blend of spices.

Q. What kind of mood would you like people to be in when they eat Cocotte Curry?
When you want to feel energized, when you want some excitement. It warms you up in cold weather and gives you stamina in hot weather!

Q. What are the unique flavors of the Benibana Annex?
This curry has a sharp, clean taste and a rich, savory flavor.


Q. What are some restaurants or curry shops that the owner frequents?
It's Amioaggio (an Italian restaurant; I haven't been able to go recently because I can't get a reservation).

Q. What are your honest thoughts on being interviewed about the "Curry T-shirt"?
I am grateful for the invitation. This is my first time working on such a project, so I was a bit confused at first.

Q. Finally, could you tell us a little-known story about your shop, or a secret story only the staff knows? Cocotte curry started when a Sri Lankan part-timer made it as a staff meal. The seasoning was adjusted to suit Japanese tastes, and the safflower curry was completed.

I'm not good with spicy food, but this is a curry that my body craves and I want to eat (Tanno)

Upstairs, you find a spacious and clean Western-style restaurant with an atmosphere perfect for adults to enjoy a leisurely meal. This was my first time trying the chicken cocotte curry, and the chicken, potatoes, mushrooms, and onions were all intact and flavorful. The chicken was especially tender and satisfying, and the potatoes were delicious. The spices were also just right, making it very tasty.


The rice is firm with less moisture, and it pairs well with the smooth curry sauce. I'm not good with spicy food, but this is a curry that makes my body crave it, and it feels like a refined, grown-up curry.


The pot is so cute that it's easy to get distracted by it, but inside the pot is a flavorful, runny curry with spices, a large, juicy piece of chicken, and large, substantial chunks of potato. So, with this T-shirt, I hope to express the deliciousness and the unique character of Benibana Bekkan through the visual representation of the curry itself.

This curry is recommended for "people who want to forget something." It's a curry of forgetfulness. (Sato2)

It had been about five years since I last had Cocotte Curry, but this was my first time trying the seafood curry. With the first bite, I vividly remembered the sharp, pungent spiciness. The curry was packed with ingredients like squid, shrimp, spinach, and potatoes, so you could really taste the seafood. It was spicy, but there was a delicious umami from the chili peppers in the background, making it truly a case of "the spiciness is delicious." The rice was a bit firm, but it softened up nicely as it soaked in the soup.


This curry is recommended for "people who want to forget something." You'll be happy when the large cocotte of curry arrives, and when you eat it, the spiciness will hit you hard, making you forget all your troubles. It's a curry for forgetting, where you can forget your troubles with spiciness.

Mitsukoshi Isetan Limited Edition TANGTANG "Benibana Bekkan" T-shirt

[Information about the store that cooperated with us] Benibana Bekkan
1-2-15 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone number: 03-3271-0600
Opening hours: Lunch 11:00-14:00 (Last order 13:30), Dinner 17:00-22:00 (Last order 21:30)
Currently closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
https://www.benihana.jp/
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