Ah, how delicious is Aki’s curry! In her miniature izakaya with a storefront draped in a small noren curtain, the former Tokyo tour guide draws in curious locals and savvy travelers alike. Prepared as a chicken, beef, vegetarian, or, rarer still, octopus version, the house hit wins over customers with its Koshihikari rice dressed in a roux featuring a subtle blend of caramelized onions, cumin, cardamom, turmeric and coriander, plus tangy pickled carrots and red cabbage – granting this emblem of Asian street food a typically Japanese sense of refinement. As an alternative for curryphobes, there’s some delicate eggplant wrapped in shiso, gyoza stuffed with mimolette and shiitake mushrooms, or some divine marinated chicken strips covered in cheese and placed under the broiler. And for a sweet treat afterwards, order the matcha cheesecake or strawberry mochi. // Ninsu 

FEELING THIRSTY? : Green tea (€2.50), Alain Milliat fruit juice (€4.50 for 330 ml) and beers – craft Iki yuzu or ginger beer (€5.50 for 330 ml), Coedo blonde or amber ale (€6.50), craft Hikari sake-infused beer (€5.50). 
PRICE: : Set menus €16-19 (lunch), appetizers €5, mains €14, desserts €4.