Shinjuku Keema Curry Restaurant Epitaph Curry: Tabelog Top 100, Nakamuraya, Gyutan Curry Comparison

November 6, 2025

Tokyo Shinjuku curry restaurant 'Epitaph Curry' real visit review.
Tabelog curry top 100 (2 consecutive years) selection
Shinjuku keema curry and Nakamuraya·Gyutan curry·soup curry restaurant comparison,
Menu·prices·business hours all summarized at once.

⭐Want to see Shinjuku's complete travel course and restaurant·shopping·night view information at a glance?
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Shinjuku curry restaurant Epitaph half-and-half curry Tabelog top 100

Looking for a Shinjuku curry restaurant?

Epitaph Curry, a Tabelog curry top 100 restaurant, is a spice curry specialist known as the pinnacle of Shinjuku keema curry.

From the legendary late-night curry shop in Golden Gai to becoming a lunch hotspot in Shinjuku-sanchome, we’ve summarized this place’s menu·prices·business hours and compared it with Nakamuraya, Gyutan Curry, and Soup Curry Dominica all at once.

Tabelog Rating: 3.76
Google Rating: 4.2 (357)

📍View Location

1. Golden Gai Legend, Moved to Shinjuku-Sanchome!

‘Epitaph Curry’ was originally a legendary late-night restaurant that only opened at night in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai.

However, in May 2020, it officially moved near Shinjuku-sanchome Station (2nd Sigma Building B1F) and now opens during the day too!

Shinjuku-sanchome Shinjuku curry restaurant Epitaph Curry storefront entrance view

Now you can taste the legendary curry in a comfortable 12-seat counter restaurant instead of a cramped bar.

Of course, its reputation as a Tabelog top 100 restaurant (3.76 rating) remains intact. It’s one of the hottest Shinjuku curry restaurants in Tokyo.

Shinjuku restaurant ‘Epitaph Curry’ has a slightly unique ordering method.

When you sit down, you’ll first receive the menu below.

Epitaph Curry menu prices, toppings and drinks, ordering tips

Epitaph Curry menu board and ordering guide

However, this menu doesn’t have the curry names written on it.

The most important information is on the top line!

“Please choose from 3 types of curry on the blackboard inside the store.” カレーは店内黒板の3種類よりお選びください

In other words, you have to look at the blackboard inside the store to see ’today’s curry’!

Epitaph Curry today's 3 curries and menu, Shinjuku keema curry and pork vindaloo guide

✅ Ordering Method and Complete Price Summary

[STEP 1] Check ’today’s curry’ 3 types on the blackboard.

(Example based on the day I visited)

A: Pumpkin Coconut Curry & Black Chicken (Mild) (+50 yen additional to base price)
B: Pork Vindaloo MARK II (Medium Spicy) (Store signature, +50 yen additional)
C: Minced Pork and Burdock Root Keema Curry (Base price)

[STEP 2] Choose the ‘plate’ type from the menu.

1️⃣ 1-Type Curry Plate: 1,250 yen ~

(Example: C Keema Curry selection = 1,250 yen)
(Example: B Pork Vindaloo selection = 1,250 + 50 = 1,300 yen)

2️⃣ 2-Type Curry Plate (half-and-half): 1,450 yen ~

(Example: B + C selection = 1,450 + 50 = 1,500 yen)
(Example: A + B selection = 1,450 + 50 + 50 = 1,550 yen)

3️⃣ 3-Type Curry Plate (taste all)

2-type plate price + 600 yen
(3rd curry comes in a separate small bowl)

[TOPPINGS]

Soft-boiled egg (半熟たまご): 150 yen
Extra rice (ライス大盛り): 150 yen
Extra cilantro (パクチー大盛り): 150 yen
Eggplant achar: 250 yen
Chicken pickle: 400 yen

[DRINKS]

Lassi: 400 yen
Mango lassi: 450 yen
Japanese pear lassi (和梨ラッシー): 500 yen
Homemade ginger ale: 400 yen

📌 [Must Read] 3 Essential Ordering Tips

At the bottom of the menu, there are 3 most important pieces of information.

1. Cilantro (pakchi) is included by default!

パクチー苦手な方はお申し付けください

If you can’t eat cilantro, be sure to say “Pakuchi nuki de!” (No cilantro please) when ordering.

2. Spice level cannot be adjusted.

辛さの変更はできません

You must enjoy the spice level as the recipe is made.

3. Paper aprons are available.

◎紙エプロンあります

If you’re wearing white clothes, feel free to request one!

Shinjuku curry specialty restaurant Epitaph Curry pork vindaloo 1-type plate

The menu is 3 types of curry that change daily, and I chose the 2-type aigake (half-and-half curry) to taste both.

Epitaph 2-type aigake curry with minced pork burdock keema curry and pumpkin coconut curry

Pork Vindaloo (ポークビンダルー) is not Japanese roux curry but a spice curry with intense spices. It’s a flavor explosion of strong sourness, umami, and spiciness.

Keema means minced meat in Hindi or Urdu.

Keema curry, unlike the chunk meat curry we know, is minced meat (usually pork or beef) stir-fried with onions, tomatoes, and spices into a dry curry without broth.

The sauce isn’t saucy, and the minced meat is seasoned moderately, making it perfect for mixing over rice.

Close-up of Epitaph Curry's Shinjuku keema curry with minced pork and burdock root

4. Shinjuku Curry Restaurant Comparison

When searching for Tokyo Shinjuku curry restaurants, you naturally see keywords like Shinjuku station curry, Shinjuku curry restaurant many times.

For Shinjuku curry tonkatsu enjoyed with tonkatsu, Owaroji, Katsuya are representative,

and for curry udon, Senkichi, Yamashita Honki, Tsurudontan are often mentioned as Shinjuku curry udon restaurants.

If you’re looking for more unique Shinjuku curry specialty restaurants, places like Kanji Curry (Shinjuku Kanji Curry), Joto Curry, GoGoCurry (Shinjuku GoGo Curry) that locals often visit are good to compare.

Plus the 100-year tradition Nakamuraya Curry, beef tongue steak and curry popular Gyutan no Lemon (Shinjuku Gyutan Curry), and you have a complete Tokyo Shinjuku curry tour course.

✅ 1. Shinjuku Nakamuraya Manna (新宿中村屋Manna)

100-year tradition, classic pioneer that first introduced ‘Indian curry’ to Japan