Founded in 1994 near Nakajima Park, "Curry SAVoY" was a long-standing favorite that satisfied the hunger of young people and business professionals for years. Though it regrettably closed in 2017, it was revived the following year when a regular customer took over the beloved recipe. Today, it's a popular spot frequented by both old fans seeking the nostalgic taste and a new generation of diners.

The restaurant, located in a building's basement, has a hidden gem atmosphere. The aroma of spices that fills the air is simply exhilarating.

The person who stepped up to revive the restaurant was Mr. Suzuki of IDATEN Co., Ltd., a former regular who also works in the food and beverage industry. After about six months of negotiations, he poured his heart and soul into perfectly recreating the original flavor. The soup is made from domestic chicken bones, beef bones, aromatic vegetables, and fruits like apples. It's simmered with spices for a full day, then left to rest overnight. The next morning, it's simmered for another six hours and carefully strained by hand to extract every last drop of umami from the ingredients.

Manager Seiya Kunii, who started working here in 2023. He has experience in various culinary genres.

The soup takes a total of 48 hours to prepare. This clear "chintan" soup, slowly simmered over low heat, has excess fat removed, resulting in a clean and delicate flavor. You can also enjoy the rich aroma of their unique garam masala blend. A key characteristic is how its taste completely transforms depending on the ingredients, which is why it has captivated so many fans as the "Femme Fatale's Soup."

"Chicken Curry" for 1,100 yen. It comes with 200g of chicken thigh, so tender from low-temperature cooking that it falls apart with a fork.

"If you want to enjoy the soup's flavor in its purest form," recommends manager Mr. Kunii, the chicken curry is the way to go. It's a simple bowl with toppings of chicken, potato, carrot, a boiled egg, and green pepper for a splash of color. The large chicken thigh is cooked slowly at a low temperature, which not only brings out the chicken's natural umami but also gives it a moist, soft texture. It's especially recommended for first-time visitors.

"Seafood Curry" for 1,980 yen. The ingredients are simmered in the soup, infusing it with rich umami.

Because the soup is so light and clear, the umami of seafood stands out brilliantly, making the Seafood Curry another popular choice. Six types of seafood, including large shrimp, oysters, clams, and redfish, are simmered in the soup, drawing out a powerful, savory flavor from the ocean. The classic version, which has preserved the original taste, allows you to choose a spice level from 0 to 6 and is available for eight different curry types (excluding keema and the kids' menu). "I want customers to taste it at its absolute best," says Mr. Kunii, who urges everyone to take a sip of the soup the moment it's served.

The warm interior of the restaurant. A poster on the wall introduces the new soup.

Since its opening, the restaurant has operated with only the "Femme Fatale's Soup," but in 2023, they introduced its complete opposite: a rich "paitan" (white broth) soup. This cloudy soup is made by simmering beef bones as a base with pork and chicken over high heat, then adding vegetables and a specially blended spice mix. The menu for this soup is entirely different from the "Femme Fatale's Soup," featuring a unique lineup including mushroom and bacon curry, and bone-in chicken curry. For this soup, you can choose from four spice levels.

There are six seats at the counter. Jars filled with specialty spices line the back wall.

While it's a completely different soup curry from the traditional SAVoY, it's already gaining a following. "The beautiful presentation is also a hallmark of this restaurant's curry. I wanted to preserve that while showing a new side of what we can do," Mr. Kunii passionately explains. The types of additional toppings and cooking methods like "fried" or "grilled" also differ to match the soup. Be sure to try this new soup created by Mr. Kunii.

Curry SAVoY

■Location: Blanchard B1, Kita 8-jo Nishi 4-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi
■Hours: 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM (L.O. 2:30 PM), 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM (L.O. 9:00 PM), Sundays 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM (L.O. 9:00 PM)
■Closed: Wednesdays
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