Spice tapas selection – izakaya style dishes for ¥500 each (Photo: Moyan Curry)

Moyan Curry

Delicious, healthy curry in Tokyo

Spice tapas selection – izakaya style dishes for ¥500 each (Photo: Moyan Curry)
Tom Roseveare   - 9 min read

Located on the famous Route 246 between Shibuya and Omotesando, Moyan Curry (もうやんカレー) brings healthy, delicious curry along with 18 years of experience to the heart of Tokyo. Step inside to sample their amazingly good value buffet lunches, or drop by in the evening for a more izakaya-style experience whilst still getting the chance to try some quality food.

Moyan Curry was established in 1997 at their Shinjuku branch, where their unique blend of curry has propelled the brand which now operates in many locations.

Lunch at Moyan means a generous buffet experience, with several kinds of rice and curry on show with lots of healthy smaller dishes available to help customise your buffet plate with salad, vegetable dishes and other options. A special darker hued curry can also be tried – this is their spicy curry which can be blended with their regular curry to find the right balance. Otherwise, their heat intensity ranges from 0 (mild) to 20 (extremely hot). Buffet lunch is ¥1,000 sit-in, or ¥600 for a takeout bento.

Dinner at Moyan is more closely akin to an izakaya experience, as groups descend on Moyan to sample their curry dishes, with beef-, avocado- and cheese curries being some of their more popular fare (typically starting from ¥1,000). They also have a wide range of ¥500 small, spicy, healthy tapas plates which are great for sharing. An impressive selection of draft and craft beers helps round out the experience.

What goes in Moyan curry?

Their curry base uses a combination of vegetables and fruit, such as onions, carrots, celery, apples, bananas, tomatoes, garlic and mangoes along with extra virgin olive oil, as well as a unique combination of 25 spices paying homage to Moyan's Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Nepalese and even Italian influences.

All-in-one Curry – beef, pork, chicken, shrimp and cheese
All-in-one Curry – beef, pork, chicken, shrimp and cheese (Photo: Moyan Curry)

Slow cooked over 2 days and then matured over 2 weeks, the resultant curry makes for a powerful flavour full of healthy goodness.

Whereas most curries use a combination of flour and butter to add thickness, Moyan curry uses minimal flour, as well as extra virgin olive oil and the thickness provided by the sheer quantity of vegetables and fruit used in the reduction process.

At Moyan, specially purified water through a ceramic filter is used in their cooking and all their drinks, and mineral-loaded Uminosei sea salt from Izu Oshima island also provides a signature nod to Moyan's roots and inspiration from island culture. You can experience this vibe by soaking up the atmosphere at Moyan, with island imagery and inspiration proudly on display at their Shibuya 246 restaurant.

Avocado curry (¥1,400)
Avocado curry (¥1,400) (Photo: Moyan Curry)

English and Chinese menus are available, so visitors from overseas should feel welcome here.

Another plus-point for foreign tourists is all Moyan stores have free Wi-Fi you can connect to instantly without any sign-up hassle – great for working out where you're going next or sharing your curry pictures with friends.

Combining the popularity of Japanese curry with some overseas inspiration and their spice and healthy eating kdnow-how, Moyan's original curry offering provides a delicious culinary experience that is worth tracking down.

Find other Moyan Curry Locations

Restaurant Address Hours
Shibuya 246 1F Aoyama Seven Heights, 1-7-5 Shibuya, Shibuya ward, Tokyo 150-0002 Lunch: 11:30–15:30 (L.O. 15:00)
Dinner: 18:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30)
'Living' Daini-Nakakawa Building, 6-25-14, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku ward, Tokyo Lunch: 11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
Dinner: 18:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30)
'Dining' 1F TK Building, 8-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo Lunch: 11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
Dinner: 18:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30)
Shinjuku Kabukicho 1F Cherry Building, 1-12-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo Mon-Fri: 11:00–28:00 (L.O. 27:30)
Sat-Sun: 11:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30)
Ike! B1 Ichikawa Building, 1-28-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima ward, Tokyo Lunch: 11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
Dinner: 18:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30)
Shinbashi B1 KL Central Building, 2-15-12 Shinbashi, Minato ward, Tokyo Lunch: 11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
Dinner: 18:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30)
Tokyo B1 Tokyo Square Garden, 3-1-1 Kyobashi, Chuo ward, Tokyo Lunch: 11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
Dinner: 17:30–23:00 (L.O. 22:30) / Sat/hols: 17:30–22:00 (L.O. 21:30)

Nagoya

Dainagoya Building, 3-28-12 Meieki, Nakamura ward, Nagoya, Aichi Lunch: 11:00–15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
Dinner: 17:00–23:00 (L.O 22:00)

Otemachi

Otamachi Tower JX Building, 1-1,Otemachii, Chiyoda ward, Tokyo

Lunch: 11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:30) / Sat/hol: 11:30–16:00 ( L.O. 15:00)
Dinner: 18:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30) / Sat/hol Closed

Akasaka

B1F Asumo Building, 6-3-1 Akasaka, Minato ward, Tokyo

Lunch: 11:30–16:00 (L.O. 15:40)
Dinner: 18:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30) / Sat: 17:00–22:00 (L.O. 21:30)

Toranomon

4 Chome-2-5 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001

Lunch: 11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:40)
Dinner: 17:00–23:00 (L.O. 22:30) / Sat: 17:00–22:00 (L.O. 21:30)

Getting there

'Moyan Curry 246', their Shibuya branch, is just a 7 minute walk east of Shibuya station, and opens from 11:30am each day (closed Sundays).

Tom Roseveare

Tom Roseveare @tom.roseveare

Creative Director at Japan Travel, based in Tokyo. Feel free to reach out about living, working or travelling in Japan – just book a time.