When it comes to curry rice that's passionately supported by the people of Obihiro, it's "Indian."
They have 10 stores in the Tokachi region, mainly in Obihiro, and 2 stores in Kushiro.

It's no exaggeration to say that there isn't a single Obihiro resident who doesn't know "Indian," as it's a very famous restaurant that's deeply integrated into the lives of the locals.

This time, we went to interview Curry Shop Indian Machinaka branch!

Table of Contents:
1. What is Curry Shop Indian?
2. Locals bring their own pots and pans when they visit the restaurant.
3. Indian curry & toppings
4. Time to eat! Indian Curry
5. Native Americans and The Godfather? Pay attention to the interior design as well.
6. Access to Indian Town Store
Final thoughts

"The second best restaurant in Obihiro"

Indian continues to make comforting, nostalgic curries that evoke the feeling of home cooking, the kind that make people say, "That's delicious!"

Curry is strongly associated with India, and the restaurant was named "Indian" because it was easy to remember.

Fujimori Shokai, which operates the restaurant chain "Fujimori," was founded in Obihiro in 1899 (Meiji 32).
It has a history of over 100 years.

The first Indian Curry restaurant opened in 1968. The founder reportedly traveled around Japan sampling curry from various restaurants to create his own unique recipe.

The place I visited was Indian Machinaka Store, which celebrated its 8th anniversary in 2016.

It is within walking distance of Obihiro Station.
Besides local regulars, many customers also visit Indian, including people on business trips to Obihiro, tourists, and those who learned about Indian through word of mouth from people from Obihiro.

Image provided by: Fujimori Shokai

It's apparently not uncommon for locals to bring their own pots and pans to the restaurant for dinner.
The menu also states, "We welcome customers to bring their own pots, containers, etc., when purchasing curry roux to take home."

Indian also offers a service where they deliver the entire pot of food to various tournaments, meetings, and events.

What does Indian curry, which has become so deeply ingrained in the community and is so beloved by the locals, actually taste like?

Let's explore the intriguing appeal of Indian curry!

Image provided by: Fujimori Shokai

Indian Curry offers three types of curry roux: "Indian Roux," "Basic Roux," and "Vegetable Roux."

They prepare different curry sauces for each menu item, and apparently, the process starts from the stage of blending the base spices.

[Indian Roo]

A beef curry made with plenty of beef. Matured with dozens of spices. The spiciness is mild, so it's suitable for both children and adults. A classic curry from Tokachi.

[Basic Roo]

A simple curry with a roux infused with beef extract, to which onions are added to bring out sweetness and umami. It has a light flavor.

[Vegetable roux]

This curry contains potatoes, carrots, and onions. No meat. It has a simple flavor reminiscent of Hokkaido, blessed with magnificent nature.

Image provided by: Fujimori Shokai

There are five types of toppings: pork cutlet, hamburger patty, chicken, shrimp, and cheese.
You can choose from options like pork cutlet with cheese, or shrimp cutlet, or whatever you prefer.

How to order toppings (things you should know)

Example: I want to eat katsu curry with "Indian roux"! (※Normally it's "basic roux") → "Indian roux" + "katsu" = I'll have "Indian katsu" please!

Apparently, regular Indian food lovers order their favorite toppings like this and enjoy the variety of flavors.

I tried the Indian curry, which is by far the most popular!
What I had was "Indian Roo" + "Shrimp" = "Indian Shrimp".

It's thick, rich, and delicious! The silver plate, which evokes a sense of nostalgia, also adds to the nice touch.

The store manager smiled and said, "It's a normal portion," but
It was quite a large portion and contained plenty of shrimp.

You can choose from five levels of spiciness.

(Regular) A standard level of spiciness that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

(Medium Spicy) It has an extra kick of spiciness on top of the regular level.

(Spicy) Adds even more spiciness for a richer flavor.

(Extra Spicy) Authentic spiciness with even more spiciness added on top of the usual spiciness.

(Extra Spicy) This is truly extra spicy. Order only if you are confident in your ability to handle spiciness.

I chose "medium spicy".

They receive orders for all levels of spiciness, and apparently, customers who love extremely spicy food come in every day.

I appreciate that you can adjust the spiciness by adding hot oil.

I also tried adding it little by little to enjoy the changing levels of spiciness.

There are three side dishes: pickled ginger, pickled shiso seeds in soy sauce, and fukujinzuke (pickled vegetables).

I tried pickled shiso seeds in soy sauce for the first time.
Adding side dishes will not only enhance the visual appeal but also undoubtedly make the dish several times more delicious.
Image provided by: Fujimori Shokai

The most popular item on the menu is the "Indian (Indian Roo)" for 421 yen (tax included).
It's reasonably priced and very filling! A large portion costs an extra 129 yen.

Popular menu items include curry with toppings such as katsu curry (basic roux), Indian katsu (Indian roux), shrimp curry (basic roux), and chicken curry (basic roux).
(Takeout available)

Sharing and trying different flavors is also a great idea.

A poster of The Godfather in an Indian restaurant?

It all started in 1968 when the first Indian Shop was decorated with posters of actors.

The lineup of movie stars and singers featured varies depending on the year each Indian restaurant opened. (The Nagasakiya Obihiro store has a different interior design as it is a food court.)

Apparently, the previous president's hobby was watching movies.

You might find a poster of your favorite actor on display!
Be sure to check out the interior design as well!

Image provided by: Fujimori Shokai

Access
・Approximately 7 minutes on foot from the north exit of Obihiro Station.

Indian Curry Shop, Machinaka Branch
HP)http://www.fujimori-kk.co.jp/indian/
Address: 1-1, Nishi 2-jo Minami 10-chome, Obihiro City, Hokkaido
Business hours: 11:00 AM - 22:00 PM
Closed on: None
Phone) 0155-20-1818

Final thoughts

Indian is a restaurant where solo diners can easily go.

When traveling to Obihiro on business, some people bring Tupperware containers to buy Indian curry as souvenirs.
Apparently, some people stop by their beloved Indian restaurant before heading home when they return to their hometown.

Be sure to come and try the curry that Obihiro residents love!

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