Curry Leaves

 Image: Tsukimi Curry (月見カレー) ¥1,520 (UD$10) - January 2016

The genre of soup curry began spreading across Japan from Hokkaido around the 2010s. Since then, it has established itself as a hallmark of Hokkaido cuisine. Among locals, Curry Leaves is well known as a pioneer, having opened its restaurant near Sapporo University in 1996. As far as I remember, I first visited the restaurant around 1998 as I was still a high school student. It cost about 800 yen, which I thought was a bit expensive for a curry at the time because, for a high school boy, around 500 yen would have been a threshold for affording for a single meal - something like Miyoshino or MOS BURGER. Of course, that is no longer the case today.

Since graduating from university in Sapporo, plenty of restaurants have appeared and disappeared. Nearly all the places I used to frequent have closed down. 

Nonetheless, some of them have survived the global financial crisis in 2008, the downturn following the Tohoku Earthquake in 2011 and the pandemic in 2020. This is a testament to how these restaurants have been loved by locals.

So, I would like to briefly introduce a few of my favourites on this blog, although the information is admittedly quite personal. What matters most is that they have managed to stay open despite the hardships. 

Additionally, the restaurants that I post are very common and well-known among locals, so the staff may not be particularly comfortable serving customers in other languages. This can be a great opportunity to try speaking in Japanese. 

Soup Curry Kitchen Curry Leaves (カレーリーブス)

According to the HP of Curry Leaves (in Japanese), it opened in 1996.

Address : 

062-0034,  7-10, 7 chome, Nishioka 4 Jo, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo 

A 10-minute bus ride from Tsukisamu-Chuo Subway Station on the Toho Line (Blue Line)

BUS: No.82 Chuo-Bus

STOP: Satsudai Seimon Mae (in front of Sapporo University)

Phone : 

+81-11-856-4447 (Japanese Only)

Map: Curry Leaves

Business Hours:

Thursday to Tuesday

11:00 to 16:00 (May close early if all meals are sold out)

*Seasonal closures during summer and winter holidays

Category:

Japanese Soup Curry

★★★★★ : Quality

★★★★☆ : Cost

★★★☆☆ : Access

★★★★★ : Atmosphere

★★★★★ : Cleanliness

★★★★★ : Menu

If you are heading to the restaurant by car, Sapporo University makes a convenient landmark. Curry Leaves is located right across from the university’s main entrance. There are two car parks - one right in front of the restaurant, which accommodates two vehicles,  and another behind the building, with space for four.

To reach there by public transport, take the Toho Line (Blue Line) and get off Tsukisamu Chuo Subway Station. From there, catch the No.82 Chuo-Bus and get off at the seventh stop, Satsudai Seimon Mae (札大正門前: さつだいせいもんまえ) which means in front of Sapporo University. (Bus schedule in Japanese)

Map: Tsukisamu Chuo Subway Station

You can check the menu here (in Japanese). Rice is available in three sizes, S, M and L. The prices include both the rice and the curry soup. If you prefer it spicier, you can add extra spice on the table free of charge.

 

 Image: Ohsama Curry (王様カレー/ King's Curry) ¥1,870 (US$12)- December 2014

After I became a university student, I took many friends to Curry Leaves. Naturally, none of them disliked it and some even became obsessed with it. Those friends would often pick me up on their way to the restaurant.

Actually, a few things have changed since then. The restaurant relocated to its current location, and the Dutch coffee I really loved is no longer serviced. Its popularity has soared.

Still, crispy-skinned chicken, the ingredients they use, and the iconic blue water bottle have remained unchanged. Although many soup curry restaurants have appeared in Sapporo, I have continued to visit Curry Leaves since I left Sapporo.

Image: Chicken Nasu-Shimeji Curry (チキンナスしめじ: optional) - December 2019

If you are not sure what to choose, trust me - just order the Chicken Curry. Chicken is the restaurant's signature ingredient, and at ¥1,200 (US$8), it is reasonably priced and comes with a selection of vegetables.

Having said that, my favourite is the Tsukimi Curry because it contains chicken, a poached egg, cheese and spinach - which I absolutely love. Tsukimi means 'moon viewing' - in this case the egg represents the moon.

The chicken is sourced from Shiretoko and the rice brand is Nanatsuboshi - a Hokkaido-grown brand as well, according to its official webpage (in Japanese).

Image: Tsukimi Curry (月見カレー) - May 2018

I visited the restaurant with my friends countless times while I was studying at university. After leaving Hokkaido, I made a point of going whenever I stayed in Sapporo. Although I see them less often now, they are always give me a warm welcome.

Image: Ohsama Curry (王様カレー: King's Curry) - August 2024

While writing this article, I started to feel like going back to Japan to have the Tsukimi Curry.