BABA Ji — Restaurant in Matsumoto

One of the places that’s been on my list for a while, finally got to visit in February ‘24. Roti cooked to perfection, the rice proper basmati, and the curry - well, it’s up there with the best I’ve ever had…and I’ve had a lot of curries. What I loved also was that the food was served hot, as in temperature hot. It's not infrequent that restaurants don’t understand how important this is, inevitably leading to a lacklustre dining experience. Also, I love lassi and I always order it, but I’m frequently disappointed. I think I’ve found the perfect one here - it had just the right balance of sweetness and sourness, making it very mellow and smooth. I think lassi can be quite hard to get right - too sour and it’s jarring, too sweet and it’s not a lassi.

They used to sell their curries in a food truck, until they decided to open a restaurant which they did in December ‘22. I read that the owner lived abroad for over a decade, and I can tell. I think this taste is quite hard to achieve by someone who doesn’t have extensive experience of food that is beyond the delicious but somewhat limited scope of the non Japanese cuisine in Japan. The beautifully rustic decor was also in keeping with the high quality of the food. The owners were also lovely and the service was top notch.

Well worth making the long journey...

I found this place somewhat by accident stumbling around Matsumoto looking for some curry.

The food was amazing, absolutely delicious and well priced as well. I had some white chicken curry, spinach curry, white rice and naan, and it was all good. The palak paneer in particular was fantastic. Could eat more of that for days.

The owner/people working there are also super friendly and accommodating, able to speak both Japanese and English (as well as maybe Indian?). I felt very welcome into the space.

The only downside is the atmosphere/interior is a bit cramped. It's quite dark, cramped and small, and the kitchen has no separation from eating so you'll likely walk out smelling like various Indian food. Which some may...

Head here for an authentic Indian experience. I can confidently say this is one of the best Indian restaurants in Japan. The owners have lived in India and know the true essence of Indian food. Highly recommend having the tandoori roti along with a curry and a nice glass of lassi.

Friendly and welcoming owners with the rustic ambience only add to the beautiful experience. The interior is like an “Old Delhi” restaurant, a truly unique...