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2013-03-13
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Wanted something spicy for lunch but followed the lunch group's majority preference to eat at the newly opened Ichiban at ARC. The tori curry wazen comes with a tempura appetizer, big bowl of rice, miso soup & fruit of the day for $16.90++. Pay $1.10++ per head for free flow of hot or iced green tea.The wazen arrived in a big black tray looking promising, but just like books one can't judge the food by the picture in the menu or its appearance. The curry was served on a shallow cast iron plate s
The wazen arrived in a big black tray looking promising, but just like books one can't judge the food by the picture in the menu or its appearance. The curry was served on a shallow cast iron plate sitting above a portable stove like those we used when we went on school camps. This proved to be more style than substance. Instead of chicken cooked in curry, Ichiban served deepfried chunks of chicken karage that had been cooked ahead of time than dunked into the curry gravy prior to serving so the curry flavour did not infiltrate into the meat. The curry gravy was not made in house but prepared from factory produced curry paste so you get thirsty from the strong MSG aftertaste. The tori curry wazen did not come with the usual cup of chawanmushi that I like ~ probably because you are expected to drench your rice with the curry gravy instead of steamed egg custard. Miso soup was also watered down.My disappointing bento had two saving graces - it was served by a friendly & courteous table crew and the tempura appetizer which was well done.
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