A note on the words: achar is a Nepalese and Indian style of spiced pickles or dressed dishes, served here as a mixed vegetable dish tossed with sesame and spices. Choila is a classic Nepalese drinking snack of grilled meat tossed in a fiery spice dressing, made here with charcoal-grilled chicken, red onion, and cilantro. Bhutan is a spiced Nepalese stir-fry, prepared here with mutton and vegetables and seasoned with timur, a Nepalese pepper said to have a citrus-like aroma and a mild numbing tingle. Raksi, a traditional Nepalese distilled grain spirit, and Khukri Rum, a Nepalese dark rum, are both stocked on the drink menu here.
SURYASHI on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
Fellow drinkers, thank you for waiting! It’s time for Hangover Meshi!
Having missed lunch, it had gotten a little late at night. I was drawn into a curry shop that caught my eye, and found I had the whole place to myself! That was because it was pouring rain that day.
About a two-minute walk from the north exit of Kami-Itabashi Station sits SURYASHI, a Nepalese restaurant that has been in business in this neighborhood since 2009. Many people know it for its lunch curry sets, but at night it shows a slightly different side as a proper spice izakaya (Japanese pub). True to its own billing as a “shop of spices and drinks,” it lines up Nepalese liquors like raksi and Khukri Rum alongside drinking snacks such as choila and bhutan. With staff from Nepal working in the kitchen, it is a treat to be able to drink over local dishes right here in Kami-Itabashi.
Being the only customer, it felt like my every move was being watched, which was a little nerve-racking, but never mind that…!
Kuuu! I’m alive again!
First, I start with a standard beer.
This dish is achar, a Nepalese and Indian dish of vegetables dressed with spices, made here with several kinds of vegetables. The richness of sesame spreads first, followed by a gentle, lingering aroma of spices. The potato is fluffy and the cucumber is crisp, making it fun how the texture changes with every bite! The occasional chili pepper you hit is toasty and adds a nice accent of heat. Since it sits somewhere close to pickles, I think it is meant to be nibbled between bites of curry and stir-fries, but it makes a great drinking snack!
This is “choila,” something I spotted on the menu and immediately wanted to try. Apparently it is a classic Nepalese drinking snack of charcoal-grilled chicken tossed in a spicy sauce. Just as the menu says — “Spicy and delicious!!!” — the heat hits hard right up front. The chicken has a tender, fall-apart texture; as you chew, the smoky aroma of the charcoal rises and the savory flavor of the chicken spreads afterward. With the sharp bite of red onion and the fresh, grassy aroma of cilantro, the finish is surprisingly refreshing.
For my main curry, I went with mutton masala, which I love!
It is a classic curry of mutton simmered with house spices and tomato. The fact that it has a fair bit of heat is why it is a favorite of mine! On top of that, the staff said, “You can add more heat, here you go!” and brought me extra chili.
The first bite brings the gentle acidity and sweetness of tomato. Right after that, the aroma of spices rises softly, and finally the heat of the chili lingers on the tongue. The mutton comes in big chunks, and chewing into them gives you plenty of rich mutton flavor. The gaminess is mild, and the tenderness is just right. Another nice touch is how the fresh zing of ginger tightens up the finish. I think it would be delicious with naan or rice too, but this time it is purely a drinking snack and a partner for my highball.
No other customers are coming at all, so I’ll happily drink some more by myself, lol.
Mutton bhutan is a dish of mutton and vegetables stir-fried with spices, herbs, and Nepalese pepper. I added another highball too and was in high spirits!! Wait — I might have gone beyond the limits of drinking alone, lol. It arrives piping hot, so the moment it is set on the table, the aroma of spices billows up. Nepalese pepper is called “timur,” and apparently it is known for a citrus-like fresh aroma and a gentle numbing tingle. That freshness layers over the sweetness of the mutton fat, so even though the flavor is bold, the finish is light and leaves no greasiness behind. Because the mutton is stir-fried, the outside is toasty, and the more you chew, the more savory flavor oozes out. The vegetables are thoroughly soaked with the sauce and the savory mutton juices, well seasoned and delicious. Even after curry, it goes down easily!
Man, I really drank, lol.
Even after leaving the shop, it was still pouring rain.
Who knew this Nepalese place in Kami-Itabashi would be the real deal, with such a full lineup of drinking snacks — choila, achar, bhutan, and more! You really never know until you visit. With so many dishes going in different directions — spicy, toasty, refreshing — you can alternate between them and keep knocking back drinks right to the end without getting bored. Though maybe I drank a bit too much on my own, lol.
Here’s hoping I run into more good food today!
Nepal Dining SURYASHI Menu
Set Menus
Choose your curry from the regular menu or the blackboard menu. Plain naan is all-you-can-eat.
2 curries + large naan or half naan & mini rice, appetizer of the day, mini salad, dessert of the day
1 curry + large naan or half naan & mini rice, appetizer of the day, mini salad, dessert of the day
2 curries, 3 pieces of roti, 1 barbecue item (usually meatball skewer), mini salad, appetizer of the day, dessert of the day
A La Carte Curries
Classic curry of mutton slowly simmered with house spices and tomato
A la carte curries come with curry only. Naan or rice is ordered separately.
Naan, Roti & Rice
Whole-wheat griddle-baked flatbread eaten in Nepalese homes
Blend of Japanese rice and indica rice
Dal Bhat & Biryani
One-plate set meal with 2 curries, dal, achar, stir-fried greens, sides, and papad. Choose 2 curries from bone-in chicken, mutton, stewed beef tendon, seasonal vegetables, or keema
Biryani comes with curry sauce, mini salad, and raita (yogurt sauce).
Salads & Achar
Salad of charcoal-grilled chicken, vegetables, and herbs wrapped in rice paper
Spicy salad of chickpeas tossed with house spices, tomato, green chili, and herbs
Nepalese home-style dish of bitter melon tossed with house spices and black sesame
Several kinds of vegetables tossed with sesame and house spices
Stir-Fries (Bhutan)
Stir-fry of mutton and vegetables seasoned with spices, herbs, and Nepalese pepper
Potatoes stir-fried with cumin and Nepalese pepper
Dried mutton and potatoes stir-fried with spices and herbs, seasoned with Nepalese pepper
Spicy stir-fry of dried mutton and vegetables
Flame-grilled chicken tossed in a spicy dressing. A popular Nepalese street-corner dish
Nepalese instant noodles tossed with herbs, onion, tomato, green chili, and house spices
Street food of crispy fried dough shells poked open and filled with potato and other fillings plus a tangy, spicy sauce
Momo & Side Dishes
Classic Nepalese steamed dumplings made with chicken and mixed ground meat, onion and other vegetables, house spices, and herbs
Dumplings served in a soup of spices, tamarind, sesame, and herbs
House original roll of tandoor-grilled meat and vegetables wrapped in roti
Light and crispy chickpea crackers
Nepalese-style stir-fried noodles with meat and vegetables seasoned with spices and herbs (vegetable option available)
Tandoor Oven Dishes
Assortment of roast chicken, spare ribs, meatball skewer, and roast tikka
Beer, Highballs & Sours
Kirin Ichiban Shibori 400ml
Kirin Ichiban Shibori 280ml
Popular Nepalese whisky with soda
Fresh lemon sour seasoned with herbs and spices
Raksi + lassi
Barley or sweet potato
Made with Kinmiya shochu
Nepalese Liquors
True to its billing as a “shop of spices and drinks,” a full lineup of Nepalese liquors is available.
Shochu made with Nepalese millet and Japanese rice, 38% ABV
Blended malt, 42.8% ABV
Dark rum made from Nepalese sugarcane, 42.8% ABV. On the rocks / with soda / straight / with cola / with hot water
Grown-up chai finished with masala chai and the aroma of rum
Dessert cocktail of Nepalese rum and lassi
Wine & Cocktails
Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml
Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc 750ml
White wine + cassis
Cocktail of red wine and lassi
Soft Drinks & Desserts
Nepalese milk tea spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger
Drink made with house-made yogurt
Freshly squeezed lemon and soda seasoned with herbs and spices
Bottle Keep & Kids
42.8% ABV
Nepalese whisky made with blended malt, 42.8% ABV
38% ABV
Kids’ curry (butter chicken by default, can be changed), naan or rice, mini salad, ice cream, soft drink. Ages 3 through elementary school
Bottles are kept for up to 3 months. Ice, water, and hot water are free.
*From the menu at the restaurant at the time of the September 2026 visit. Prices include tax, and items change seasonally. Please check the official website or the restaurant for the latest details.
SURYASHI (Nepalese / Kami-Itabashi Station)
Tabelog dinner rating ★★★☆☆ 3.6
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
