Deep: my benchmark
North Indian
4/5
Most of the Indian restaurants I find in the Kanto region seem to be either North Indian or Nepalese. It's the norm. Naan and the standard vegetable, butter chicken, sag, and masala. Maybe some tandoori and samosas. And most of this has been adjusted to suit local palates, or just plain watered-down for cheap customers who don't know the difference. But I still keep trying "North Indian" places hoping to find ones like Deep.We first came across it several years ago, looking for a local place that didn't suck. It was good for about a year. Then they apparently changed staff/owners or something, and overnight their food became sub-par and ordinary (to be fair, this was the case for several visits...it wasn't just an off-night). It wasn't until a year or so later we stopped by out of desperation and were pleased to find they'd changed again and were better than ever.
The curries are thicker than the average, soupy curries--easily scooped up with naan. Ingredients are sufficient and hearty. Flavors are full and well-balanced. The naan is tandoori-cooked to that fine combination of crispiness and elasticity. There's nothing that irritates me like watery curries with soggy naan.
Our go-to curries are the vegetable, sag, and butter chicken. Sure, they're cliche but they're done well-enough that they're always pleasing.
Staff are friendly, and speak enough English and Japanese to accommodate. Food doesn't usually take too long and while they always have customers, I've never had to cue up.
The menu is limited and it's a bit cramped as it's a small shop. The spiciness is somewhat of an afterthought; chili powder added before plating. But that's a minor sin. While I have had better North Indian on occasion in central Tokyo, this is well above average and for the prices, convenience and service Deep has become my benchmark for all North Indian curry restaurants. Whenever we just want good, close, familiar North Indian this is where we go. I gave this a 4/5 rating and half the time that's exactly the level I'm looking for at lunch time. Anything more than that is going to be more expensive and demanding to visit.
Another thing I like about Deep is that they just do North Indian (at least at lunch). They don't screw around with Thai, Japanese, Chinese and other cuisines. They stick to their fare. When I see an Indian menu out front boasting foods from around the world, I have learned to just keep walking.
Two times I want to slap people:
"Ooo, look how cheap it is!"
and
"Ooo, look how many different kinds of food they make!"
I can make many different kinds of food, cheap, so if I go out I expect a little expertise.
It's a small operation, about 20 seats, one or two staff at lunchtime, obscured by an oak tree and wedged in between a flower shop and perpetually vacant storefront. No parking. But it's worth the effort (and you can easily park free at the Summit supermarket next door, but please be nice and buy something on your way back through). It's pretty far from any station, but it's right on the Oizumigakuen/Asaka bus line.
If you're in the area, be sure and try them. Here's a link:
Deep
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