Friday Night Biryani

It has been three months since my workplace relocated. I haven't taken any detours at all, but tonight I decided to change my route to the station just a little bit.

Then, near a subway entrance I don't usually use, I discovered "Kamejima Shoten".

It's a standing-style bistro run by a liquor store, where you can enjoy delicious wine and food. It was a place my sister recommended when I told her where I worked. I thought it sounded nice, but since I can't drink, the threshold feels too high unless I'm with someone who can.

Just then, I discovered a Pakistani and Indian restaurant across from that shop. It has a casual atmosphere with counter seating, and the front door is wide open. And it seems there are no customers. But rather than feeling hard to enter, it felt somehow "welcoming," and I was drawn inside.

Judging by the name, I wonder if biryani is their main dish. It's one of my favorite menu items.
There is curry on the menu, but I ordered the mutton biryani without hesitation.

The aroma of the spices is wonderful!
Hidden in the rice, there are chunks of large mutton. I didn't have a knife, but it was tender enough to break apart easily with just a fork and spoon.
The rice is fluffy but not dry, which is great. It has a moist, delicate feel. It's a deliciousness different from Japanese rice. That might be hard to understand, though...
And the shredded ginger sprinkled on top is refreshing; it's an exquisite combination. Drizzling the raita over it creates a nice change and makes it delicious, and all in all, it's a flavor I love. It's the joy of finding a hidden gem.

Come to think of it, at this shop, they finished the pre-prepared biryani in the microwave. Perhaps it's to warm it up, or maybe to help the ingredients and the delicious sauce or oil (or who knows what else) meld together. Well, that's just my own speculation.
I suddenly remembered the lunch at a Japanese restaurant I used to like. That shop also used a microwave to heat up dishes like simmered fish. It was a very popular, crowded place, but that shop run by an elderly couple has since closed. What a shame.

While I was eating, a salaryman came in alone and, looking like a regular, ordered biryani and curry (without rice, of course). Without any alcohol.
A place where you can use it like that, even at night, is truly precious.

I realized that the office district on a Friday night is bright, and the gentlemen and ladies who have had a nice night out look happy. This might be obvious or normal, but I hadn't seen it before because I was always just rushing to the station.
The future of my work, with its constant overtime, is still unclear, but at least for tonight, I can go home with a calm heart and a full stomach.

#DeliciousRestaurant