三茶カリーZAZA
Sangenjaya, Tokyo
Tucked down a lantern-lit side street in Sangenjaya (三軒茶屋), Sancha Curry ZAZA feels like a secret handshake between Tokyo’s neighborhood kissa tradition and its indie music scene: a compact, warmly lit room where a well-worn turntable and a handful of stacked speakers share space with steaming plates of house curry. Locals come for more than the comforting spice—this is a listening-first spot where conversations lower automatically when a record spins, where the owner or a guest DJ curates vinyl sets that range from mellow city pop and mellow jazz to gritty blues and rare Japanese folk, and occasional intimate live sessions let singers and small ensembles bridge the counter and the audience. The decor is pleasantly eclectic — vintage posters, wood paneling, and mismatched stools — creating a close, convivial vibe that’s perfect for lingering over curry and a slow drink while discovering music you won’t hear on the mainstream. If you want an authentic slice of Tokyo’s music-cafe culture in a friendly neighborhood setting, ZAZA is the sort of place where meals and records feel like they were meant to be enjoyed together.
Tucked down a lantern-lit side street in Sangenjaya (三軒茶屋), Sancha Curry ZAZA feels like a secret handshake between Tokyo’s neighborhood kissa tradition and its indie music scene: a compact, warmly lit room where a well-worn turntable and a handful of stacked speakers share space with steaming plates of house curry. Locals come for more than the comforting spice—this is a listening-first spot where conversations lower automatically when a record spins, where the owner or a guest DJ curates vinyl sets that range from mellow city pop and mellow jazz to gritty blues and rare Japanese folk, and occasional intimate live sessions let singers and small ensembles bridge the counter and the audience. The decor is pleasantly eclectic — vintage posters, wood paneling, and mismatched stools — creating a close, convivial vibe that’s perfect for lingering over curry and a slow drink while discovering music you won’t hear on the mainstream. If you want an authentic slice of Tokyo’s music-cafe culture in a friendly neighborhood setting, ZAZA is the sort of place where meals and records feel like they were meant to be enjoyed together.