Abiko

As my first restaurant review on this website, I thought it would be cool to start with a place that specializes in one of my favorite comfort meals in the world: Japanese Curry.

After having gone to a restaurant that was a little too expensive and didn’t serve nearly enough food for three people, my lovely company recommended that we get the rest of our fill nearby at a place they had been recommending to me for some time. Located a bit of a ways from the busier parts of Sangmu, あびこ (Abiko) glowed with a familiar warmth that drew me in from a distance. Unfortunately, the parking options weren’t nearly as welcoming.

If the delicious scent upon arrival at the moderately sized wasn’t enough to grab my attention, the large, varied, and bilingual menu definitely was. The main feature was clearly the curry dishes, offering either Curry Rice, Curry Noodles, and Cream Curry Pasta. Of these curry dishes came variants such as Basic, Eggplant, Herb Chicken, Handmade Hamburger, Shrimp, Vegetable, Mushroom, Pork, Beef, and Seafood. On the next page were the different levels of spice offered, ranging anywhere from Mild to Super Spicy. It should be noted that the first level (Medium Spicy) is described to be as spicy as the popular Shin Ramyun. Below that was a list of additional toppings to add, such as Egg, Melting Cheese, Natto (fermented soybeans), Croquette (a small roll of chopped vegetables, meat, or fish, fried in breadcrumbs), Sausage, Fried Squid, and many others for an additional cost. Green Onions and Garlic Flakes, on the other hand, were available for free.

For those who may not be in the mood for curry, there were a few Hashed Rice (often referred to as Hayashi Rice, which replaces curry sauce with a demi-glace sauce) and Donburi (rice bowls) options available.

As there were three of us, our attention turned to the many different sets offering combinations of the varied menu items listed above combined with added drinks and sides for a discounted price. We settled on the Couple Set, which came with Herb Chicken Curry Rice, Beef Curry Noodles, Fried Shrimp, Tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), and two soft drinks. Since nobody was in a challenging mood, we settled on Medium Spicy for both of our curry dishes. We also ordered Fried Chicken and Cream Cheese Croquettes as additional toppings.

Instead of giving our orders directly to our waiter, we actually had to write down what we wanted, taking a little longer than usual due to how slow my Korean writing abilities are. I’m sure I could have written everything in English, but I apparently like to make things difficult for myself.

Not too long after I ordered, we were met with a heavy tray with way more food than we had anticipated. Though the fried goodies were technically toppings, I appreciated that they arrived separately on small racks to keep them from getting soggy. I was also happy with the large amount of garlic flakes both of our curry dishes came topped with.

I first dove into the Herb Chicken Curry Rice, which came with thin, seasoned slices of chicken and a whole lot of curry sauce. The gravy-like sauce was quite flavorful and tasty, though I was surprised at how spicy it was, considering how it was technically only one level away from the lowest option. Maybe my tongue was just sensitive from the heat (temperature), but after a few bites, there was a bit of sweating coming from my end. For the amount of curry the dish had, I could have used a little more rice. At this point, I also tried some of the fried toppings, each of which was fried to perfection. All of the proteins were delectably crunchy on the outside while remaining tender and piping hot on the inside. The croquettes were also tasty and probably could have been a cousin of my usually beloved fried mozzarella sticks.

The Beef Curry Noodles, which also proved to be surprisingly spicy, offered thick udon noodles topped with fried tofu skin in a thinner curry broth. As someone who usually likes her curry nice and thick, I was pleasantly surprised by what initially looked like watery curry. The thick noodles handled the rich and heavy soup rather well, offering a solid, comforting meal for the coldest of days. Unfortunately, we were far too full to finish either dish, though it didn’t stop us from making sure none of crunchy stuff went to waste.

As someone who has been seeking out a nice curry spot that could compare to the experiences I’ve had during my time in Japan, I was fairly pleased with あびこ. The customization options combined with generally nice flavors and healthy portions left my stomach full and my wallet happy. Don’t be surprised if you see another review in the future, as I’m curious as to what Creamy Curry Pasta might taste like.

Address: 광주 서구 치평동 1256-1 1층
Phone: 062-384-8859
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Website: http://abikosm.modoo.at
Average Price: 10,000 to 14,000

Suwan Branch
Address: 광주 광산구 수완동 1441
Phone: 062-951-7330