A Local Lunch Spot in Ryogoku ❘ Delicious Curry Just Across from MERI

There is a small restaurant just across the street from MERI called Chikyuya (地球屋).

I sometimes stop by for lunch, and it's one of my favorite local places in the neighborhood.

During the day, Chikyuya serves curry and risotto, while in the evening it becomes a French bistro.

I've only been there for lunch so far, but I have to say—the curry is really delicious.

 

Curry with a French Chef's Touch

I heard that the chef has a background in French cuisine, and you can definitely sense something different in the curry.

It's not quite like a typical Indian-style curry. The spices are wonderfully aromatic, and the rice is especially good.

I imagine the rice has been prepared to pair perfectly with the curry. It's different from basmati rice, with its own delicious texture and flavor that complements the spices beautifully.

The lunch menu usually offers three choices:

• Meat curry
• Seafood curry
• Risotto

And if you can't decide between the two curries, you can order aigake—a combination of both curries on one plate.

It's a great option if you want to try a little of each.

Clam and Tomato Curry

On this visit, I chose the seafood curry: clam and tomato curry.

I usually think of Chikyuya's curries as being generously spiced with a good amount of heat, but this one was surprisingly mild.

The flavor of the clams came through beautifully, giving the curry a wonderful savory depth.

Perhaps it was the tomato, but the overall flavor was gentle and well balanced. I think even people who don't usually enjoy very spicy food may find this curry approachable.

Of course, the menu changes, so the level of spiciness may vary depending on the curry of the day.

And Look at That Salad!

Almost half the plate is filled with fresh salad.

The curry itself is quite generous, and I can never finish a full serving of rice, so I always ask for a smaller portion.

When I do, they kindly give me extra salad instead.

That's perfect for me.

When I visited for weekday lunch, a soft-cooked onsen egg was also included as a complimentary extra.

Please note that this was the case when I visited in September 2026, and the lunch menu and services may change.

Save Room for the Chocolate Terrine

After lunch, I wanted just a little something sweet, so we ordered the chocolate terrine to share between two people.

It was rich, smooth, and almost melted the moment it touched my tongue.

That's when you really notice the chef's French culinary background!

It was a lovely way to finish lunch.

A Little Local Restaurant to Discover in Ryogoku

Chikyuya is a very small restaurant, and when I've visited, I haven't seen many tourists there.

That's part of what I like about it.

Ryogoku is famous for sumo and its historical attractions, but there are also many small local restaurants and cafés tucked away around the neighborhood.

Chikyuya is especially easy to visit because it's right across the street from MERI.

If you're coming to Ryogoku for our Japanese zori-making workshop or stopping by MERI for some shopping, why not cross the street and enjoy a local lunch afterward?

It's a nice little place to relax, enjoy a flavorful curry, and experience another side of everyday life in Ryogoku.

Chikyuya
1-3-8 Kamezawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan