When you walk through the streets of Kyoto, you will encounter a landscape lined with townhouses and temples and shrines. Blending into this Japanese atmosphere, SANGO quietly stands just a step away from the hustle and bustle of Hyakumanben.

When you open the door to this restaurant, the aroma of spices fills the air, making you feel like you're traveling to a foreign country. They serve authentic, additive-free food made with carefully selected ingredients and spices. This is a hidden gem in Kyoto that is loved by locals and students.

The appeal of East Indian home cooking "Thali Set"

East Indian cuisine is characterized by the generous use of seafood and vegetables, and the soft aroma of mustard oil. Rice is used as the staple food, and by combining it in a balanced way with vegetables and beans, healthy meals are enjoyed on a daily basis.

The signature dish at SANGO, the Thali Set, conveys the charm of East Indian cuisine as it is. It is the home-style taste that the owner, who is originally from East India, has been familiar with since childhood, and was born from his desire to share the appeal of healthy cuisine, mainly seafood and vegetables, in Japan.

One to three types of curry, rice, side dishes, dal bean soup, and salad are colorfully arranged on a silver plate, creating a warm and exotic dining experience before your eyes.

With one bite, the rich aroma of spices spreads and the delicious flavor of the fish slowly permeates your tongue. The accompanying vegetable side dish has a refreshing taste, and the dal bean soup has a gentle flavor that is comforting.

All the flavors are in perfect harmony, as if the whole meal were telling a single story. The flavors are supported by the power of carefully selected ingredients and spices.

Authentic taste with no additives and spices

All of the curries at "SANGO" are gluten-free and additive-free. The spices used are directly sourced from an Indian acquaintance whom the owner trusts, and are at least six months old, so they retain their freshness and aroma. The colorful spices lined up in the restaurant each have their own unique aroma, which contributes to the deep flavor of the dishes.

The owner himself goes to the market to purchase the freshest seafood and vegetables he has carefully selected. He blends about 20 different kinds of spices to suit the ingredients of the day, so you can enjoy different flavors every day.

Seafood curry is common in Eastern India, and SANGO has served curry made with almost all the seafood caught in Japan. By being particular about the ingredients and spices, they create a dish that is healthy and full of flavor.

The charm of "SANGO" loved by students and locals

"SANGO" is located right next to Kyoto University, and is loved by students, professors, and locals alike. Many people visit repeatedly, and many even come from other prefectures.

"Many Indian restaurants in Japan are actually run by Nepalese people, and the taste is completely different from the real thing. So I decided I wanted to deliver the real thing."

So says owner Santos Kumar Barik. Originally from East India, he speaks seven languages, including English and Japanese, and gave up his business in India to open "SANGO."

The thoughts and dreams behind "SANGO"

But he has big dreams that go beyond cooking.

"I didn't grow up in a wealthy family, and I have had to rely on the help of many people. That's why I want to give back to society."

Currently, we are working on an NGO project called "Baliha Village" in India, where we are building a school for homeless and orphans. A portion of the sales from "SANGO" will be used to fund the school construction, and we are also working on a plan to operate it as an "eco-village" that aims for a sustainable society.

"I want to build a school while running the restaurant," he says with a serious look in his eyes. The food at SANGO is not just a meal, but a dish filled with San-chan's thoughts. Each dish is filled with not only a foreign breeze, but also a warm desire to create the future.

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SANGO
電話番号：080-7587-6001
住所：京都府京都市左京区北白川西町82-3 光楽堂ビル B1F
アクセス：京阪電車「出町柳駅」から徒歩15分、京都市営バス「北白川」から徒歩10秒 
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/sango_spicecurry/

*For details on business hours and holidays, please check the link above.