The Best Quick Lunch in Nara is Hiding Right Above Nakatanidou

August 30, 2026

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If you’re visiting Nara, there’s a 99% chance you’re going to stop by Nakatanidou to watch the famous high-speed mochi pounding. It’s loud, crowded, and yet completely worth seeing if you are in Nara.

What most people miss is what’s directly above it.

If you look up while standing near the mochi shop, you’ll spot Nara Sanjo Curry (ステーキ屋さんの奈良三条カレー). It’s an unassuming spot on the second floor that serves up incredible Japanese curry. Its proximity to a guaranteed stop in your Nara itinerary makes it one of the most convenient (and delicious) lunch spots in town, especially if you want to escape the street-level crowds for an hour.

Black hanging sign for Nara Sanjo Curry seen from a window, overlooking a busy shopping street in Nara, Japan.

What to Order & The Vibe

The restaurant is run by a steakhouse (Steak Ciel Bleu), which means the beef quality in their curry is top-tier. The curry base itself is rich, slightly sweet, but it has a mild heat after a few bites.

If it’s your first time, get the Japanese Beef Curry and Rice; it’s the signature dish, and you can’t go wrong with it. The meat is slow-cooked and tender enough to fall apart with a spoon, and the portion sizes are decent for the price. It’s the perfect meal to fill you up if you’ve been walking around all morning and still have a long day ahead of you!

Rich Japanese beef curry with tender meat chunks served with white rice and fresh vegetable garnish at Nara Sanjo Curry.

Unlike the chaotic energy down on Sanjo Dori, the atmosphere upstairs is pretty relaxed. It’s small, casual, and fast. You get your food fairly quickly and can take a breather before heading off to see the deer or Todai-ji Temple. If you are lucky, you may get a window seat to watch the chaos below at Nakatanidou while you relax with your meal.

A tray of five small white square bowls containing various Japanese curry toppings, pickles, raisins, and spicy sauce on a wooden restaurant table.

Two plates of Japanese curry with rice and colorful vegetable garnishes served on a wooden dining table in Nara.

How to Find Nara Sanjo Curry & Quick Tips

A lot of people walk right past it because it’s on the second floor. Look for the sign near the entrance of the building right next to/above Nakatanidou.

Name in Japanese: ステーキ屋さんの奈良三条カレー
Address: 29 Hashimotocho, Nara (2nd Floor)
Price: Around ¥1,000 – ¥1,800 per person
Payment: Cash & Cards Accepted
Best Time to Go: Aim for right when they open (11:00 AM) or slightly after the peak lunch rush (around 1:30 PM) to avoid a wait for a table.

If you’re standing outside Nakatanidou wondering where to sit down for a real meal, skip the long waits further down the street and just head right upstairs.