# Marie Iranganee: Shibuya's Hidden Sri Lankan Curry

> A hidden gem on the 5th floor of a nondescript building in Shibuya's Udagawacho. Loose-style Sri Lankan curry with generous chunks of slow-cooked pork is the signature dish.

Date: 2024-09-26

Tags: Sri Lankan, Pork, Hidden gem, Hideaway, Shibuya, Udagawacho, Curry

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A small building in Udagawacho, 5th floor. The moment the elevator doors open, you're greeted by figurines crammed into every corner and a full wall of vinyl records. This is Marie Iranganee. Honestly, at first glance you might not even realize it's a restaurant — the personality of the place hits you immediately.

It sits in a narrow alley near the former Tokyu Department Store flagship, and it's surprisingly hard to find. You follow a small sign into the building, take the elevator up, and only then go "oh, here it is." Getting a little lost on the way somehow feels like part of the adventure.

![](https://img.wiredxeco.com/jjj-tokyo/marieiranganee/56349f6b1db02d6f09a2142fec57bb0a.webp)

The BGM, pulled from the owner's curated vinyl collection, leans jazz and soul. The small "click" when the needle drops, the faint surface noise — all of it becomes part of the room's atmosphere. Combined with shelves of figurines and vintage trinkets, it feels nostalgic in a way I've never quite experienced elsewhere.

I ordered the signature pork curry (¥1,600). The first thing that surprises you is the size of the meat chunks. The fibers pull apart without a knife, and the spices have soaked all the way through. The sauce is thin and loose — traditional Sri Lankan style, the opposite of Japan's viscous curry. The heat isn't aggressive, but the layered spices slowly bring out a sweat. That kind of flavor.

![](https://img.wiredxeco.com/jjj-tokyo/marieiranganee/19cdaff0a31a50cc520f2523d00fd0c6.webp)

Seating is mostly counter — about 10 seats, compact. Lunch is popular, so going slightly off-peak helps. The building's older elevator can have a bit of a wait at busy times; worth keeping in mind.

Sri Lankan curry might sound intimidating, but this is a place that even spice-averse folks can ease into. On days when I'm looking for a "not-my-usual-lunch" kind of spot in Shibuya, this is the one that comes back to mind.