Koseli at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

A Nepalese and Indian dining room in Higashi-Ikebukuro run by a veteran chef, known for dhal bhat and spice-blended curries.

Koseli, styled as Ethnic Dining, is a Nepalese and Indian restaurant in the New Ikebukuro Heights building in Higashi-Ikebukuro, open from 11am to 11pm with lunch and dinner services. The kitchen is led by a veteran chef with 20 years of experience cooking Nepalese and Indian food, whose pride is a self-blended spice mix tuned so that the flavours remain accessible to Japanese palates while staying true to their roots. The menu leads with curries such as chicken, dhal (lentil), vegetable and keema from around 1,000 yen, served with rice, plain naan or cheese naan, plus a standout dhal bhat Nepalese set plate that pairs dhal curry, chicken curry, tandoori chicken, achar and chutney with free rice refills. Beyond curry, the kitchen offers rice dishes including Southeast Asian-style plates and an original curry-sauce omelette rice, and a noodle section featuring a popular curry-soup ramen, a Nepal-sansho ramen and typical Nepalese noodle dishes. Takeaway and local delivery (to Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-3 chome, minimum order 1,000 yen) are available by phone, and the room welcomes walk-ins and small groups for both a quick lunch and a relaxed evening. Reviews on Retty and travel sites praise the gentle, deep flavours and the friendly staff, with the lunch dhal bhat plus drink at around 1,100 yen singled out for value. For an honest, spice-led taste of the Himalayas in a compact Ikebukuro setting, Koseli is a warm and rewarding stop. Order the dhal bhat, take your time and let the chef's two decades of craft speak through every spoonful - it is a little corner of Nepal worth seeking out.