Six-Time Tabelog Top 100 Winner: European-Style Curry at Eight-Seat Cardamon
If you are looking for curry around Tenma, it is worth extending your search to Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome. Cardamon, near the northern end of the shopping street, is a European-style curry specialist selected for Tabelog's Curry WEST Top 100 six times. The restaurant has just eight counter seats, most curries cost below ¥1,000, payment is cash only, and diners are seated in order of arrival.
Just Off Exit 12 of Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station
Cardamon is close to the station but tucked into a side lane just off the arcade. The address is 6-5-3 Tenjinbashi, only moments from Exit 12 of Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji and Tanimachi lines. Walking north through the arcade from Temma Station takes about five or six minutes; look for the sign where the lane leaves the shopping street.
The calm, dark-toned interior has only eight seats around an L-shaped stone counter. Shortly before noon on a weekday, several people were already waiting outside and adding their names to the list. Seats turned over smoothly, and the wait was shorter than expected. Inside, many guests ate alone in a quiet atmosphere focused almost entirely on the food. This is a destination rather than a place most people simply wander into.
Selected for Tabelog's Curry Top 100 Six Times
Cardamon was named to Tabelog's Curry Top 100 in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026. The annual list highlights 100 highly rated restaurants in each category, so six selections over several years point to lasting support.
With a Tabelog score of 3.69 and more than 1,400 reviews at the time of reporting, this tiny shop is widely regarded as one of the leading curry specialists in Tenma and Tenroku. Its ability to remain prominent for years despite having just eight seats is one reason it is worth traveling to Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome.
European-Style Curry for Under ¥1,000
Despite its accolades, Cardamon remains priced for everyday dining, with many dishes below ¥1,000.
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Fried oyster curry with tartar sauce | ¥900 |
| Thick-cut wagyu curry | ¥950 |
Other choices include the popular pork-cutlet curry and a limited curry that changes about every two weeks. I ordered the pork-cutlet curry. The deeply colored sauce looked rich but tasted surprisingly light, with restrained heat and layers of savory flavor. Freshly fried pork cutlet absorbed the sauce and added satisfying depth. Oysters, wagyu, and other toppings each change the character of the curry, making another visit tempting.
Hours Vary by Day
Some days are lunch only, while others include dinner service. Evening visits are possible only on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; weekends are lunch only.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon, Sat, Sun | 11:30–15:00 |
| Wed, Thu, Fri | 11:30–15:00 and 17:30–20:30 |
| Tue | Closed |
With only eight counter seats, a lunchtime wait is possible. Lunch ends at 15:00, so avoid arriving at the very end and allow some extra time. Checking the day and hours before setting out is especially important here.
Three Things to Check Before Visiting
Payment is cash only; cards and electronic money are not accepted. Reservations are unavailable, so diners wait at the shop or visit outside peak periods. Tuesday is the regular closing day, and dinner is served only Wednesday through Friday.
All seats are non-smoking, and there is no dedicated parking. The station-side location makes the restaurant easy to reach by train. Bring cash and confirm the operating day and hours before visiting.
Menu items and prices reflect the information available at the time of reporting. The limited curry changes approximately every two weeks.
