Shinjuku Acacia Review Summary

This place has been around since the 60’s and I guess, for good reason. Had a craving for retro flavours and went to try their famous cabbage rolls. I ended up getting the dish which included a portion of spicy chicken curry — it was absolute perfection. The cabbage roll felt like a big hug, the sauce was light and paired well with the rice, while the chicken curry gave the dish a bit of a kick.

Bonus points for the cute plate it was served on. Service is no frills, super speedy. At 3pm on a weekday, there was a short line to get in with 5-6 tables ahead but it moved fast and I was seated within ~15 minutes.

Tucked away in an alley this is a little oasis of class near Shinjuku Station East Exit. The decor is like a gentleman's club - dark wood, bar stocked with whiskey. They specialise in cabbage rolls (so delicious!) and their curry was very flavoursome - they actually use whole spices in their dishes.

I had the spicy chicken curry - I love curry meat with bones. If that's too fiddly then go for the curry pork.

The service was attentive. It was a very pleasant meal.

Very warm staff that welcomes you to the table. Service was prompt.

I strong recommend people to try their cabbage soup. Super creamy and thick like those campbell can soup (in terms of texture comparison). The soup is sweet with a bit of savoury in it. The cabbage wraps around the meat with it.

My son tried the beef in sauce, which we find the sauce too overwhelming. A mistake he made was to pour everything in like how he eats his curry rice. My suggestion for non locals is to pour some and try out first. So if you feel it is overwhelming, you will still be able to finish the plate by controlling how much sauce you need.

If I were to try again, I'll go for double cabbage instead. This is a MUST eat in Shinjuku.

Unique western-fusion restaurant in the heart of shinjuku station. Known for serving cabbage rolls for decades now, shinjuku acacia adds pork and croquettes to the mix. Everything is unique and delicious. Highly recommended for westerners who want to mix it up a bit. Will return!

A light Western restaurant with a nice atmosphere. The famous cabbage roll seems to have its own likes and dislikes, and the omurice was a very satisfying taste that stuck to the basics.

Personally, the taste was less special than I expected. The staff's service was also average.