Cabe Since 2002

1. The origin of CABE

May 2002. “CABE” was quietly opened by Masaki Ohira, who has studied abroad in Bandung, Java, Indonesia, in area called “Musashi-Koyama” in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo. It was around the time when Japan and Korea co-sponsored the World Cup. Around the beginning of July, my colleague from Indonesian Restaurant in Roppongi, joined us. Like a magician, Ms. Sutami made Indonesian dishes in Cabe`s small kitchen, so small that your fingers could reach both wall when spreading both hands.

I came to dream of “opening a restaurant” so that she could enjoy cooking to the fullest. In 2004, the restaurant was incorporated as the first step. It became “CABE” operated by “Ajirika Co., Ltd.”

“Ajirika” is a coined word. The name comes from the fact that when an old friend first visited, he said, “This shop is Ajirika, as in Asia and Africa.” The interior of “CABE” was handmade, and there were miscellaneous goods from Indonesia and other Asian countries and Africa that I was interested in. With that, I thought that my friend’s impression was perfect.

The restauran`s name CABE is an Indonesian word meaning “chili pepper”, a spice that people all over the world know especially in Asia and Africa. The shop is small and I thought the name was easy to remember.

2. Opening of “Restaurant CABE Meguro Street”

At the same time as the establishment of the corporation, I started looking for a property and after receiving advice that says “Meguro is a good area for restaurant”. One day when I was riding around Meguro Station, I found the word “Tenant wanted” in the building that was being renovated.

The place was located at a 15-minute walk from the station, because of that I was concerned, but when I looked at the inside, there was plenty of light coming in from the large window facing Meguro Dori, and there was a nice private school building across the street. (Oh, the view doesn’t change here), so I decided to sign a contract.

About 2-minute walk from “Indonesian School”, which holds events related to Indonesia, it will officially open as “CABE Meguro Dori restaurant” in December 2005, . At the same time, the founding restaurant became “CABE Musashikoyama”.

It was about a 15-minute walk from Meguro Station, so I gained a lot of experience in catering, lunch box delivery, opening department stores, outdoor events, in-store events, and media coverage. Except for the big Islamic holidays, it was opened everyday as well as during the New Year.

The events held in the restaurant were mainly at the Meguro-dori restaurant, but it is still a fun memory to hold an event called “Sanban no Kai” at the Musashi-Koyama restaurant. Before the restaurant opened, I often went to “Western food Sanban” next to the Musashi Koyama restaurant to eat rice, and uncles and aunties told me a lot of interesting stories.

After “Uncle Sanban” retired, I invited him as a special event to have him work on the menu of Sanban. I thought again that meals lead to precious memories and remembrance. In January 2016, we closed the “Meguro-dori restaurant”, which we have worked hard for 10 years due to the expiration of the contract period.