Americurry, a Blog Dedicated to Finding the Best Japanese Curry in the US
Cue salivary gland action: katsu curry from Go Go Curry in New York City.
I have a friend who scoffs at my lifelong love of Japanese curry, backing up his distaste by comparing the brown, goopy sauce to the post-digested remains of a meal gone wrong. While his words initially made me weep, I later thought, "Hey, that's your loss; you're missing out on one of the tastiest foods in the world." Thick, creamy, spicy, and sweet, it's heavenly on rice—and perhaps with a side of tonkatsu.
The people behind Americurry (aka my new favorite blog) know what I'm talking about. Wired blog editor Chris Kohler and videogame designer Karen Chu started the curry review blog to spread the word of this mindbogglingly delicious, but unfortunately not widely known dish (compare to more popular Japanese dishes like sushi and tempura, at least), while searching for the best curry in America. They rate curry joints on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with Go Go Curry in New York City being the only 5-star winner so far. Chris describes it as "Japanese curry as it is meant to be" in an "authentic atmosphere." I too am a fan of Go Go Curry; it's pretty much my only reason to ever enter those few unsightly blocks just south of Times Square.
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12 Comments:
The best japanese curry i've ever had outside of Asia is at Hurry Curry in LA. check it out:
http://unvegan.com/japanese/hurry-curry-of-tokyo/
alphazack at 4:17PM on 04/28/09
Just a heads up: If it is the blog editor of Wired, it's Chris Kohler, not Koeler.
Looks like a sweet site.
painaxl at 4:31PM on 04/28/09
@painaxl: Thanks, just corrected it!
roboppy at 4:36PM on 04/28/09
gogo is the only place i've been to that serves it like they do in japan.
please i love the retarded ambiance.
norman at 5:34PM on 04/28/09
I love love love Japanese curry. I grew up with it (and I'm no Japanese), and wasn't able to find any restaurants that served it once I moved out on my own. When I got the recipe from my mom (from the side of a Golden Curry box), I was surprised to learn it was Japanese-style curry; no wonder I couldn't figure out why Thai and Indian curries tasted so different. I make it at home now at least once a month, and have had a pretty good curry-don at Happy Bowl in downtown Portland, OR.
devlyn at 10:00PM on 04/28/09
karē banzai!
I've only been to Curry House in LA Little Tokyo... So I hope this puts more on my list.
lysine at 10:04PM on 04/28/09
Go Go is the first Japanese curry I ever had, and I love it but did not know until reading this that is regarded as this great and authentic. I have only since tried one other that really couldn't match Go Go great sauce.
Big B at 11:32PM on 04/28/09
I'm far from an expert in Japanese curry, but I do love Hurry Curry in LA a whole bunch!
hecooksshecooks at 2:02AM on 04/29/09
Having grown up on Japanese curry, it took me a bit to get accustomed to Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian curries -- Thai and Vietnamese were easier than Indian due to the spices and sweetness.
Japanese curry is a lot cheaper to get at a restaurant too, compared to Indian in Hawaii. It costs ~$30/person to eat Indian curry at a restaurant 20 years ago, but I could eat a plate of curry rice and chuck the tonkatsu in the trash or to a friend for $5-6.
I have passed up going to Beat Takeshi's curry house in Waikiki for years, along with CoCo Ichibanya. No time. One of these days...
Cassaendra at 12:18PM on 04/29/09
What are the taste differences between Indian and Japanese curry? I've grown up on Indian curry and have been hesitant to try Japanese due to everyone I ask telling me it wasn't worthwhile.
comicsan at 6:57PM on 04/29/09
@comicsan They kind of try to describe the difference on the site: http://www.americurry.com/what-is-japanese-curry/
To be honest my palate is not refined enough to describe the flavors, but like the site says, it's a bit sweeter, thicker, and not as spicy than some of the coconut milk based curries I've tried at Indian restaurants. I think of it as just homey and comforting brown sauce on rice. You should try it at least once! :)
caroliiine at 7:19PM on 04/29/09
@comicsan
The curry was brought into Japan from India via England, I think, so it was already converted to more like a stew/gravy by the British (of course they had a lot of Indian people in the country, so their stew-style curry did not live long).
The thick sauce goes especially well with short grain rice. As long as you eat it as a completely different dish-just don't even think about Indian curry- it is quite good.
Japanese curry is probably the only way you can have pork in your curry. haha
hmw0029 at 8:52PM on 04/29/09