Recently, our reporter Seiji Nakazawa has been checking out Tokyo restaurant recommendations from foreigners on Reddit, leading him to discover some unusual dining spots he’d never even heard of before.
His latest poke around Reddit unearthed another surprising recommendation, so he immediately headed out to try it, hopping on a train to taste Japanese curry at the chain that had received sterling reviews:
▼ Hinoya Curry
When it comes to Japanese curry chains, CoCo Ichibanya, or “CoCo Ichi”, is usually the name that comes to everyone’s lips, as it’s not only famous throughout Japan but overseas, where it has branches set up as well. Seiji was surprised to see so many foreigners on Reddit singing the praises of Hinoya instead, but when he arrived at the branch in front of Okachimachi station, he immediately saw the first thing it had going for it — the prices were cheaper.
▼ The katsu curry, for example, was 880 yen, compared to 917 yen at CoCo Ichi.
Stepping inside the store, Seiji felt it had a similar vibe to CoCo Ichi or Matsuya (a popular Japanese rice bowl chain that also serves curry), and its bar-stool seating gave him the impression that this was a place where you could grab a quick bite to eat before heading out again.
To order, simply purchase the meal you want from the ticket machine at the entrance and once it’s ready, your ticket number will be displayed on a screen in front of the kitchen, indicating it’s ready for you to pick up from the counter.
▼ Seiji ordered the “Dodeka! Katsu Curry” (“Huge Cutlet Curry“) for 980 yen.
When you go to pick up your food, you’ll find things like cutlery and seasonings and pickles, which you can add to your meal.
According to what he’d read on Reddit, fans had heaped praise on Hinoya’s curry with comments like: “It’s different from CoCo Ichi but it’s really good” and “It contains everything I want in a curry”, so Seiji was very keen to see if the reviews were correct.
▼ It certainly looked delicious, but how would it taste?
The curry roux was undoubtedly delicious — sweet on the palate, but followed by a tangy spiciness that gave it a wonderful depth of flavor and made it super easy to eat. If he had to compare it to anything, Seiji would liken it to a House brand Vermont curry, as it had something of a homemade curry taste to it, which nourished not only his belly but also his heart.
Unlike a chain like Matsuya, whose curry tastes a bit store-made to Seiji, the Hinoya curry conjured up memories of home-cooked meals that made him feel nostalgic for his childhood, prompting him to describe it as a real Japanese curry roux.
▼ For Seiji, this is an authentic Japanese curry.
If he had to complain about something, it’d be that the rice was a little dry. In that regard, Matsuya takes the edge on Hinoya, but in terms of curry roux, he’d have to give the win to Hinoya, saying it’s even better than CoCo Ichi, although you can’t beat CoCo Ichi for its curry toppings.
As of July 2023, there are 34 Hinoya stores in Tokyo, with more nationwide, and the chain has expanded overseas with locations in Bangkok and San Francisco. Seiji had no idea the chain had so many locations, but now he does, he’ll definitely be sure to seek them out during his travels.
Store information
Hinoya Curry Okachimachi store / 日乃屋カレー御徒町店
Address: Taito-ku, Ueno 5-27-1
東京都台東区上野5-27-1
Open:11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Closed: Year-end and New Year holiday period
Images © SoraNews24
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2023/07/11/japanese-curry-chain-becomes-a-hot-topic-with-foreigners-on-reddit-but-is-it-any-good/
22 Comments
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falseflagsteve
Went with my dear partner once to the store in Namba Walk only because 551 was packed with a queue. We shan’t return, oh no. Granted it was cheap but it was not particularly good. It was definitely not as good as CoCo that’s for sure.
I’d rate it 6 out of 10 max and that’s giving a extra point for how cheap it was. There’s a Piccolo near there, far better choice if you feel like a Japanese curry.
Moonraker
The more obsessed the people of the world become with mere sense of taste, the less they can taste anything. It's the big dumbing down in every sense.
tora
Curry roux containing palm oil and other cheap junk that is terrible for your health.
Make my own using a number of commonly available spices. Way better.
factchecker
No. Japanese curry is rubbish.
cleo
Curry made with roux is far too gloopy and fatty. When I want a curry I’ll either make my own from scratch or get a takeaway from our local Indian (run by Nepalis, but the food is authentic. And they understand what vegetarian means.)
餓死鬼
I like Japanese curry but it’s often quite expensive for what you get. For ¥980 I can get a tastier lunch set with dhal and one other curry, spicy salad, papad, rice, soup and lassi from my local Nepalese haunt.
bass4funk
Not a big fan of curry, not sure what all the fuss is about yes, I had some top-notch traditional Indian curry and other regions that make it, but it's just not my preferred meal, but I will eat it if there is nothing left. I like Japanese curry, but for what it is "Japanese" it's definitely not authentic curry, but it's ok from time to time.
nosuke
I like indian curry better its more spicy and tasty
tora
Good word, cleo!
Speed
It's amazing how much prices at CoCoIchi have gone up, especially recently in the last three to five years. This dish used to be about 690 yen right before Covid.
Just to give you an idea, I used to order CoCoIchi's katsu curry extra spicy in the 90s for about 600 yen. I know that was awhile ago but since the basic income hasn't really gone up during that time, this is a pretty big jump.
Still love CoCoIchi but it has gotten rather pricey.
Japantime
Japanese curry is different to Indian curry and also Thai curry. I don’t get people comparing them. They are not meant to be the same. I enjoy them both.
falseflagsteve
Japantime
know what you’re saying, I consider myself as a curry connoisseur yo see, what am I like eh. Well, there’s so much difference in these curries isn’t there. Well for starters Japanese curry was introduced from the U.K. in 19th Century So it wouldn’t be authentic Indian anyway
My favourite is always Indian curry, one that uses the spices correctly and fresh ingredients, no curry powder please! I always blend my own spices for each curry depending on the ingredients, I love it. It’s my moan hobby you see, find it very relaxing cooking
wallace
Curry was introduced to Japan by Indian sailors during the Meiji era (1868–1912). At the time the Indian subcontinent was under British colonial rule. Anglo-Indian officers of the Royal Navy brought the spice mix called curry powder to Japan. It was classified as yōshoku (Western food) since it came from the West.
falseflagsteve
wallace
Indeed bud not jut by Anglo Indians also British sailors , but the curries they made were based on the type made by the Royal Navy at the time which was used by the Navy worldwide. Japanese curry is very similar to the type I had at school for lunch when I was little.
Of course British curry was usually contains beef which would not have been edible to those of the Hindu religion, dunno bout Sikh’s though, my chum at school was one and he liked meat pies.
commanteer
Vague blanket condemnations are always convincing, eh?
There are many kinds of Japanese curries, like there are many kinds of Indian curries and Thai curries. It shows a lack of discernment to say an entire cuisine is rubbish. People are free to dislike whatever foods they choose to dislike, but it's just extreme narcissism to say that things one doesn't like are therefore rubbish.
falseflagsteve
Commanter
Sooo true my friend. Of course one can have a preference, as I stated before mine is Indian, usually Punjabi but also some South Indian Veg curries can be lovely, oh yeah.
falseflagsteve
We had a lovely meal last night at Erick South at Grand Front, it was double plus good. I had a large chicken biryani because I was soooo hungry. Three legs of chicken, lovely basmati and well spiced. Came with raita, little salad and you can have one little curry with it. About 1500 yen I believe, very reasonable.
Elvis is here
That sounds gross and unhealthy; laced with nasty salt and msg, never mind the growth hormones used on cheaply chickens. You never know what really does into those nasty corner street curries. A scandal when I was younger was stray cat was being used. You'd be better of financially and health-wise making your own for a fraction of the price. There are plenty of good Indian cook books in Kinokuniya and I saw one recently in Muji too. Good luck and enjoy.
falseflagsteve
Elvis
Erm, Grand Front is not a corner shop. Nothing wrong with MSG and salt is fine unless you have a pre existing health condition like high blood pressure. Limiting salt for healthy people is wrong, same as limiting egg intake, I eat 20-30 a week.
No need to use a cookbook, been making Indian food since the age of 6.
Elvis is here
If that is what you need to believe then so be it.
But that really is an unhealthy dietary habit. Ask any medical practitioner or do queer internet search.
falseflagsteve
Elvis
Yiu should learn about nutrition for the healthy not the average ie the majority in the West at least who are in poor health from teens until death. Avoiding excess salt means limiting intake of salt from packaged meals and processed meats not things like curry made fresh from natural ingredients that don’t require added salt as a flavour enhancer you see.
Elvis is here
If you say so. I'll take your advice with a pinch of salt. Lol.