Flavorful black curry that isn't similar to the other Japanese curry you saw in the Bay Area. The curry was on a thinner side but very flavorful. It complimented the velvety egg well. I also love the pickle on the side. Well done! The egg sandk was not as I expected. Not as good as the ones at konbini stores in Japan. I would add more mayo to the egg. Service was pretty fast. You can also place an order online ahead of time. I will go back to get their katsu curry next time. Yummm read more

Dela Curo Curry - Omu curry rice - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came here for lunch during the week. I ordered the tonkatsu curry. The curry taste was different from the regular curry flavor. It was sweet not savory. The texture of it was more runny/loose than thick. Not bad, just different. The tonkatsu though was overcooked. The meat was tough and not tender. The breading though was fried ok. read more

The best black curry katsu I've had. I can't speak on any other food items because this is all we order. We make a special trip out to Berkeley just for this!!! read more

Monday, December 12th, 2024 13:00 Omu Curry ($14.00): rice, beef curry, omelet, string beans, and Japanese pickles - generous amount of rice and egg - omelet was cooked just right for omurice, with a soft-scrambled interior - curry was underwhelming with not much depth of flavor and a thin consistency Service: - order on their website and pick up at the counter - all orders are packed as take-out, which made for a lesser eating experience for dining in - staff was friendly but curt Ambiance: - located in a shared space with Berkeley Bowl West Cafe - food-court-like seating read more

Dela Curo Curry - Omu Curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Katsu curry, onion rings, and omurice curry ! The onion rings were in a light batter - nice sour cream dip that went with it! Really flavorful and thic curry- I think the katsu was a bit tough for me, but overall enjoyed it. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a great curry spot inside Berkeley Bowl. I wanted to try it for a long time but, being in SF, always found their opening hours weird (no weekends for example). Finally had an opportunity to try it and really loved it. The black curry is some of the best Japanese curry you can find in the SF Bay, and better than many I tried while in Japan. The sando's on the other hand I would pass on next time. The bread is a bit too hard/tough, and the inside not quite moist enough. But if you come here for the curry -- especially if you've had Japanese curry before -- you'll really love it. Plenty of seating inside Berkeley Bowl's cafeteria, so this makes for a nice quick lunch. read more

Decent curry spot in Swan's market. The katsu was crispy, and the curry was decent. The sauce was rich, but not overly rich. I tried a bite of my friend's chicken, and I have to say that the chicken was a lot more tender than the pork katsu. I think chicken is the move here. The rice to curry to meat ratio was perfect because I didn't end up with extra rice or extra sauce. The plate also came with a pickled plum paste (I am guessing), which was nice. The menu is a little on the pricier end, but I would say that Dela Curo Curry is worth a try, albeit not life changing. read more

Dela Curo Curry - 6/6/2023 katsu curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is a pop up located inside the Berkeley bowl cafe only on some days. The Japanese curry wasn't what I was expecting, and I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the "usual" kind. Their version is very dark and sweet and tastes a lot like the Japanese "bulldog" fruit and vegetable or tonkotsu sauce. We also got the steak special and that was really excellent, though. read more

Ordered to go and I really nice the to go box. it separated the curry and rice. The fried pork chop was crispy. Staff is friendly but the cook time was a little bit long. The store is located in a food court. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Spicy fried chicken curry- Perfectly crispy chicken with just the right amount of heat that is spicy without taking away from the flavor. I've never had black curry before and this made me want more. Loved the side of cabbage that gave a nice refreshing balance to the meal. read more

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This is real deal Japanese curry. On my first visit I was picking up curry for a friend and did not get any for myself which was a decision I continue to regret. On my second visit, we came for curry to celebrate said friend's birthday. That's when I discovered just how good this curry is (even though I had already been hearing it for awhile). One bite in, I was a believer. Dela Curo is a simple stand inside of Swan's Market but don't let its humble home dissuade you. If you are a Japanese curry lover, you must come try their uniquely savory black curry. read more

Dela Curo Curry specializes in Japanese curry that is good but left me wanting more. Located in Swan's Market, Dela Curo Curry is one of many shops in a food hall. However, it recently benefited by getting a mention in the Michelin guide as a restaurant to visit in Oakland! As mentioned earlier, they are known for their Japanese curry which has a black color to it that is a little more thick in texture because of the dark roux-sauce that is used to prepare it. I appreciated that it had a deeper umami flavor. I did have it with the omelete and pork tonkatsu which were both well cooked. However, there was definitely something missing. Perhaps it was a bit more vegetable pieces or dressing on the side salad? I could understand that maybe they didn't want to detract from the flavor of the curry, but something extra in this regard would have been helpful. There was also a lot of mentions for the fruit sando which was basically a cream filled sandwich with fruit. I really enjoyed the cream which was a light fluffy texture that was perfect against the fruit. However, the bread felt a little rubbery to me especially at the end pieces. Therefore, I was overall just okay with it. The service was pretty great. We came by as they were finishing up and so they offered to pack us up a few samples of their egg sando (also pretty good except for the bread). In terms of parking, it can be difficult depending on the time of day. If you are lucky you will find street parking! Overall, while there was a lot to appreciate at Dela Curo Curry, it just misses the mark in terms of being amazing... read more

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first time trying black curry! We got the spicy chicken and omurice. curry was flavorful, and reminded me a bit of jjajangmyeon with a slightly charred taste (maybe because the color too). the stall was inside a vibrant food hall, where you order and can choose either indoor or outdoor seating. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Omurice & spicy chicken - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Oh man, this place is a gem! We were looking for Japanese curry and my partner stumbled across this place and thought it was going to be the standard curry of sorts but instead it's this black curry with a really strong, intense flavour that is MIND-BLOWING delicious! Located in Swan's Market, you order at the counter and get served in a food court type area, so it's noisy and there's lots of people wandering around (at least there was when we tried it), but once we got our food (spicy chicken curry, vegetarian curry, and a side of onion rings), we didn't care about all the chaos around us. Despite being really busy, our food came out quick and was beautifully presented. We dove in and cleared out everything. Neither of us had ever had curry like this before so it was an absolute surprise and treat for lunch. This is definitely on our radar to come back to for future lunches. would recommend. read more

Just so you know, I'm not that sophisticated when it comes to my relationship with curry. My mom made it for us when her cupboard was running bare of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Tuna Helper. She'd make curry with carrots and potatoes over rice with packets of S&B Golden Curry because that's what everybody from Japan ate. That's why I always expect curry to have that golden brown color. My okasan wouldn't steer me wrong, would she? Chef-owner Chikara Ono shatters convention with a unique black Japanese curry, a glossy, beef-based sauce that results from caramelizing each of the ingredients individually. It was quite a dramatic sight on Jamie W.'s and my white plates. We chose different protein accompaniments. Jamie ordered the $15.50 Fried Chicken Curry (photo: https://bit.ly/31CFcIF), while I went for the $16 Katsu Curry with breaded Berkshire pork cutlet (photo: https://bit.ly/3pv90ix). Both came with shredded cabbage and shibazuke pickled vegetables. Our verdict was that the curry was delicious and the meaty portions were quite generous. I do need to try the $14 Omurice Curry because they're known for their Japanese-style omelettes. Next time. What couldn't wait until next time was our late-breaking decision to share the $5 Fruit Sundo, their other specialty - fruit and whipped cream between slices of milk bread (photo: https://bit.ly/3xZVTd1). Not too sweet and a fitting dessert. The tables were appropriately spaced at Swan's Market. We'll be back for more, Ono-san. FOOD - 4 stars...meaty rice plates with glossy black curry AMBIANCE - 4 stars...Swan's Market has effectively been set up for distancing SERVICE - 4.5 stars...conscientious TOTAL - 4 stars...I like my curry just like my coffee now RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ read more

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A whiff of this took me IMMEDIATELY back to Tokyo underground eateries. It is as authentic as it gets when it comes to flavor, smell, texture, the whole deal. I only docked 1 point off because I wish it came with a bit more cabbage but otherwise, I have zero complaints. It was also very interesting to try black curry. I've never had it before (only the traditional japanese ones) and I would say that the flavor is slightly stronger, a litttttle smokey, and definitely all around amazing. If you asked me what type of japanese curry I'd prefer, I'd be a happy camper with either :). I got the tonkatsu curry and thought it was really filling, fresh, and delicious. I also got the onion rings which I thought were really tasty and a good portion for the price. The sour cream dip on the side literally made me feel like I was having sour cream and onion chips haha. If it's a cold rainy day and it's been one of those long ones, I would 200% think of getting this. P.S. I also appreciated the takeout container and it's own unique spot for curry (as oppose to a separate container for that). read more

Dela Curo Curry - Onion Rings- $4! - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came to Swan's Market to have dinner with a friend and decided to get the vegetable curry from Dela Curo. The curry is actually quite dark, rich, and strong (maybe a little stronger than my taste) which I feel is a more distinctive quality compared to other places I've bought Japanese curry from, and I like the array of savory vegetables that they provided with it. I just wish the quantity was a little bit larger but otherwise decent food, and there's outdoor and indoor tables at Swan's Market if you want to eat there. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Vegetable curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came after seeing much hype about their deep dark curry, and maybe because I came with such high hopes, I wasn't as blown away as I thought I would be. I really need to walk into things with zero expectations. My partner and I being naruto fans immediately compared the curry to Rock Lee's curry of life and we were amazed at how dark brown it was. We normally make our Japanese curry using the store bought cubes and have always had a golden brown color. I don't know if I imagined it but I tasted a hint of chocolate. Don't get me wrong, the curry was yummy and definitely hit the spot. We both agreed the fried shrimp was better than the fried chicken. The show stealer was the dessert. It's not that sweet, which we liked. If I'm back in the area, I would definitely want to try other dishes. Maybe their omurice curry! read more

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My friend suggested me to go to this curry place and I finally had a chance to go for lunch. It's in swan depot which has a similar vibe to Chelsea market in NY. There's street parking in the vicinity. It's more of a food court style vs a restaurant and their curry is definitely western style 洋風 Japanese curry not the Japanese style Japanese curry if you know what I mean. It wasn't bad, it was solid but I think it's pretty pricy for what it is in my opinion. ($17 without tax). read more

Dela Curo Curry - Tonkatsu curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sundo is open along with Dela Curo. replaced D-dama. there's presently only 1 item on the menu for Sundo: "Fruit Sando" (5) unless one wants wine, juice, water, or sake with it. eats: Fruit Sundo (5) -the bread was chewy, not fluffing the strawberry and grapes were fresh. -the whipped cream was the high light. -premade slightly refrigerated sandwich was a slight turn off. 4.5 stars- room temperature fluffy bread would be the best, this came close. read more

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If you like Japanese curry I think you should eat here. If you think Japanese curry is just ok you will think this is just ok If you have not tried Japanese curry-- it is not like Thai curry or Indian curry so think"sauce" and not curry ( I'm not a fan of Japanese curry in general but my husband is) Fried Chicken curry: if the chicken had been freshly fried this would have been better. Curry had nice pieces of mushrooms. Shrimp curry: batter was heavy. I removed it. Shrimp was ok. Curry sauce is better than other Japanese curry in the area Milk bread sandos are sweet and lovely-- if you like squishy white sweet bread and cream try it. They also have samples read more

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Their Katsu dishes are well worth the money bc it can food 2 petite ladies easily. The black curry has a slight sweet taste with a mild spiciness to it. The chicken Katsu was fried to a beautiful crisp & may not have been marinated so with the sauce it paired perfectly. While I heard the Fruit Sando was a must try item, I thought I'd order that. With the fresh cream layered between fresh grapes & strawberries my 1st bite reminded me of the Asian birthday cake that you don't need a fork to eat with. The Fruit Sando was fresh & my curiosity fulfilled, so I don't think I would order it again. Parking can be hard, but with Covid lurking around I think fewer people are out & about these days, so I didn't have a problem. For a different kind of Curry, Dela Curo Curry can certainly fulfill that need. read more

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Dela Curo Curry takes over the B-Dama space in Swan's Market in Old Oakland (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dela-curo-curry-oakland?select=kJBhL9s83Jt0p2QK1tkxhQ). It's a Japanese Black Curry restaurant by Chikara Ono (who also owned B-Dama) with a small menu of Black Curry over rice, katsu, or omelet along with a fruit sandwich (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dela-curo-curry-oakland?select=B_ZJdn2CdalfRvG46DJ81A). The black curry is velvety smooth and delicious with chunks of American Wagyu inside (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dela-curo-curry-oakland?select=4oEj1W0wj97Uu8bs_AoiRg). The black pork katsu (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dela-curo-curry-oakland?select=wJPfK89dOUPg9_FGu1gDyw) was crisp and moist and the omelet (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dela-curo-curry-oakland?select=_iXXe4QA5ENm2pinc_aXAQ) was maybe too delicately made with some runny egg inside. I like the takeout containers which have a separate spot for the curry (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dela-curo-curry-oakland?select=gau73sulnFNA3JFEx5QhtQ) so you can use as much or as little as you want and it won't soggify the katsu on the trip home. A different and delicious take on the Japanese comfort food. read more

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The black comes from really cooking the rue into a deep color with tiny pieces of meat. Very flavorful curry and the rice is cooked beautifully displayed on a large round plate. You can also order karage chicken as a topping with the curry, in this case I ordered spicy karage with curry. It came with 3 very big pieces of krarge with decent amount of spiciness, somewhere between mild jalapeño to red pepper. With the sauce it mellowed out the spice. Having the curry compliment the fried chicken was really good. With a serving of rice and house pickled cabbage, the meal came together very well. I would recommend as this would be great for kids and a hungry person. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Spicy fried chicken curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love their curry! So flavorful and complex. We usually get the omurice since they do a good job of not overcooking the egg! Then we get a fruit sando for dessert because who hates fruit and cream??? read more

We had had lunch nearby and since we still had a hour left on the meter, we decided to take a walk and see what was going on up the street at Swans. There were a few places that caught our eye but the real grabber was Dela Curo. We had this style of curry last year on the Peninsula. Having it available on our side of the bay made us want to try this version. The set-up is pretty simple. You can sit at the counter or at one of the tables in the "common" area. We placed our order at the counter and got a table number to put on our table so they could find us. What's really interesting is that this space covers two different concepts. The curry and another called Sunc? The question mark is because I couldn't find a review or mention of it anywhere on yelp other than they offer one item, a whipped cream, grape and strawberry sandwich on Japanese Milk Bread. Hmmm. Maybe next time.... We ordered the Curry with Tonkatsu. It comes with rice and shredded cabbage. The Tonkatsu was perfect. just the right amount of fat to keep it moist without making you feel like your arteries are clogging. The thickness of the meat as well as the Panko was perfect. Combined with the curry, it was an excellent dish. The reason that I dropped one star is because I'm a bit of a temperature snob. Dishes that are soupy or heavy on gravy need to be served super hot. I did talk to the staff member about the open concept of the building allowed a lot of wind to blow in and cool things down. I suggested that if the plates were oven proof, a few minutes in the oven before serving would warm up the plates and help keep the food hot. At any rate, if you're in the area and want to try a different kind of curry that isn't ridiculously spicy or salty, drop on in and be pleasantly surprised! read more

Dela Curo Curry - Counter seating for both Dela Curo and Sünc (tried to look it up and couldn't find anything) - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

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One of the best curries I've ever had outside of my own home. Ordered the Omurice Curry along with all the proteins they offer to try a little bit of everything. The tonkatsu was good, the usual affair and paired well with the curry sauce with is like a mix between a traditional japanese curry and demiglace. The chicken was a bit dry and bland and the spicy sauce wasn't really anything to write home about. The spicy sauce on it didn't really go well with anything either because it kind of just tasted like Cholula. The shrimp...don't get it. I was honestly expecting a breadcrumb style shrimp like most other curry joints but this was just a tempura battered shrimp that wasn't very crispy and the shrimp itself was very fishy tasting. The omelette was wonderful though and I'd come back for that and the sauce alone. Not much to comment on regarding the service since it's just counter ordering in a cafeteria style setting. The place is situated in a nice little market with a quaint atmosphere and some other stores nearby. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Went to a lunch date at Swan's and I ordered the spicy fried chicken curry. The star was definitely the curry, the chicken was juicy but not battered, and it came with a small slaw with the plate. The food portion was decent and I was surprise that I ate everything. Great place to eat for a quick lunch! read more

A take-out counter Japanese curry spot with Michelin cred, and my second Japanese curry experience this year - I went to Curry Hyuga in Burlingame in March. This was great (and quite substantial given the price), but I think I preferred my first experience more because there were more options. But realistically, this is a great value in a nice part of Oakland and the onion rings were so plentiful they lasted me a couple hours. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Onion rings - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What a special place! This is a perfect pit stop for lunch, especially if you're around during the Old Oakland Farmers Market on Fridays. This place is tucked inside Swan's Market. You order at the counter and then they give you a number, which you place on a table inside or outside in their covered parklet. I had their vegetable/yasai black curry a long time ago, back when they just opened. I was happy to see that their menu expanded to include both pork and chicken katsu curry, as well as a shrimp curry. They also serve sandos (sandwiches)! I ordered a katsu sando for lunch on a Friday and it hit the spot. It was a crispy, a good chunk of pork cutlet, and the milk bread was soft and fluffy. The only feedback I had was to add more kewpie mayo sauce or whatever sauce they usually add onto the bread slices, because it didn't really have a flavor other than the katsu itself. I was glad I ordered the black curry as a side order, which I could dip the sandwich slices into. It brought a lot of deep flavors. But if I hadn't ordered that as a side, the sando would've tasted a little bland. I would highly recommend coming here to try their curry dishes, though! They're hefty portions, so it's a fair price in my opinion. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Katsu sando - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Order the katsu curry and you'll find yourself with a rich, spicy, dark, glossy, fragrant curry that will get the attention of everyone around you in Swan's Market. As it arrived the guy next to me looked at it longingly and said "What is *that?* I'm getting that tomorrow." The katsu itself is not quite as delicate as San Francisco's Katsu-Ya (which absolutely sets the worldwide standard IMHO) but the curry is just so good and deeply flavorful that it easily makes up for it. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Katsu curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of the best katsu curry dishes I've had. The black curry is super savory and full of flavor. I didn't think i was going to eat as much as I did, but it was hard to stop eating! lol. It's a simple dish, though the Dela Curo Curry version is nothing but! It's located in the food hall and street parking is do-able on a weekday. read more

This place is located in Swan's market. It's a very neat place to visit as there are multiple places to get food from. Anyway, this is probably one of the best Japanese curries I've had! The katsu was very crispy and cooked just right. If I lived in Oakland I would come back all the time. I went right as it got busy and unfortunately the register had an issue when it was my turn to order, so I had to order online. I had to wait quite a while for my food as others got their food before me even though they ordered well after me. The staff did feel bad for this mistake and gave us some free drinks, which was very kind of them. I think it's a great place to eat, but just be aware it can get really busy around lunch! read more

Dela Curo Curry - Katsu curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I haven't eaten out alone since I can remember, a holdover from my 20s, when I felt self conscious and sure that everyone was feeling sorry for me for being alone. Nina's out of town this week so I decided to have lunch here again so I could buy more cherries and asparagus afterward. I ordered and this time Jeanette took my order. I didn't recognize her because she looked so elegant w/ her makeup on, but when I asked her name and greeted her she remembered where Nina and I had sat last week. When my name was called to pick up my food, I struggled to my feet but the young man behind the counter brought it to me before I could take another step. The curry was as delicious as it was last week and no one paid the least bit of attention to me, unsurprisingly. Guess I may be eating out alone in the future if I'm in the mood! read more

Protip: You can ask them for a sample of the sauce before you order. Curry sauce is a bit on the sweet side, but in general the flavors and quality of food here are good. I wasn't a fan of the fried ebi, i liked the large shrimp, but the hot sauce seemed out of place. Probably would have been better served with curry sauce. I tried a friend's egg salad sammie, and that was really good. I regret not buying one togo for later. The thick asian style butter toast was so soft and pillowy. and the egg salad had just the right amount of cream so it was light and fluffy. I would come back for the egg salad sammie, and maybe skip the curry... read more

Their black curry reminds me more of Korean jajang sauce than Japanese curry, but not complaining as it's very delicious. I've had the fried chicken curry, shrimp curry, pork tonkatsu curry and the Chicken katsu sandwich. The curry is very light and mildly sweet. I feel like I could eat this many times a week and not get sick of it because of its delicate flavor. The fried meats were all tasty, but I've only had takeout here so often its not as crispy compared to eating it there. I personally liked the fried shrimp the best. The chicken sandwich comes on milk bread which I loved, but I thought overall it was a tad bland. I think the slaw could have used a little more seasoning. Definitely recommend checking out the curry if you like mild subtle flavors. read more

Dela Curo Curry - Fried chicken black curry - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love Japanese curry and Dela Curo's black curry is in a league of its own. I've never tasted a curry quite like this before. I'm used to the more traditionally brown Japanese curries but this black curry is more intense and a bit tart! This place is a refreshing change from a lot of the East Bay Japanese curry places that seem to be chasing Coco Ichibanyan. My husband and I ordered: Katsu Curry - The pork was crispy and perfectly fried. I liked the little side salad of cabbages and really enjoyed the pickled veggie on the side, I wish there was more of that! Spicy Fried Curry Chicken - Large pieces of deep fried chicken thighs drizzled with a spicy red sauce. If you're a spice lover, this sauce will not be spicy at all for you. I personally felt like the spicy sauce competed too much either the flavor of the curry so next time I would order just the regular fried chicken - my husband still really enjoyed the dish with the spicy sauce. Fried mochi with green tea ice cream - these were so so yummy. Light, chewy, bouncy, and perfect with the fluffy green tea ice cream. Such a good contrast with the curries. Must try! I'm so glad to have tried this place, I will be back (: read more

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I honestly found myself craving this week's after I had it and I think that's how you know something is good. I got it to go but I think next time I'll try and eat there. These onions rings are amazing they remind me of funyuns but better. They were soggier when I got home but it was still really good. The Katsu curry was so so soooo good. It also comes with a small side of pickled veges. The fruit sando was the best part. The milk bread was nice and thick, the cream and fruit were sweet but not overly sweet. Would return again!! read more

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Tonkatsu curry - big fan of the black curry flavor. Could've used more curry. Tonkatsu was fine, I've had juicier and more seasoned tonkatsu. Loved the pickles. 5 stars on flavor, but the amount of curry given, as well as the lukewarm temperature of the curry, drops it down to 4 stars. read more

The portion they gave was quite large AND the curry had a unique taste to it. The workers were very kind and made my food fairly quickly. This shop is located in the back of a shared area so it's always crowded and full of people. It's a very fun spot to go check out. read more