The food hits the spot! The curry is the perfect balance of sweet, rich, and spicy. The service was great as well. The staff is very nice. The place has a chill vibe and is great to eat with friends or alone. read more

Delicious Japanese curry. Love the house made curry that is so rich and delicious. Good portions, hearty plate, and fresh. I give it a 4.5 because the chicken katsu was not as juicy and tender as I expected. The chicken karaage was excellent. Juicy and tender, perfectly crispy. It had a great blend of garlic and ginger. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Chicken Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Popped in for a quick lunch since this location is super convenient for anyone near campus. I ordered the chicken katsu curry and a five-piece side of karaage. The curry tasted similar to Japanese curry made at home with store-bought curry cubes, which I mean as a compliment. It was comforting and familiar, though there was much more sauce than carrots or potatoes, so eating it with rice is essential. The chicken katsu had a nicely crisp crust, but the meat itself--likely chicken breast--was unfortunately quite dry. The karaage, on the other hand, was delicious. The chicken, probably thigh meat, was well seasoned, juicy, and coated in a crispy, flavorful batter. I think the katsu would be much better if they used the same type of meat as the karaage. Overall, I'd come back for the karaage, but the chicken katsu curry is probably something you could make better at home. read more

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3.5 stars $17 Porkatsu curry: very solid if plain. Pork katsu by itself... let's say it needs the curry. $8 3pc karaage: good, juicy, sizeable pieces. Heavy on the ginger I think? $3 shr cabbage: good dressing and a nice add. Can eat again. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry, Side 3pc Karaage, SMALL - Shredded Cabbage Salad with Sesame Dressing - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here on a weekend day and saw that this place was pretty empty, but had a sign for "award-winning" curry, so we stopped by. We were not disappointed. There are a few seats at a counter and then another 2-3 seats at a window-facing table. We sat at the counter and ordered a chicken karagge curry and a veggie croquette curry. The food was so good I ordered a chicken katsu curry to-go, which they pack well, separating the curry from the chicken so it doesn't get soggy. We both thought it was the most delicious curry we've had in awhile. It was very creamy and had perfect texture. However, the only complaints I have are that: 1. The veggie croquette was a little odd with fewer veggies and more mush inside, though still fresh and tasty. 2. Although I ordered a veggie curry, the base was still a "beef curry" and there were little pieces of beef in my curry. This made the dish much heavier than I thought and not something I expected. So this place might not be best for vegetarians given the default options. 3. They ask if you want pickles on the side, as if they would charge extra, but I don't think they do. Overall though, I would definitely come back and maybe ask if they have other curry bases and see how those might be. Overall, a very solid Japanese curry place. read more

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Ordered the pork katsu curry and 2 pieces of karaage and it was delicious. The curry itself was thicker and sweet with a hint of Japanese spicy heat and umami flavor. The pork was tender and the karaage was crispy and juicy inside as well. Definitely worth checking out. Inside was smaller but clean and service was quick! read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry karaage - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

Nippon Curry is, without a doubt, the best Japanese curry offering near the UC Berkeley campus (an area where there are many choices for this popular dish). My daughter and I shared the chicken katsu curry and a side of potato croquettes on our first visit to Nippon Curry. My daughter was a fan, calling it "outstanding,"and we've been back many times since. Now she also likes to add a shrimp to our standing order. Don't come with a group; there's very limited seating here. There's some standing counter space but it's too tall for younger kids, so your best bet is to visit in a pair or get your curry to go. Seriously tasty curry! read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Side of Japanese Croquettes - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Curry is simple food and hard to really mess up. This place did well for what you expect for this type of dish. A standard Japanese curry sauce with your choice of protein, if desired. The pork tonkatsu tasted freshly made, though was not impressively thick or anything, and the breading didn't stick and came off sometimes so a bit of an execution issue. The karaage was chonky and juicy inside. One of the better karaage in general that we've had in a while. Optional Japanese pickes on the side. Pretty hearty satisfying meal. $19-20+ per dish after tax. Seating inside is only counter seating or stand up. No true dining tables type of experience.. more a quick eat and go or to-go spot read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork tonkatsu curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came to Nippon Curry for a quick lunch. Service was fast and friendly. The curry is mild and not too spicy - how I like it. I got the mixed seafood that comprises of shrimp, oyster, and crab cream croquet. The shrimp was excellent. The oyster is also amazing, this was plump and juicy. Other Curry places that offer oyster is often scrawny and dry. The Kani was a surprise because it was mostly cream, I was expecting more like crab cake. read more

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Nippon Curry opened where where Ladle & Leaf was a year ago. Minamalist seating and vanilla walls. Dine in & take out. Steady flow of patrons. Quick efficient, courteous service @ front counter. Ordered. Pd. Got food in 7 minutes. Offerings: (Japanese): many curry varietals. Sides. Menu on front window. Bites: Karaage Curry (17) with red pickles -3 large pieces of marinated (garlic, ginger, sake. Soy sauce) chicken thighs. Very moist, tender & juicy tasting of fresh meats used, not frozen. -karaage & curry rested upon freshly steamed short grain rice. Curry had 3 phases of flavas due to different ingredients: sweet (onions), nuanced complexity (beef, veggies, proprietary ingredients, heat (white & black peppers) 4.5 stars worthy. Quantity: reasonable. Quality: proprietary formula *Japanese curry formulated in 1900's. **3 locations in U.S. ***Hinoya beef curry used here won 2013 Kanda Grand Prix read more

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Ordered the chicken katsu curry with a small portion of rice. The space was busy yet quiet which is a nice surprise. The curry was pretty good and complex and I really enjoyed it. The rice was perfect and the dish came with an appropriate amount of fukujinzuke. The chicken katsu was just okay for me; it was a tad chewy but not dry. Nippon curry definitely stands out within this area but the steep price point (~$18 after tax) makes it difficult to justify coming back unless I absolutely needed to eat Japanese curry. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Chicken Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

Staff was great and the protein was pretty good. As for the curry I have tried store bought Japanese curry that I thought was better. They are unable to adjust the spice level and imo it's a pretty basic curry. Large amount of food for the price, and again the staff was great. I didn't care for the curry croquettes at all. Fun to try. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Curry Croquettes Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Stumbled across this place while walking around in Berkeley on a Sunday afternoon with my friend. It was so cold so curry was perfect! It's a small restaurant with bar seating. We ordered on the kiosk and our food was out quite fast. The portions are huge here (has a lot of rice). I got the pork katsu with cheese it was so yummy (just a lil heavy) and my friend got the chicken katsu (5/5). Would come back :) read more

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I was craving Japanese curry and came across this place. I ordered the Pork Katsu Curry and the Karaage through DoorDash. Everything tasted delicious, and the flavor was spot on. I actually liked their karrage more than the pork katsu. The pork katsu crust was a bit mushy by the time it arrived, but the karaage stayed crispy and flavorful! read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

A simple Japanese curry house next to the UC Berkeley. We came here after college visit for a quick bite. There were only bar seatings. Service was fast and courteous. It was interesting that all the meals were served on paper plate. Maybe it saves on dish washing? The pork katsu was not too thick and pretty crispy. The sauce was flavorful and mild. This is definitely a solid place for college kids and visitors. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork katsu curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was happy to see that Nippon Curry has expanded to this minimalist off-campus eatery because it is the ideal post-class meal if you don't feel like grabbing a slice at Blondie's. I'm not a student though I was one in a galaxy far, far away. I just happen to see it from the crosswalk and felt emboldened to try it given my positive experience at the Marina location (review: https://yelp.to/HrL7uYzeQa). There was only one other customer when I entered, and he had his head on the counter (photo: https://yelp.to/vuMfB9agpM). I was praying it had nothing to do with the food. Just kidding. I decided to order the $17 Karaage Curry because I was in the mood for fried chicken thigh meat. You get three hefty chunks here ladled with their curry sauce made with a beef roux (photo: https://yelp.to/xgibQEdMOP). It covered the rice though interestingly not the plate. I sat at the window counter, the most unobtrusive, anti-social seat in the place. I just figured I shouldn't be hanging with the cool kids who happened to be trickling in while I was eating. Anyway, the combination of the crunchy karaage, tender thigh meat, and mildly spicy curry really worked well together here. Even with both Muracci's (review: https://yelp.to/5Gb0F21w23) and Champion's (review: https://yelp.to/zdbzNZr5fC) down Telegraph, I'll probably come back. FOOD - 4 stars...well executed homestyle curry with tasty karaage AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...quite sparse looking SERVICE - 3.5 stars...not that much interaction TOTAL - 4 stars...always up for trying another curry option RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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Nippon Curry happened to be right next door to where I was getting my drink, so it was very conveniently located, and with the cold weather, warm curry sounded perfect. I ordered the Plain Curry Rice. I somehow thought that the curry being made with beef meant it would have beef inside, but when it came out, it was just the curry with rice. Nonetheless, I thought the flavor of the curry was very good and it had a hint of spiciness. I also thought the pickles were delicious. There are a few stools to sit which made it very convenient. I also thought the prices overall were pretty fair for the portion size you were getting. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

Definitely worth the hype! This spot it nestled right across from Berkeley, a college eats spot. I ordered the beef katsu with a croquette and my friend got the pork. The service was speedy as it's an order at the register and sit kind of place. Overall, the inside had a clean aesthetic-- no decorations only awards. read more

The restaurant is next to the Berkeley campus. It's a counter style restaurant. Simple. The food was delicious. Service was fast. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ordered the chicken katsu curry and it was just ok. The chicken was edible but dry and flat. The curry sauce was also just ok. My friends ordered pork or karaage and those seemed like better options read more

The breading of the pork katsu was fresh and crispy, although the meat inside was a little tough. The curry was definitely the best part of the plate--it's smoky and perfectly seasoned. I would've preferred the curry to katsu ratio to be higher, given how much rice there was. Pickled veggies add a nice flavor contrast. Not sure why they serve on paper plates. They also have disposable utensils (their small plastic spoons are very nice). Limited seating put the cashier and register directly in front of me, and it was a bit awkward to eat there. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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When you love potato croquettes and find a spot that serves it with Japanese curry + rice. I was today years old when having this combo. Bonuses were getting a window seat, parking right in front of the restaurant and best of all momma + daughter time. Nice customer service and very clean. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Chicken Katsu Curry & a window seat. - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Nippon Curry is location directly across from UCB campus, so parking is a bit difficult . We got there 30 mins before they closed, so unfortunately they only had to go at that time. I ordered the chicken katsu curry. The curry had a delicious flavor and was perfectly rich. read more

It's the way I enjoy Japanese curry. The Takatsu pork chop was delicious. It comes with a small side of pickled veggies and plenty of rice. Easy to order on the machine and pay with a credit card. Comes quickly and you can order for takeout. The two times I was there, the wait person, a student, was very pleasant and kept the long diner like counters clean. It's a very comfortable streamline shiny eatery. There's enough curry to cover about 85% of the rice but they charge you if you ask for more. So the one thing I would change is that do you want a little more curry to finish the rice, they can give you a little dollop. If you want a lot more curry to finish your rice then yes they can charge you. I will be back . read more

The staff was super helpful with helping pick an item on the menu--I'd never had Japanese curry before! The Karaange(?) curry with katsu chicken was DELICIOUS. I was super hungry so needed some satisfying comfort food. It's fast-casual with a counter at the window and inside with stools. They also have a standing counter for people who want to eat and run. My only qualm is the to-go containers, bags, and utensils are plastic--but I can understand needing the cheaper option while getting off the ground. I noticed the dine-in plates were compostable so light just eat at the counter next time. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Karaage Curry / Chicken Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

Soft opening starting May 22nd! For the soft opening, there is a reduced price for lots of the curries -- for the pork and chicken karrage it was $12 instead of $16. No dine in currently but it will be added later. The flavor of the chicken karrage is great! Not too hard, very crunchy but soft at the same time, and the curry sauce adds spices but not enough to overwhelm the texture. The pork Katsu is crisped to perfection and the sides of pickles add lots. Definitely a good spot to try out and to support! read more

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Quick, tasty, and hearty. That would sum up my experience at Nippon Curry. I came during my lunch hour and ordered a pork katsu curry for dine-in. It was ready in under 3 minutes and had a great ratio for the curry, meat, and rice. The pickles were a nice palate cleanser for each bite. There's not a ton of seating and it's all at a forward facing bar, so maybe not the best place for a group. The inside is extremely minimalistic and white, so no bells and whistles to distract from the food. I just plugged in my earbuds, had a nice meal, and left. You bus the table and serve yourself water so it's a pretty simple experience. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went to Nippon Curry during their $5 Curry Plate Dine-In promo with Doordash and I was really impressed!! After having their curry at the SF location, I can confirm this spot is just as delicious. The portion is really good and makes for the perfect convenient, quick, yet satisfying pick me up, especially late at night. The seating is bar style so it can be a bit crowded around 7PM, definitely more of a place for togo or a quick bite. I'd really recommend the pork katsu curry, the katsu portion was huge and the curry was so rich and flavorful! read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

After seeing the Nippon Curry sign in Berkeley, I decided to visit the restaurant the next time I was in the area. Sonner than later I visited the restaurant during lunch on Sunday. I walked in and saw only a party of two already seated. It wasn't busy and I was fine with that. I instantly saw the kiosk for self-ordering. I was originally looking for Chicken Katsu Curry and ended up ordering the Pork Katsu Curry. I asked the cashier about this and it sounded like Chicken Katsu Curry may make an appearance on the menu in the future. Along with my entree, I chose a Shisho + Apply Yuzu drink. I dined in for my meal. While I was waiting for my order, the cashier chatted with me about current events in the area over the weekend and the weather. I appreciated this as she was able to balance having a chat with a customer, preparing orders to go, and also helping other customers. Thank you! It took a couple of minutes for my entree to come and I was happy with what I received. The color of the curry was amazing and I could instantly see the seasoning I craved in Japanese-style curry in general! I didn't expect a paper plate to be used to serve my meal but I should have seen it coming when I grabbed disposable utensils prior. The quality of my meal brought me back to my first visit to Nippon Curry at the San Francisco location. I savored every bite and enjoyed my meal to the fullest. I honestly don't think I left any curry behind on my plate! The drink I ordered paired well with the savory curry as its sweetness provided a great contrast in flavors. I left the restaurant with my tummy & hunger satisfied. I will definitely be coming back to this Nippon Curry location! Cheers, @gerosan_adv read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Angel was super nice!! Pork katsu was amazing portions were huge. Really hit the spot

After my brother and I had a terrible experience in Kiraku and still hungry, we came to Nippon Curry. Even though it a fast food restaurant, the cashier spoke fluent English and kept smiling. The space was big enough. There were no required seating rule, no several trash cans outside, no dark light. We could know the food clearly through pictures. The cashier told us what she personally liked and which dish was the most popular. Then, we place the order real quick within 2 mins including asking questions. $28 for two dishes including nice straightforward service and environment. That was all we needed, it was excellent. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ate here yesterday with my family. We all decided that we make better Curry at home. I love Japanese curry, but the curry here was overly salty. The service was good and the ambience was clean comfortable, but I will not be coming back. Please note that I have eaten Japanese curry in Hawaii where I grew up and in Japan. read more

Good curry! Interior is very clean, ample seating available. I ordered through Snackpass and food came quickly. I got the Pork Katsu Curry with regular rice. I really enjoy curry - I tend towards Indian and Thai curry, so I've wanted to try Japanese curry for awhile - but this was pretty much what you'd expect. It's good curry, but nothing mind blowing. I thought the flavor profile is pretty similar to the S&B boxed curry, although the texture was definitely thicker than anything I've made. Please note that this could entirely just be my personal flavor preference. I wish they would switch to reusable cutlery and plates/bowls. It feels very wasteful to be using paper plates and giving out single-use cutlery for every customer, even dine-in. Service was very friendly!! Overall a hearty meal with good value, if you enjoy Japanese curry it's worth a try - just not sure I'd go out of my way to stop by again. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of Berkeley's newest Japanese curry spot. I've been here upon opening, but returned today as I was craving some katsu and rice. It's other competitors such as Muraccis and Champion's curry have closed down, so I'm glad that we still have Japanese curry near campus, however this place was the most expensive restaurant among the three, and may not be the most affordable option being a college student. All the times I've been here though, I was not disappointed and was very pleased with my meals. The breading, meat, curry, and rice all pair perfectly with each other making a hearty delicious meal. I have also tried the potato croquettes which taste delicious and have such a nice potato creamy, gooey interior and crispy exterior. There is few seating indoors, and it's all bar seating, but theres always spots available. I ordered ahead and the food was ready in about 8 minutes, and the staff is friendly. Definitely worth trying and I recommend going here since it is in close proximity to campus. The other Japanese katsu curry option is Marugame which is a bit far, and that place is notoriously known for their udon soup and tempura, I haven't tried their katsu curry yet, but go ahead and try Nippon Curry! So yummy read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Chicken Katsu Curry with Cheese - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Quality went way down since they opened. Pork katsu is thin and tough and cut into big square pieces instead of thin rectangular pieces.

The curry sauce is yummy and it's a well thoughtout to-go container to keep Katsu from getting soggy. However, just IMO, they could elevate the curry by having strips of braised beef, and also a base savory flavor for the Katsu. That would make them worth 5 stars. read more

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Seating was limited but my cashier found me a seat right away after ordering and cleaned the area. I ordered the pork katsu curry. It was just what I needed on an overcast sprinkly day. I was filling but not heavy which was quite a surprise. Decent background music as well to match my oolong tea sipping. read more

Nippon Curry Berkeley - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Berkeley, California

Really enjoyed the karaage with curry rice! The chicken was perfectly crispy and juicy and paired well with the rice and curry. Would come back to try more! read more

My mom and I stopped in here for a quick bite after our tour of UC Berkeley and it hit the spot! They were playing some interesting music but we didn't mind at all because the food was delicious. It was really quick and a perfect afternoon snack! read more

A few years ago, I found out about Nippon Curry during a day trip to SF, and their staff announced that their Berkeley location would be opening up soon! Extremely satisfied with the food quality, service, and price, my family and I were so excited to finally see the Berkeley location up-and-running. This is definitely my favorite go-to katsu curry shop in The Bay:) Definitely try the chicken katsu curry w/cheese! read more