Tag Archives: japanese curry

Boys Curry: Simple, Classic Dishes in Jinbocho

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A cup of soup, bowl of Japanese curry, a plate of white rice, and a plate of ginger pork with ketchup spaghetti and cabbage.

While walking in Tokyo, I happened upon a restaurant that had pages from a manga on its windows. Upon closer inspection, the comic was actually depicting that very restaurant: Boys Curry.

Located in Jinbocho—which is something of a curry epicenter in Tokyo—Curry Boys looks and feels like a restaurant from another generation. That makes sense, since it turns out to have started in 1982.

Going in, you’re immediately greeted by a horseshoe-shaped counter, and everything from the cooking to the service was done by an old man and an old woman. I love restaurants like this, as it reminds me a lot of Manhattan Chinatown, especially in years past.

The menu was about as simple as it gets, and I ordered their recommended combo: curry rice, ginger pork, and ketchup spaghetti with a side of broth for a nice hot drink. It wasn’t a mind-blowing experience, but everything was incredibly solid and for a decent price of 1,300 yen. If there was a quintessential Japanese curry that wasn’t trying to keep up with current trends, this was it. Flavorful but not very spicy, it was a welcome throwback, as was everything else.

This was actually my very first time eating ginger pork, despite the fact that it’s apparently second to tonkatsu in terms of Japanese pork dishes! I definitely understand the appeal now, and it’s not nearly as gingery as I was expecting based on the name.

A comics page from Boukyaku no Sachiko in the restuarant window. The character Sachiko is enjoying the food at Boys Curry.

At the end, I asked the owners what the manga on the windows was, and they told me: Boukyaku no Sachiko. It’s been running since 2014 in Weekly Big Comic Spirits, and it’s currently over 25 volumes! I haven’t read it at all, but I’m considering doing so and maybe even posting my thoughts on the blog.

Curry Land: The Store of My Dreams

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A sign that says in .a mix of Japanese and English the following. Pouch Curry Specialty Shop: Local Curry Curry Land

As I was looking up places to eat in Tokyo, I discovered an incredible place in the district of Jinbocho: Curry Land, a shop that specializes in selling instant curry from all over Japan.

Located in a small side street not far from the main intersection in Jinbocho, Curry Land is a tiny shop with no frills. Past the sliding door at the entrance are three or four shelves filled with pre-cooked curry in reheatable pouches. A woman was running the shop when I visited, and she was very helpful, though I don’t know if she’s the owner or just someone employed there.

A shelf full of prepackaged curry.
Another shelf full of prepackaged curry.

Many of these packages are local types of curry, normally found only in the specific regions from which they originate. There are also other unusual options, such as curries eaten on naval vessels or even a whaling ship. The shop even has its own special curry available!

I bought nine packs in total, which ended up being about 7,000–8,000 yen, with the price of individual packages varying.

Clockwise from top left: Go Go Curry (not actually at the shop but I included it in the photo anyway), Whaling Ship Curry (does not contain whale), Curry Land’s Own Black Wagyu Cream Cheese Curry, Graceful Lady Pink Curry, Iwakuni Naval Flying Forces Curry, Ibaraki Chestnut Curry, Famous Osaka Curry with Worcestershire sauce, Enoshima Naval Curry, Dinosaur Curry (made with chicken), and Spicy Mutton Curry.

Some could be relatively expensive (~1,300 yen), so while this store won’t break the bank (unless you try really, really hard) this is not the place to go if you really care about getting the cheapest options. Nevertheless, Curry Land is basically a dream come true for me, and I recommend it to anyone who loves curry, but also anyone who wants to experience a thin yet broad slice of Japanese food.

I plan to review each curry eventually, but I don’t know if I’m going to devote a separate blog post for each curry, or if I’ll cover a few at a time. I know it’s not exactly anime, but I hope you’ll indulge me.

Eating Among the Trains

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Continuing my visit to train and train-adjacent locales in Japan, here are my thoughts on two eateries in and around Tokyo: Platinum Fish Cafe and Curry Niagara.

Platinum Fish Cafe

A plate with a small round cake, some vanilla ice cream, and some whipped cream

Located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Platinum Fish Cafe is actually inside of an old decommissioned train station. It has some standard food options, like curry, pasta, and cakes, but also drinks named after different train lines. I got the Yamanote (the loop that goes through Tokyo, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, and other stops), which was actually double muscat grape flavor. Between this, the Love Live! cafe, and other places, muscat grapes seem to be popular. 

The real appeal of the cafe, however, is the view. Platinum Fish is situated between two train tracks, and you can see them zooming past on both sides pretty regularly. For those coming from NYC or elsewhere in the US, this might sound like torture you inflict on your worst enemies. In Japan, though, the trains are smooth and relatively quiet. It actually makes for a relaxing experience, if you like urban ambience and a nice cityscape.

Curry Station Niagara

A plate of hamburg curry, with the rice in a football shape, cheese sauce on the hamburg steak, and plenty of curry sauce

This place has been on my bucket list for many years now: a curry restaurant run by a huge train enthusiast. 

The inside is covered wall to wall in rail travel memorabilia and paraphernalia, including some Galaxy Express 999 merch. Right outside the door are a couple gashapon machines with replica train station signs, specifically branded for Curry Station Niagara. Close by is a play area for kids featuring model trains and other toys.

Almost everyone in line was parents accompanying their train-loving little kids, and it was downright adorable. There’s a track not far from the restaurant, and as one passed, I could hear a kid identifying a passing train’s line as “Yokohama navy blue”—the rail system is indeed color-coded. As someone with younger relatives, I could see parallels, and wondered if those relatives would have also become train fans if they lived in Japan.

If you get a seat at the tables, a miniature train delivers your food straight to you. Because the space is very small and there were lots of kids, my group opted to sit at the counter and not deprive the young ones of that experience.

The menu is mostly pretty typical, with different toppings like tonkatsu and such, but there are also a few curve balls: extra spicy options for a premium price, curry spaghetti, and so on. I went with the Hamburg steak curry, which did not disappoint. It had a bit of a kick, but nothing overwhelming. However, one person I was with seemed to have gotten their curry cold by accident. After our meal, we got commemorative replica train tickets.

Overall Thoughts

I love restaurants just run by some person with a passion. This includes Platinum Fish and Niagara, but they’re relatively common in Japan. While making money is important, these places feel like they’re humbly dedicated to a craft or a desire to share something with their customers. I really wish more places like this existed in the US, but with real estate prices and rent being what they are, I sadly don’t see it happening anytime soon. One can hope, though…

In Case You Forgot, I Love Both Anime and Food

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I’ve written a blog post on Sailor Moon as my introduction to Japanese food over at the Waku Waku +NYC official blog. If you’re interested in me waxing nostalgic and rambling the way you expect out of Ogiue Maniax, take a look.

Sailor Moon Was My Gateway into Japanese Food

I’ll be a regular contributor to the Waku Waku +NYC blog from now on, so look forward to more posts from there in the future. As always, I will continue to devote myself to Ogiue Maniax as well.

If you’re curious, Waku Waku +NYC is an upcoming Japanese popular culture festival from August 29-30 in Brooklyn, NY. Unlike a lot of anime cons and Japanese events, this one looks to more thoroughly integrate food with Japanese anime, games, fashion, etc. If you’re even half as interested in eating and watching anime as I am, it might be worth your while.