Paul P.
Yelp
I'm rating Abiko Curry 5 stars solely on the food and it being the best East Asian curry rice specialty restaurant in the Northeast.
My experience has been ups and downs with this place, particularly the service over the years, but I keep coming back for the food and that means something, especially for a fan of curry rice.
The style is Japanese, so you order a base sauce and order toppings to your liking. It's does slightly lean Korean-Japanese fusion, as you could tell with the curry pastas and some of the toppings. Should really be of no surprise that Koreans can make Japanese food though, as people seem to forget just how many Korean-Japanese people work in the food industry in Japan, probably because of issues I don't want to get into here.
Some people mistaken Abiko as Korean curry, but Korean-style curry typically has more tumeric, meaning it looks more yellow and is a bit more naturally spicy that's different from capsaicin powder added to up the heat level, and Korean curry typically has stuff like vegetables and a choice of protein mixed in.
In my latest visit, we ordered the Chicken Curry Set and an Eggplant Cream Curry Pasta. I had my doubts about the eggplant one, but it really works as long as you don't hate eggplant.
Chicken Katsu was good, herb chicken curry was especially tasty with the garlic flakes, and croquettes are one of my favorite fried food. I ordered mine spicy level 3, but don't feel obligated to add any heat at all, since it tastes good regardless.
Sadly, seems entrees no longer come with miso soup and radish kimchi, and ordering extra toppings doesn't come with shredded cabbage salad. Probably because people not understanding the culture kept complaining that it wasn't the best miso soup they've ever had or something, not realizing that the freebie is just served as a good, warm alternative to water for downing the food. Why can't we ever have nice things?
Lastly, one thing I do wish for is for there to be more set options, such as the Cream Curry Pasta set having the choice to order different types of Cream Curry Pasta with an upcharge or being able to order the Couple's Set with Chicken Katsu instead of Pork Katsu. Or the egg being soft-boiled or poached.