JapaCurry

Came to San Jose for work and found SoFa wandering around the hotel area. I love Japanese food and there is truly not enough representation where I’m from so I was excited to see it. I got the Katsu Chicken Curry (a well loved staple) The portion was large, the sauce was delicious and the chicken was crispy. It was a very large piece of chicken which is great. I would love the option to have the sauce on the side. I was eating alone, normally something I enjoy, but this week just happened to be more difficult in multiple aspects and I was feeling down. I mention this because while I was eating the owner (?) brought out this little dish of ice cream without explanation as a feature of kindness .. that was exactly what I needed and it’s amazing of them to recognize. The owners are kind and excited to begin their culinary journey .. I will pray and hope the community supports nice people and good food.

Went to try out this new curry place in SOFA market and it did not disappoint. The Japanese owners recommended the tartar chicken katsu curry which I was skeptical of but it was actually pretty good! Also tried the potato croquettes and they were great as well. Will be coming back again!

I’ve tried ordering takeout DoorDash twice from this place, and both times they forgot to include any curry on the side for my rice curry entrees. I tried giving them a second chance, and yet they still forgot the curry. The curry they included with the udon was mediocre, and the portion size is quite small for what you pay for. Curry Hyuga is still the better value for money and quality.

I'm so happy SoFa Market has a new Japanese curry resturant! I ordered the Spicy Karaage Don, it tasted amazing and the portions were huge for the affordable price! The rice that came with it was also cooked perfectly! The staff was also super friendly and fast! I'd strongly recommend this resturant if you're in the area!

This is what 2G2G not able to share with you. As a frequent diner saving the world one meal at a time, this is more a miss than hit to me. It's a bit boring and I'm still hungry afterwards... I have a lot more better experiences with 7 bucks... More interesting, more quantity, more seafood. One meal for lunch and dinner just for $7. I definitely won't pay $21 for that small box of ordinary foods. But it is much more reasonable for $7. Hence the dilemma .. to dine or not to dine there.

I ordered the Gyu Don and added an egg. I was a little disappointed that the egg was hard boiled when the menu shows it as soft boiled or jammy. The rice was perfect but the meat had a strange almost bitter flavor. The service was quick and friendly! I know they are known for their curry so maybe that's where their menu shines.

LOOOOOOOVE JAPACURRY!!! I was so happy to see them at SoFa market! Tonkatsu DELICIOUS. hamburger steak DELICIOUS. Karaage DELICIOUS. The curry in general, DELICIOUS. I eat here almost once every two weeks at this point, no regrets!

If the fried chicken is more crispy, it would be more delicious. I like the service. Sorry to say that yesterday is my last time to be there this year.

The five stars is for the taste between the fried chicken batter, with the brown sauce, and with the light orange sauce. The reason why the 3 components create so much variety is because I tasted almost all these following possibilities when eating the fried chicken in the rice bowl: 1. Batter taste only 2. Brown sauce only 3. Light orange sauce only 4. Batter + brown sauce together 5. Batter + orange sauce together 6. Brown sauce + light orange sauce together 7. All three together: Batter + Brown sauce + light orange sauce together And 8: no sauce and no batter on the chicken. I tasted 6 of the 8 possible variations in one single order. The chicken was moist like KFC, but not squirty like Costco. The batter was essenced like Safeway, but not crackle-ly like at Popeyes. The rice was plain and dry, but the two types of ginger and the green soybeans helped disrupt the singularity of taste. There were green onions garnished on one of the chicken pieces which multiplied the effects of the light orange sauce, but it was not enough for all the chicken pieces, and nothing left to spare for helping the rice ant. Comparing the rice bowls at JapaCurry, the JapaCurry is superior to the Jack in the Box teriyaki bowl, but inferior to the Santo Market poke bowl which has 3x as much sauce to drip into the rice, and additional furikake flakes which were like firecrackers of flavor which were missing from the JapaCurry bowl.

Best rated food booth in this hall. Several closed restaurants. Seating available inside and out. Order at kiosk and pay electronically. Food (chicken) is precooked and kept in a heating cabinet. Curry has excellent flavor. Breading in chicken is good and the chicken portion was decent with good white meat. Not bad for prepped food. Would eat here again.

JapaCurry is located downtown, inside SoFA market, which makes it difficult to find parking. I went near closing time and it was still hard to find a spot! I got the karaage curry, and I initially thought the portion size was small for the price since it was three pieces over rice with the side of curry sauce. The curry sauce could have been more flavorful, but overall it was still a filling meal since the three chicken pieces were actually pretty large! I docked a point because it was disappointing that they gave way too much rice, which can be a nice problem to have I guess, but I wanted to finish my food, not toss the leftover white rice. The customer service was really great, so that helped make my experience overall pretty positive. I would consider coming back, but I would want to try something else!

I bought a too good to go surprise bag and though they should use it as means to advertise I was disappointed. The end pieces of the chicken on the Katsu was dry and the curry sauce was not what I expected. Curry is normally quite flavorful-this fell short. I did enjoy the veggies, however. Very fresh and tasty. The gentleman who packed my bag was surprised and didn't have it ready. It's in a shared restaurant setting, like a food court, so you can dine in, but the restaurant alone is take-out.

Ordered the chicken katsu curry udon to go, the chicken was soggy and bland, the udon noodle was decent. Also ordered the potato croquette which was also soggy and greasy. Maybe this is not the place for to-go orders.

The customer service was awesome. It made the food taste better. Added some spice seasoning that took my food to a great level.

[Food] - Tonkatsu Curry ($18.50): Love the flavorful tomato/beef based curry! Definitely not like the average Japanese restaurant curry! Rice (fluffy) & moist) and tonkatsu (fatty but a bit overcooked) were plentiful, but the curry portions just weren't the same ratio as the rice and tonkatsu overall. I appreciate that the curry includes some vegetables (carrots, potatoes, spinach) without paying more. So depending on your preferences this could be a hit or miss but I still can overlook everything just for the curry. You can also get extra curry sauce ($4) - Fried Tofu ($4.50 for 4 pieces): A bit bland, but of course delicious with curry sauce or even sriracha. I have to admit that the price is pretty steep for 4 pieces. I would personally skip this next time. [Service] - Helpful, friendly, attentive [Ambiance] - Small mom and pop shop at DTSJ in SoFA Market [Overall] - Would come back again as there aren't many places that serve a more flavorful tomato/beef based curry. Most Japanese restaurant serve more of a store bought Japanese curry flavor (beef/potato) flavor.

My friends, wife, and I checked out JapaCurry. Unfortunately, we arrived later in the day around 2pm, and a lot of their entrees were already "sold out" like their tonkatsu and karaage. My friend ordered the Pork Belly (Kakuni) Curry. Thick, Rich, "beefy" flavorful, and soothing curry. Nothing is as comforting and enjoyable as a bowl of curry rice. The pork belly was tender and soft. The rice was fluffy and soaked up all the curry goodness. Served with cabbage to give added texture and to help cut the richness or spice. Also fukujinzuke which is a must when eating Japanese curry! We'll be back! Support your local business!

Have had really poor experiences through delivery here. We've only ordered food twice from JapaCurry a few months apart through their website. Each time the curry itself was omitted from the order and not packed. We either received plain rice and katsu or plain noodles. It's really sad to miss the most important item in the order on every occasions but unfortunately we won't be giving them another chance. Be careful if you plan to order online. We couldn't even reach them by phone afterwards.

Nearly $20 with tip--after paying for metered street parking -- to get this karaage (fried chicken) curry plate and the chicken was SOGGY exactly like it was microwaved from frozen. Not to mention the rice was overcooked. The curry itself was the only edible thing. Why bother running a restaurant with this level of disrespect for the food and your customers? I want so little out of life and this completely ruined my day

JapaCurry offers a decent option for Japanese curry fans in downtown San Jose, but my visit left me feeling a bit underwhelmed, especially considering the price. While the curry flavor itself was good, a few elements of the dish and the overall experience could have been better. What I had: - GyuCurry (stewed beef) - Added shredded cheese - Added marinated egg The curry itself had a solid flavor -- rich and comforting without being too heavy. However, the stewed beef was just alright; it didn't have the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness I was hoping for. It's possible I ordered the wrong protein since, unfortunately, the more popular options like karaage, tonkatsu, and chicken katsu were sold out by the time I arrived :-(( The shredded cheese felt like an afterthought -- simply sprinkled on top without being melted into the dish, similar to how Chipotle tops their bowls. I had expected a gooier, richer texture. Like if you've ever been to kbbq restaurants and they have melted cheese over the meats- yeah that's somewhat what I was expecting. As for the marinated egg, it tasted fine but didn't really have the depth of flavor that a good marinated egg usually offers. Considering I paid close to $30 for the bowl with toppings, I found the protein portion and topping quality a little disappointing for the price. JapaCurry is part of the SoFa Market food hall, which has a casual and lively atmosphere. Seating is communal-style, meaning you'll likely be sitting close to strangers at shared tables. Finding a spot can be a bit hit-or-miss depending on the time of day. Parking downtown can be tricky, but there are nearby paid lots and some street parking if you're willing to circle around. Service was quick and no-frills -- order at the counter and wait for your food to be called! TLDR: Overall, while I liked the curry flavor, the value and toppings didn't quite justify the price for me. I might consider giving JapaCurry another try earlier in the day when more proteins are available, but this visit was just okay. I give JapaCurry a 3/5. I hate to rate small businesses and mom/pop shops harshly but I feel like this was just satisfactory overall. Hoping that if I come back and try one of the sold out meats, my rating would be alot higher! How I rate on Yelp: (5 stars): Exceptional!! -- food, service, and atmosphere all outstanding. Worth going out of your way. (4 stars): Great! -- very good experience overall, minor flaws but nothing major. (3 stars): Good -- decent, acceptable, but there's room for clear improvement. (2 stars): Poor -- disappointing experience, multiple issues (food, service, or setting). (1 star): Terrible -- very bad experience, would not return or recommend.

This place reminded me of a curry place inside of a kyoto train station so good! The smell took me back to Japan. Love the ordering kiosk as well, also like being back in japan. Food came out super fast. We will definitely be back!

Wanted to try their potato croquette curry but it wasn't available so we went with their natto green onion curry with a side of fried tofu. I've never had natto in curry before but it was a tasty addition with very little fermentation flavor. The curry itself was flavorful and light. The tofu was soft and perfectly fried and helped complete the meal and make it more filling. I'll be back to this stall to try their potato croquette curry next!

Located in the SoFa market. Lots of seating with other restaurants inside. Came around 5:30pm on a Saturday and there was no line. The staff was super nice and my order was ready in 5 minutes after ordering! I got the Potato Croquette Curry ($15.00) and it was really good! The croquette was pillowy soft, the curry was good, and the ratio of rice to curry sauce was perfect for me. The shredded cabbage and pickled red things were a nice touch too. My other 3 friends also really liked what they got. Super fast, nice staff, super convenient in the area of downtown SJ and menu was so small that it was not overwhelming with choices. I love that! Would come again if I'm in the area and craving Japanese curry!

Really authentic Japanese curry! Being from Japan, I really appreciate when a place gets J-curry right, and they absolutely do. And their Katsu is also top-notch! Quick service and friendly staff made the experience even better. Must-try!

JapaCurry a newly established food court just opened a few weeks ago serving authentic Japanese curry and karaage donburi are on my top list. I hate the cheap imitation simply too sweet or too bland mostly gear to Western taste. Ordering is very simple via self service kiosk with a list of appetizers, drinks, donburi and of course their main specialty curry. I chose curry potato croquettes comes with rice and schredded cabbage with pickled beets. The flavor is not so overbearing and the croquettes are coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried as it should be. Definitely be back weekdays are the best even on a Friday afternoon not as crowded as I got there right after the lunch crowd parking not a problem. JapaCurry is one of many ethic food located inside of SoFa Market one can dine-in or out by the patio. ポテトコロッケカレーありがとうございました！translate thank you for the potato croquettes Japanese curry!

I'm in a review-writing mood today and this is my 3rd one. The pork katsu was SOLID. I'm knocking off one star for the $4 edamame--there were literally 8-10 pieces. Inflation is real and totally understandable, but we've got to do better. That said, I'd totally come back for the katsu.

Listen, we all seek comfort food for various reasons. Maybe it's the warm embrace our bodies feel the moment we take a bite, or perhaps it's the longing for nostalgia we seek. I cannot express how much I've been wanting to try JapaCurry for the authentic experience most can only get abroad. And what better way to enjoy quality Japanese curry than on a brisk Spring day! I chose the pork belly curry and instantly fell in love when my utensil pierced the pork belly like a knife cutting through room temperature butter. It was tender, juicy, and made me grateful for the time and effort spent behind the scenes. The flavors are light enough to settle any unset tummies while still satisfying my desire to feel comforted. The bowl of curry is perfect for a balanced lunch with protein and veggies. I took my meal to go and was genuinely thanked by the staff as I picked up my meal. I can't wait to try the rest of their menu!

Great place that is walking distance from the convention center and hotel. The plaza this restaurant is located in has many other cuisines to offer so perfect spot for friends to hang and get food if everyone wants something different. Highly recommend checking out Japacurry. We originally wanted to get their pork cutlet but there fryer was down, so we got the hamburger steak cutlet instead. It was very Flavour and filling, paired with the rice and cabbage. For an additional cost, we also added an egg. Once you order, they will give you a number buzzer and you can walk around to check out the area. There a free water dispenser by the bar that is self service. Make sure you grab some seats if it's busy. When we went during Fanime, there was a lot of open spots to sit and eat.

nothing really tastes like anything? if that makes sense the crispiness of the katsu definitely tore my mouth apart but maybe my gums are weak lol the meat didn't really have a taste though - the curry also didn't taste like Japanese curry, it was just slightly salty? imo would rather go a few minutes away to japantown if I really wanted curry, but this place makes do in a pinch I suppose

I got the chicken katsu curry and it was delicious. The chicken was very crispy and the curry was well seasoned with potatoes and carrots in it. Another part was the red pickled ginger which was little savory but I loved it. Wish they had put more. Overall, the portions were plentiful and the rice was fluffy. Would definitely recommend it. PS: It's inside the Sofa Market and it has a tap to pay machine. However, the wait time was quick and the worker was nice and friendly. (Curry was on the side btw)

One of my favorite spots in downtown sj!! Every time I go the food is great and the service is even better! If you are looking for a local business to support, this is the one! The owner is the sweetest and you can tell he really cares for his customers and his business. I recommend anything on the menu, I've gotten most things and each time is a great experience!

I've been looking for great Japanese curry place for a while and this place takes the cake for me! The food is very flavorful and very much reminds of curry I had back in Japan. One filling will get you full but one you take a bite into the chicken you can't stop! The staff is amazing and caring! Definitely will be stopping by more often!

inside SoFa market & IYKYK, parking is a tad bit tough.. especially if you're solo. 4 stars due to their online ordering issues & moist Katsu . I had to order there, but luckily it was super quick! I ordered @ 12:00 PM & it was ready 7 mins later, no kizzy!!! I love how they saran wrap all containers to prevent leaking/moving of items--but absolutely hate that they pack the katsu in same container--it really made the Chicken Katsu soft and less fresh. I'll make sure to dine in next time or request to separate the protein. Besides that, everything from the rice, flavorful curry and tasty Fukujin-zuke was sooo good ! I love that there's potatoes and carrots in the curry sauce. We'll definitely be back! :)

They are located near the front of sofa market, on the right side of the front entrance. Fast service, good portions, decent price, and very tasty! Couldn't ask for more, especially during fanime weekend, which can be insanely busy. The staff was very kind, and the food did not suffer in quality despite the mad rush, which speaks well to how smooth they are operating. Hope they do well! I'll def be back when I'm in dtsj for an event!

Was in the mood for a Japanese curry while waiting for my wife....searched Yelp and found this place...it's in the food hall. I was looking forward to a good authentic lunch based on the reviews but my experience was somewhat different. I ordered the tonkatsu (pork) curry and was disappointed on a couple of fronts: the sliced tonkatsu was not fresh and it felt like it had been previously cooked and microwaved; the rice also had that "day old" feel and was not hot; the shredded cabbage garnish was undressed; and finally, the curry portion was very small - barely enough to cover the sliced tonkatsu and none over the rice! On the good news side, the tonkatsu portion size was appropriate and the curry itself was tasty...service was friendly and I didn't feel the price was out of line for the area (downtown San Jose food hall). On a positive note: some suggestions for the restaurant....serve hot, fresh rice daily and revisit your portioning; a good Japanese curry is always about the rice/curry combination and the proteins are almost secondary...rethink the proteins - the tonkatsu was probably great if served fresh vs reheated; personally, I'd probably be okay with reheated karaage chicken vs pork or even a croquette. So, was hoping for some nice Japanese comfort food....everyone has a bad day and maybe later in the day, stuff would've been fresher. It's worth a try, your mileage may vary....

- Thick slices of juicy chicken katsu (thigh meat by the way) - Slightly sweet, crispy breading - Great depth of flavor in the curry My only qualm is that I ate it too fast. Eat it right as soon as you get it for the best experience. It really does taste like the curry in Japan.

Amazing service and a very clean, welcoming environment. The owner is kind, attentive, and made the experience even better with his warm personality and smile. I especially enjoyed the tonkatsu curry--it was delicious and well-prepared. Highly recommend this place!

Excellent pork belly curry with authentic flavors! Food came out quickly and portion sizes are fantastic. Only downside is that a good chunk of their menu was not available, including the tonkatsu curry - perhaps next time!

You won't find kinder staff members than at JapaCurry. We ordered a croquette and chicken katsu curry. The chicken katsu is soooo thick and juicy, I haven't had a katsu curry like this one. While we were eating at one of the tables, the chef/owner was so kind and voluntarily went to the water station and surprised us with a couple cups of water He is so kind and cheerful, I wish him and the business all the success!

i only feel compelled to write yelp reviews when the food AND service is 10/10 for me. the chicken katsu curry is the best i've had in the south bay! we ordered an extra side of curry because it was that delicious. the chef was so kind, he got us cups of water and gave us a free sample of their matcha soft serve on a japanese rice cracker :). i don't play about my japanese katsu curry! this is a must try! :)

Very friendly staff and delicious food too! It's not up to full speed with all their food offerings but I had the hambuga steak which was like a half pound burger patty cooked well but extremely juicy and tasty in typical Japanese style with curry sauce over rice with some raw thinly sliced cabbage and a red pickle I love, called fukujinzuke. I will order a curry dish if I know they have fukujinzuke. It is available as a side for $2. Sorry no pictures, I was so excited to try the food that I got totally distracted and forgot to take pix. Highly recommend you try these guys. I can't wait for them to get their katsu and kaarage going.

We really loved this restaurant! The service was quick and they had our food ready in minutes. The flavor reminded me of Okinawa! Tasty and full of flavor! I'm ready to go back already!

Great customer service. The owner is really sweet. They offered free drinks due to longer wait time. The food is amazing especially the kakuni. Super tender and juicy! ごちそうさまでした

I don't at all understand the negative reviews for this place. The owner is always smiling, friendly and ready to answer any questions and the food is delicious. We were coming to Sofa market for two other restaurants originally but after seeing the owner walking around with a huge smile on his face, we decided to try this place out. We came in last night again for this place, I noticed one of the items wasn't on the menu I ordered previously but the owner was more than happy to make it for me even though they sold out. He didn't even hesitate. I get the spicy chicken karagee donburi and it's always cooked perfectly with generous portions and the right level of seasoning. My boyfriend has been trying out different curry dishes each time and loved every one of them so far. We have been opting for this place compared to our usual two choices. Thank you to the owner for being such a sweet guy. He's a one man show in his little kitchen and makes some delicious meals. The only thing I would say as feedback would be the pickled stuff that's offered with the plates, we don't personally eat anything with food dye in it as its not good for you so maybe having that on the side would be nice.

First time here and it was amazing service!! Amazing food. Love the katsu curry and matcha ice cream. The staff really care about their customers and are super friendly making sure everything is good. Would come again and bring all my friends and family. The owner is a good hearted person and I'm happy to support their business!

Awesome, authentic Osaka-style Japanese curry place in the SOFA Market food court. The folks running the shop are Japanese and the cook speaks with an Osaka accent in Japanese - the place is legit and authentic. If you are in need some some old school Japanese comfort food in the form of Japanese curry, this is it.

I've been meaning to leave a review on JapaCurry for a while now. I actually work in the market and I first tried the tonkatsu curry during the soft opening & thought it was just okay. BUT, fast forward a few weeks later & I couldn't help but order their food again after smelling the delicious curry ALL day. The owner suggested I try the hamburg curry & I was not disappointed at all. It was HUGE. I got to split it with my coworker and we enjoyed every single bite. The curry was so flavorful and the portions + sides were so generous. So, 100% a great end to a busy work day. They've really perfected everything from the flavor to the portions ON TOP of having generally amazing service. They're just the nicest people, so do yourself a favor and get some fire curry! I wish I had a picture, but we ate it all too quickly LOL. Sadly, I usually end up at the market after they've closed for the day, but I'm making it my mission to try the kakuni curry next time.

The tonkatsu did not have flavor. The curry was not even close to the Japanese curry I had in Japan. I'm sorry but I have to be honest. I hope my review can catch the attention of chef to improve their total taste of the food. Besides, there's not much curry to cover the rice, which should be. The service is fast. Not a fan of the food court environment. The down side, we have to pay parking .

We stopped by after an adventure at the discovery museum, and had the tonkatsu curry and unagi-don. The food was fast but also incredibly tasty. Definitely just as good as the same dishes in Japan. Service was fantastic, they were so sweet to our toddler.

"Okara Matcha De Brownie": I tasted it as a sample the other day, and it was wonderfully bittersweet, light and very delicious. Since it's made with okara, soy pulp, I was happy to enjoy it without feeling guilty, and appreciate its health benefits. Looking forward to it being added to the menu, so, I can enjoy it after having curry. Plus I can go with friends who want to have dessert while I am craving curry!

Food was absolutely flawless! Chef Masa and his wife provide not only amazing service but, and I'm calling it now, the best karaage AND curry in the Bay Area. Thank you so much you two for a wonderful lunch. Definitely coming back on a weekly basis!

Absolutely delicious! Had the Chicken Kayau Curry and it was divine, add shredded cheese to the top. Would recommend extra sauce to make sure to have sauce for the final few pieces but absolutely amazing! Service was quick and incredibly kind!

Great and delicious Japanese Curry made and served quickly! Plus, the chefs are very friendly and inviting!

Tried this spot when I walked into sofa market to go to another restaurant. Seeing as I got back from Tokyo last week the smell stopped me dead in my tracks. Very authentic in comparison to multiple curry spots I've tried in Japan. Well worth the money for an experience that makes you feel like you are still in the country. Thank you for the food it was amazing, I will be back

Very nice staff food smells great and looks amazing trust me you'll love it I've visited Japan and let me tell you this is exactly like the curry I've tried there please don't sleep on this place

The owner and staff were super sweet and friendly. We ordered the hamburger steak curry, kakuni curry, and gyucurry. Both the portions and the food were great! The kakuni in particular was super tender and yummy. Would definitely go back again.

Having lived in Japan for several years and visited many more times, I can say this is authentic Japanese curry. I've tried the Tonkatsu and chicken katsu curries. The look, texture, and level of curry spice reminded me of Osaka. When I spoke to the friendly staff (in Japanese), it turned out it was Osaka style. For those who look for authentic foods, this is a must try.

Delicious curry! My GF found this place on instagram and it was the bomb.com! They were extremely polite and atmosphere was great!