Kalé

This is one of my favorite places to each lunch, a great place to meet a friend, and the friendliest service you can imagine. I wish more restaurants focused on doing one thing well and being deeply authentic in vibe and presentation. After today's visit I felt compelled to write a review because it sparked true joy. This is a meal that you end up thinking about - sometimes DIRECTLY after eating it. You should probably go - there's bike parking directly outside, and it will be something you enjoy.

We can probably agree, it’s getting harder and harder to find a cheap none fast-food cozy food. Someday you just want something affordable but yet too oily or fat. I have eaten at Kale like 5 times. The quality , speed and price is exceptional. You can’t go wrong with this place and they won’t break your wallet.

Unquestionably the best katsu curry I've ever had. I seriously had a Ratatouille moment eating this curry; making this their specialty was a brilliant move. The staff is friendly and the food arrives quickly (~5 minutes). The beef katsu curry with a Sapporo was exactly what I needed after a long hike.

This is a small Japanese restaurant where the owner was extremely helpful with understanding the very limited menu. Trust me, the limited menu was outstanding! There are a few dishes that are done to perfection. We will absolutely go here when we are in Portland again.

Easily the best chicken katsu I’ve ever had in my life. Sadly I was just visiting Portland, and I still think about this dish every time I fail to taste a chicken katsu as good as this top standard. Free water is offered but the space feels more like a cafeteria but it’s not a problem for me, I had the place to myself. Just be cautioned there is nothing fancy in here other than the food.

Absolutely perfect. The quality and taste of the food reminds me of my vacation to Japan. Highly recommend and I'll see you there when I'm in town to enjoy it again!

This place came highly recommended and lived up to every bit of praise. The owner was very friendly and helped me choose what to get. He could see me struggling with a choice even though there are only a handful of options. I go the Doria with mixed cheese (cheddar and mozzarella). It was absolutely delicious. A great comfort meal on a cold rainy day. Will be back for more!

A solid place for some quick comfort food. The menu is pretty simple which makes ordering very easy. I had the Katsu Kale Doria - based chicken katsu with a layer of melted cheese over the curry. I did enjoy the flavors of the curry mixed with the cheese and katsu.

A hole in the wall in the best sense. Like it's straight of a Manhattan corner shop with a nice yet strict owner that has no problem explaining things and keeps the menu ultra simple. Tables are wobbly and archaic, silverware and cups have had better days. And yet the highlight isn't the charismatic owner but the curry. You see, this isn't some block cube out of a package glamorized, THIS is a meticulous 2-3 day process to stewing, storing, freezing, reheating to seep in flavors. When you see disintegrated sweet carrots in the curry stew and can taste the onions but can't see the onions... something glorious has happened through time and patience. One spoonful leads to another and before you know it, you're hooked in the comfort, the savoriness, the subtle spice that doesn't burn but keeps you going back for another spoonful, adding in the crunchy yet moist chicken katsu. Curry portions are solid but once the rice soaks it all up, you are wanting more... forgiving all the wobbly tables and IKEA inspired silverware... wondering what just happened and when am I coming back? Even if you have little interest in curry I bet you'll like it. If you do like curry, you'll be impressed with this rendition. I know curry snobs that won't eat the store bought wedges... but they'll eat this.

Our first stop on our trip to Portland. I was looking up places downtown near our hotel and decided to bookmark this one. A small spot which, at the time we walked in, was being managed by one busy man who seemed like a pro at multitasking. We had never had Japanese curry and but were excited because the steaming food smelled so good. We placed our order, sat with a melon soda, and after 10 minutes the man brought over our bowls. I'll say, this meal was kinda life changing. How have I gone winters without the hearty comfort dish? As far as the space, it's very small with seating at tables or windows, but there was a wait for seating after us and we went around maybe 5pm? Not sure of their rush hours, but I would say we got lucky with the timing and being able to grab seats.

This space is fantastic! It's run by what I believe is the owner, and he truly knows how to manage the business. The menu is small but thoughtfully curated, with everything cooked to perfection. The portion sizes are just right for the price, making it a great value. The atmosphere is simple and clean, contributing to a relaxed dining experience. I highly recommend this place to everyone!

A solid place for some quick comfort food. The menu is pretty simple which makes ordering very easy. I had the Katsu Kale Doria - based chicken katsu with a layer of melted cheese over the curry. I did enjoy the flavors of the curry mixed with the cheese and katsu.

I love all kinds of curry, and Kalé fits that bill perfectly. A small store-front with counter service, Kalé is no frills or thrills and gets down to business with Japanese curry. With a concise menu, they make their curry in-house with different protein options along with gluten-free and vegan choices. They also feature kalé doria, a baked curry topped with cheese. I got the katsu kalé with mild chicken and it was delicious! It was comforting on a cold day. I wished the katsu was juicier, but the portion was great and it paired wonderfully with the curry. My friends also enjoyed their meals and one of them who's Japanese spoke for its authenticity. Kalé is homey and unpretentious, a great place for a low-key dinner. They also sell their curry sauces in packets, which I may gotta grab for my next meal prep!

Cute and cozy place for a meal any time of the day! I personally came for brunch as I slept in and woke up hungry at my hotel that was just around the corner. It's a small place with about 6 or so tables squeezed into the corner of the block. My partner and I were welcomed by the only person working behind the counter. He was sweet and made sure we knew to ask questions if we had any. We both ordered the kale katsu doria - which is chicken katsu with curry over rice. The "doria" is the added cheese - either cheddar, mozzarella, or both! You can also opt for either beef, chicken, or vegetable sauce (curry) and we did beef and chicken each. For a one-man storefront, the food came out at a reasonable time. The plates came out piping hot! The entire dish itself was delicious - tasty, warm, and homey. The perfect bite was rice, curry, katsu, and the pickles. The chicken katsu - by itself - was just alright and didn't have much flavor but was compensated by every bite with curry. I've never had Japanese curry like this before outside of Japan and this experience was all things cozy and comforting. I recommend anyone to try!

Could not stop eating it before taking a photo. Speaks to how good it is. Must try! Great service and friendly staff.

It takes balls to open a restaurant that serves just one thing but when you can make it this good why mess around. This is the real deal authentic Japanese curry as good as it gets anywhere in the world. I like is spicy doria with both cheeses.

I was looking for the best Japanese curry place, this place had glowing reviews so I was excited to try Honestly... underwhelming. Katsu was dry and the curry flavor was just meh.

Coming to Portland during rainy season means that I'm looking for some warm, comfort food to hit the spot. This place showed up in my search and the thought of Japanese curry felt appropriate for the occasion. Upon coming here, I had the opportunity to talk with the Owner & Head Chef, Makoto. He initially asked about my former scientific research, as I was wearing my Stanford jacket at the time and told him I was a former postdoc at Stanford. I soon learned about his incredible journey from his marketing experience during his time in Japan working for a big biotech company to starting Kalé in Portland! It was such a wonderful moment to learn of how Kalé unfolded and a great opportunity to really connect owners with their food craft! Speaking of the food, Kalé features a very simple menu with only 4 main entrees to choose from. I opted for the Kale Katsu Doria (with 1/2 Katsu) with Beef Curry. When looking for comfort food, this really hits the spot. The curry flavor was incredibly rich, and the baked mozzarella on top really was the cherry on top. The Katsu was well-breaded and packed a lot of flavor alongside the curry. I came short of licking the plate clean - that's how delicious and comforting this dish was. This place was an accidental find, but I'm so glad to have found it. As it is with Downtown Portland, there are a fair amount of homeless individuals walking about, so best to either drive up directly or park as close to the shop as possible. This is absolutely worth the trip if you're looking for something to just fill and comfort your soul. I know I'll be raving about this place to my friends, and I'm looking forward to visiting again when I'm back in Portland. Cost: -Kalé Katsu Doria (1/2 Katsu) = $15.95

Simple menu, but the execution! The taste! The quality! Absolutely divine. The boo and I love a good Japanese curry, so when we found this spot on Yelp, we knew we were going to have to make a spot on our trip to Portland. There are 4 base options: curry rice, curry doria w/rice, curry katsu, and curry katsu doria. This place is special because not only do they serve Japanese curry, they serve it Doria style. Doria curry is basically curry over rice, with your choice of cheese melted on top. This comes out to you piping hot from the oven, so do not touch those plates! What's interesting is that their katsu chicken is baked as well, instead of fried. Nevertheless, the chicken is tender, with a light crispy panko crust, and easily cut with a spoon. Once you choose your base plate, you can choose your curry sauce. They have a beef, chicken, or veggie option. We both went with the beef, which was rich, thick, and had nice tender chunks of beef too. We both wanted some veggies so we opted to add in roasted veggies for an upcharge. The veggies are a mix of carrots, bell pepper, and squash. You can have half a katsu instead for $2 less, which my BF decided to do, and honestly, the portion was basically the same size chicken as mine! Definitely not half portioned at all if you just want a little less meat. The restaurant is pretty small with very limited seating, and you do bus your own plates/trays. There are water dispensers available to self serve or drinks for purchase. If you like a little alcohol with your meal, they do have Happy Hour times throughout the week, and all day Saturday. The wait time is a little long, even when customers are not present, as it takes time for the curry doria to bake. We were so happy with our meal, we joined the clean plate club. Usually my BF eats my leftovers but not today!! This was the most perfect meal on a gloomy day. Total hug in a bowl! The owner/cook is super friendly and chatted with us throughout our time there. We're from the Bay and he mentioned he actually lived in Foster City for some time before moving out to Portland. He's a total one man show, so have patience, because I can see how wait times could be high if there's a rush. This is a spot worth waiting for though!!

This is an absolute favorite when it comes to Japanese curry. Located near the waterfront of downtown, the place is actually quite cozy and cute inside. While it isn't spacious, they do offer plenty of seating at tables and bar/window seating. My favorite aspect of this curry menu is the customizability. You can choose which curry base to have (my personal favorite is vegetable) and the protein (you get a discount for less/or no katsu)! I was also blown away when I first tried their baked doria curry--which is a cheese baked curry. All of their curries are absolutely phenomenal and are the perfect comfort meal whenever you're craving curry. Amazing portion for a great price and the owner is an absolute delight to talk to--so friendly and kind. I wish the absolute best for this small business and will be coming back frequently.

My friend had been raving about this place for months & I finally got to go. Like any Japanese mom & pop shop, a small very cute restaurant, running a small menu. Perfect for me as it makes deciding a lot easier. Being that the owner is from Japan, I think this is closest I will get to being in Japan for now. I got the katsu kale with beef sauce. Oh my gosh, the crispy katsu with that savory curry. So much flavor & just yum. I probably should've got the cheese one as that looked super yummy & came out piping hot, but I loved what I got. The owner was super friendly, welcoming & very appreciative. Definitely give this place a try if you're in the area.

The curry here is absolutely delicious - you can tell that it's really high quality with a wonderful texture, nothing like that overly smooth and artificial curry cubes you'd get at the grocery store. We got the beef curry but was disappointed to find only 3 tiny chunks of meat in there - it would've bumped this review up to a perfect 5 stars if there were more chunks of meat included for the price paid. Rice texture was great and paired well with the curry. The barley tea in store was also very refreshing and the perfect drink to pair with the food. 10/10 we'll be returning again in future, except maybe this time I'm going to have to order more katsu to satisfy my meat cravings!

Kalé is Japanese curry restaurant in downtown Portland from Japanese owner, Makoto Yoshino. When we arrived, we were greeted with friendly service, and the entire menu was explained to us. We ordered: +Katsu Kalé Rice with Baked Chicken Katsu for $14.95 - The curry had a touch of spice to it which was nice. I personally enjoyed it. - 4/5

I adore this place. The food is SO. GOOD. It's variations on one thing, but they do it SO well and enough variation that everyone can find the right fit. The service is also fantastic. Always friendly and welcoming. I come here often.

Makoto is the nicest person and most hospitable owner I've ever met! He spoke with me for 15 min and explained his food. I got the chicken katsu. It's AMAZING. The curry is so velvety, smells great, chicken is crunchy. It's the perfect combo. I'd highly recommend!

Stumbled across this Japanese curry restaurant as we were leaving the Rose Festival's carnival/fest. The curry sauce tastes just like the ones you find in coffee shops in mainland Japan (sweeter base) and I enjoyed the Doria option. I make Doria at home all the time and never thought to try it using curry instead of béchamel. Learned something new! This is a personal thing because I was born & raised there, but hey, why is Okinawa just a green blob on the map?? Similar to how Hawaii gets treated on these restaurant display maps. Okinawa has a lot of specialty ingredients like goya. (Mmm ゴーヤーカレー) they close around 7 or 8pm so you definitely need to save this place for an early dinner spot. Looking forward to going back and trying the regular curry!

I got the Kale Doria, which is chicken with Japanese curry, rice, and cheese melted on top. It was ok. The thing I really liked is how hot and fresh it was. The guy put the whole plate containing the food in the oven. Well, probably the broiler to melt the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. So the whole thing came out very hot. The guy warned me not to touch the plate. Something about this heat felt very right. And the chicken was also very solid. However, I didn't love the curry itself. It was alright, I just thought that it was lacking flavor. And the rice was a little on the softer, mushier side for me. Which all put together makes this more of a comforting plate than a delicious one. But for $17 when I can make something similarly comforting at home, I don't plan on coming back.

Dude with the glasses is theeee worst. Ordered, paid, threw it in the bin. I've never had a more unpleasant experience in a restaurant. Never again.

It was amazing! Best Japanese cuisine around. I'm Japanese and this is authentic. Hard to find good asian food but here is really good.

overall ratings food: 4.5/5 service: 4.5/5 atmosphere: 4.5/5 price: $ value: worth it! i recently got the opportunity to try Kalé, a hidden gem in Portland. they specialize in serving authentic Japanese curry, which i find to be a comforting dish. despite its small size with only 6 tables, the restaurant offers a concise menu of 4 options. the food is served cafeteria-style, but the quality is not compromised. i was pleasantly surprised by the hot and fresh dishes served at Kalé. The first bite was truly satisfying and reminded me of comfort food. the portion sizes were reasonable and left me feeling satisfied. what sets this restaurant apart is that it specializes in Japanese curry, unlike most places in Portland which curry is an afterthought. although it may not be considered extravagant, Kalé is a great choice if you're craving delicious Japanese curry. i highly recommend giving it a try.

The. Best. Curry. Ever. It is literally the only reason I visit Portland. I really wish they would open a location in CA so I don't have to keep flying up here. Order the Kale Doria with beef sauce. Not chicken, not vegetables. It has to be beef. Then it's baked at 5,000° so it's piping hot and each bite is cheesy heavenly goodness. Toppings are optional and completely unnecessary. They did move to a new, smaller location. Very unfortunate because it used to be beautifully decorated and now it has to share a building. But the owner is just as cheerful and attentive as ever. 20/10 service.

4.5 stars! The curry is authentic, I love how the katsu isn't oily, and the owner is SO kind!

Authentic comforting curry. Curry is rich and delicious, and the chicken cutlet is meaty and crispy! Their menu is simple, the place is clean, and service is friendly. Hearty portion and great prices- highly recommended!

Been going here for a decade. It's moved around a bit. The owner is good dude and he makes excellent curry. I buy it weekly at Uwajimaya as well. Pair with some Koshihikari and you have perfect comfort food.

Small Japanese comfort food spot. There was one guy working the counter but he was efficient and great at explaining the menu. The curry was great with a little tiny kick. Loved that the food was nice and hot especially on a cold night . Perfect portions of curry and rice. I was also a fan of the "backwards happy hour thing" beer was like $2!!

My brother is obsessed with this place, it's kind of annoying. The curry has an excellent flavor I don't know what my brother orders but it comes out in a pizza box, but it's not a pizza. It's like a Japanese lasagna hahahaa I always order the chicken curry with breaded chicken. And guess what I've been here about 25 times now, always good. The only sucky part, parking it awful but you can get lucky or just walk

I didn't expect much from a restaurant, because the place looked very simple. We ordered Original Doria and Doria wish cheese. What a surprise! Delicious food with amazing flavors. Very efficient - only 1 person working, very friendly. There were no delays, and it all stays clean. I'll definitely come back when I visit Portland again.

The owner is so friendly and nice! Great mom and pop shop in Portland! Would highly recommend for a quick lunch :)

We've been coming here for almost 10 years and just love the food and restaurant and team. I crave it. I freaking need it. Ahem, I really hope you'll Epcot this food.

The food was so yummy. I seriously can't wait till we go again ! If you like curry this is the place

Food was absolutely amazing if i could i would eat here everyday! I've never had Japanese food and i think i found my new favorite dish that being the chicken katsu with the beef curry. If you havent gone hurry there now

Since I can remember, Kalé has been my favorite restaurant. I posted a review around four years ago, and everything has stayed true. Throughout my visits, I've had the pleasure in engaging in multiple conversations with the owner and staff--all of whom who are very nice and welcoming. Although I suggest dining-in, if you get the basic curry rice without cheese, that would be suitable for either dine-in or togo. My favorite meal has and always will be the kalé doria with chicken sauce, extra rice, half cheddar, half American cheese, and an egg. The beef sauce is a little spicier than the chicken in my experience, but equally as rich and has an toned herbal spice to it. It always is delivered to your table piping hot with the cheese perfectly melted over the curry. It's a smaller restaurant and may have to share a table with another party, but you won't regret going!

This is my 2nd time coming here and I absolutely love this place. The chef is extremely kind and friendly, service is great to say the least. With that being said, the curry is the star here. So simple yet so flavorful. I was so satisfied, I had a second dish all to myself! Would highly recommend!

This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Portland. I've been coming here since they opened in 2010. The curry is always amazing especially in Doria form, Makoto the owner of the shop is a ray of sunshine in your day, and it's such a pleasantly filling meal. I unfortunately had to move from Portland about 5 years ago but every time I'm back I make sure I make multiple trips during my visits. And if any of my friends visit, I demand they bring me containers of the curry they sell on site frozen back with them. Don't miss out on this gem! Here's some home doria I made back in LA with the curry my friend brought back.

From the time we stepped foot in and to the end... service is amazing! Our sone loved the chocolate monako. The katsu and curry was on point! We will def come back! Plus if its Mid March go visit the cherry blossom afterwards! 5 min walk. :)

The reviews here seem to be more unkind complaints from the employee than the food reviews, I agree with this. (I remember he was a big guy.) The pork katsu was not crispy and had an old texture, and the curry was salty. And the food was not tasty due to the unkindness of the employee. It's not as good as it looks. Don't be fooled by these picture.

It's hard to find a good Japanese curry place, but this place really hit the spot on a rainy day. The Doria was so satisfyingly filling - try it with the roasted vegetables for a more balanced meal! I think the extra bake really worked wonders. We got the beef curry and there were slow-cooked beef chunks throughout the sauce. The normal Katsu Curry is also pretty solid too.

Really authentic Japanese curry simple and very tasty. Not much choices but for sure you'll get the best of your cravings. The aroma and the perfect twist of the spice that goes along with the sweetness is what makes a Japanese curry different from other curries of the world. I can say simple is best and Kale's curry is what it is. I recommend this place.

Stopped here on a Friday around 2 pm. Not a regular time to have lunch so the restaurant didn't have a lot of people. The employee explained the menu thoroughly and helped us order a Kale Rice with half chicken katsu and Beef Curry and a Kale Doria with the same combo. The Doria was a baked version of Kale rice with mozzarella cheese. Both plates came under 10 minutes and had a very authentic taste of Japanese curry. Definitely worth a stop for a quick lunch if you are a Japanese katsu curry fan!

I've been recommended to try Kalé by quite a few people now and have finally gotten around to it. I would describe the food as the ultimate Japanese comfort food. I really like when restaurants have a small menu, this tells you that they really specialize and perfect what they do. I can't speak much on the service because I've only been here once, and I ordered take out. But I would definitely recommend the food!

Delicious and exceptionally friendly service. I got the Katsu Doria and it was an awesome experience.

The food is amazing, the best in Portland. It's not on any "best restaurants" list, but trust me: this is the best food Portland has to offer. There is no comparison. I've also traveled extensively throughout Japan and have had many many many iterations of Japanese curry and none of it is even close to this delicious... and Japan is a place where everything you eat is the best thing you've ever had. Unfortunately, the single person that has been working at their current location every time I've been is a huge jerk. He abruptly tells you he's very busy (no matter how many people are in the store), he won't help you understand the menu, and he is completely unapologetic when he gets your order wrong. (I ordered extra fukujinzuke, he didn't include it and then refused to give it to me or refund my money.) Walk by... Do you see a friendly Japanese guy? Go in and have the one of the best meals you've ever had. Do you see anyone else? Keep walking.

I enjoyed curry about every other day during my recent trip to Japan. I knew I had to temper my expectations when ordering this staple in Portland. Moreover, I realize there aren't too many options that offer it. RICE - far from soft and hot, it had that Jasmine rice Thai cart taste and texture to it. TEXTURE - needs to be thicker, it was almost soup-like. TASTE - light on pop; the red pickles were a nice touch. TEMPERATURE - luke warm, crank up the heat man! PORTION - fair SERVICE - friendly and fast I know we're not in Japan, but I left a bit unsatisfied.

We were really wanting something solid with rice for dinner. The menu seems confusing, but it ends up being pretty simple - what type of rice do you want (white or brown), what type of curry do you want (beef, chicken, or vegetable), do you want a baked chicken katsu (ordered as a Kale Katsu) or do you also want the cheese topping (called Doria). The chicken is amazingly tender but still cooked through. This is a small place, but the Kale Katsu is a solid meal.

Huge disappointment. Not Japanese tasting, little curry flavor, almost no tomato notes and no fruit notes whatsoever. Tasted more like American beef chili. (They have a bottle of TABASCO on the counter, that was the first warning you get.)And why is it baked? Not crispy. Overall this is basically kids food. Can make better curry from the Japanese store packets. On the plus side, didn't seem like any msg. The best curry on the west coast is Osawa in LA, a true Japanese family restaurant with curry better than almost anywhere in Japan. Osawa is the best katsu curry you will find, period. It says a lot about Portland when people say this is their favorite. that's scary.

Awesome authentic Japanese curry. Best I have ever had. Every time I am in Portland I bring some home.

This spot was so amazing! We went while visiting family in Oregon. We had worked up quite the appetite after visiting the Japanese Gardens and the Rose Gardens and knew this spot would fit the bill. On top of the food being absolutely delicious, the gentlemen working were so kind and friendly. I believe one of them was the owner. His dedication was clear and it made me so glad we chose this place to eat. I can't wait to come back one day and I will continue to recommend it. YUM!