Awesome food, awesome service! The owner was very gracious, accommodating, and patient as he explained what every part of my order meant! Had the Japanese curry with katsu. Next time I'll try the doria style! read more

Kalé - Japanese curry katsu - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Ok, this place is really growing on me and I feel like I need to update my review. Again. Maybe it was because it was a cold, rainy day and I was on the tail end of a 45 minute bike ride, but man, that piping hot chicken over rice with curry and melted cheese just really hit the spot. I absolutely love how hot it is served. I'm realizing that qualities other than pure taste can matter a lot to me. But the taste seemed better to me today. The curry does have some real flavor. I know I called it one dimensional in the past and I guess there's truth to that -- it's heavy on the salt and umami -- but, I dunno, that can still be very flavorful. Steak and potatoes are similar. A good cheeseburger is similar. And it does come with some sort of pickled red stuff that I leave off because I don't like pickled flavor, so yeah, I suppose the lack of contrast is largely on me. But yeah, I found the curry to be pretty strongly and pleasantly flavored today. The chicken could be juicier. I wouldn't call it dry; I think it looks drier than it actually is. I liked it though. I think the fact that it's served so hot adds to my enjoyment. There's a pretty decent amount of crunch from the breading too, although I am a sucker for that outer crunch so I would prefer even more. I also just love the vibe there. If you're a supporter of small businesses, I think you will too. It's just one guy in there running things by himself. Maybe he's had one or two other people helping out in the past, I forget, but today it was just him. I admire the hustle. The place has some homages to Japan too which is cool. Today I noticed a sign on the tables saying that if it's busy to share the table with other patrons. It then explained that that's how they do it in Japan. The tables are pretty small and some are right next to each other. I've never seen it busy enough in there where you'd need to sit next to another patron, but I like that the owner provided that note. Moving forward I plan on being a repeat customer at Kale, if not a regular. read more

Kale is a small counter service establishment with 20 seats in a thin hallway that really does remind me of a diner in Japan! It's pretty rare in the US to find Japanese restaurants that specialize in curry, and much rarer to find any place at all that serves Doria, one of my favorite yoshoku dishes. We decided to drop in for a Saturday lunch a bit past noon and this place was about 1/2 full with trimet transit workers. That's a great indicator of how good a place is, no? The owner of this establishment is awesome. He's super upbeat and seems to be over the moon while talking to customers. He is also very observant - I stood up, looking to use the restroom to wash my hands, and he immediately pointed me towards the bathroom without me even saying anything. This is a shining example of fantastically run shop. Doria, Beef, Half Cheddar, Half Mozzarella ($17.95) - This dish is assembled and baked to order so it takes about 10-15 minutes to arrive. The dish is served blistering hot, so much so that the chef warned us not to touch the dish. The dish includes a small mound of short grain rice on the bottom, unfortunately cooked a bit too far on the mushy side, meaning that the rice grains aren't very distinct and instead mush together while eating. I originally thought this was due to the additional bake time and possibly the curry soaking into the rice, but even the center area is mushy. On top of the rice is a beef curry. It gives a little tingly zing while eating and is full of savory flavors as expected of a good curry. It's reduced a bit into a pretty concentrated umami thanks to the bake, which also gives a much thicker consistency. There are plenty of beef chunks in the curry - complete chunks, not ground meat. On top of the curry, for the mixed cheese, they melt cheddar on one side and mozzarella on the other. The mozzarella gives a great stretchy quality and milky flavor, while the cheddar is able to bubble and caramelize a bit, intensifying the flavors. Sliced chicken katsu is placed on top. It's interesting, cooked until a bit of a crisp develops on the breading, but is very, very light in color. The breading itself doesn't have any semblance of oil or grease, leading me to believe it's baked rather than fried. It tastes like Italian seasoning for some reason. The chicken remains tender albeit definitely cooked through until well done and slightly dry. Honestly I'd probably skip getting meat next time. Overall, I found the food at Kale to be only a bit above average, probably closer to a 3 than a 4. The rice and chicken katsu are weak, but at least the curry is pretty good. I'm rounding up to a 4 because the owner is such a fantastic person. Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms in the hallway outside the restaurant. Requires a key from the order counter. read more

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I had the beef curry doria style which is quite unique as this type of preparation is not as widespread as the regular curry. It is baked and it comes piping hot. For about $13, pretty solid price, enough food for a nice meal for one. I liked the execution and the relatively unique factor, but unfortunately I found that the curry did not have as much flavor as I hoped - maybe the baking took away a bit of the flavor. Still worth a try, especially given this place is fairly highly regarded and this type of curry is harder to find in America. It was fairly busy even at 3pm so it comes to no surprise that if you dine in during meal hours, you may end up sharing a table with someone! read more

Kalé - Beef Kale' Doria - IG @bougiefoodieboi - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is one of the best spots for lunch in downtown Portland, especially on a cold rainy day! The service is always super friendly and fast. The katsu is crispy and juicy, the rice is fluffy, and the curry sauce has just the right amount of heat. read more

Kalé - Chicken Kalé® Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The food: warm and delicious. The service: even warmer. A bright little restaurant full of love and care. Come here if you want to be treated like a guest in the sweetest man's home. read more

Kalé - Kale Rice with Chicken - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The perfect place on a rainy day. I love coming here so much. Definitely a staple in my PDX rotation!! Honestly anything you get here would be yummy! I love adding cheese + eggs to my curry! I love this place and always recommend it to people- the service can be slow since it's usually one person working, but never a big deal. read more

Kalé - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Awesome food and great experience - owner was so nice and patient with explaining everything. We ordered 5 different curry dishes and was not disappointed by any. Small shop but somehow they get some great flavors out of that kitchen. read more

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The whole experience here deserves 5 stars. The owner is super personable, helpful, and forthcoming with information. This place basically sells one thing in two forms: curry standard with rice on the side, and curry on top of rice, baked with cheese over all of it (cheddar or mozzarella, or a combo of both). They also have some canned drinks and an ice cream bar dessert. Vegetarian review: - baked option (called doria) is delicious. It comes out piping hot, with plenty of curry and cheese, and a side of pickled... uh, red pickles. The rice is just enough to finish so you're not leaving leftover food sitting around. So, so good, especially on a cold day. - ice cream sandwich: this is the kind you get at Japanese markets (or Japan) that has like, a waffle-type casing and vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips on the inside. Nice after meal snack. Parking: generally easy, even on a Saturday afternoon. read more

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The service here is absolutely amazing, the person who greets you and takes your order ensures that you will order something absolutely perfect for you. He truly cares about the food and that it is up to your standards. I just got the rice and beef curry which has some chunks of beef in it and the sauce is very well seasoned and he did say it cooked for 3 days before serving. You can taste that a lot of ingredients and labor and love go into the curry. The chicken katsu was good but a bit dry but it pairs well with the curry and rice. read more

Kalé - Kale Rice with Beef - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Small hole in the wall with amazing Japanese curry and also amazing prices. Came here a few weeks ago when visiting Portland cherry blossoms and had to come back again because their curry was so good. My partner and my fav is the vegetarian kale doria. It's essentially a Japanese curry sauce fish with rice and melted cheese on top. This curry is way better than those ready to mix Japanese curry packets and is full of flavor and isn't spicy. Meat options are great as well though I didn't try since vegatarian was already really good. And they let you choose between mozzarella, cheddar or half and half cheese. This dish always hits the spot. It's light and can be eaten on both cold and warm days read more

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What a gem we found in downtown Portland. If you're laid over on the train and need a brisk walk, you have got to tryKale. The owner is an absolute sweetheart! He kept checking on ius smiling to see if we were enjoying our meal. The food was exceptional and his passion in preparing it admirable. If you want a delicious savory lunch or dinner, you have got to try this place. The ice cream treat was the perfect finish. read more

Kalé - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I had the Doria curry with beef, cheese, hardboiled egg, and butter. It was savory and delicious. The chef/owner was friendly and gregarious. Pairs well with the many rainy days we have here. read more

Amazing! Unlike anything I have ever tasted. I had the beef Kale' Doria. Everything was on point ! Owner was helpful and hospitable! Free Barley tea! read more

Kalé - Menu - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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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. read more

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! read more

Kalé - katsu kale with mild chicken - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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! read more

Kalé - Chicken Katsu Doria (with Chicken Sauce) - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We went here back in June during our trip to Portland. I had been craving this since our usual spot in Los Angeles closed, and OMG. The food was absolutely, hands down the best. Would definitely recommend. It was tasty, hot, and satisfying. read more

Kalé - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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. read more

Kalé - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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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. read more

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Really good comfort food. Was recommended by a friend, and went there with another friend. Comfortable area and good staff. read more

Kalé - Deliciousness. Don't remember the exact dish - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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My expectations were low for Japanese food in Portland, but after coming here, I think I need to raise the bar. I never had doria curry but I might have to seek this out before I leave. Fork tender beef, topped with sweet pickled vegetable gives both an elevated and cozy home cooked meal. Great ambiance, and the most kindest chef/owner I've met. He really cares about the food and it shows. read more

Kalé - Doria beef - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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 read more

Kalé - Kale Katsu Doria with Beef Sauce - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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

Kalé - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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!! read more

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This is usually my cold weather comfort food, but it's so good I was craving it and went on the hottest day last week early summer. Beef is my go to and add the Chicken Katsu. read more

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. read more

Kalé - Baked Doria Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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. read more

Kalé - Baked Katsu - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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. read more

Kalé - two plates of food on a table - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

If I could only eat at three restaurants in Portland for the rest of my life, one of those spots would belong to Kalé no question. The food is outstanding and has never wavered, their service is remarkable always. I'll always miss the last location for the ambiance but you can't beat a late evening dinner here while it's raining. read more

The food never disappoints. I have been going here since I was a kid, and it's not just nostalgia that keeps me coming back. The people working are incredibly kind, and the food comes out hot, delicious, and perfectly portioned. The new (not that new, but newer to me) location is by the waterfront so is a great stop for dinner during an evening walk. I will not go anywhere else for Japanese curry! read more

Kalé - Katsu Kale Rice with Beef - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great Japanese comfort food. The curry and chicken were delicious. Highly recommend for a solid lunch!

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. read more

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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! read more

Really yummy comfort food without feeling heavy. The service was really great as well

The food here is so so good. I eat here often (prob too often) and never tire of it. One of my absolute favorites.

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 read more

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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! read more

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Best Japanese curry in Portland. Maybe best Japanese curry... ever. Get it with cheeeese and a melon cream soda

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. read more

Kalé - Kale Doria with Beef Sauce - Japanese Curry Near Me - Portland, Oregon