This was my first time at KCM and the food was SO good! I had the spicy kimbap, and I can handle spice fairly well, but this wasn't overly spicy (most people could definitely handle it, although there is a kick). I also tried my friend's cabbage salad with black sesame dressing- the dressing does not look appealing but is SHOCKINGLY good! I'm glad I was with someone who had been before, because it was a little confusing, but you go in and order and take a number, and they'll bring you your food. When you're done, leave all your plates and things on your table and return the number to the front area, and they'll know you're done and go clear the table. They also have self serve water and will give you a cup when you order! read more

KCM - Ebi Fry teishoku (shrimp tempura meal) - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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So so so so good. One of my favorite spots to grab a quick lunch or dinner in EGR. It's a bit off the beaten path from the main shops and restaurants on Cherry, but better than any restaurant on Cherry. Inside isn't the most sanitary place, but food doesn't touch the ground. Hire Katsu Curry is my favorite. Comes with some pickled veggies and a cup of miso soup. Decent prices, food came out quickly, and is set up with lots of seating. Street parking isn't hard to find either. read more

KCM - Hire Katsu Curry with miso - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

KCM is a cute restaurant with fast service. We were the only people in here when we walked in at 6 PM on a Thursday but it quickly filled up throughout our stay. You order at the kiosk up front and your food will be at your table in under 10-15 minutes. I personally didn't LOVE what I ordered but my partner really enjoyed it. Nothing wrong with the meal, I think I just ordered the wrong thing. I'll have to come back and try more things. They also have Matcha ice-cream that I have to come and check out! read more

KCM - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I came here for the first time for lunch over the weekend. The staff are very welcoming and the food comes out fairly quickly! We got the tacos and the chicken sando and both were delicious. I did prefer the tacos though :) There is plenty of seating and it is a very minimalistic concept restaurant with your food served on trays and felt very much like it did when I've traveled to Asia! I highly recommend if you're looking for some good Korean food! read more

KCM - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I've been wanting to come here for years due to so many friends' recommendations. I finally went with a friend who was a regular at the restaurant and had recently come back from a trip to Japan. The restaurant is right in East GR, somewhat on the edge, which makes it really nice for parking and general traffic. There are some paid parking spots right outside the restaurant but also some side streets. The outside of the restaurant looks quite small, but the inside is much larger than I anticipated. You order at a little checkout counter at the front, where you can also do takeout orders. There are several tables and an area with free water. The staff was friendly and I like the chill vibe with just the walk up counter and no table service. They offer full sized meals as well as a lunch/mini option for some of the dishes like kimbap. I ended up getting the mini katsu kimbap with miso soup. The mini kimbap were fairly large and had a good amount of filling. I actually was not prepared for how large they would be and ended up only finishing one and took the other to go. It was very tasty and everything felt very balanced in terms of flavor and texture. I also got the matcha ice cream. Again, the portion was much larger than i was anticipating and the matcha flavor was decently strong. The matcha powder they put on top is quite dry and I did accidentally choke on it but that is 100% a me issue so please don't make the same silly mistake I did. Overall I'd highly recommend this restaurant for both dine-in and takeout. The food is quality and the portions are worth the price. read more

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Gosh I love KCM. I think they really filled a gap in the Grand Rapids food scene with the menu they offer. I love their spot on diamond, it feels like the perfect size and I love the fast casual aspect of this restaurant while still serving some incredible food. I have tried a handful of items from their menu including the Kaki Fry (deep fried oysters), Kimbap, and curries. I consistently go back to the Katsu curry. I've tried both the chicken and the hire and though they are both great, I prefer the pork! I would recommend this dish and spot to anyone looking for a tasty meal in GR. It's a big sized portion, the rice is cooked perfectly, and the curry is the perfect amount of spice/kick. read more

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Stopped in for lunch and was it was a very nice meal. You can tell that the staff cared about providing tasty food. It was so good I came back for dinner. read more

KCM - LUNCH Chicken Katsu Kimbap with Miso Soup - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Foods amazing!! Comes out so fast and consistently good every time. Always get the tuna and crab kimbop and matcha soft serve. Real matcha taste and good portions!! read more

KCM, I don't understand all the 5 stars. Famous for curry so I got the hire katsu curry,same as Tonkatsu but thicker cut. Is it good, yes it is good. But same as other curry in other Japanese restaurant. I can't tell any other difference. Also the pork is too pink in the center for my liking and the batter is not crispy enough. They should switch to thinner Tonkatsu if they can't control the cooking time read more

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Y'all need to run, not walk, to this place!!! I came after seeing that the New York Times called the chicken Katsu curry one of the best meals they had that year! Here's an article that's free since you may need a subscription to see the NYT article: "https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2023/12/grand-rapids-katsu-curry-makes-new-york-times-national-best-dish-list.html?outputType=amp" The place is so unique, place is clean and their process and service of giving food and picking it up after you're done works very well. I've never had Japanese food before and it was delightful. Apparently this place has both Japanese and Korean food. We ordered Spicy Butadon, Chicken Katsu Curry, Smoked Salmon Kimbap and Spam Musubi. I'll attach pictures! This foods is perfect for all seasons but is an especially cozy meal to have in the fall and winter. read more

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chicken katsu curry really slaps. they consistently do a great job here with service and the quality of the food itself. i will always keep coming back because the flavors are yummy and the chicken katsu is breaded nicely, not greasy or stringy. Love KCM! read more

This place is phenomenal and has amazing chicken katsu sandos, curry plates, inari (even filled with egg), musubis, toasts and other great rare Japanese fare. Also a wide assortment of authentic and unique Japanese beverages as well. Great service that is prompt, food is taken out to you, and many tables in a cozy and quaint yet spacious diner-like interior. Also featured by The NY Times. Most highly recommended! read more

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Had been meaning to come in for a long time and finally made it out for my birthday! I tried the ebi fry which was shrimp tempura. It was so crispy and cooked very well. The portion was great and came with rice, cabbage salad, pickle, and soup. The black Sesame dressing for the salad was to die for! My husband got the spam musubi, which is one of his favorite things so his bar was high. He loved it and said it was authentic! A bit hard to eat but he didn't let it slow him down. I can't wait to come back. read more

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My word. This place is a gem. I had heard nothing but praise for KCM after they were mentioned in the New York Times or something, yet it took me months to finally give this little counter-service joint a shot. Right off the bat, this place has no frills - and I love it. There's a minimalist dining room next to a counter/bar where you can place your order which will then be brought to your table. I ordered the Hire pork cutlet curry, as I am uncultured and expected the pork to be more like a pork belly. Nope, it was instead the most tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned pork loin I have ever eaten. It literally fell apart like chicken does, which I have never experienced with pork. The curry was also phenomenal. To somebody who's never had it before - think of it kind of like an Asian gumbo or a really loose chili. It was so fragrant and warm and whole, eating it made me feel like I was receiving a hug from a loved one. It was perfectly balanced with the pillowy sushi rice and the salty, crispy katsu. The dish also comes with other accoutrements, such as a fantastic miso soup, a sort of cabbage slaw, and a sauce that I do not recognize but was spectacular. Kind of like a Smokey, thicker soy/teriyaki sauce? Definitely the bomb. And if you like wasabi, ask for the spicy mustard - it's just a perfect touch to the dish if that's what you're into. Overall this place is phenomenal. The ambiance is great for a lunch or a weeknight meal, and if you've never had katsu curry, this is the time, place and opportunity for you to become enlightened. read more

KCM - Hire Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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We have enjoyed takeout from KCM in the past but this time we dined in. Our kids wanted a good, quiet meal on a Friday night. We were not disappointed. We were promptly greeted and ordered. We chose a table near the window. The decor is pure, clean and uncluttered which was perfect for our needs. The food arrived after a short conversation. It was hot and delicious, even better than from our takeout experiences. We each enjoyed a different dish and everyone was thrilled with their choice. Everything about the katsu curry dish was delightful and I threatened to lick my plate clean. Since we dined in, I spared my teenage daughter the trauma. We ate well and KCM was exactly what we needed that night. Thanks for the great hospitality! read more

If you've never been to KCM, I recommend adding this place to your list now. Yesterday even. The food here is so delicious and hits the spot EVERY TIME. I have two favorite items: the spam musubi and the egg and bacon kimbap. I absolutely love both of these things and will be a happy camper after eating either. The chicken katsu curry is also super great! Love the crispy chicken and the rich flavor from the curry. Besides the food being phenomenal, the staff is always incredibly kind. I have only ever had the best service here. The inside is white and minimal with some cute accents here and there. For a delicious summer treat, the matcha soft serve icecream is beyond delicious! Tastes so good I'm sad when it's gone. Please check this place out and support them when you can! You can dine in or get take out! read more

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I went for a late working lunch, finally trying KCM out. They were busy with takeout orders but both staff in front of the house greeted me right away (friendly ). I was going to order the tuna/crab kimbap after hearing good things about their toast version, but I don't eat imitation crab. I landed on the chicken katsu sando and was not disappointed. The chicken was perfect level of "moist", the breading was a thin layer (it was 90% chicken, 10% breading). I can't normally eat fried food and this I could. It's served in white bread and has some cabbage (decent amount), sauce (solid amount), and a special mayo (light layer). There's a piece of chicken plated as well. I also ordered the daikon/fuji apple pickled. It's a refreshing crunch with just the right amount of tang and lightly sweet, that complimented the sando well. It's one that I walked away going "I need to try and replicated this pickled salad at home!" So many alternatives for the next time, not sure how I'll be able to choose. The matcha soft serve ice cream - solid 10/10. I declined matcha powder on top, but that's also an option. It's served in a waffle cone OR you can get it in a cup. I have to say this was creamy, earthy (matcha), just the right amount of slightly sweet, matcha goodness. It's a good thing I don't live closer, because this would be a summer go-to treat... You're given a cup with your order. It was my first time and had no idea where the drinks were, let alone that there was a whole other seating section beyond the front of the house. It wasn't a big deal, since I bring water with me wherever I go, and a quick ask would've solved this mystery. I only discovered all of there was a whole other section when other patrons came in . Overall rating: Service: 10/10 Portion-to-price: 10/10 Ingredients: 9/10 Speed: 10/10 Menu: 10/10 Set-up: 8/10 read more

KCM - Matcha ice cream - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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My friends treated me to a delicious meal and recommended the Hire Katsu Curry! The dish is full of FLAVOR and you won't want to stop eating it! Make sure to grab a Matcha ice cream! read more

KCM - Hire Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Food was to die for. Seriously the best kimbap I have ever had. Fantastic food fantastic staff! 0 notes read more

KCM - Spicy Kimbap & Tuna & Crab Salad Toast - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Best meal in all my visits to Grand Rapids hands down. A tiny Korean restaurant off of a Main Street, KCM specializes in katsu, curry, and more. Recommended by The New York Times, the Hire Katsu Curry is delicious and quite filling as it comes with rice, miso soup, and more. Its flavor combo with the pickled veggies, curry, and breaded pork is spot on. read more

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What a unique find for a meal for one tonight. In the area running errands and the local store owner suggested this spot. She described it as a twist on traditional Japanese dishes and I could not be happier. When I walked it I was greeted kindly. The staff was busy in the kitchen and there was a line. Dishes were being created to go, the cooks were hopping and they still made me feel like I was the only one. I asked some people in line for suggestions and landed on the Katsu Curry. I dinned in so I was given a glass and filled water from the pitcher for free water and found a table with a view of the bustling activity outside. The restaurant was very spacious, lots of places to choose from, and smelled great. I really enjoyed all the signage and free wifi. There was this flower bouquet made of Lego blocks sitting on the counter I found very unique. My meal came out hot and it was delicious. The rice was made perfect and able to be enjoyed with chopsticks. I was also given a fork if needed. The Miso soup was a perfect size. The portion of food was very large and I was filled up fast. Had to even take a portion to go. The BBQ dipping sauce was sweet and tangy but complimented the curry very well. Wsh I had space for ice cream but not on this trip. Definitely a place I will need to go back to. read more

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I'm so happy this place got the New York Times "23 of the Best American Dishes of 2023", because I absolutely agree, this place makes some of the best food in America (and by extension, Michigan!) Even if I compare this place's Japanese curry to Japanese curry that I've had in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Japan, or *gasp* curry made my mom (who is an excellent chef), this place's curry is, dare I say, one of the best. I drive an hour just to eat this place's curry. I'm so happy this place has been getting plentiful business since the article came out! The kimbap is great too. I've had pretty much every kimbap and you can't go wrong with any, although I'd say the smoked salmon is my favorite. Service is always fast and friendly. You order at the counter and then you get a number and the food is brought to you. If you haven't tried this place already, you gotta!!! read more

KCM - Curry Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

FIRE, FLAMES! We stopped in on our drive from AA to Grand Haven and are so glad we chose KCM! The Chicken Katsu Curry was the best curry I have had in my life. 1 dish was enough to fill both of us, so plentiful with cabbage and miso soup on the side. Menu outside and inside on the wall, walk up to order and they bring your food out. Service was quick and kind. Ambiance is open, well lit, with about 10 tables and a bar seating area by the windows. We were able to chat with locals and get some tips on what to prioritize during our short visit here today. read more

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Enjoyed their Hire Katsu Curry on a recent visit to GR. It is a Japanese Deep Fried Pork Tenderloin Cutlet served with Japanese Curry Rice. The pickled vegetables and their miso soup were good too. This dish and restaurant were recently featured in the NYT too! I read that article and I'm like I have to go there the next time I'm in GR. My brother in law is a vegetarian and there were options available. It is a no frills restaurant with self serve water, which I'm totally a fan of. Our food was good, prompt service and decent prices makes it a place I'd go back to! Go check them out! read more

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Only Japanese curry place in Grand Rapids. You order at the front and take a number and they'll bring out the food. We ordered the chicken katsu curry and chicken katsu sando. Both were great, albeit a little bit pricey. However, it is a specialty restaurant without competition so they can dictate their prices. Even the kids liked the food. It's a nice place to visit for a chill lunch or dinner. We will definitely come back when the next craving hits. Food was cooked to perfection with nice balance of flavors. Inside lacked personality and value of amount of food to the dollar was slightly lacking. Staff were friendly and took the time to explain the menu and how to eat the food. Overall we had a great experience. read more

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Absolutely delicious. Tastes as great as when I went to Japan. A surprise to find on my visit to Grand Rapids. read more

KCM - Hire Katsu Ebi fry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

KCM now has matcha soft serve! Served in a large waffle cone, this is a cool treat that can't be beat!

I've been going to this place since I moved here 4 years ago. The food never misses, and the service is amazing. The staff are incredibly friendly and the ambience is nice and cozy. Eat here if you love Korean/Japanese!! read more

I eat this place up super nice and caring service. Good little place to eat alone and have a good quality meal. Portions are honest to pricing and makes it easy to order more than one meal:) read more

KCM - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Food was plentiful and hot. The chicken katsu curry reminded me of my time in Japan. The staff was friendly and quick! The restaurant was quiet and clean. read more

Girlfriend and I got the hire katsu curry and it was nearly orgasmic, also got the matcha cone and it was also exquisite read more

KCM - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I've heard great things about this place and had to try it for myself. Although it looked small on the outside, I was delighted to find that they had a whole room just for dining. Unlike typical dining experiences, you pay for your food first and indicate if you are having your food "for here" or "to go". I ordered the curry chicken katsu on white rice and my friend ordered their chicken kimbap. We split the ebi fry which is their deep fried shrimp tempura. I enjoyed my food, but would probably get something different next time because the curry part of the dish was not the texture I was expecting. It had the same texture as refried beans and I wasn't a big fan of that. The taste was also off for me. However, I'm willing to go back and give something else a try. read more

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If you like Japanese curry or Katsu, this is the restaurant for you! This humble restaurant is no frills - You order at the counter and the food is brought out to you. Water is self serve. We tried the curry rice and the chicken Katsu curry. I'm fairly certain the curry rice curry is the same as what's in the chicken Katsu curry - though the menu description makes it seem like it has more meat in it. Regardless, the curry is rich and the portions are generous. The chicken Katsu was moist and fried well! Sadly although matcha soft serve is advertised, they told me they only sometimes have it and when we went, it was not available. There are plenty of high chairs, but no changing table in the bathroom. read more

KCM - Curry Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The goat of Korean/Japanese fast food in Uptown. I could live off of their spicy fish cake kimbaps and soft serve matcha ice cream!

You know in Beauty and the Beast, when Belle is a prisoner but the dishes start singing to her, and they say "Try the grey stuff, it's delicious!"? I've always wondered what that was and I think I found it. The dressing on the cabbage salad at KCM gave me pause at first, but it was amazing. Which really is par for the course here, to be honest. The chicken katsu is perfectly tender inside and crispy outside with an incredibly flavorful sauce on the side. The miso soup was fine but the pickled vegetables really added a welcome crunch and pop of acid. This space is sparsely decorated, which gives a clean and simple feeling, allowing the sun coming in through the big windows to give the space an airy feeling. It is very cold with the air on during June but if you bring a sweater you should be fine. Service is prompt and friendly. read more

KCM - Chicken Kathy, Lunch portion - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Food was amazing I had their Ebi Fry Curry and that was amazing! Perfect levels of crisp and the flavor of the curry only enhanced it! I want to try more menu items soon! We came as a massive group of around 30 and they were extremely receptive and handled everything perfectly, food kept coming out and no one was waiting longer than needed. That, the flavor of their menu and in combination with how friendly the staff is, I'll definitely be back! read more

Service was okay, nothing over the top. The sandwich's were just okay, the bread was toasted/not soft, but the kimbap and spam musubi were good. Space was quiet, clean, and good amount of seats. read more

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10/10 every time. Truly never a long wait, always 15-20 minutes cor some insane food you can not find anywhere else. Highly recommend and definitely worth a try. Plenty of "safe" options as well as a broad variety to expand your pallet if you're interested. Definitely worth giving a try! read more

Subjective: "It reminds me of Japan." After the first few bites, the husband expressed this sentiment of one of his highest commendations, and I wholeheartedly agree! Our first bite of the kaki fry- lightly breaded oyster that was surprisingly fresh- reminded us of the ones we had on Miyajima Island. Their version of the katsu curry- perfectly crunchy with a nicely textured curry sauce- transported us to exploring bar eats with the post work crowd. We were a little disappointed in the kimbap, but only because it was in burrito form and difficult to share. Extra points for their quick service and super cool high chairs (adjustable leg rests, a baby led weaning mom's dream!). Objective: Date of visit: 1/20/23 Previous visits: no Takes reservations/call aheads? call ahead/order online Parking: street Perceived capacity: small Perceived atmosphere: casual Wait time to seating: seat yourself What I/we got: hire katsu, kaki fry, smoked salmon kimbap cost: $47.22 Assessment: 5 stars- so happy to find quality Japanese comfort food in Grand Rapids in a modern setting Plan: Will definitely return and bring others! Excited to try their sandwiches or come on a weekend for their matcha soft serve. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in Michigan if not my favorite. Hire katsu curry is my favorite but everything else I've had has been at least very good. Service is quick and ambiance is no frills but at least they have a seating area. Love this place! read more

KCM - Hire Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan