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Nippon Curry Berkeley

4.4 (54 reviews)
ModerateJapanese Curry
Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Order Nippon Curry Berkeley Takeout or Delivery

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Pork Katsu Curry karaage
Nick C.

Ordered the pork katsu curry and 2 pieces of karaage and it was delicious. The curry itself was thicker and sweet with a hint of Japanese spicy heat and umami flavor. The pork was tender and the karaage was crispy and juicy inside as well. Definitely worth checking out. Inside was smaller but clean and service was quick!

Side of Japanese Croquettes
Miriam W.

Nippon Curry is, without a doubt, the best Japanese curry offering near the UC Berkeley campus (an area where there are many choices for this popular dish). My daughter and I shared the chicken katsu curry and a side of potato croquettes on our first visit to Nippon Curry. My daughter was a fan, calling it "outstanding,"and we've been back many times since. Now she also likes to add a shrimp to our standing order. Don't come with a group; there's very limited seating here. There's some standing counter space but it's too tall for younger kids, so your best bet is to visit in a pair or get your curry to go. Seriously tasty curry!

Inside of Kani Cream
Patrick L.

Came to Nippon Curry for a quick lunch. Service was fast and friendly. The curry is mild and not too spicy - how I like it. I got the mixed seafood that comprises of shrimp, oyster, and crab cream croquet. The shrimp was excellent. The oyster is also amazing, this was plump and juicy. Other Curry places that offer oyster is often scrawny and dry. The Kani was a surprise because it was mostly cream, I was expecting more like crab cake.

Chicken Katsu Curry
Timothy N.

Ordered the chicken katsu curry with a small portion of rice. The space was busy yet quiet which is a nice surprise. The curry was pretty good and complex and I really enjoyed it. The rice was perfect and the dish came with an appropriate amount of fukujinzuke. The chicken katsu was just okay for me; it was a tad chewy but not dry. Nippon curry definitely stands out within this area but the steep price point (~$18 after tax) makes it difficult to justify coming back unless I absolutely needed to eat Japanese curry.

Walkway from back to front. Seating at left.
Victor G.

Nippon Curry opened where where Ladle & Leaf was a year ago. Minamalist seating and vanilla walls. Dine in & take out. Steady flow of patrons. Quick efficient, courteous service @ front counter. Ordered. Pd. Got food in 7 minutes. Offerings: (Japanese): many curry varietals. Sides. Menu on front window. Bites: Karaage Curry (17) with red pickles -3 large pieces of marinated (garlic, ginger, sake. Soy sauce) chicken thighs. Very moist, tender & juicy tasting of fresh meats used, not frozen. -karaage & curry rested upon freshly steamed short grain rice. Curry had 3 phases of flavas due to different ingredients: sweet (onions), nuanced complexity (beef, veggies, proprietary ingredients, heat (white & black peppers) 4.5 stars worthy. Quantity: reasonable. Quality: proprietary formula *Japanese curry formulated in 1900's. **3 locations in U.S. ***Hinoya beef curry used here won 2013 Kanda Grand Prix

inside
Gina N.

Stumbled across this place while walking around in Berkeley on a Sunday afternoon with my friend. It was so cold so curry was perfect! It's a small restaurant with bar seating. We ordered on the kiosk and our food was out quite fast. The portions are huge here (has a lot of rice). I got the pork katsu with cheese it was so yummy (just a lil heavy) and my friend got the chicken katsu (5/5). Would come back :)

Curry Croquettes Curry
Chad M.

Staff was great and the protein was pretty good. As for the curry I have tried store bought Japanese curry that I thought was better. They are unable to adjust the spice level and imo it's a pretty basic curry. Large amount of food for the price, and again the staff was great. I didn't care for the curry croquettes at all. Fun to try.

Pork Katsu Curry
Alice H.

I was craving Japanese curry and came across this place. I ordered the Pork Katsu Curry and the Karaage through DoorDash. Everything tasted delicious, and the flavor was spot on. I actually liked their karrage more than the pork katsu. The pork katsu crust was a bit mushy by the time it arrived, but the karaage stayed crispy and flavorful!

Pork katsu curry
Katherine Y.

A simple Japanese curry house next to the UC Berkeley. We came here after college visit for a quick bite. There were only bar seatings. Service was fast and courteous. It was interesting that all the meals were served on paper plate. Maybe it saves on dish washing? The pork katsu was not too thick and pretty crispy. The sauce was flavorful and mild. This is definitely a solid place for college kids and visitors.

Montage of images from Nippon Curry
Ed U.

I was happy to see that Nippon Curry has expanded to this minimalist off-campus eatery because it is the ideal post-class meal if you don't feel like grabbing a slice at Blondie's. I'm not a student though I was one in a galaxy far, far away. I just happen to see it from the crosswalk and felt emboldened to try it given my positive experience at the Marina location (review: https://yelp.to/HrL7uYzeQa). There was only one other customer when I entered, and he had his head on the counter (photo: https://yelp.to/vuMfB9agpM). I was praying it had nothing to do with the food. Just kidding. I decided to order the $17 Karaage Curry because I was in the mood for fried chicken thigh meat. You get three hefty chunks here ladled with their curry sauce made with a beef roux (photo: https://yelp.to/xgibQEdMOP). It covered the rice though interestingly not the plate. I sat at the window counter, the most unobtrusive, anti-social seat in the place. I just figured I shouldn't be hanging with the cool kids who happened to be trickling in while I was eating. Anyway, the combination of the crunchy karaage, tender thigh meat, and mildly spicy curry really worked well together here. Even with both Muracci's (review: https://yelp.to/5Gb0F21w23) and Champion's (review: https://yelp.to/zdbzNZr5fC) down Telegraph, I'll probably come back. FOOD - 4 stars...well executed homestyle curry with tasty karaage AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...quite sparse looking SERVICE - 3.5 stars...not that much interaction TOTAL - 4 stars...always up for trying another curry option RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Tracy L.

Nippon Curry happened to be right next door to where I was getting my drink, so it was very conveniently located, and with the cold weather, warm curry sounded perfect. I ordered the Plain Curry Rice. I somehow thought that the curry being made with beef meant it would have beef inside, but when it came out, it was just the curry with rice. Nonetheless, I thought the flavor of the curry was very good and it had a hint of spiciness. I also thought the pickles were delicious. There are a few stools to sit which made it very convenient. I also thought the prices overall were pretty fair for the portion size you were getting.

Vishal S.

The restaurant is next to the Berkeley campus. It's a counter style restaurant. Simple. The food was delicious. Service was fast.

Pork Katsu Curry
Elaine C.

The breading of the pork katsu was fresh and crispy, although the meat inside was a little tough. The curry was definitely the best part of the plate--it's smoky and perfectly seasoned. I would've preferred the curry to katsu ratio to be higher, given how much rice there was. Pickled veggies add a nice flavor contrast. Not sure why they serve on paper plates. They also have disposable utensils (their small plastic spoons are very nice). Limited seating put the cashier and register directly in front of me, and it was a bit awkward to eat there.

Chicken Katsu Curry  & a window seat.

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Thank you for your support, Rose! We hope to see you again soon!

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2 months ago

Quality went way down since they opened. Pork katsu is thin and tough and cut into big square pieces instead of thin rectangular pieces.

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10 months ago

Angel was super nice!! Pork katsu was amazing portions were huge. Really hit the spot

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Food is tasty! The space is not huge, only a few seats, but cozy and clean! Love Japanese Curry!

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Ask the Community - Nippon Curry Berkeley

Masa Ramen Bistro - BROKE DA MOUTH!

Masa Ramen Bistro

(320 reviews)

$$

Downtown Berkeley

Brief summary: - Good portions - fills up more than its…read moreappearance - Liked the equal balance of the broth and noodles with protein - Close to Trader Joe's - Indoor seating Ramen is a dish that has started sprouting in Berkeley, and this is one of them .I decided to go there for dinner with the family before heading to the Trader Joe's across the street to stock up on groceries. We entered a few minutes before peak dinner times, so there were seats to choose and sit from. By the time we left, mostly all the seats were filled up, so I would suggest coming in early. I liked the naming for each of the ramen dishes, some I recognized the names from Hawai'i. For this round, we ordered 3 different types of ramen: the Kuni, Broke da Mouth, and the Miso Hungry. These orders also came around the same time. A notable elements I liked about the ramen was that the noodles were chewy and springy, and the broth was smooth and easy to drink. I also didn't have the urge to drink lots of water either, so the seasoning was perfect. The other element was that I got to enjoy the ramen's broth and noodles as the stars of the dish, and the proteins, like the pork were supporting roles. For me, what I enjoy ramen are the broth and noodles, so I'm happy that these are prominent in the dish, rather than me having other chow down a thick slab of pork. This restaurant hit the right marks for what a delicious ramen is for me, so I'll come back, and maybe try their other broths.

I thought I had reviewed this place already, but Yelp doesn't seem to think so?…read more I had ramen with a black garlic broth. It was perfectly cooked, service was great, would definitely go back. Ambiance was Christmas music (meh).

Tada Ramen & Yakitori - Tonkotsu Ramen

Tada Ramen & Yakitori

(132 reviews)

Grand Lake, Lower Hills

Ambiance is pleasant here. It is another ramen restaurant that replaced the one before it, but is…read morerenovated nicely. I got the tonkotsu ramen and my partner for the yuzu ramen. The tonkotsu was delicious and creamy! The yuzu was mote sour than my preference, but my partner enjoyed it.

Tada Ramen & Yakitori in Oakland was a bit of a rainy day pivot for us. I'll start by saying I'm…read morehella biased, I love Marufuku over in Temescal, but we wanted to dine in for lunch and found out they were only doing pickup. So we ended up here instead. For starters, we got the enoki chips, and they were such a fun, unique treat. Super crispy with a great texture, I'd absolutely order them again. We also tried the Tada bun. It was good, but it felt like it was missing something to really make it pop. I really appreciated the variety on the menu, especially the starters and curries. There are so many options that I'd definitely come back to try something different next time. If you're vegan, this is actually a great spot. They have three vegan ramen options, which felt special since most places only offer one. My partner ordered the spicy vegan ramen and thought it was terrific, though we both agreed the broth wasn't as rich as we're used to. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The broth felt a bit underwhelming, and the pork flavor came across stronger than I expected. That said, I'd definitely come back, especially because of the thoughtful vegan options. Next time, I'll probably try the Chashu Bowl, which looked really good when it came out at another table. The space isn't very big, so it's probably not ideal for groups larger than 4-6, but it would be great for a casual date night or cozy lunch.

Kitchen Story - Chicken and waffles, very good.  Waffles so sweet, syrup was unnecessary.

Kitchen Story

(1.4k reviews)

$$

North Oakland

We added eggs to the order, but they never showed up and also packaged really badly it wasn't…read morehorrible though the pancakes were really good

Living down the block for years this is the first time I've been to kitchen story. The weekends…read morewhen I would drive by seems like there's always a lot of people here so I made a reservation reservations online and you have the option to choose if you want to sit outside inside or upstairs. I reserved for three to sit in the main dining room. The next day we arrived right on time for our reservation and still had to wait about 10-15 minutes and was asked if we could sit outside and then we were seated upstairs. I was a little bummed we didn't get to sit in the lower dining room like I booked on our reservations. It was still cute upstairs and good company always makes brunch even better. The servers were quick and helpful. I wanted something light so I just ordered the chicken and waffle bites. My husband got French toast and a side of chicken and my friend got a main entrée of a sandwich with some fries and a little soup. All of the food that came out looked amazing even at other people's tables. For brunch, the price is a little pricey, but I would like to come back to try other entrées when I'm more hungry. We asked one of our servers if he had a light as I brought a little candle to celebrate my friend's birthday, and as he lit it, he also decided to join in with us as we sang happy birthday, which I thought was really sweet. He did not have to do. He even got other tables around us to sing happy birthday as well. It felt like a special moment for my friend, which was a nice surprise. I did really appreciate this part and look forward to coming back.

Noodle Dynasty - Lamb and Tomato Lo Mein 番茄羊捞面 ($14.99) - I found the sauce too sweet.

Noodle Dynasty

(450 reviews)

$$

Telegraph Ave

One of the best spots for noodle soup in the Bay Area. I've tried coming here on 3 different…read moreaccounts and the line was always too long to fit my agenda. After the long anticipation, I was able block off my calendar and finally try this place on a Friday night. We had a part of 7 and it was more challenging to find a table to fit all of us. Especially with the wait, I would recommend coming here with parties of 4-5 max. The restaurant was mainly filled with students from the nearby college so it's very lively and packed. Usually when my anticipation is high, my expectations are higher and I'm usually disappointed but this did not disappoint!! The broth was so flavorful and the noodles had the perfect consistency of bounce and chew. The meats were tender and on top of that, the portions are huge and very reasonably priced! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but highly recommend the House Special Beef Rib Noodle Soup if it's your first time.

Came here on a Sunday evening at 7:00pm, the line was long but it moved pretty quick and we got…read moreseated in around 20-30 mins for party of 2. We ordered the beef noodle soup with the 8‑hour broth, the pickled cabbage and fish fillet noodle soup, and a cucumber appetizer. Everything was really tasty, both noodle soups hit the spot with generous portion. The cucumber was refreshing with balanced sesame seasoning. Definitely a place we'd come back to just to try more things on the menu. Highlights for me: The daikon in the beef noodle soup is so soft and flavorful and the portion of noodles they give you. We got the non‑spicy broth with thin noodles, which ended up being super similar to the noodles in the pickled cabbage and fish fillet soup. The pickled cabbage in other bowl gives this extra kick that makes it stand out.

Kiraku

Kiraku

(1.8k reviews)

$$

5 stars Expensive…read morebut a worthy splurge. I will note that they don't serve Highballs as a drink option for added authenticity but their drinks menu is otherwise complete for an Izakaya. Skewers: Beef intestines: fatty, perfectly charred and marinated Pork belly: delicious but the least interesting Lamb + okra: nicely prepared and delicious Pickled Sakana leaves: deliciously pickled and salty on its own but worked perfectly as a skewer meat accompaniment Chicken karage: perfectly cooked and juicy Beef+lamb potstickers: homemade and presented in the traditional style. Very good Roasted tea leaf pudding was delicious

Honestly one of the top meals I've had in the bay in a while. Made a reservation for Friday 9PM,…read moreand it was still very lively and packed. Would order again/changed my brain chemistry: - Suzuki carpaccio: my bf didn't like this as much as I did since he thought it was too acidic, but I thought it paired well with the rest of the dishes... nice acidity but then sesame and umami aftertaste - Beef intestine skewer: melts in your mouth, actually insane - Beef tongue skewer: also melts in your mouth and also insane, loved that the flavor was distinct from the beef intestine skewer - Soy sauce marinated shrimp: so much flavor infused and the texture is amazing Good: - Roasted tea blanc manger - Smoked unagi: very tender & different flavor than typical japanese unagi, which I appreciated - Mini kaisen donburi: tasted very fresh, though not sure why but the fattiness of the salmon didn't come through as much Skip: - Pork belly, thought this was standard... not bad but it was tougher than I expected and the sauce was ok - Homemade tofu/yuba spoons: if you're getting the kaisen, I would skip. it's basically a lot of the same ingredients but there was what I think was the tofu skin in there and idk why but the texture reminded me of bland playdough a bit - Black cod: good flavor and smokiness but idk if it stood out

Nippon Curry Berkeley - japacurry - Updated May 2026

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