TOKYO | Yōshoku is the name given to Japanese dishes that have western origins, and one of the most popular is curry, or karē. Introduced by the British in the late 1860s, it was considered a luxury food. It wasn’t until 1905, when Japanese produced curry powder became widely available, that curry became affordable and popular for the average person.
One of the most popular ways to eat curry in Japan today is as katsu curry. There are multiple claims as to when and where a combination of curry rice and katsu (meat, usually pork, cutlet) was first served, but today it can be found all over. One of the best places to try katsu curry in Tokyo is Hakuyotei Curry, in Akihabara.
Hakuyotei opened in 2022, and is a small space. Walk inside and you’ll see a long open kitchen with counter seating, a few tables with seats, and a ticket machine to the side to place your order. The options are simple – classic pork cutlet curry, curry udon, fried shrimp curry, chicken masala curry, spinach curry, cheese curry, and curry rice. There’s combinations of the different proteins available, and the option of a raw or soft boiled egg on top.
I opted for the signature pork cutlet curry, and wasn’t disappointed. The panko crumbed and fried, high quality Sangen pork cutlet is served simply atop a bed of white rice and a generous amount of curry. The thick, rich, complex curry excites the tastebuds upon your first bite. This is enhanced by the spiciness of the curry. It’s not super spicy, but it’s a decent few levels spicier than you might expect.
The balance of sweet and spicy is perfect in my opinion, and you can tweak things with garnishes of salty fukujinzuke (a blend of finely chopped and pickled daikon, carrot, cucumber, eggplant, burdock, lotus, and young ginger) and sweet pickled rakkyo (spring onion bulb).
Hakuyotei Curry
1F, 1-1 Kanda Hanaokacho, Chiyoda City
Tokyo 150-0028
Japan
Telephone: (03) 6381 0323
E-mail: n/a
Website: n/a
Open
Mon – Sun: 11:00am to 9:00pm