Japanese Culture in New York - Chopsticks NY

Renowned for steamy bowls of ramen noodle soup, Batten Ramen is always packed with patrons of all ages. Their signature ramen noodle soup is prepared with a vegetable broth boiled for 12 hours. Their curry dishes are just as popular and steady in demand as well. Angus beef, a variety of vegetables, curry roux and honey are added to the savory ramen broth and simmer for another 8 hours until the mixture is just right. Sweetness from the vegetables and the spiciness of curry is perfectly balanced to a gentle spiciness, and honey with Angus beef adds depth to the overall flavor. Pork Cutlet Curry ($9), curry topped with a crispy pork cutlet right off the fryer comes in a satisfying portion, and you can add a mini curry for $3 with an order of any ramen. Other variations such as Mini Curry ($4.50) and Mini Cutlet Curry ($6) are also available to accommodate any curry craving, big or small.

Batten Ramen
2024 Center Ave., Suite J&K
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
TEL: 201-461-5465
Mon-Sun: 11:30am-10pm

As the name suggests, Donburi-ya promises a quick and delicious meal from their donburi menu with a variety of rice bowls topped with sukiyaki, broiled eel and more. One of their staples from the lunch menu is Katsu Curry. The curry base is prepared with short ribs, ground beef and vegetables slowly cooked for 2 days, blended in a mixer and simmered until velvety smooth. What’s unique about their curry making process is the timing of the spices that are precisely calculated for the best aroma, spiciness and flavors. A thick slice of premium Berkshire pork cutlet is fried until tender and served with curry and rice. The cutlet dipped in curry creates an exquisite contrast of textures and flavors for your palate. They also offer curry with Japanese meatloaf, fried shrimp, chicken and beef upon request. Aside from curry, their combo menu that lets you choose two different donburi dishes for $12 is a must try.

Donburi-ya
137 E. 47th St.
(bet. Lexington & 3rd Aves.)
New York, NY 10017
TEL: 212-980-7909
Lunch: Mon-Fri: 12pm-2:30pm
Dinner: Mon-Sat: 5:30pm-4am
Sun: 5:30pm-11pm

Go! Go! CURRY! is a prominent curry restaurant with 26 branches across Japan. Since their NY branch opened on May 5th 2007, their storefront has been thronged with hungry diners during lunch time. Their most popular dish is Katsu Curry, and the extra thick curry sauce is poured over Koshihikari rice steamed to perfection and topped with a crunchy pork cutlet. Their curry sauce is spicy but not hot, and it’s served with a side of freshly cut cabbage to be mixed in with the curry for customizing the spiciness to your liking. Once is enough for you to become a fan, and some patrons order the curry sauce by itself to enjoy it at home. Other toppings include chicken cutlets, breaded fried shrimp, sausages, cheese, fukujin-zuke pickles and more. For the best bang for your buck, try the Grand Slam Curry ($12.50). It’s a full portion meal with smorgasbord of topping. Energize yourself with their top-notch curry from Japan!

Go! Go! CURRY!
273 W. 38th St.
(at 8th Ave.)
New York, NY 10018
TEL: 212-730-5555
www.gogocurryusa.com
Mon-Sun: 10:55am-9:55pm

A popular destination among sushi lovers, Sushi Ariyoshi offers over 90 different dishes from sushi, yakitori to udon and donburi. A noteworthy mention is their curry that is spicy but mild with a hint of sweetness, and their variations include vegetables, chicken, beef, seafood as well as pork and chicken cutlet toppings. Their Seafood Curry is prepared with fresh calamari, scallops and shrimp in a vegetable broth, lightly seasoned with a mild curry sauce to accentuate the natural flavors of seafood. The dishes featuring meat are simmered with beef shanks for almost a day to allow the sauce to become richer and bold. It’s served with soup or salad, but if you have an appetite for more, try their homemade gyoza, filled with juicy meat and carefully pan-fried until the skin is perfectly crisp. Curry dishes are not on the dinner menu, but the chef will accommodate your requests for $11.

Sushi Ariyoshi
810 Broadway
(bet. 11th & 12th Sts.)
New York, NY 10003
TEL: 212-388-1884
Mon-Thu: 12pm-12am,
Fri & Sat: 12pm-1am,
Sun: 12pm-11pm

A casual dining spot in the East Village, Sushi Lounge showcases a wide range cuisine from sushi to ramen. Their menu also features 6 variations of curry such as chicken, pork, beef and shrimp along with pork and chicken cutlet toppings. One of the favorites among patrons is Beef Curry, and the secret behind this mouthwatering dish lies solely in its preparation. A pot full of well sautéed onions, potatoes, carrots, thinly sliced beef shanks and beef blocks are slowly boiled in a beef stock for 12 hours and rested for additional 24 hours to allow all the flavors to settle in. It’s served with a tablespoon of butter on top to add a smooth richness to the overall flavor. Their curry has some spiciness to it but can be turned up upon request. “The best way to enjoy our curry is to accompany a whole spoonful with a sip of chilled sake. It’ll enhance the flavors of both,” the owner chef suggests.

Sushi Lounge
132 St. Marks Place
(at Avenue A)
New York, NY 10009
TEL: 212-598-1188
Mon-Sun: 12pm -1am

From traditional sushi to modern fusion, Torigo on Long Island caters to patrons with a wide range of palate. The owner and head chef Mr. Hirahata shares the secrets to preparing Fried Shrimp Curry - one of their signature dishes. It begins with broiling vegetables and meat in beef stock, and mashing them for smoother texture. Then, they add the secret ingredients - red wine and apple vinegar for a refreshing aftertaste. It’s finished off with fried shrimp on top, making it a substantial and scrumptious feast. Pork and chicken cutlets are also available as toppings, and portions can be super-sized for those with a big appetite. Another rarity is curry udon and soba with the above 3 toppings, and also enjoy their fusion dishes like teriyaki chicken with walnut sauce and tropical chicken teriyaki. Torigo offers a wide selection of sake and wine, so pair it with a meal to enhance your experience.

Torigo Japanese Restaurant
196 Jericho Turnpike
Floral Park, NY 11001
TEL: 516-352-1116
www.torigorestaurant.com
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm
Dinner: Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm,
Fri 5pm-10:30pm,
Sat 4pm-10:30pm