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16 Japanese Curry Recipes You’ll Love

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by Namiko Hirasawa Chen. Published January 21, 2026
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Love a comforting bowl of curry? I’ve gathered our most delicious Japanese curry recipes that are perfect for family dinners, busy weeknights, or anytime you crave cozy, satisfying comfort food.

A white oval bowl containing Katsu Curry garnished with Fukujinzuke.

Quick Highlights

Japanese curry is one of Japan’s most loved home-cooked meals. It’s comforting, approachable, and incredibly easy to make—perfect for busy weeknights and relaxed family dinners.

A beloved classic with history – Introduced to Japan in the late 1800s by the British Navy, Japanese curry was adapted to local tastes and home cooking. Today it’s a staple in school lunches and everyday family meals.
Mild and comforting – Thick, savory, and gently spiced, Japanese curry is not spicy like many Indian or Thai curries.
Easy to make at home – Most households rely on convenient store-bought curry roux blocks for consistent, reliable flavor.
Served over rice – Japanese curry is traditionally served over steamed rice (curry rice), with optional pork or chicken cutlet for katsu curry.

You’ll love Japanese curry because it’s kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and wonderfully forgiving. Explore our best Japanese curry recipes and find your new family favorite!

Nami’s Cooking Tips for Japanese Curry

Popular curry roux brands – I love Vermont Curry and Java Curry from House Foods, and Golden Curry from S&B Foods. I often blend mild and medium-hot to create my own perfect spice level.
Try my homemade curry roux (recipe below) – It’s simple to make, freezes beautifully, and adds a rich, homemade depth. Adjust the salt and spice, or add your favorite seasonings to personalize your curry.
Use Japanese curry powder – When making your curry roux from scratch, I recommend using S&B curry powder for that distinctive, authentic Japanese curry flavor. A little goes a long way.
Even better the next day – The flavors deepen overnight, making it ideal for leftovers and meal prep.

Now, let’s cook up some flavorful, comforting Japanese curry together!

A white enamel tray lined with printed paper holds several pieces of golden brown fudge. A jar labeled Oriental Curry Powder and a glass container of more fudge are in the background.

How to Make Japanese Curry Roux

4.68 from 794 votes

Learn how to make homemade Japanese curry roux from scratch with just five ingredients. This easy 30-minute recipe lets you adjust the flavor and spice to your taste. Freeze in cubes for rich, flavorful Japanese curry anytime!

“This recipe is so much better than anything you can buy in the store, and because it’s virtually salt-free, you can more easily control the salt in the final dish. “ – Barbara M

A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Chicken Curry along with steamed rice and fukujinzuke pickles.

Japanese Chicken Curry

4.62 from 1640 votes

Delicious Japanese chicken curry recipe for a weeknight dinner! Tender pieces of chicken, carrots and potatoes cooked in a rich savory curry sauce, this Japanese version of curry is a must-have for your family meal.

“Best homemade curry ever. Everyone I make it for loves it. I make double batch and freeze the other half for later.” – CP

Curry udon in a Japanese bowl.

Curry Udon

4.79 from 160 votes

Thick, chewy udon noodles served in a rich, fragrant curry soup, this Curry Udon will satisfy your noodles craving in an instant. Bonus: It’s simple enough to throw together on a busy weeknight.

“Got back from Japan and was craving this so much. Added some hot chili oil and was transported. Delicious.” – Nick

A white oval bowl containing Katsu Curry garnished with Fukujinzuke.

Katsu Curry

4.75 from 60 votes

Let's make flavorful Japanese Katsu Curry at home! Serve a crunchy, panko-breaded chicken cutlet or pork cutlet over steamed rice and smother it in a rich curry sauce. I'll share my tips and tricks to help you put together this ultimate comfort dish fast. This recipe shows you how to assemble Japanese Katsu Curry. Please read the blog post to see how to customize your own.

“Loved this recipe – It is the ultimate comfort food!” – Jason

A white plate containing Vegetarian Japanese Curry along with steamed rice.

Vegetarian Japanese Curry

4.69 from 91 votes

This Vegetarian Japanese Curry is loaded with thick, meaty slices of king oyster mushrooms and colorful vegetables like kabocha, eggplant, and asparagus. With homemade Japanese curry roux, this dish is no doubt our family’s favorite for a bright and flavorful dinner! {Vegan Adaptable}

“Amazing recipe!I’ve made it for my vegan husband, he loved it!” – Andreea

A white bowl containing sapporo soup curry.

Sapporo Soup Curry

4.75 from 40 votes

Sapporo Soup Curry is a colorful dish of fall-off-the-bone chicken and crispy flash-fried vegetables in a light broth with curry powder and garam masala. Originating in Hokkaido, this comforting soup is a relatively new addition to the Japanese curry scene.

“Wow! We made this and it reminds us of the soup curry we had in Sapporo! Thank you so much!! Will definitely make again (and again, and again…).” – Bonnie J

A ramen bowl containing Curry Ramen -a dish inspired by Netflix "Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories" Season 2.

Curry Ramen from Netflix Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

4.81 from 26 votes

Inspired by a Netflix TV drama series "Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories" (season 2), I followed the Master's way to make his Curry Ramen.

“Oh my gosh this was perfect! Came home from camping and had some curry sauce left. Really wanted soup, found this recipe, happened to have 3 packs of Sapporo miso ramen on hand. It hit the spot!” – Janelle R

A round white plate containing Japanese beef curry consisting of tender beef, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and curry roux, served over steamed rice.

Japanese Beef Curry

4.78 from 285 votes

With tender chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms, this savory and hearty Japanese Beef Curry cooks low and slow for the most comforting meal you can imagine. It has a thick, velvety sauce that's mild and sweet—even children can enjoy it!

“Amazing curry! Made it tonight without the apple as i forgot it. Tasted even better the next day for lunch!!! 100% recommend!” – Daniel

A white bowl containing pork curry over steamed rice.

Pork Curry Donburi

4.75 from 20 votes

Try my delicious and easy Pork Curry Donburi recipe that you can make in just 30 minutes. This rice bowl is a fast, one-dish weeknight meal!

“The sauce was so creamy and delicious. It was so simple to make with very few ingredients. Really enjoyed making it.” – Julia VB

A casserole containing Curry Doria (Japanese Rice Gratin).

Curry Doria (Rice Gratin)

4.80 from 63 votes

Curry Doria is Japanese rice gratin topped with flavorful curry meat sauce and cheese and baked into perfection in a casserole. It screams comfort food!

“This is a very delicious recipe. I doubled the recipe and everyone ate it all up. I served it to my Japanese mother and she loved it.” – Tracy

A white bowl containing cold curry udon with sliced pork, boiled egg, and fresh vegetables.

Cold Curry Udon

4.73 from 11 votes

Cold Curry Udon is a summertime dish of thick Japanese wheat noodles soaked in chilled curry soup and topped with sliced pork and fresh vegetables. It‘s a colorful, nutritious, and refreshingly savory meal on a warm day.

“We Loved it! Made my own dashi (your recipe). Used egg rather than meat (vegetarian) and Kale rather than mizuna. It’ll be in our regular rotation for cold summer salads.” – Clayton R

A plate containing Japanese seafood curry made with pressure cooker.

Pressure Cooker Japanese Seafood Curry

4.79 from 14 votes

If you love curry rice, it‘s time to try Japanese Seafood Curry! It‘s packed with amazing flavors from the shrimp, clams, calamari, scallops, spices, and kombu dashi. This recipe is so quick to make in the Instant Pot, too.

“I didn’t use a pressure cooker; after sauteing the onion and then garlic and ginger, I just simmered everything for 15mins or so, till the carrots got tender, and added the seafood just in the last 5mins. It was quite delicious.” – Tea

Japanese curry served with rice.

Pressure Cooker Japanese Curry

4.79 from 394 votes

Dinner is solved on a busy weeknight with this easy and delicious Pressure Cooker Japanese Curry using an Instant Pot!

“This recipe is phenomenal! I made it in the most basic way — only oil, onions, chicken, potato, carrots, water, and box roux — and in the instant pot it turned tender, caramelized, and creamy!” – Zoe

A bowl containing Keema Curry, steamed rice, and a fried egg.

Keema Curry

4.81 from 87 votes

Keema Curry arrived in Japan in the 1950s, bringing bold Indian flavors of ground meat, vegetables, and spices. The Japanese version simplifies it into a quick, one-pan meal made with curry roux for a rich, savory finish.

Vegetarian? swap the meat for lentils or cauliflower and use vegetable broth.

“This is 1 of the easiest ways to make delicious curry in just 30 minutes!! It’s even good over mashed potatoes if u don’t want rice every day.” – Danisa

A wire rack containing hot and steamy curry bread (kare pan).

Curry Bread

4.83 from 111 votes

With its savory filling, chewy and springy bun, and crispy panko coating, Japanese Curry Bread—or Kare Pan—is the star of pastries at Japanese bakery shops. If you are a fan of Japanese curry rice, you have to make this insanely delicious bread bun recipe at home.

“Wonderful recipe! I made 1,5x this recipe, made 10 pieces and it was gone in less than 5 minutes.” – Nadja

A ceramic plate containing steamed rice, dry curry, and a fried egg.

Japanese Dry Curry

4.64 from 41 votes

Dry Curry is a no-gravy version of Japanese curry rice made with ground meat and minced vegetables and often topped with a fried egg. This homestyle meal is flavorful, gently spiced, and savory with a hint of sweetness from raisins. Although not a well-known dish outside of Japan, this quick and easy meal is a staple in Japanese households.

“Made this vegan/vegetarian with tofu. DIdn’t need oil, no raisins (didn’t have them) and happened to have vegan Worcestershire sauce. Tripled the recipe. Delicious!” – Michele B

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on January 23, 2019, and was republished on January 21, 2026, with more helpful information.