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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.
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!
Table of Contents
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!
How to Make Japanese Curry Roux
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
Japanese Chicken Curry
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
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
Katsu Curry
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
Vegetarian Japanese Curry
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
Sapporo Soup Curry
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
“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
Japanese Beef Curry
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
Pork Curry Donburi
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
Curry Doria (Rice Gratin)
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
Cold Curry Udon
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
Pressure Cooker Japanese Seafood Curry
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
“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
Keema Curry
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
Curry Bread
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
Japanese Dry Curry
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.
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