If you’re a fan of ramen, soba noodles, takoyaki, or obscure sakes, chances are you’ve savored them at one of the many restaurants and bars of Bon Yagi, co-owner of pioneering establishments like Rai Rai Ken, Soba-Ya, Otafuku, and Sakagura. Now he tackles another culinary icon: Japanese curry. There are no tables at Curry-Ya, just fourteen wooden stools lined up along a marble counter, each with a built-in cubby to store belongings. Nine curries may be customized by size, spice level, and additional topping (corn, Cheddar, or natto) and feature ingredients like grilled hamburger and deep-fried potato croquette. Takeout and delivery forthcoming; cash only.
— Robin Raisfeld and Rob Patronite
This place was awesome! Although it wasn't as cheap as I had expected, it was completely worth every penny. The food is cooked right in front of you, as the place is tiny, and the service was so friendly. I ordered the Yuba salad to start, which I would completely recommend, and ended with the seafood curry with cheese on top. My friend ordered the prime rib (which came with mushrooms) and a croquette and it was amazing as well. The portions were perfect (I was stuffed!) and it was truly delicious. If you like spicy, get the spiciest as the next to spicy option isn't that hot. Overall, IÂ’d like to eat here 3 times/week.
Oh, and a little added fact, they have one of those fancy-time toilets in the tiny bathroom. Worth the visit, even if just for that!
A good curry in a restaurant is hard to come by around here. Curry-ya does a great job and is definitely the most satisfying of any Japanese curry I've had in NYC.
Otherwise, it is a pretty unremarkable place and ultimately, the curry is not all that much better than making it at home with some House curry blocks from Mitsuwa. The draw for me is that at Curry-ya I can go super-spicy - something I don't get at home b/c the kids can't handle it.
My experience there was the polar opposite to Nicole R's. That's the main reason I'm reviewing at all. It is not a great restaurant, but it is not nearly as bad as she says it is.