Nippon Curry San Jose Introduce
For California residents seeking a true taste of Japanese comfort food, specifically the rich and savory delight of authentic Japanese curry, look no further than Nippon Curry San Jose. Located right in the heart of San Jose, this establishment is not just another Asian restaurant; it is a specialist that brings an award-winning recipe directly from Japan to the Bay Area. Nippon Curry's focus is clear: to serve real, authentic Japanese curry that honors its traditional roots, using time, care, and proven methods. This dedication has earned their curry accolades, including winning the prestigious Kanda Curry Grand Prix in Tokyo in 2013, confirming its status as a truly authentic offering right here in California.
The cuisine here centers around the classic pairing of thick, flavorful curry roux with Japanese short-grain rice and a variety of crispy toppings, most notably the beloved katsu (breaded, deep-fried cutlets). The establishment proudly positions itself as a Japanese curry restaurant and a family-friendly spot, welcoming locals for both a quick bite and a satisfying, casual dining experience for lunch or dinner. With a menu that features favorites like Pork Katsu Curry, Chicken Katsu Curry, and a range of croquette and seafood options, Nippon Curry San Jose offers a concise yet deeply satisfying exploration of one of Japan's most popular and widely consumed comfort foods.
Nippon Curry San Jose is conveniently situated at the highly accessible location of 82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA. Positioned in a central part of the city, it’s an ideal stop for those working downtown, students, or families exploring the area. The restaurant recognizes the importance of convenience for its California clientele and has made significant efforts to ensure accessibility for all guests.
Key accessibility features include a wheelchair accessible entrance, making it easy for patrons with mobility needs to enter and exit. Inside, the commitment to inclusivity continues with wheelchair accessible seating and a gender-neutral restroom, ensuring a comfortable environment for everyone. For those driving, the location offers multiple parking solutions, which is a major convenience in the downtown area. Guests can find a free parking garage, on-site parking, and options for paid parking, including both a paid parking garage, a paid parking lot, and paid street parking. This variety of parking ensures that finding a spot, whether you are planning a dine-in experience or a quick takeout, is manageable. The urban location, however, means some options like the rice and pickle portions might be smaller than in more suburban settings, as noted by some customer feedback, though the flavor of the award-winning curry remains the main attraction.
Nippon Curry San Jose provides a comprehensive array of services to meet the diverse dining needs of the local California community. Whether you prefer to dine in, take your meal to go, or have it delivered right to your door, the restaurant has streamlined its operations to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience.
- Dine-in: The restaurant offers seating for a casual, comfortable meal, perfect for lunch or dinner, and is popular for solo dining. The atmosphere is casual, family-friendly, and proudly LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safespace.
- Takeout: Meals are prepared fresh for quick and easy pickup, allowing busy individuals and families to enjoy authentic Japanese curry on the go. Customers have noted the careful packaging, with curry separated from katsu to maintain the perfect crispness of the fried items.
- Delivery and No-contact Delivery: For maximum convenience, the restaurant offers full delivery services, including a no-contact option, ensuring your food arrives safely and fresh, ready to eat in the comfort of your home or office.
- Catering: Catering services are available, making it possible to bring the award-winning curry to larger events, gatherings, or office functions in the San Jose area.
- Payment Options: The establishment accepts a variety of modern payment methods for customer convenience, including Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
Nippon Curry San Jose distinguishes itself with a number of key features that underscore its commitment to authentic Japanese flavors and a welcoming atmosphere for its Californian guests.
- Award-Winning Curry: The core feature is the curry roux itself, which won the Kanda Curry Grand Prix in Tokyo in 2013, providing a genuine and highly-regarded taste of Japanese curry. The flavor profile is known to be rich, comforting, and authentic, often reminding patrons of experiences had in Japan.
- Diverse Entrees and Toppings: While specializing in curry rice, the menu offers various proteins and toppings. Choices include the signature Pork Katsu Curry ($17.00), Chicken Katsu Curry ($17.00), various croquettes like Japanese Potato Croquettes ($17.00), and tempting seafood options such as Ebi (Prawns) Fry Curry ($19.00) and Kaki (Oysters) Fry Curry ($19.00). Cheese can be added to many options for a richer taste.
- Dedicated Vegetarian Options: The restaurant is mindful of diverse dietary needs, offering a dedicated Vegetarian Curry Roux. This option is available in the Plain Curry Rice ($12.00) and can be paired with items like Japanese Potato Croquettes ($17.00) for a fulfilling meat-free meal. Vegetarian options are explicitly highlighted as one of the restaurant's offerings.
- Family and Group Value Meals: Catering to the family-friendly crowd, new Family Meal Deals are available, such as the Deal for 4 ($70.00) and the Deal for 6 ($100.00), providing a cost-effective and varied way for groups to enjoy a complete Japanese curry experience.
- Inclusivity and Comfort: The atmosphere is casual and designed to be a safe and friendly space for all, clearly marked as family-friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly, and a transgender safespace, reinforcing a truly welcoming environment for the diverse California community.
For those in the San Jose, California area looking to inquire about the menu, place an order, or confirm operating hours, the restaurant is easy to reach and conveniently located.
Address: 82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Phone: (669) 344-3001
Mobile Phone: +1 669-344-3001
Nippon Curry San Jose stands out in the competitive California food scene, especially in Silicon Valley, for its unwavering focus on authentic Japanese curry. The primary reason to choose this location is simple: the award-winning, consistently rich, and flavorful curry roux. Many customers praise the authenticity, noting it tastes just like the curry found in Japan. This is the ultimate destination for those seeking a genuine Japanese curry experience, far removed from generic Asian food offerings.
Beyond the curry itself, the star pairing is the Pork Katsu Curry ($17.00) or Chicken Katsu Curry ($17.00). The katsu is hand-breaded and deep-fried to achieve a desired crispness, offering a satisfying texture contrast to the smooth, slow-cooked curry. Customer feedback frequently highlights the quality and crispiness of the katsu, even when ordered for takeout or delivery, where the careful packaging separates the components to maintain their integrity.
Furthermore, the variety of side options and toppings—from the various croquettes (potato, curry-flavored, or crab cream) to the seafood fries (prawns, oysters, and fish)—allows for endless customization of the classic curry plate. The inclusion of clear and appetizing vegetarian choices ensures that the award-winning flavor can be enjoyed by nearly everyone. Ultimately, what makes Nippon Curry San Jose worth choosing is the combination of authentic, high-quality, specialty Japanese cuisine and a friendly, accessible dining environment right here in California.
Whether you're craving the deep, comforting flavor of a Pork Katsu Curry, need a quick, delicious vegetarian meal, or are looking for a reliable, family-friendly catering option, Nippon Curry San Jose provides an authentic and celebrated taste of Japan's most comforting dish.
Nippon Curry San Jose Tonkatsu
NEW - Family Meals
- NEW - Family Meal Deal for 4 $70.00
Enjoy Japanese curry with your family and friends. 4 Portions of award-winning Curry (Beef and/or Vegetarian Curry) Our curry contains peanuts and gluten. 4 Large Steamed Rice 2 Pork or Chicken Katsu w/cabbage and tonkatsu sauce 5pc Side of Karaa...
- NEW - Family Meal Deal for 6 $100.00
Enjoy Japanese curry with your family and friends. 6 Portions of award-winning Curry Roux (Beef and/or Vegetarian Curry Roux) Our curry contains peanuts and gluten. 6 Large Steamed Rice 4 Pork or Chicken Katsu w/cabbage and tonkatsu sauce 10pc of...
Entrees
- Plain Curry Rice $12.00
Our award-winning curry (beef or vegetarian) with rice, and pickles. Our curry contains peanut butter, and gluten.
- Plain Curry Rice with Cheese $14.00
Our award-winning beef curry with cheese topping, and rice. Fukujinzuke and rakkyo pickles on request. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Pork Katsu Curry $17.00
Our signature pork katsu curry and typically how Japanese curry is eaten in Japan. Our pork katsu is hand-breaded and deep-fried until golden brown. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This dish won the 2013 Kanda Curry Grand Prix in T...
- Pork Katsu Curry with Cheese $19.00
Our classic katsu curry served with shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Our pork katsu is hand-cut, hand-breaded, and deep-fried until golden brown. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Chicken Katsu Curry $17.00
Tender white meat chicken breast hand-battered, breaded, and deep-fried; served with curry, rice, and pickles. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Chicken Katsu Curry with Cheese $19.00
Tender white meat chicken breast hand-battered, breaded, and deep-fried; served with curry and cheese, rice, and pickles on request. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Karaage Curry $17.00
Three (3) pieces of our original, marinated chicken karaage served with curry, rice, and pickles. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Karaage Curry with Cheese $19.00
Three (3) pieces of our original, marinated chicken karaage served with curry, cheese, rice, and pickles on request. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Japanese Potato Croquettes Curry $17.00
Two (2) potato croquettes served with curry, rice, and pickles. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Curry Croquettes Curry $17.00
Two (2) curry flavored croquettes served with curry, rice, and pickles. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Kani (Crab) Cream Croquettes Curry $18.00
Two (2) crispy-shelled, crab and cream-filled croquettes with rice and curry. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Triple Croquettes Curry $19.00
One kani (crab) cream croquette, one Japanese potato croquette, and one curry-flavored croquette served with curry, rice, and pickles. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Ebi (Prawns) Fry Curry $19.00
Three (3) crispy deep-fried prawns served with curry, rice, pickles and tartar sauce. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Kaki (Oysters) Fry Curry $19.00
Three (3) Japanese oysters from Hiroshima (deep-fried) served with curry, rice, pickles, and tartar sauce. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Aji (Fish) Fry Curry $18.00
2 pcs of breaded mackerel, served with our award-winning curry and rice. Tartar sauce on the side. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Mixed Seafood #1 Ebi, Kaki, Kani Cream $20.00
One ebi fry (prawn), one kaki fry (oyster), and one kani (crab) cream croquette served with curry, rice, pickles and a side of tartar sauce. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- Mixed Seafood #2 Aji, Ebi, Kaki $20.00
One ebi fry (prawn), one kaki fry (oyster), and one aji fry (fish) served with curry, rice, pickles and a side of tartar sauce. Our curry contains peanuts and gluten.
- NEW Kaki Fry Donburi w/house katsu sauce $15.00
Five deep-fried oysters on top of steamed rice with cabbage, house katsu sauce, and tartar sauce.
- NEW Sauce Katsu Don w/house katsu sauce $14.00
Pork or chicken katsu over rice and cabbage with our house katsu sauce. Order with large rice or double katsu for volume!
- NEW Karaage Donburi w/house katsu sauce $13.00
Our house-marinated chicken Karaage cut into bite-sized pieces and served over rice on a bed of finely shredded cabbage, our NEW, yummy house katsu sauce, Kewpie mayo, and fukujinzuke (red pickles). Curry and rakkyo (white onion pickle) not included.
Sides
- Side 3pc Karaage $8.00
Three (3) pieces of our marinated skin-on chicken thigh. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Served with a lemon wedge. Gluten-free.
- Side 5pc Karaage $12.00
Five (5) pieces of our marinated skin-on chicken thigh. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Served with a lemon wedge. Gluten-free.
- Side 10pc Karaage $20.00
Ten (10) pieces of our popular, marinated skin-on chicken thigh. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Served with a lemon wedge. Gluten-free.
- Side Pork Katsu $10.00
Our 6+ ounce hand-breaded pork katsu fried to perfection. Includes a pad of finely shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce.
- Side Chicken Katsu $10.00
Our 6+ ounce hand-breaded, skinless chicken katsu (white meat) fried to perfection, juicy on the inside. Includes finely shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce.
- Side Japanese Potato Croquettes 2pc $7.00
Two (2) Japanese potato croquettes made with potatoes, onions, and carrots.
- Side Curry Flavored Croquettes 2pc $7.00
Two (2) Japanese potato croquettes made with potatoes, onions, and carrots.
- Side Kani (Crab) Cream Croquettes 2 pcs $9.00
Two (2) croquettes with a creamy crab-flavored filling and crispy shell .
- Side Mixed Croquettes 1 Japanese Potato, 1 Crab Cream $8.00
One Japanese potato croquette and one kani (crab) cream croquette. The Japanese potato croquette contains potato, onion and carrot and is flatter and wider, and the kani (crab) cream croquette is narrower and cylindrical.
- Side Ebi Fry (Prawns 3 pcs) $9.00
Three (3) breaded, deep-fried prawns served with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce (free upon request).
- Side Kaki Fry (Oysters 5 pcs) $14.00
Five (5) large, Japanese oysters from Hiroshima (deep-fried) served with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce (free upon request). If you like oysters, this is one of the most enjoyable ways to eat them. Plump and juicy on the inside, crispy on the outs...
- Side Aji Fry (Fish 2 pcs) $8.00
2 pieces of breaded, deep-fried Aji Fry (horse mackerel) served on a bed of finely shredded cabbage, with lemon wedge, tonkatsu sauce and tartar sauce.
- Finely Shredded Cabbage Salad w/Sesame Dressing $3.00
A mound of finely shredded cabbage with Kewpie Goma (Sesame) Dressing on the side.
- Side Full (1) Portion Original Beef Curry $7.00
A full portion of our original, award-winning beef-based curry roux. Curry contains beef, gluten and peanuts.
- Side Full (1) Portion Vegetarian Curry $7.00
A full portion of our vegetarian curry roux. No meat or animal products. Curry contains gluten and peanuts.
- Side Rice $4.00
- Side Large Rice $6.00
- Side Fukujinzuke $2.00
Fukujinzuke is savory, sweet, tangy, and addictingly crunchy. The perfect complement for Japanese curry.
- Side Rakkyo 5 pcs $2.00
Five (5) pieces of crunchy, sweet rakkyo (pickled scallion). The perfect complement for Japanese curry.
- Side Tonkatsu Sauce $1.00
Tonkatsu sauce is sweet, tangy and thick. Perfectly paired with a side order of chicken or pork katsu.
- 6pc Seafood Sampler $15.00
6pc Fried Seafood Sampler with 2pc Ebi Fry 2pc Kaki Fry 2pc Aji Fry Comes with shredded cabbage, Lemon, tonkatsu sauce and tartar sauce.
Nippon Curry San Jose Details
Service options
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Onsite services
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Assistive hearing loop
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Comfort food
- Quick bite
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Seating
Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Parking
- Free parking garage
- On-site parking
- Paid parking garage
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
Nippon Curry San Jose Photos







Nippon Curry San Jose Location
Nippon Curry San Jose
82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Nippon Curry San Jose Reviews
katsupricepicklescroquettesspice
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Excellent Katsu with Curry Rice and pickles!!! I got the Pork Katsu. Very carefully packed, separated Curry in its own container. Very tasty, great pickles, Katsu nice and crispy, regular size is very filling. Reasonable pricing. Best Japanese Curry in the south bay. Highly recommended! They provided a discount coupon for the next order, for in store and delivery - nice. So authentic, reminded me of my years in Japan.
July 12 · Walter “Wally” PietschCurry sauce is flavourful. Rice portion is pathetically small. Regular rice portion is half a cup. Pork katsu is small and overcooked.Ordered a few times, pretty inconsistent. Sauce tastes different each time, sometimes it’s good other times it’s been bland.Pickle portion is a joke, ordered extra pickles for 2 dollars and they give you 3grams of tsukemono.
August 15 · Sergei TaylorNippon Curry from SF and Berkeley have finally made it to SJ. One of the best Japanese Curry places in the Bay area.They also separate the Katsu and the Curry for takeout, keeping the chicken nice and crispy. Potato Croquettes were also great as well. Will be going here again
February 01 · RichardAbsolutely terrible Japanese food. Looks nothing like the pictures. Have to believe the reviews are cherry picked. I have eaten a lot of Japanese food and this has got to be among the worst I have ever had. Katsu was dry and salty. Curry tasted like it came out of a packet. The Katsu Don was a disgusting shade of grey. California roll looked like it came out of a can or something. Couldn’t have been much worse.
September 06 · Joseph CaseyThe Food Hall in downtown San Jose has a great new addition with the new Nippon Curry. I had the Pork Katsu Curry that was separated from the rice and curry, maintaining it's crisp, juicy texture - this is a very thoughtful and important detail. They were generous with the curry portions as it covered the rice entirely. The curry also tastes fresh, not one of those cubed curries. Thicker curry with a little spice to it. The guy that handed me my order was friendly and seemed enthusiastic to be there.I didn't give a high rating for Atmosphere only because this is a ghost kitchen with a small dining area. All in all, highly recommended and great value for the price. I would definitely want to revisit this place and try the other items on the menu.
February 10 · Kevin Rabago
More restaurants open near me
El Apartamento Colombian Burgers4.0 (38 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
tacos mil delicias- san jose5.0 (2 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St suite 104, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
CommonSense 大餘常食0.0 (0 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
A Slice of India5.0 (1 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
House of Tiffins - San Jose4.0 (72 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
The Gurkha Kitchen3.0 (27 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
San Jose's Downtown Food Hall4.0 (188 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Sunset Squares Pizza5.0 (1 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
SLOBSTER0.0 (0 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
My Selera Bistro4.0 (19 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Mazala Pizza San Jose4.0 (337 reviews)82 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Mercy Mediterranean4.0 (41 reviews)96 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Categories
Top Visited Sites
Yard House4.0 (4727 reviews)
Yoshinoya Cupertino4.0 (1040 reviews)
Pappa Georggeo Pizza4.0 (77 reviews)
Subway3.0 (81 reviews)
Jake's of Willow Glen4.0 (1331 reviews)
El Tule4.0 (340 reviews)Trending Restaurant Locator Blog Posts
Discovering the Best Fast-Casual Restaurants Open Late for Quick Bites
Late-Night Dining: Where to Find 24-Hour Breakfast All Year Round
How to Find Late‑Night Dining Spots with Great Views and Ambience
The Best After-Party Restaurants Open Near Me for Food and Drinks | Restaurant Locator
Late-Night Fine Dining: Where to Find Elegant Meals Open After 9 PM
How to Find Restaurants Open Near Me That Cater to Large Families
