Currying On - Zen Curry, Hinotez, Izakaya Sakura, and Musashiya

Zen Curry:

So, Calvin really, really, wanted to check out Zen Curry. And since they had just started opening for lunch during the weekdays, I thought why not?

We got there on the day that the businesses sign was (finally) going up.

We were seated quickly, same really nice young women working, just really pleasant service.

This time around I went with the Beef Curry and to hedge my bets, also ordered what was the best item I'd had on my previous two visits, the Spam® Katsu.

I still enjoyed the spice level 5 and the Spam® Katsu while I think was still fried too long, was better, though the breading was still on the harder side. The curry would have an appreciable combination of spices, if it weren't overly thick and pasty. Some of the pieces of beef were also too chewy.

Calvin, who loved Curry House and Coco Ichibanya in his hometown of Irvine looked at me and said, "I know what you mean now when you say; it's not enough to just have something....they've got to make it well."

Things were slightly improved, but I think there's a way to go.

Zen Curry
7309 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111

This meal did have me wondering about curry, at least in the Kearny Mesa area...so over the next couple of weeks, I went and managed to revisit a couple of places.

Hinotez:

I picked Hinotez, because last year, I had a pretty darn good karaage curry at here.

But before I could do a post, they changed up a the lunch ordering....and it seemed that this was no longer available. Which was my bad.....just like breakfast, you now choose your combo for lunch.

And so, I could get a version of what I'd had before.

I enjoy the curry at Hinotez, the flavor is much more complex than what was served at the pre-Taisho Curry Rice Hinotez. It's still quite mild; though the texture works for me, along with the crunchy, nicely flavored and fried karaage (Zen Curry please take note). I love mixing in the 3 minute egg with the rice a curry, making a rich, tasty mess. While not excellent by any means; this is my favorite Japanese curry in San Diego.

Though as much as I enjoy the curry, I didn't care for the really bland, insipid ,miso soup.

Can't win 'em all. I used to think that Hinotez had some fairly brusque service; but on my last two visits, the folks working here have really been nice and friendly. It's also nice to think that I've been to both Hinotez and Yakyuudori in Nagoya.

Hinotez
7947 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111

Izakaya Sakura:

I thought I should revisit Sakura for the curry.....you know a couple of years back I did a "sorta, kinda, post", that included a photo of the Tonkatsu Curry from Sakura. So, I thought I'd better just do a proper one.

The curry here has almost a home-made feel to it. It's also the least spicy, with almost a slight sweetness and is the thinnest of the four.

The tonkatsu was decently done, moist, fairly tender, nice crisp crunchiness from the panko.

They use an interesting base for the miso soup here, I think much of the kombu breaks down and there's almost a slight gooeyness to the broth. Though it's not bitter with no off flavors. This version also had the best rice of the four.

While I've had some very surly service over the last two years, my last visit was quite nice. On this one; there were two of the long time Servers, I call them "good cop, bad cop".....folks who go to Sakura know what I mean.

Izakaya Sakura
3904 Convoy St Ste 121
San Diego, CA 92111

And that was going to be it......but I decided to add one more revisit to this. A place that had really disappointed me since they've opened....

Musashiya:

So, I decided to try out their curry one more time....after all, it was the best thing I've had here.

You know, I can never fault the presentation here at Musashiya...the food though, is another story. While the curry was the second spiciest I'd had; it was also barely past lukewarm and really didn't have much in it.

The tonkatsu here suffers from the same issues as what I'd had in the past, there's some problem with temperature and technique here as the breading just peels off when you try to pick up the pork. It was also dry and tough. There were dry and hard grains of rice as wll.

My favorite item of the meal? The shredded cabbage. I left most of the curry and tonkatsu on the plate.....I just wasn't hungry anymore....

Musashiya
4240 Kearny Mesa Rd Ste 119 - In the Mitsuwa Marketplace
San Diego, CA 92111

So, my favorite of the bunch? So far it's Hinotez.

For those curry-sseurs…..what versions of Japanese Curry have I missed?

Comments

[Hangzhou Hero]

Can't believe I missed your previous posts about the glory of Spam Katsu. Sounds like the best mashup hit since Run DMC and Aerosmith.

[Elle]

The lunch combo at Hinotez looks good. Hope to try it some day. I think I've had either their tonkatsu or sausage curry some years ago. I just read on the Convoy District FB page that Coco Ichibanya will open a location near HIVE next spring.

[Kirk]

Better "Walk this way" and get some HH! Sorry, couldn't help myself.....

I'd heard something about that Elle! Thanks for the heads-up. Try the Japanese breakfast at Hinotez....that's when I usually go.

[Kerri]

Mmmmmm, curry. If you ever venture up to North County, you might want to try Umi Restaurant in Leucadia. Their curry is pretty good. It's in the old Yu-MI-Ya Sake house location. I would call it Izakaya style, with a small menu.

[Sandy]

I'm not well versed on Japanese curry, but how about Niban?

[Kirk]

Thanks for the recommendation Kerri! I might try and visit during weekend lunch!

Wow, Niban....haven't been there in ages Sandy. Time for a revisit I guess.

[kat]

thick pasty curry :(

[Kirk]

Definitely not a fan of that texture Kat!

[Derek R]

Looks like CoCo Ichibanya is coming to SD/Convoy.

https://sandiego.eater.com/platform/amp/2019/11/4/20947700/japans-coco-ichibanya-restaurant-curry-rice-chain-san-diego-convoy

[Kirk]

Yes, I wonder who that "tipster" was? ;o)

[Junichi]

Hinotez is my favorite Japanese curry in SD too. The Kanazawa style curry at Yakyudori was a little too sweet for me. Prefer the Go Go Curry version in OC. Okan and Ichiro both have decent home-style versions too.

[Kirk]

I was thinking about getting the curry at Okan; but just kinda ran out of time/energy Junichi!

[Steven]

Cocos ichibanya in San Diego is not as good as Irvines. I was waiting for cocos ichi to open up in San Diego and they have been here awhile now and haven't got the sauce right. Maybe it's a hit or miss because sometimes everything was great. Perhaps it depends on the cook and time. Mango lasso is better at Irvine too and you get more at Irvine.

[Kirk]

Hi Steven - Thanks for taking the time out to comment! I'm wondering if you read my post on CI:

https://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2021/09/takeout-from-coco-ichibanya.htm

Agreed that at this time they aren't as good as other locations