Japanese Curry Express - Quality Japanese meals that don’t break bank

Quality, affordable Japanese Meals in the city? Yes, please!

Written by Y.S. Chia

“Japanese food.”. “Japanese food in the city.”. “Affordable Japanese food in the city.” If this was your search history recently, look no further because we found one.

Japanese Curry Express is located on the 3rd floor of the Fortune Centre. And no, unlike most stores there, it's not vegetarian. In fact, they have a range of dishes with generous meat portions. The restaurant is a family run establishment that has stood the test of time, first opening in 2013. It has a loyal fanbase so we decided to see what keeps people coming back.

What We Ordered

The first thing that caught our eye was the Ebi Mango Maki($13.00).

Visually the bright yellow mango , drizzled with mayo and topped with Tobiko looks like a Japanese Mango Sticky Rice.

Taste wise - it was oishi!

The mango’s sweetness doesn’t overpower the other savoury ingredients, making it refreshing.

The star factor of this dish, however, is the texture; with the smooth mango sandwiched between the crunchy tobiko and crispy tempura.

The next item we tried was the Ebi Gyoza($6.00) which was drizzled with mayo.

The gyoza was crispy and savoury, with the filing being a mix of prawn and

shredded vegetables.

That being said, there wasn’t anything special about the Gyoza.

We decided to try their titular dish next. I opted for a Pork Katsu Curry Rice($7.50).

While the curry looked a bit lacklustre, it had more ingredients than meets the eye.

It’s lighter than what you’d expect from most Japanese stores but still filling. Vegetables and small beef chunks thrown in the mix give it a more dynamic texture.

The breaded katsu it covers is thin, but crunchy and together they make a savoury combo. Not the best but definitely value for money.

Our last dish was their Mentai Salmon Don($11) which you can upsize for $14.

The dish was inviting, with its layered salmon blowtorched, garnished with sesame seeds and furikake.

It was at this point I burnt myself moving it - having completely forgotten it was oven-baked. Digging in, the salmon gave a creamy umami texture which was complemented by the fluffy rice. The chili powder which we hadn’t seen prior also gave it a nice small kick.

While $11 may seem much for a smaller bowl, the smoky slices of salmon were thicker than expected, which makes it more justified.

Location & Service

Japanese Curry Express has been a long-running family establishment at Fortune Centre(which mind you is also a very old mall). With such low prices, I think we can close one eye to their dated dining area.

In fact, I would go as far as to even think of the place as a nostalgic coffee shop. The family is friendly and treats customers as would store vendors to regulars.

That being said, they are running a business so do try to keep your dining to their preferred 45 minutes. Working crowds on weekdays can also stretch the waiting time to 30 minutes.

Its location is also a strong point. It’s within walking distance from Bugis, Bencoolen and Rochor MRT - talk about convenience!

Our Honest Opinion - 4/5

Affordable, Accessible, Appetising - 4/5

This store has seen through many old and new neighbours and for good reason.

If you're coming looking for restaurant-quality stuff, you can head home. However, if you want to enjoy affordable, Japanese cuisine, then give this place a try. Despite the name(Japanese Curry Express), I see myself returning for their Ebi Mango Maki($13) and their Mentaiko don($11).

This place has been around for a while and I hope it continues to stand the test of time. You can visit Japanese Curry Express at 190 Middle Rd, Fortune Centre, #03-04, Singapore 188979. Their opening hours are 11:30 am - 2pm and 5pm - 8:30pm, from Monday to Saturday.

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Looking for Japanese fusion? Why not check out our review on Sando shop, Hello Arigato Joo Chiat!

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Got a place you want us to check out before you shelve your money? DM us on our socials or email us at getahonestreview@gmail.com and we’ll see whether it's worth your time.

About the Writer: Y.S. Chia(he/him) is our 20-year-old Honest Agent who loves going on adventures - be it hiking nature trails or checking out Singapore's latest festivals. When he's not out and about, you can find him being a potato watching netflix or on the rare occasion - at the gym.