Category: Guides

Otaku NYC: Go! Go! Curry

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As Ciel-senpai has taught us there are many different types of curry from all over the world with each region putting its own spin on the dish. Ciel-senpai also teaches us that all of them are delicious. Japan has its own variety of curry that is generally regarded as a simple down-home comfort food. Japanese curry is a thick gravy-like curry poured on top of rice with a variety of toppings. It is a simple meal that can be made quickly but is very filling. When you are in Manhattan the place to eat Japanese curry is Go! Go! Curry.

The menu at Go! Go! Curry is all baseball themed. The sizes go from walk (small) to triple (extra large). The dish comes with rice, curry, and shredded cabbage. The curry itself has a mild but rich flavor with a hint of sweetness. This is not the fiery rush of a vindaloo but the simple richness of a roux. You then add your choice of meat including breaded chicken, pork, or shrimp as well as pork sausages. There is also tilapia as a secret menu item if you ask for it. You can also throw on a boiled egg, rokkyo, fukuzinzuko, cheese, or natto (WARNING: natto is only for the very brave) for a little extra. There are also special platters like the home run and grand slam that are a mixtures of all kinds topping to top of a huge amount of rice and curry. Those are for groups or power eaters. If you go on a day ending in 5 (go being 5 in Japanese) or whenever Hideki Matsui hits a home run you can get a free topping coupon for your next visit.

If you are going for your first time I love the katsu (pork) curry but you can get the chicken curry if dietary requirements prevent you from eating pig. I have never tried the tilapia as I always forget to ask for it. I do wonder why they don’t have one of the most traditional topping for curry rice, the hamburger patty. It seems like it would be a great addition to the menu. If you are ever in Manhattan be sure to try Go! Go! Curry at least once. I know I go to 273 W 38th St whenever I get the chance.

UPDATE: There is now a new location in the West Village at 231 Thompson St.

S.W.A.T. Reviews: Summer 2011

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Four years into the blog has taught us, to a degree, what works and what needs changing. When we started the blog the season reviews were some of the most popular posts but as time went on we have seen a distinct decline in interest. A large part of that has to do with Anime News Network now doing a seasonal review and in a very timely fashion. In response, we sat down to decide how to revamp the seasonal review to stay relevant. Our idea is to do micro-podcasts instead of a whole article. The premise behind the S.W.A.T. (Season Watching Anime Taskforce) reviews is simple: watch the first episode of a series and then immediately sit down a record a review podcast. The reviews are five- to ten-minutes long and entirely off the cuff. The reviews have been going up on Anime3000 but in case you missed them there we collected them here for your listening pleasure.

Blade: We review the classic tale of a half-vampire VS. vampires. Now with extra Marvel/Madhouse blandness.

Blood-C: We review the OTHER vampire vs vampires anime. Now with CLAMP. Which sadly does not help.

Bunny Drop: We review the tale of an ace sniper and pathological lair who is a brave captain of the sea. Sorry. That is Usopp Drop.

Croisee in a Foreign Labyrinth: We review (up soon!) an anime about France that is not The Rose of Versailles. We are as shocked as you are.

God’s Notebook: We review the spiffy keen NEET detective agency. The main character is a Speaker for the Dead.

The IDOLM@STER: We review a show about idols in training that is better than you would think it would be. That does not make it good.

Mawaru Penguindrum: We review the new Kunihiko Ikuhara anime. In fact, we are wondering why you are not watching this RIGHT NOW!

Mayo Chiki!: We review what proves that on all lives a little rain must fall. If you watch this, there shall be a downpour of sadness on your heart.

The Mystic Archives of Dantalian: We review (up soon!) the autobiography of Otaku USA’s Caleb Dunaway.

No. 6: We review the most obtuse remaking of Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner.

Sacred Seven: We review (up soon!) a Tokusatsu show cleverly disguised as an anime. But with maids, butlers, mecha, and Greek mythology.

Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000%: We review a show about idols in training that is better than you would think it would be. But is also actually good. We cannot forget to mention: Norio Wakamoto. ‘Nuff said.

Yuruyuri: We review a show of boy-friendly lesbians in training that is just as bad as you would think it would be.

Otaku NYC: Donburiya

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Luckily living in New York City gives you tons of opportunities to try all kinds of cuisine, including a myriad of Japanese restaurants throughout the city. But that also means for visitors sometimes there are just too many choices. This time around I’m talking about a reasonably priced place in midtown called Donburiya.

They serve a variety of food from riceballs to udon to curry (all of which I have on good authority are delicious), but as the name implies they specialize in donburi (rice bowl dish). There’s is a fairly basic dish consisting of rice on the bottom with vegetables and/or meat/fish (and sometimes egg) which was simmered in a light, semi-sweet broth. There are many different kinds you can get from the classic katsu-don (breaded deep-fried pork cutlet) to the more adventurous una-don (eel). The donburi have a homey feel and a subtle richness that sticks with you. Donbuyriya’s is a little sweet and almost buttery with a lot savory overtones.

The space itself is large but not huge, though they do take reservations. And it can become noisy later in the evening. But the portions are generous and the prices sane so it is well worth the trip.

If you want your first, or hundred and first, taste of katsu-don (or any other donburi, I’m totally bias) to be amazing then stop by Donburiya on 47th street between Lexington and 3rd Ave.!