Japanator Recommends: Go Go Curry

10:00 PM on 02.21.2010   |   Karen Leslie

I am seriously considering getting a job in midtown Manhattan, just so I have an excuse to eat at Go Go Curry every day. Sure, just the cost of transportation would probably cancel out any money I were to earn, but whatever: For more katsu curry like the dish pictured above, it would probably be worth it. I'm going to have to see if Kinokuniya needs any janitors.

Hit the jump to find out why Go Go Curry has gotten me so excited that I actually bothered to take a picture of my food.

Location: Located at 273 W 38th street on 8th avenue, Go Go Curry is just a few blocks from Penn Station- a ten-minute walk at most. It's also located in the garment district, meaning you can window shop at fabric wholesalers upon the conclusion of your meal (I'm serious.) For those of us who primarily enter Manhattan via the Long Island Railroad or New Jersey Transit, Penn Station is home base in the city; anything 'near Penn Station' can check off a win in the location department. Just in case you were wondering, Kinokuniya is also near Penn Station (although not quite as close as Go Go Curry.)

Ambiance: Make no mistake, Go Go Curry is NOT a fine restaurant; it's a take-out atmosphere, with a counter and only a few tables. However, it's a very friendly take-out atmosphere. The walls are festooned with sports memorobilia (the "Go Go" in the name comes from the two 5's in baseball player Hideki Matsui's number), and other neat decorations. Interestingly, in addition to a "How to say...in Japanese" sign, they also have signs for Korean and Chinese. It's nothing fancy, but Go Go Curry is just a little more welcoming than your average take-out venue.

Food: I WANT TO EAT MORE KATSU CURRY NOW. Uh, what was I doing? WITH SHRIMP.

I will not regale you with tales of how delicious their food is; if you know what great Japanese curry tastes like, that's what it is; if you don't, go eat some and report back. However, the limited menu that consists of curry+fried delicious things is cheap as well as yummy; even a Triple, the Go Go equivalent of a Super-Duper-Extra-Large, will set you back less than ten bucks. I find a mere Single is all I can handle, even when starving, so that should give you an idea of the portion sizes you're dealing with. You can certainly find cheaper lunches in the area- even cheaper Japanese lunches- but it's unlikely you'll find a better value for your money.

Just so you know, I've always eaten my curry sans-toppings, however the last time I was there a Japanese gentleman sat down next to me with a tray full of katsu curry with added fried shrimp, eggs, and vegetables, and I briefly wanted to kill myself for passing on the topings. Instead, I plan to spam every business in midtown with applications until some poor schlub hires me, and eat at Go Go Curry every day until I've tried all the toppings. And every topping combination.

For more information, the website for the American establishment is here, though the Japanese site offers more savory eye candy and general purpose fun. I will now resume salivating over the pictures.