Japanese Curry Showdown, Plus a Pantry Staple
Japanese curry comes from a box of roux blocks, and there are two household names: S&B Golden Curry and House Vermont Curry. We've added a third pantry staple that's even faster to make.
S&B Golden Curry — the roux block that turns into curry in about 20 minutes
S&B's Golden Curry is a box of curry roux blocks: you simmer vegetables and meat, drop in the block, and stir until it thickens. The medium-hot version is a bestseller on Amazon, at under $3 and with over 8,000 ratings at 4.7 stars. It's the cheapest way to introduce someone to Japanese curry.
House Vermont Curry — the milder, sweeter side of Japanese curry
Vermont Curry is House Foods' other household name in Japanese curry, and it's known for a sweeter, milder taste than Golden Curry. The medium-hot box makes a pot for a family. Cooking both side by side is a quick way to find out which one you prefer.
Nagatanien Ochazuke — hot tea over rice, in a sachet
Ochazuke is a bowl of rice with hot tea or water poured over it, and Nagatanien's sachets are the packaged version: a seasoning you sprinkle on the rice before pouring. This 50-pack assortment includes nori, salmon, and ume flavors. It has a 4.8-star rating from over 600 reviews on Amazon. A small, filling gift for someone who cooks for one.
Which one first
Make one pot with Golden Curry and one with Vermont, and see which one you prefer. Ochazuke is the quick option when there's only cold rice in the refrigerator. For more on stocking a Japanese kitchen, see our kitchen staples guide.
More Japan-sourced picks, verified available on Amazon.com, are on the Japan Finds page.