Kale

I ate a lot of Japanese curry while in Japan and I’ve been craving it ever since I’ve been back, so I was thrilled to find this place! Fast, friendly service and the food was great!

It apparently moved. I stumbled acorss it Monday downtown, SW 9^th and Morrison.
I dont know how they’ll make it in such a huge space with such a limited menu but it was good.

Finally made it to Kalé last night. The guy who was working (owner?) was soooo nice, informative, and generally awesome. Unfortunately, he also informed me that tonight is the last night they are open at their current location, and their next location is not yet decided! The thought of not being able to eat this delicious meal EVERY DAY for the next month is making me severly depressed. I want to go out hunting for locations and get them a lease so I can have more Kalé Doria!
Go TODAY! and if you miss them, make sure you get there once they open their new location.
LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I live close by and have been meaning to go for awhile and I’m glad I finally did.
Everything is just so simple at Kale– the menu, the service, the food but I think that’s what makes it so darn good and lovable. I’ve had the beef dish and can’t wait to try the Doria.
It’s a little pricey to add simple things such as a boiled egg or spinach ($ 1 each I think) — so if you are really cheap like I am, get it to go and boil your own egg at home!
I believe they are looking for a new location to move to– I just hope they don’t move too far away from me!

I had a very comforting and satisfying meal here.
Get the Doria over meat. Maybe even ask for extra cheese. Also get extra servings of the dish — or two. I left a bit hungry still. But I guess that’s because I eat a lot.
The owner seemed very knowledgeable in the dish, which I found cute.
I only wished they can make it spicy…

Warm, friendly greeting upon entering… Delicious and satisfying curry with just the right amount of heat… I favor the Original… love the pickled Daikon so much.
It would be nice to have a totally mild version for children and those who are afraid of a little spice.

Spending my impressionable high school years in Japan probably has a lot to do with my obsession and quest for awesome katsudon and curry outside of it. Shortly after arriving in Portland, I was searching Unilocal for the former when I stumbled upon the latter at Kale (= «ka-​re» = «cur-​ry»). The Unilocal were favorable, and its website piqued my curiosity (future locations: «hope» London and Prague– ha!!), so WTH, right?
O…M…G…
Looking back now, I can see how my addiction started innocently. At first, it was a social thing, you know. Go with a friend. Enjoy some fabulous curry. Once a week.
Soon, though, I was going on my own… often… not telling friends about those extracurricular trips… And I knew I had a «problem».
So I quit cold turkey…
…for about a month.
I’ve since managed to keep the visits down to once or twice a month, but… I think I’m slipping again. Today makes twice in five days…
I’d be lying if I said Kale’s curry tastes just like what I had in Japan. I seem to remember most curry tasting like Curry House CoCo Ichibanya, and really, CoCo has been my gold standard for judging Japanese curry. Well, until now.
I never thought this day would come, but I have found a curry *better than CoCo’s, and it is at Kale*. Like many of its food cart cousins, Kale does only one dish, and it does it very, very, very well.
The curry tastes wholesome, simple, filling, and hella good on a cold day. Or warm day. Or whenever. You get the idea.
It’s easy to go veg but experiment with the add-​ins to suit your taste. My current thing is cheddar cheese, hard-​boiled egg, and spinach. I usually don’t like that last item mushy, but they present it in such a cute little ball and it mixes into the curry sauce so easily, it’s no biggie. My partner swears by the Doria version of the curry (add paprika, bake for 10 mins), and while I do like the flavor and the fact that it stays hot until the very last bite, the Doria doesn’t come with free fukujin zuke (read: pickles), so HA! +1 for not Doria.
So go. Go now. You actually got to the end of this thing, and you’re still reading, so I’m really, really disappointed. Quit reading already and get yourself over to Kale.

decided to head here for a quick dinner before heading over to Good Sam for a childbirth class. my husband was a bit hesitant, but I was insistent (really wanted to use the
coupon I printed out months ago).
the place was pretty empty, but really warm and welcoming. the person waiting on us explained the entire menu of curries and add-​ons (didn’t take long because there aren’t many options) to steer us in the right direction. needless to say, we savored every bite (also ordered the spinach to go with our curry).
now my husband can’t wait to return!

Smart, simple and savory.
Smart because Kale shares this location with a coffee house during non lunch & dinner hours. I love this because not only does it show how we can work together as a community and still offer fantastic variety, but that it will most likely last in this ever-​so-​challenging economy.
Simple and simply put, Kale does one thing and does it right: Japanese curry! Another key to success as far as I am concerned.
Savory and succulent beef curry with a subtle hint of spice and served with rice is what they suggest you order for your first visit and it did not disappoint.
Even though the food was wonderful, it was the sincere and friendly owner behind the counter, Makoto Yoshino, who made the experience more than just a mere exchange of money for food. More than once he said that he hoped we would enjoy the meal in a way that made you feel as if you already were.
We decided before we were done eating that we would come back here again and again and bring lots of friends.

I didn’t want to eat at Kale. But having had a boyfriend named Cayle (pronounced Kale) made it, somewhat mandatory.
Kale was 100% not what I was expecting on all fronts. I guess I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from «Japaneses Comfort Food». First off you order at a café area and then retire to a nice seating area. The sit down area looks somewhat formal which contradicts the whole, café ordering. The menu has one item, Kale Rice, offered vegetarian and with beef. From there you can customize it a bit with cheese and spinach. I think there’s one other option. When I saw this I wanted to run the other way. I like options, lots of em. I was feeling a little stuck at this time as we had the full attention of both employees and no one else in the joint. I ordered the beef options with cheese and spinach, baked.
lickity split, our order arrived at our table. It was very much comfort food. I imagine this as the mac and cheese of Japanese culture. The menu describes the dish as «Savory, and similar to a stew consisting of meat, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and many other vegetables «. Presentation alone it looks a little gross, but get over it and dig in. It’s delicious! Perfect for these cold rainy days we’ve been having.

I really like the curry here. It’s a little spicier and not as sweet as the curry we make at home, but it’s very good. The curry you eat today was started two days ago, and is so good because of it. The meat is very tender and the flavor is so rich. The vegetables are pureed in instead of in chunks, which I think helps with the richness of the flavor.
The extras are odd. I’m used to having fukujinzuke out and available. It’s $ 1 to get extra here. You can also add a hard boiled egg or spinach for $ 1 each. All of these extras are cold, so it’s an interesting contrast to the slow burn of the curry. If you are a big eater, I recommend the extra serving of curry for $ 1.
They also have sake and some Japanese beers in the bottle that aren’t too expensive. The sakes are the Momokawa organics (nigori and ginjo). I wish they had G Joy as it’s smoother, but oh well.
We have yet to try the baked curry, but that is definitely on the to do list. Add Kale to your to do list!

You really must try this Japanese comfort food ASAP! Kale is soooooooo good. I have never had Japanese curry so really didn’t know what to expect. We ordered the Kale Doria and Original. Both were wonderful for different reasons. The Original is vegetarian. It was simple, spicy, and gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. On a cold rainy Portland day this dish would really hit the spot. The Doria adds beef and cheese to the mix which is then baked until bubbly. I would describe it as a cheesy beef curry casserole. AMAZING! The owner was friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back :)

Oh ya…
Finally a Japanese curry shop that can be compared to the «House Curry shop» in SoCal.
The ambiance is very Japanese. I think the owner is trying to bring that Japanese café vibe in here. It felt like I was back in my home.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with bussing your own table. This is «self-​serve» and it is very common in Japanese casual dining places.
The curry was just like that of in Japan. It lacks all the veggie and meats, but flavor is 8.5 out of 10, and that’s high in my standard.
Doria was interesting, but if you are a curry enthusiast, stick with the original.
It is pricey… yes. It sucks but then again if you are in any major city in Japan, and tried to hook up a curry for lunch it would cost 600‑1000 yen anyways so I guess it’s fair…
I certainly hope the owner would add more menu items as he progress with his joint.
A SOLID 4 star for their curry.

Went here for the first time this past weekend.
I can’t wait to go back!
Very limited menu, but that’s the point. Making a few dishes very well.
I got the Kalé Original: Rice and Vegetarian Curry. It was so good!
I had never had Japanese curry before so this was a great introduction.
My husband got Kalé Beef Doria. It was even better!
I am definitely getting the Doria next time.
We also got nigori sake to go with our Kalé. Yum.

Have you had Japanese curry before? If you have skip to the next paragraph. Japanese curry has the spices that you’d find in Indian curry but a bit softer and less heat.
One word for everyone Doria! Get the curry with cheese. The regular is good but wow who knew that cheese would make this dish sing out to me telling me to eat it and eat it faster! Dam it was hot and i kept burning my tongue but my tongue forgave me for giving it such a tasty dish on the buds.

we have a serious problem with kale: it’s incredibly addictive.
it’s embarrassing how often my husband and i end up here. you can order the «original» (vegetarian) or the kale with beef, and there are a few topping choices for both. i like mine with cheddar, egg and extra pickle. there is something just deliciously wrong about cheddar cheese in curry.
yes, we could make dinner, but wouldn’t kale be faster and yummier? yes, we could bring sandwiches to the concert in the park, but won’t kale be nice and warming in the august chill? etc.
do junkies think about their next score while on the way to buy their junk? because by the time we are ordering our food, we are already plotting our return. is the day after tomorrow too soon? should we just get extra to-​go for lunch tomorrow? why am i full already? WHY ARE THEY ONLY OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK???
ahem. sorry. got a bit carried away there.
go indulge, just be prepared for the forth-​coming addiction. don’t worry, makoto the owner is very nice and won’t mock you for your frequent visits — although there is a limit on the doria (cheese covered, baked curry) of 10 per day :)

Not too many good Japanese style food places in Portland, but I really liked this one. The curry was great and the atmosphere nice, though for some reason it felt strange to bus our own tables (not a minus in my mind, but just seemed fancy enough where we weren’t sure what to do).
The curry is on the liquidy side — not a mistake or a bad thing, just their style of curry. I like it a lot, and the rice to curry ratio was absolutely perfect. The taste of the curry was great too — not all that spicy but the flavor was spot on.
One of my favorite things, though, is the simplicity of everything. There’s only a few things you can order, and I love places like that. They only do a few things but they do them well. It makes choosing what to eat really easy and you know you’ll get something that’s yummy.
Definitely will be back here — really enjoyed it. It’s one of the few good Japanese-​food places in Portland, even if they only sell curry.

SPECTACULAR curry! All other so-​called Japanese restaurants which serve curry made from manufactured curry roux should be ashamed of their dishes! What I love about his curry is that it is not overly ‘designed’ just to be unique, as some of the curry restaurants do in Japan.
His dish is not only presented in a pure and simple manner, but it also tastes like that. I don’t mean blunt at all. It means that it is made of a combination of easily recognizable ingredients, and he cooks in a way to create a rich flavor. Can’t explain it; you just gotta try it!
He is also pure and simple with his menu and the business style. There are only three items on the menu, and it is a counter-​order style. Just focus on curry and you won’t be disappointed. As some mentioned, the portion is on a small side. I wish he added an option for a bigger serving. Next step — can you open a food cart closer into downtown?

Excellent stomach-​warmer for a freezing June day. What the hell’s up with the weather this year anyway? This curry is better than most Japanese home-​cooked versions, and is on the same level you’d get at a restaurant specializing in curry in Japan.
The original was delicious; we both liked it better than the beef. The portion size was a little small; for less money you can get a bigger serving of Thai curry down the street. I’d love to see some lunch specials here and a little more generous portion. We didn’t order any toppings because, for $ 1 each (spinach, egg, pickles), that would push the price right past the range of a good lunch in Portland. Also, although it looks nice to have the curry and rice separated in the to-​go container, it makes it a little clumsy to eat.

OK, so the name may conjure up dark leafy greens, but there is much spicier fare a-​plate here.
There’s definitely more to Japanese food than sushi — notably homestyle «comfort food» dishes like okonomiyaki, ramen, udon, yakitori and curry rice, also known as kale raisu, which Kale (pronounced «Kah-​leh») specializes in. It is an ubiquitous Japanese staple — school kids eat it, working folks grab a plate outside the train station on their way home, late night barflies let out their belts to soak up alcohol with it. This is a niche that sorely needs to be filled here in Portland, so I was eager to try this place out.
Their website claims that the average Japanese person eats curry rice 84 times per year. It is certainly a popular dish — when I lived in Japan, I probably ate curry rice at least once a week. The Japanese version is quite different than Indian or Thai curry. It was introduced to Japan by way of Britain in the 1800’s, so it’s kind of a Japanese take on the British take of Indian curry. A rich and spicy brown sauce that starts with a roux, it’s served with rice and eaten with a spoon.
This place is just getting started, so thus far they’ve got a limited menu, but seasonal specials and variations are in the works. Kale Rice with Beef and Kale Rice Original are standards — the Original doesn’t have meat in it but is spicier. Intriguingly (well, anything with cheese intrigues me, it’s true), they also offer Kale Doria, which is topped with melted cheese and paprika. I tried the Original, which was enjoyably full-​flavored and spicy. To me, Japanese curry rice isn’t complete without a hard-​boiled egg, which was one of the optional add-​ons (a buck extra). I hope more add-​ons, such as croquettes, tonkatsu, and a variety of vegetables are offered down the road. Customizing your curry is part of the fun! The spice level was right on for me, but it might be too hot for some folks. (I tend to go for medium to medium-​hot.) My dining companion had the Curry Rice With Beef, which was comparatively mild. Nice touches included the pickled daikon on top, the serious curry-​eatin’ spoon, and the curry rice, which was made up of laquered-​looking grains and delightfully chewy. (Good curry rice is important! Mushy rice = sad curry.) The proprietor serves free coffee to complement the richness of the curry. Kind of like a peanut butter and banana relationship, or a wine and cheese pairing, depending on how lowbrow or highbrow you want to be about it. :)
Give it a go, especially on an overcast day when you can use a little comfort food!
Note: Open for lunch (11:00 to 2:00) and dinner (5:00 to 8:00), but closed in the late afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00.