Any Japanese curry fans out there? If you’ve tried it, you know it’s in a whole separate class from the Thai and Indian curries most Westerners are used to. The sauce is dark brown and generally thicker and sweeter than other Asian curries, though the taste varies from shop to shop, and is served with rice. Along with some onions, carrots and potatoes, you can usually find some nice chunks of pork or beef in your basic curry, and then you can choose from a variety of toppings to make it your own.

For curry connoisseurs there’s nothing sadder than when you are enjoying your plate of curry rice and suddenly realize that you’re running out of curry faster than rice. You’re left rationing the last of your curry or finishing your meal with a couple of bites of disappointingly plain rice. Most people don’t know this, but if you are eating at the popular chain CoCo Ichibanya–affectionately known as CoCo Ichi–you can order more curry for free!

This writer eats at CoCo Ichi 2 or 3 times a month and has for ages, but I had no idea that you could get more curry if you wanted. Recently, though, I went with a friend who shocked my socks off by calmly ordering “A little more curry, please,” when his sauce dwindled. More amazingly, the staff brought it for him wihtout blinking an eye!

I thought for sure he would have to pay for it, but it was free. What a fantastic service! And if you are in a hurry, you can even ask for the extra sauce when placing your order. Just tell them you want a larger serving of curry and you’ll get it on the house.

So, if you haven’t made plans for lunch yet, take your empty belly over to CoCo Ichi and get your curry on.

Try it in Japanese
A little more curry, please- Chotto dake ruu wo tashite kudasai.
With a larger serving of curry, please- Ruu dake oome de kudasai.

▼ Ah, it looks like the perfect balance, but if you run out of curry…

▼ get more for free!

[ Read in Japanese ]