One of the many viral aspects of Japan, particularly Japanese food, is their rightful claim that what you see is what you get. This is especially true when it comes to food. In that respect, CoCo Ichibanya Curry House scores full points.
The Curry House, which started in 1978, is an iconic Japanese institution with numerous outlets outside its home country. Similar to many Japanese local restaurants, it focuses on presenting a menu that revolves around a specific culinary theme, in this case, Japanese curry rice.
As a fan of anything and everything Japanese, the very thought of savouring curry rice at home in India was enough to make me drool. At the same time, I also wonder about the longevity of CoCo Ichibanya in India.
The word curry is more of a Western term and is not something one will likely go out for dinner. Moreover, our homegrown Indian food is packed full of “curries” or gravies, and while the love for Japanese food in India is on the rise, it’s typically limited to sushi and ramen.
CoCo Ichibanya Curry House
Positives
- Good Quantity
- Inexpensive
- Tasty Homely Food
- You Get What You See
Negatives
- Curry Lacks the Appeal of Sushi and Ramen
- Simple Presentation
Breakdown
- Food 4.5/5
- Service 5.0/5
- Ambiance 3.7/5
- Cost 5.0/5
Business thoughts aside, I’m not complaining about all the CoCo Ichibanya outlets that seem to be mushrooming around. Two are in my vicinity: CyberHub and IFC in Gurgaon.
Our first time at CoCoICHI was at their newly renovated CyberHub restaurant, which resembles any of their other outlets. A glass wall lets you peek inside, while rows of faux curries are lined up on one side, presumably enticing passersby to step inside.
The interiors are simple, contemporary, comfortable, and functional. The walls provide a crash course on the history of Japanese curry and the restaurant for those interested.
The service was as welcoming as expected in Japan, and the food arrived promptly. That we were among the first diners that evening might have helped.
Still, the noticeable aspect of the plates and bowls is that they resemble the photos on the menu, exactly. The same presentation, ingredients, curry colour… everything.
Our order at the “world’s largest curry restaurant chain” consisted of Cheese Balls, Veg Katsu Burger, Fried Shrimp Curry Udon with extra Chicken Momo, and the Original Chicken Katsu Omelette Curry.
When the staff referred to the omelette curry as “omu rice,” I knew this wasn’t a half-hearted attempt to replicate the magic of Japanese cuisine.
The cheese balls were a good enough size, had a crunchy exterior, and had a gooey, stringy cheese filling with a hint of spiciness.
The burger followed suit, with a crispy patty and a rather average appearance. But the flavours, while subtle, were all there.
Now, there are three curry options at CoCo Ichibanya—the original, a spicy tomato curry, and a third one that somewhat straddles the two mentioned above. We preferred the original for both curry dishes.
Like everything else, the bowl of udon with two large shrimp and chicken was quite filling, enough for my two hungry children. The curry tasted lighter, especially compared to the darker-coloured one that was part of the omu rice.
The chicken katsu omelette curry rice was undoubtedly the overall favourite. The rice turned out to be perfectly sticky with a hint of bite. The chicken katsu – cooked nicely with a golden brown surface and a beautiful crunch.
The curry – tasty and with some depth of flavour. Most importantly, the omelette had a taste and disposition similar to the ones we had in Japan.
The two negatives, one might point out, is that the curry sometimes tastes like the Maggi seasoning powder. Furthermore, its brownish look isn’t the most appetising at first glance.
I didn’t realise the seasoning part till my children pointed it out, and once they did, I couldn’t get it out of my head, or rather, palate. Still, neither of the two takes away from the deliciousness of the food.
The dessert was the classic Chocolate Lave Cake, a bit of a detour from Japan to New York. The cake was soft, not overly sweet, but the “lava,” while gooey, refused to flow.
Furthermore, to expand the menu and make it more favourable for locals, Coco Ichibanya also offers items such as parantha curry sets, paneer with assorted vegetables, and momos.
CoCo Ichibanya is a casual restaurant where one can experiment with Japan’s more subtle and homely food. At the same time, it’s inexpensive and displays the same culinary ethos as one would expect when eating in Japan.
CoCo Ichibanya Curry House
1st Floor, DLF CyberHub, Sector 24
Gurugram, Haryana 122002
Google Location
M3M IFC, Badshahpur, Sector 66
Gurugram, Haryana 122022
Google Location
Second floor, Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, Sector 6,
New Delhi 110017
Google Location
