While there are many shops called Kanazawa curry such as Champion Curry (nicknamed Chan-Kare), Indian Curry, and Gold Curry, one of the shops said to be the originator is Turban Curry.

Since the main shop is located in an easily accessible place in Kanazawa city, I went there right after arriving at the station.

The rich roux with depth and sweetness has an addictive taste. So this is the deliciousness of Kanazawa curry…!

Access and Transportation to Turban Curry

Turban Curry’s main shop (Katamachi branch) is located in the Korinbo district of Kanazawa City. It’s close to tourist spots like the 21st Century Museum and Kenrokuen Garden, in a very accessible location.

It takes about 30 minutes to walk from Kanazawa Station, so it’s best to go by bus or taxi.

If you’re planning to stay overnight for Kanazawa sightseeing, I recommend getting accommodation around the Korinbo area, as it makes it easy to visit tourist spots like the 21st Century Museum, Kenrokuen Garden, samurai residences, and Kanazawa Castle ruins.

Original Kanazawa Curry “Turban Curry”

On this kind of street with lots of greenery while being in the city,

There was Turban Curry. A quite small, cozy shop.

Inside there are only counter seats and small table seats. Though it was a weekday and well past lunchtime, customers kept coming in continuously.

Established in 1971 (Showa 46), it has quite a long history. Since I was hungry, I ordered the L-set (medium), which is the recommended BEST 1.

Here’s Turban Curry’s menu. Small is 500 yen, medium is 550 yen, large is 700 yen, extra large is 850 yen. However, these are 2015 prices, and as of 2022 they appear to be small: 500 yen, medium: 600 yen, large: 700 yen, extra large: 800 yen. Medium has increased but extra large decreased. Quite unusual.

Three female staff members who look like they make delicious curry are efficiently preparing curry and toppings.

Rich Roux with Melted Vegetable Sweetness, Exquisite

The L-set arrived!! Kanazawa curry is characterized by dark roux on a metal plate, served with cabbage.

Rich, deep roux with melted umami and sweetness from vegetables and meat. Freshly fried tonkatsu with hamburger and sausage.

This is really delicious!

Honestly, Go Go Curry in Tokyo and Fukuoka didn’t really click with me, but this Turban Curry firmly grabbed my stomach. (By the way, Go Go Curry’s founder apparently worked part-time at this Turban Curry for a few months before opening independently. Perhaps because they expanded their chain mainly in Tokyo rather than local Kanazawa, there seem to be mixed opinions among Kanazawa citizens)

The spork (spoon-fork hybrid) since school lunch days – a great invention that lets you eat both toppings and curry with just this one utensil.

It was delicious!

Final Thoughts

While Fukuoka also has many delicious curry shops including Asian countries’ styles, home-style, European-style, etc., this is a different type of flavor. I want one in my neighborhood…

When you come to Kanazawa, please definitely visit. They apparently have branches in Nagano and Kyoto too!

I had heard that it was a gourmet city with plenty of delicious food, so I did a bit of research and found a restaurant called “Itaru.”

Since Itaru is a popular restaurant often featured on TV and major online news sites, I was worried about getting in. Fortunately, since I was dining solo, I managed to get a seat without a reservation.

I was a bit concerned that the food and service might feel impersonal, as can sometimes happen at tourist-focused places, but everything—from the food to the service—was excellent. In fact, it exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended!

Itaru: A Restaurant Where You Can Fully Enjoy Kanazawa’s Seafood

The main branch of “Itaru” is located in a quiet area near Kanazawa City Hall, with a few other restaurants nearby. It’s also close to Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.

There’s also a Korinbo branch about a five-minute walk from the main store.

• Itaru Official Website: Itaru – Sake and Heartfelt Cuisine

The restaurant exterior has a nice traditional feel, with a sign that says “Sake and Heartfelt Cuisine.” Let’s go in.

The interior has a retro vibe, with both counter and table seating.

This photo was taken as I was about to leave, but when I arrived around 8:30 PM, the counter was packed. Since I was alone, I was lucky enough to find a seat. Lucky me.

The menu prices are listed in units of 100 yen, which is rare to see (except for the course menus).

One of their specialties, the “Japan Sea Sashimi Platter,” can be ordered in a single-serving size, so I went with that!

You can also order from the chalkboard menu, which offers the latest seasonal selections. Checking this first might be a good way to taste the freshest catches.

The appetizer, whelk, served alongside Ishikawa’s local sake, “Ikezuki.” Cheers!

Great Fish and Sake—A Perfect Combo. When in Kanazawa, You Have to Try Nodoguro!

The one-person sashimi platter has arrived! It’s great to find a restaurant willing to accommodate single servings like this.

From left to right: thread-sail filefish, sweet shrimp, young yellowtail, swordfish, and fresh octopus. Each one is plump, fresh, and perfect in flavor and texture. As someone from Kyushu, where seafood is also excellent, I was thrilled to try these different varieties.

The filefish liver, especially when eaten with the sashimi, is a seasonal delight. It’s so good!

The chefs prepare dishes right in front of you. They’re friendly and occasionally chat, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their work. They even attempt to communicate with international guests in basic English. I could sense the owner’s care for guests, as he calmly and respectfully guided his staff when necessary.

For sake lovers, the Hokuriku Three-Flavor Sake Set!

The appetizers are squid in ink sauce, crab miso, and preserved firefly squid, paired with sake from Tengu-mai (Ishikawa), Chikuha (Ishikawa), and Sansyouraku (Toyama).

If there’s one dish you should try in Kanazawa, it’s the nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch)! I didn’t expect one of this size.

The umami-packed grilled fish is unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Just delicious.

Perfect from Traditional Dishes to Finishing Touches. Highly Recommended.

Another local Kanazawa dish, Kamo no Jibuni (duck stew). The soy sauce-based broth and tender duck flavor are exquisite.

Ending the meal with a unique dish called “Nyan-ko Meshi.” I asked about it, thinking it might be a playful rice dish, and was told it’s their specialty—a bowl of rice topped with fish and covered with hot miso broth. How could I not try this?

So tasty and warming! While a classic rice porridge is nice, Itaru offers this creative finishing dish, and they leave nothing to chance. Fantastic.

Final Thoughts

I ended up spending around 7,600 yen, though it seems that a group of three or four could comfortably eat and drink for around 5,000–6,000 yen per person.
※As of 2015

For the quality of food and ambiance, it’s worth every yen. Despite its popularity, Itaru is free from any pretentiousness.

If you’re looking for great food in Kanazawa, this place is a

solid choice! If you want to be sure to get in, I highly recommend making a reservation.