Curry Favor that favours curry. Oiishi!

When an old classmate brought me here on a surprise with a celebratory note for my birthday, I could not be more than happy to indulge in a delightful japanese cuisine for the night. I have tried the one located at Novena and am sure tonight I will not be disappointed with their famous curry.

Nestled in the stretch of Stamford house, there seems to be quite a crowd already inside when we enter. Thankfully, there was a reservation made and we managed to get a comfortable seat with cushioned sofa.

It is a small Japanese eatery with spartan deco with dark wood furniture and unique ochre and brown tiled walls. Walking on those concrete floors made you feel welcomed in this humble house since its opening in 2004.

With a start, we ordered some drinks since we were early for dinner. I had the almond hazelnut milk tea ($4.50) while my friend, H, had the iced lemon tea ($4.50). My tea was served hot and the whiffs of almond smell is so comforting on a cold day. The iced tea is served with slices of lemon and has the homemade taste which made us think it worthwhile for the price.

The starter that we had, Kushi-Age Cheese Chikuwa ($10), is heavenly.  For a short japanese introductory, Kushiage is a Japanese-style deep-fried kabab. Kushi means skewers and age means deep-frying in Japanese. This one on the menu is squid stuffed with cheese and deep fried. And the result? A cheesy sensation with every bite. No, it is soft cheese that does not ooze out at all but very rich cheese flavour. The mayonnaise drizzled on top of it makes you just want to crave for more!

Next, for the main course, I ordered the Vegetable Curry Udon ($15.90). All the main meals are served with complimentary sides of either salad or miso soup but we chose the salad instead.  

H's recommened dish Katsu Curry ($13.90) is equally visually appetizing. The curry was served steaming hot and i found it a good idea to serve in that stainless steel jar to retain the heat throughout the meal. It has a rich flavour with slight sweetness and is not too spicy for our palate. Pour it over the white rice and you can smell the fragrant aroma of the curry infusing into the rice with its not-so-thick consistency as it made its way slowly down onto the plate.

The main highlight is of course the two large slabs of crispy pork katsu eaten with the curry. I had few bitefuls and found the meat tender and very tasty with the sauce. The crispy golden breaded crust is well made that gave the pork a very good mouthfeel. The curry is so delicious that when asked if they do refill it, apparently, it is a no. You have to order it separately as an ala-carte.

The service is satisfactory and they were prompt in serving our food. The ambience is cosy and some guests just come in for drinks and side dishes for a chill out. There are also books and magazines available that you can browse through, so don't fret even if you are alone and trying to kill time.

The portion are sustainable to give you a very filling meal especially with the generous rice serving. Curry Favor has satisfied my appetite for curry with its authentic curry sauce at reasonable prices. I will certain come back here for more curried flavoured nights! 

P.S. Curry Favor's sister cafe, Moon River is just next door and you can hop over for a dessert after your meal and indulge in their inviting atmopshere with jazzy playlists!