If your curry fanatic in New York City, you can map out the city based on the best places to get your fix for Jamaican in Flatbush, Indian, Pakistani and Curry Hill and in the East Village for Japanese in and around Little Tokyo.

Japanese curry rice doesn't get as much shine in the U.

S.

As Rahman, but it's actually one of Japan's most popular comfort foods.

To learn more about the dish, I'm headed to Suki, a new curry rice spot in the East Village, to dive deep into Japanese curry culture with my friend Rina Sayama.

Born in Japan and raised in London, Arena is a critically acclaimed singer model, an artist but most importantly a curry head Les Go.

So I'm here with my friend Rina, and we're gonna try some Japanese curry at Suki, and I have to admit, I've never had Japanese curry before.

I can't believe Oh, can you give me kind of a run down?

A crash course of what is Japanese So Japanese carrier is something but people make a home is like a staple in the Japanese household.

You typically make it with these instant room packets, which all have, like honey and apples on the outside, because it's quite sweet.

It's as big as Roman, but you make a home.

So you were born in Japan and then you moved to the U.

K.

When you were five.

Yes, as an immigrant, how important is it for food to be connected to your culture?

Immigrant families like mine no show love in the same way that, like non immigrant families, too, you know, like we don't get praised for stuff.

It's much, but the food is always there.

The log is always there, through the food on dhe.

My mom used to pack like curry in these little tiny Tupperware boxes that used to just get really stained yellow, like a soon as I'd open.

I know that people would just be like, What is that?

But, you know, I like looking back now.

I'm just like that.

That was just the best thing ever that my mom could have done for me.

Yeah.

I mean, yeah, food is love.

All right.

Before we eat, we're gonna toss it to Emmy made in Japan for a little crash course on Japanese curry.

Hi.

Does lean?

It's Evie from every made in Japan.

Today, I'm gonna tell you a little bit about cod ice or Japanese curry.

So cod eyes falls under the umbrella of Yoshiko, which in Japanese means kind of Western style food.

It's believed that Curry was introduced to Japan B, a Anglo Indian naval officers that came to Japan in the made 18 hundreds, the late 18 hundreds.

It's tailored, of course, the Japanese palate a little bit sweeter on a little bit studio and much saucier, but absolutely delicious.

Almost every home cook has their version of cod ice, and most people use this.

This is Kaoru, and basically this is curry roux blocks that allow you to make cod eyes super fast and easy.

Sometimes people had shredded fresh apples like to add a little bit of honey, coconut milk, even cheese.

So all those little additions kind of customized your cut.

I had ice, and this is what courage looks like.

It's traditionally served alongside some plain white rice, and the most basic and traditional form contains pieces of chicken, carrots, potatoes, onions and this glorious, luscious Katia sauce.

All right, ladies, I hope you found that useful.

See next time.

So first up, we have the classic chicken Katsu Curry.

Suki uses dozens of spices in its curry recipe, including star knees, cardamom, fenugreek and nutmeg.

The curry is simmer for four hours and then left to rest for days before serving.

It's then paired with white rice and a panko crusted chicken cutlet.

Yet obviously the chicken capsule is breaded, so we want to keep it as, like, dry and crispy as possible.

So this is why it's been separated.

So we just want to get it.

Okay.

This part won't talk pretty on the rice or on the chicken.

You go for it.

Okay, I'll follow.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, my God.

Okay, Okay, here we go.

That is like porn.

Yeah.

Cut it.

Aisa, please.

I'm saying, but it's quite sweet, right?

So the difference between this and like, the Indian Curries that I've had, it's definitely thinker.

Got a gravy vibe and sweeter.

Yeah, for sure.

There's a lot of, like, heavy spices that are very savory with anyone, but this one has, like, a very soft way in my mouth.

I like So can you tell me a little bit about the cat suit here?

I know that Japan is into the fried chicken.

We have corrugated and we have the Katsu.

What's the fascination with fried chicken in Japan and Christmas?

Do E.

KFC on Christmas Day, like you have to pre book it months in advance?

I don't know what it is.

I definitely think it's an American influence in Japan.

The food tends to be like the main dish, which is quite savory.

But then you'd have the rice on the side to balance it out.

It's all about like the depth of favor rather than like it, hitting you right in the face.

But this is amazing.

It's just like it takes you on a little journey.

That's sweet.

Savory.

Yeah, Chris, be I'm happy.

Next up, we have soup cheese, curry ramen.

The curry sauce here is kicked up a notch with a splash of dashi and a Sprinkle of kelp, and then the bull is topped with pieces of shrimp.

I don't know if this is true, but I feel like a lot of Japanese food, especially.

It's like it's based on what you can do with the leftovers.

All have specific dish.

Oh, maybe on Monday you have curry and then you have a little bit of leftover curry.

So then you add the broth in and then make curry.

O'Donnell.

Woman.

Okay, there's a phrase in Japanese were schooled by night, and it means like it's wasteful.

So you try and use up everything you can like.

I feel like this is a perfect example.

Are you ready to slope?

I read Hustler.

I love to slur Good like you must also good is still well, that's sweetener from the curry rice that we had out.

The book is amazing.

Usually get really, like pissed off when people change the original, you know, from Curry.

So usually it's with Bhutan.

Is it cause it's a thicker noodle?

And then it just sets with the curry better.

Or I remember when I was younger, I was just a little feature like documentary on the signs of cardio Don.

There is like a way that the curry like wraps itself around the dong, and so is like the best eating experience.

I don't know.

Actually, I feel like the ramen, like captures so much broth.

I think it's actually perfect vessel.

Last but not least, we have yaki curry, rice and dry curry are baked in a casserole dish with thick layer Cheddar mozzarella and Colby cheese melted on top.

You can't even see the car.

Young day.

It's so much cheese.

This is Tropical Island by my favorite thing ever.

Eyes amazing.

Let's go.

I've never tried this before.

I could even know this dish existed.

Oh my God, you break room when you get, like the head of savory and then like that really intense, my truffle.

And then it's like again like slightly sweet hurry.

That's mixed in with the rice.

Oh, so we've had a few dishes and I want to know what are the common misconceptions about Japanese food?

I would say that it's expensive.

Whenever I've got Japanese food.

It's always cheaper, and you can eat sheep meat well so you can eat on a budget.

But you really can't stop going to Jiro.

That's no what people eat.

Go to convenience stores.

Get your cell phone, E g.

Get yourself a little nothing lucky.

Get yourself some allergy.

Oh, I'm just here.

You're so good for the rest of the day.

What are some misconceptions about being an Asian woman?

Like I feel like I've dealt with so much bullshit with kind of prove that I'm brown enough.

But I'm also just this human.

There's a law.

I think the main one for me is a Japanese woman is the Hawaii thing.

You know, I think the word Callie has been totally like misappropriated.

That's something I used my dog, you know, I said, My dog is calling for Like I said, I look at like, Hello, Kitty And I think that's calling.

I think it really did put Japanese women in the light.

That is token izing So then tantalizing on objectifying.

So thank you, Rina, for joining me and eating with me, you can check out arenas new single cherry on all platforms and thank you, Suki, for letting us eat here and enjoying the meals was great.