Mr. Frypan

UPDATE:  July 2005
Mr. Frypan has closed.

So far I've kept to my routine of going out to buy lunches only on Fridays (on Mondays through Thursdays, I bring lunch from home).  This is a good thing and a bad thing.  It's good because I can control what I eat for most of the week (and eat healthier), but it's bad because I don't get to eat at many of my favorite places as often.  So today's choice was Mr. Frypan.

This is a small restaurant about 5 blocks from the office.  They have pre-made Japanese-style curry and croquettes, as well as a few other side items.  A favorite of many, this place is usually crowded, but when I arrive at about 1:30 pm, there are just a few people in line.

Today, I decided to order the special, hamburger katsu curry rice (US$4.09, regular $4.79).

Besides, the curry rice (which has 2 chunks of beef in it), I got one hamburger katsu and some fukujinzuke (pickled vegetables).  The curry here is not as smooth as the curry you get at CoCo Ichibanya, but good nonetheless.  This curry is typical for a Japanese-style curry, which is normally a bit sweet and only mildly spicy. 

The hamburger katsu is ground beef and vegetables that have been formed into a croquette.  It's coated in panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs) and deep-fried.  This croquette was nice, crunchy and not at all oily (especially since it was deep fried).  It was delicious and went quite well with the curry.

I also ordered one shrimp tempura (sorry didn't get the price of this) and one fishcake (US$.79) on the side.

The fishcake was especially good today!  Both the shrimp tempura and the fishcake were crispy and made great additions to the curry.

I'm actually very glad that I made Mr. Frypan's my choice for lunch today.   The food is fresh, delicious and an excellent value.  They have a few different curry choices and a lot of sides that you can add on.  If you like Japanese-style curry or croquettes, this is one place you won't want to miss.

Mr Frypan
801 Alakea Street Suite 124
Telephone:  808.521.1831

Comments

[mariko]

That looks sooooo good. There is no place anywhere around here that serves Japanese curry! I need to go to Hawaii.

[santos]

mr.frypan is such a great name. my favourite named curry place here (now gone) was ok-u, mr. cook! (exclamation mark part of the name). unfortunately the food was so-so. this looks really good though.

[Reid]

Hi Mariko,

Nice to see you again! The curry was really good! Unfortunately, I didn't have my digital camera and the pictures were taken with my Sony Clie...next time I promise better pictures so that we can all drool over the food a bit more. =) By the way, where are you?

Hi Santos,

Yeah, the name is great. Typically Japanese don't you think? They love this sort of cute-sy thing. The curry here is actually one of the better ones around and I like it even more because it's like homemade. =)

[umami]

What a coincidence. Today I ate katsu curry rice too. Forgot the name of the place. It is a stall with chairs and tables within Takashimaya. The staff wear (silly) frilly aprons.

I ordered mineral water and got a small bottle of Evian. Husband did not order any drinks and got a glass of water automatically.

[Reid]

Hi Umami,

What a coincidence indeed. But then again, I eat curry at least once a week! =) Can't get enough of it!

Have you tried Calpico? It goes great with Japanese-style curry. =)

[Clinton]

Reid,

Great review. It gave me some good ideas for improvising new dinner dishes. I typically make the normal chicken katsu with panko but this is the first time I've ever seen or heard of hamburger katsu. Sounds interesting. Also fishcake rolled in batter and panko sounds good too. A little cucumber tsukemono on the side...h-m-m-m? I buy the box curry which I find convenient and quite good too. Can't beat the old Chunky's Drive In curry plate which was located on Isenberg and King St. next to the old stadium. But my all time favorite for curry plate was at the beach pavilion in the Ala Moana Park next to the middle pond...two scoops rice, mac salad, hot steaming curry with two pieces of yellow takuan. Also something about eating plate lunches on top of a paper plate covered with wax paper and swallowing salt water after swimming all day. Can't explain it?

[Reid]

Hi Clinton,

You'd be surprised, but there are quite a few places that serve hamburger croquettes (katsu). This one is quite well done, and I wish that I had gotten an extra one. =)

The local-style beef curry at Ala Moana Beach Park used to be great. Love to eat it with the macaroni salad mixed in. Mmmmmmm...

I remember going to Chunky's years ago, then heading down the street for guri guri. It's kinda sad to think we can only get guri guri at Tasaka's on Maui now.

[pieman]

Agree with Santos. That's the best name for a restaurant I've heard in a very long time. Shame it's no greasy spoon.

[Creen]

Hi Reid!
Love the pictures of curry dishes! Yum, oh my mouth is watering. I've slowed down on my Katsu Curry search (gotta watch the waistline), but I can't help but crave some after reading about Mr Frypan! I wish there were more restaurants like that in SF... Missing Hawai'i majorly...

[Creen]

Hi Reid!
Love the pictures of curry dishes! Yum, oh my mouth is watering. I've slowed down on my Katsu Curry search (gotta watch the waistline), but I can't help but crave some after reading about Mr Frypan! I wish there were more restaurants like that in SF... Missing Hawai'i majorly...

[Reid]

Hey Pieman,

Well, you know the Japanese...they love this sort of stuff. When I was first told about this place, years ago, I myself thought it was a diner. Luckily it was not...at least they make a better-than-decent curry.

Hi Creen,

Long time no hear! Hope everything is OK in your neck of the woods. Thanks for the compliment. =)

The photos didn't come out as clear as I would have liked (they were taken with my PDA, Sony Clie PEG-TH55).

I love Japanese curry, and this place makes one of the best. But you're right, I shouldn't eat too much of it as it really isn't good for the waistline! LOL! =)

[FatMan Seoul]

Japanese curry and Korean curry are almost similar, but I'd go for Indian curry anyday.

[Reid]

Hi FatMan,

I like Japanese curry, however, sometimes it's a little too sweet and not spicy enough for me. If I had to choose, I would vote for either Thai or Indian curry as my favorite. But, I really like the croquettes that Japanese places make.

[Ghost]

'Ano 'ai!

I'm sorry to report to you guys that as of 26 July 2005, Mr. Frypan has closed down. I was shocked to see that "SPACE FOR RENT" sign up on the window where that Frypan bear is, and the infamous board not displaying the specials but instead saying "Thank You For Your Patronage."

I will truly miss that place.

Aloha.

[Reid]

Hi Ghost,

Thanks for stopping by!

WOW! I didn't even know that Mr. Frypan was closed. Bummer! Thanks for letting me know...I wonder what's going to open in its place. More importantly though is where am I going to be getting my croquettes from? *sigh*

I'm going to miss this place too. Another one bites the dust!

[Ghost]

Aloha Reid!

Yeah, I know. I was going to buy a Quizno's sub that day. As I looked into the direction of Mr. Frypan I was thinking to myself "why is there a huge 'For Rent'" sign there?" I had to confirm for myself that it was. And sure enough it's closed.

What's pretty funny was I was getting into my office building's elevator when two ladies walked in. It was the owners of Mr. Frypan! (I believe they changed owners; used to be a husband/wife team) I asked them "What happened?" And the lady (I think she worked the register; the other did the cooking) recognized me as a loyal patron said "Yeah, sorry. It didn't work out."

Oh well..there's always Coco Ichibanya right? (Curry House).

[Reid]

Hi Ghost,

But CoCo Ichibanya is not in Downtown! ARGH! And besides, I really liked the hamburger katsu and the fishcake here. *sigh*