Curry House (restaurant chain)

Lore & Background

Curry House was founded in 1983 as a division of House Foods America, with its first location opening in the Weller Court complex in the Little Tokyo neighborhood of Los Angeles. The location drew attention from Rose Dosti of the Los Angeles Times and Rudi Gernreich, who praised its aesthetics and 'hip, graphic design' food presentation. In 1984, LA Weekly designated Curry House as the 'Best Japanese-Style Curry' in Los Angeles. The chain expanded across California, opening a location in Beverly Hills in 1996, which Max Jacobson of the Los Angeles Times called 'by far the most attractive' of the chain. Jonathan Gold reviewed the Beverly Hills location in 1998 for LA Weekly, describing it as a 'slick, highly designed restaurant.' Over its history, the chain grew to nine locations across California, including in Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Sawtelle, and Cupertino. In addition to Japanese curry, Curry House sold other yōshoku dishes such as Naporitan, tonkatsu, menchi katsu, and hamburg. In 2017, it collaborated with Sanrio on a limited-edition meal set featuring the Gudetama character, an idea that originated from a Sanrio employee who regularly dined at Curry House.

Reader's Guide

Curry House was a significant presence in California's Japanese curry dining scene, operating for nearly four decades under House Foods before a change in ownership led to its abrupt closure. The chain was recognized for its design and food by notable critics, including Jonathan Gold and Rudi Gernreich, and was named 'Best Japanese-Style Curry' by LA Weekly in 1984. Its expansion to nine locations across California reflected its popularity, and its collaboration with Sanrio in 2017 demonstrated its cultural reach. However, the chain's legacy is also marked by its troubled final year: after CH Acquisitions purchased it in June 2019, the new owners fired 90% of kitchen workers, leading to temporary closures and legal issues involving the management company. The chain closed permanently on February 24, 2020, with the parent company citing employee misrepresentation and confusion. The closure was sudden, with no warning given to staff. Curry House remains a notable example of a Japanese restaurant chain that thrived for decades but was undone by ownership changes and operational mismanagement.

Did You Know?

• Curry House was founded in 1983 as a division of House Foods America.
• The chain collaborated with Sanrio in 2017 on a limited-edition Gudetama meal set.
• After CH Acquisitions purchased Curry House in 2019, 90% of kitchen workers were fired.
• The chain closed permanently on February 24, 2020, with no warning given to staff.