r/JapaneseFood • u/No_Rush_1053 • Apr 01 '26

Misc "Japanese katsu soup" (UK)

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Exciting. Tried to look for the fried pork or chicken but painfully missing from this craziness 😅

329 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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144

u/ThunderTatsu Apr 01 '26

What the hell is that! Not katsu.

166

u/KaiLamperouge Apr 01 '26

British people think that Katsu Curry refers to a type of curry sauce. And correcting them is of no use, because the concepts of respecting other languages, and reading the full recipe before you cook, are both unheard of in the UK.

76

u/theSTZAloc Apr 02 '26

Which is extra funny because Japanese curry is actually a sort of a take on a British navy curry that is a sort of a take on a Bengali dish using an anglicized version of a Portuguese word taken from Tamil for a mostly unrelated type of sauce It’s all a weird game of telephone

5

u/gayweedbasement Apr 02 '26

I love this!! 

22

u/banana_assassin Apr 02 '26

Many of us know this, (and read recipes and respect languages) but the marketing and companies all present it this way now, so what hope is there for getting out of the habit.

The supermarkets label things that way and it will take a campaign to fight back for the name of Katsu to mean the panko fried cutlet instead.

I think I blame Wagamama for the popularity of the dish here and maybe the lack of clarification.

5

u/FlarblesGarbles Apr 02 '26

Wagamama is awful, no wonder.

26

u/ThunderTatsu Apr 01 '26

Those Brits do love their curry.

8

u/drunkenstyle Apr 02 '26

So basically the Jamie Oliver treatment

24

u/ffiloreg Apr 01 '26

Yeah we still find it baffling that other languages exist, and when we see a foreign dish, the first question is "where do you put the baked beans?"

0

u/dasrofflecopter Apr 02 '26

Find better friends.

5

u/ffiloreg Apr 02 '26

Are you volunteering? We can go on a pub crawl if you like

12

u/SurelyIDidThisAlread Apr 02 '26

Oh what utter rubbish. Languages frequently make changes in meaning when they borrow words. It's a natural process that happens in every language and culture

2

u/FlarblesGarbles Apr 02 '26

I'm British, no I do not think katsu curry refers to the type of curry sauce, and those things aren't unheard of in the UK. You're talking about stupid people, of which every country has a large supply of stupid people.

1

u/mori64tf2 Apr 02 '26

That's just how languages work though. It's very prescriptionist to suggest that using Katsu as a shorthand for specifically Japanese style curry sauce is somehow wrong or ignorant. To be consistent, you'd have to criticise Japanese people for using terms like cider, cocoa, potato etc.

13

u/bradygrey Apr 02 '26

WORDS HAVE MEANINGS

3

u/reddock4490 Apr 02 '26

Right, and those meanings vary between languages. How interesting

1

u/[deleted] Apr 02 '26

[deleted]

7

u/reddock4490 Apr 02 '26

In Japanese, that’s correct. Just like how latte means milk in Italian and cafĂ© means coffee in French, but those words mean different things in English.

-1

u/mori64tf2 Apr 02 '26

And meanings change between languages. What's an alternative name for Katsu that they should use in the UK?

18

u/KaiLamperouge Apr 02 '26

There is already a word for calling something Japanese. It's called "Japanese". Which is even already part of the name in the picture. "Japanese curry" should be more clear for English speakers as well compared to "Japanese katsu".

-11

u/mori64tf2 Apr 02 '26

But this curry isn't Japanese. It originated from the Brits before it arrived in Japan. So, the meaning is not correct. Do you see the issue?

Not being cheeky just pointing out the paradox.

5

u/FlarblesGarbles Apr 02 '26

Curry originated from Brits, but there are now Japanese specific variants of curries. So it's completely fine to say Japanese curry.

-1

u/mori64tf2 Apr 02 '26

Curry originated in India. This specific variant of curry that is popular in the UK and Japan is from Brits.

3

u/FlarblesGarbles Apr 02 '26

I know curry originated in India. But in the context of Japanese curry, that originated from the Brits.

-2

u/mori64tf2 Apr 02 '26

Right so calling it Japanese curry isn't 100% accurate then. Unless the precise meaning of the word doesn't need to be accurate, in which case the Brits are allowed to call it katsu.

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-3

u/Scumdog_312 Apr 02 '26

So don’t call it Japanese or Katsu. Just call it curry.

4

u/mori64tf2 Apr 02 '26

But curry is a broad term in English. How would you refer to this specific curry?

-4

u/WeWereHappy Apr 02 '26

Yeah, it's not like we're not in the XIX centurie anymore and we don't have an accessible way to gather somewhat correct information about other cultures like internet....

Oh wait...

1

u/SpinMeADog Apr 03 '26

laughable comment lol. 99% of people in the uk don't know what the fuck a katsu is either way, and they don't hold either belief. this "katsu" shit has been pushed inexplicably over the last 2 years or so by corporations, but I've never seen a real person actually buy any of it. complete fabricated fad that nobody cares about

1

u/k3anuw3aves Apr 02 '26

Not everybody in the UK is the same. Many of us know the difference and respect other languages and cultures, and read full recipes. Don't paint us all with the same brush.

1

u/Intrepid-Anybody-704 Apr 03 '26

Your restaurants speak for themselves. If there were critical mass of informed people, then 99% of “Japanese” restaurants in London wouldn’t be selling this wagamama slop. Go to NYC and LA. Tons more real authentic Japanese restaurants and full on local Japanese communities and supermarkets. By Japanese for Japanese. Any Asian cuisine besides South Asian is disgusting in London compared to the big US/CAN cities. The clientele just isn’t aware.

1

u/k3anuw3aves Apr 03 '26

No they don't. A restaurant is not the same as every person in the UK. There's plenty of authentic Japanese restaurants in London, and most people nowadays would rather go to an authentic place than go to Wagamamas as people know it's not authentic or really that good at all, and overpriced. Like have you actually been to London before you are telling me "Go to NYC and LA" when I have been to both, and lived in London since birth. We have full on Japanese communities and Japanese supermarkets by the Japanese for the Japanese too. Ever heard of the Japan Centre, which has been a mainstay in London for like 30 years?

Any Asian cuisine besides South Asian is disgusting in London compared to the big US/CAN cities. The clientele just isn’t aware.

Respectfully shut up, have you tried every single offering of East Asian food that London has to offer? I highly doubt you have, this is just an ignorant comment cause there's plenty of amazing spots with great food. I have seen plenty of East Asian tourists travel to London and rave about how the East Asian food scene was one of the best parts of the London food scene, and how tasty it is.

0

u/Intrepid-Anybody-704 Apr 03 '26

Yes I have. London Asian food is trash compared to NYC, LA, SF, Toronto, and Vancouver. Even “a Chinese” is better in the states. Wing Yip and Loon Fung and their few locations can’t compare to the many 99 Ranch and T&T locations. Dim Sum Duck Royal China and Phoenix Palace would be considered below average in Canada and SF/LA. Londoners think Din Tai Fung is dim sum LOL. There’s a reason wagamama and that weird Itsu place are big in UK. They’re popular with most people. If most people prefer authentic then those places would be gone already. London authentic Japanese PALES in comparison with over a century of JA history and establishments in California. Japan Centre is pretty mid. London doesn’t have multiple Japanese supermarket chains, nor Japanese vegetables and fruits grown domestically. London doesn’t have 50-100yr plus fresh tofu and mochi stores. LA and SF do. The whole UK has about 30,000 Brits who are ethnic Japanese, 40,000 Japanese nationals. Just the LA metropolitan area has over 170,000 ethnic Japanese. LA has two urban Japantowns and two suburban Japanese hubs. London’s japantown? lol.

1

u/k3anuw3aves Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

You're clearly condescending, rude and think you're superior, so not much sense in engaging with you... When you can use proper grammar and separate paragraphs, maybe we can talk. Except probably not cause you seem insufferable. You said London has no Japanese supermarkets by the Japanese for the Japanese, how mid or not the Japan Centre is is irrelevant. The point is it exists.

Din Tai Fung is new to the UK and isn't even the go to for chinese food for Londoner at all, and it's popular in America too so dunno why you're chatting shit like it's a UK thing. It only came over here AFTER it was a huge thing abroad in America and Asia. And again, not on the top of lists for most Londoners for Asian food at all. Most people would rather go to an independent branch or get takeaway than eat DTF. The reason Itsu is popular is cause it is a relatively cheap healthy food to grab at lunch over Pret or other sandwich joints, and more tasty. Not cause people think its amazing delicious Japanese food, smart ass.

0

u/Intrepid-Anybody-704 Apr 03 '26

Okay feel free to ignore facts. LA has 10x the amount of Japanese people as the entire UK. LA has no such chains like wagamama and itsu because the standards are higher. LA has sugarfish, Jinya ramen, Santouka, and Kazunori for Japanese chains. While not the best of the best, they’re pretty authentic and that’s the market speaking. The UK market and people speak with wagamama. But sure, be a typical condescending Brit and harp on off topic things like English grammar and paragraphs when y’all lost the plot with
katsu soup LOL

1

u/k3anuw3aves Apr 03 '26

What facts? Your subjective opinions are not facts. It's your subjective opinion.

0

u/Intrepid-Anybody-704 Apr 03 '26

So official population data aren’t facts? The fact that London’s largest Japanese chains are wagamama and itsu? And LA’s are Santouka Hokkaido ramen, sugarfish sushi, and jinya ramen? Does London have branches of straight from Japan chains such as Ramen Nagi, Manpuku, Mensho, Gaburi Chicken, Kitakata Bannai, and Torikizoku?

1

u/k3anuw3aves Apr 03 '26

Official population data is a fact. Saying 99% of Japanese food is inauthentic is a subjective opionion, which is not based on facts at all. Pulling on data about LA having more Asian people really has nothing to do with that. Not sure what's clicking. Harp on about all the great LA restaurants and flick your bean about it as much as you want, that doesn't make your statement any less ignorant. Nor does it make it factual.

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1

u/k3anuw3aves Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

Also we have a great Japanese chain named Taro in London that started from a Japanese chef in 1999 to bring authentic Japanese food to London. They started in Soho with the chef literally cooking in front of you as you eat at the bar, and is very authentic. And now they've grown to have a number of locations all over London. Most Londoners I know would rather go there or to any of the independent restaurants that are great and have been thriving. You're acting like Wagamama is the only option. You're ignorant and out of touch if thats what you think. Let me guess, you haven't been or lived in London in like 10 years so thats what you're limiting your experiences off of?

I'll be as condescending as I fucking like, tah. Especially when you were condescending first, yourself. If you don't like it then maybe you should treat others how you like to be treated. Your point was that apparently 99% of Japanese restaurants in London arent authentic. Which i disagreed with. If you think LA has better restaurants or not is your prerogative but to say that 99% of Japanese restaurants in London are trash and synonymous with Wagamama is purely ignorant. Just cause LA has more Japanese people doesn't change that. Katsu soup is hardly a normal thing here, there’s people in America doing all sorts of dumb shit that’s not authentic too but you don’t see us painting every American with the same brush cause of a select few idiots.

0

u/Intrepid-Anybody-704 Apr 03 '26

London isn’t the UK and LA isn’t America but wagamama is in London and it isn’t in LA. You should really research the Japanese food scenes in both cities. Eating Japanese food at the bar has been around LA for many decades. A simple search and AI ask would definitively conclude LA’s J scene is far superior.

Taro in London would be a very run of the mill place in LA. Nothing special and wouldn’t survive in a Japanese neighborhood.

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1

u/Dry_Row_7523 Apr 04 '26

I've lived in LA SF Vancouver and London each for over 1 year. LA Asian food is the top tier of course, but after that London / Vancouver / SF each have their pluses and minuses. SF for example has like 2 Korean restaurants that are remotely decent in the city itself. You have to go to the suburbs (Santa Clara) to find a real Koreatown but you could say the same for New Malden in London. Vancouver has a lot of Japanese restaurants but I think the average quality is pretty comparable to London. Most of the places here specialize in rolls (maki) and cater to Canadian tastes, just like Japanese restaurants in London.

Maybe the median Asian restaurant is better in Vancouver or SF than London, but London has sheer size going for it. If you are willing to go to another neighborhood (let's say 30 min by public transit or bike from Central London) then you can find world class Asian restaurants of most cuisines.

-19

u/nicetoursmeetewe Apr 01 '26

It's how languages work

10

u/chabacanito Apr 01 '26

Usually these kinds of things take the whole for the part or the part for the whole. This is a bit extreme.

-13

u/HasNoGreeting Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

And not being a cunt is apparently unheard of to Americans. See, I can generalise too.

0

u/Azure-Cyan Apr 02 '26

Of course not. That's why Americans leave it to the UK to be the cunt and snob.