Cowboy Curry in Orlando: Takeout Review of Chef Shen’s Japanese Curry
Cowboy Curry is another one of Chef William Shen’s projects, and I finally got the chance to try it. Like his other concepts, this focuses on Japanese cuisine. Japanese curry has an interesting lineage, traveling from India to Britain to Japan in the 1800s, where it became yoshoku (western-inspired Japanese cuisine).
It’s a far cry from the spice heavy sneeze inducing curry from India but still delicious with characteristics that define it as distinctly Japanese.
With the availability of quality curry roux blocks from S&B and other brands, Cowboy Curry Orlando is a one and done for me. I’d prefer homemade Japanese curry using those cubes.
About Cowboy Curry
Cowboy Curry operates as a vendor stall inside a mini food hall. Their curry is made from scratch and stewed for hours with a bunch of meat and vegetables, which makes it more complex and rich than the typical home version. But at around $55 for a meal for two, that’s very steep for this humble dish.
What We Ordered at Cowboy Curry Orlando
We got the beef curry base along with the potato salad, pickled cucumbers, two croquettes, and an extra order of beef for one of the plates. Very pricey since the curry by itself contains a barely modest portion of beef chunks.
Beef Curry
The beef itself was also just okay. I am assuming they use chuck roast here, so it still has some chew to it and is not falling apart tender. Some parts are pretty lean but not tough. It’s a thick curry but also not rich with beef flavor as I would have hoped.
Potato Croquette
The potato croquette was decent. Just imagine a creamy fried mashed potato ball and you’ll get a good idea of what it is. Pairs well with the curry sauce but an absolute carb bomb that will sit in your stomach.
Potato Salad
The potato salad tasted like typical Japanese style potato salad but more sour and vinegar forward than sweet and savory from kewpie mayo. Also tastes like there were egg bits in there.
Ume Cucumbers
I’d skip the ume cucumbers. It was like a nail polish sized jar of soggy pickles. Doesn’t really pair all that well with the curry either, the flavors don’t complement each other.
The Verdict: Is Cowboy Curry Orlando Worth It?
Japanese curry was something I made a lot in college since it was simple if you had the flavor cubes. Just dissolve some in water and throw in a protein and a few vegetables and serve over rice. It was plenty filling and serviceable after a day running around campus.
This premium beef version from Cowboy Curry tastes okay but not something I would get again since I could make it at home for much cheaper. The taste is 90% of the way there just using those cubes you can find at the Asian grocery store. I personally like to blend together the Java, Vermont, Kokumaru, and the old classic golden S&B curry cubes for complexity of flavor.
At $55 for two people, Cowboy Curry Orlando just doesn’t justify the cost for what is fundamentally a humble, homey dish. The from scratch approach adds some complexity, but not enough to warrant the premium pricing when homemade versions using quality curry roux blocks can get you almost the same result.
Tips for Cowboy Curry Orlando
- Expect to pay for addons
- Skip the ume cucumbers (tiny portion, doesn’t pair well)
- Beef portions are small in the base curry
- Better to make at home with S&B, Java, Vermont, or Kokumaru curry cubes
- Food hall vendor stall setup, sit wherever there is space
If you’re craving Japanese curry in Orlando, honestly just grab some quality curry roux blocks from an Asian grocery store and make it at home. You’ll save money and get 90% of the way there in terms of flavor.
Have you tried Cowboy Curry in Orlando? Do you think premium Japanese curry is worth the price?
