The perfect souvenir! Kobe High Curry, a traditional dish that continues to be loved in Kobe

What is "Kobe High Curry" that has captivated gourmets?

Kobe High Curry was created in 1964 at the prestigious former Oriental Hotel in the former Kobe foreign settlement and has been loved by many gourmets. The dish was once discontinued due to the Great Hanshin- Awaji Earthquake in 1995, but after about 30 years the recipe was restored and is now served as a signature menu item at each restaurant in the Oriental Hotels & Resorts.

About 30 years after that taste was lost, in February 2023, Oriental Hotels & Resorts' flagship hotel, Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, recreated the recipe from that time and revived it at a buffet in order to pass on the traditional taste to future generations.

Today, it is served as a signature dish at buffets and other restaurants in Oriental Hotels & Resorts, and is loved by many guests.

Image of buffet offering

The birth of Kobe High Curry, driven by the recovery from the earthquake and the "high-collar" culture of the 1960s

Founded in 1870 in the former Kobe Foreign Settlement as one of Japan's oldest Western-style hotels, the former Oriental Hotel was loved by people as a prestigious hotel offering the best Western cuisine and service in the country, after relocating three times, until it closed its doors in 1995 due to damage caused by the Great Hanshin- Awaji Earthquake. The traditional flavors that had captivated so many people were passed down when a chef from the former Oriental Hotel took over as the first executive chef at the Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, which opened in the same year as the earthquake. Kobe High Curry was born in 1964, a time when infrastructure was developing rapidly, with the opening of the Shinkansen and the construction of expressways, and people's lives were beginning to become more prosperous.

Modern lifestyles influenced by Western culture began to spread, especially in urban areas.

Former Oriental Hotel

The term "Haikara" originally referred to people who wore Western-style clothing with high collars, but in the Showa, the term came to symbolize a lifestyle that enjoyed high-quality, sophisticated items. Kobe, which had been actively adopting Western culture since opening its port, was attracting attention as a city with a "Haikara" culture.

Influenced by this era, "Kobe High Curry" was born.

At a time when Western-style curry was still rare, the restaurant captivated many people with its sophisticated flavor, and has continued to preserve its techniques and flavors to this day.

Origin of High Curry

There is an anecdote about the origin of "High Curry," which says that the curry served at the former Oriental Hotel became popular among the fashionable women of Kobe, and the name evolved from "the curry eaten by sophisticated Kobe madams" to "High Curry."

Kobe High Curry Hotel

Kobe High Curry is served at the restaurants in the following Oriental Hotels & Resorts hotels. You can also purchase retort packs as souvenirs at the hotels.

- Kanto area: Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay , International Garden Hotel Narita (available from May 7, 2025)

- Kinki area: Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel , Oriental Hotel Universal City , Namba Oriental Hotel , Oriental Hotel Kyoto Rokujo , Oriental Hotel Hiroshima

- Kyushu area: Oriental Hotel Fukuoka Hakata Station , Hotel Oriental Express Kagoshima Tenmonkan (available from April 15, 2025), Hotel Oriental Express Fukuoka Tenjin (available from May 1, 2025)

Okinawa area: Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa , Okinawa Harborview Hotel

Retort pack product information

Product name: Kobe High Curry (Beef Curry)

Price: 1,350 yen (tax included)

Contents: 200g

*The contents of this page are accurate as of the time of posting. Images are for illustrative purposes only.