Samurai Curry Attempts to Slay Liangmaqiao's Hankering for Cheap Eats

Housed in the basement of Liangmaqiao's Grand Summit mall, Samurai Curry doesn't quite fit with its neighboring slick, stylish eateries. Unlike the polished Pizza Express or Brotzeit upstairs, or the trendy Obentos around the corner, Samurai Curry makes no effort to be anything more than a generic shopping mall restaurant.

That means it's at least bit cheaper than some of those adjacent, pricier (and undoubtedly higher quality) competitors, at least. Most of the curries on offer are either RMB 45 or RMB 50, and include pork cutlet, fried chicken, and deep fried minced beef varieties.

Samurai Curry's interior is as unremarkable as its food. Standard booths are separated by small brick barriers. An open kitchen is housed in the back of the restaurant (a feature that seems required for many restaurants local restaurants these days). Our waitress wasn't unfriendly, per say, but ploddingly took our order with little enthusiasm, which was a bit surprising considering we were the only patrons that had opted to dine there on that early afternoon. 

We went with the ginger flavored pork curry (RMB 45). It was fairly satisfying, with a generous amount of tender slices of pork, though it lacked the ginger tinge promised in its title. Still, its wholesome warmth, and slightly spicy aftertaste, makes it a a decent way to fend off the frigid temperatures without resorting to fatty fare (a bad habit that even the best of us fall into this time of year). In that way Samurai Curry cuts through the completion, though otherwise its culinary elements, like an old warrior's blade, could use some serious sharpening, especially considering the comparatively razor edge competitors surrounding it.

Samurai Curry
Daily 11am-9pm. B117, Grand Summit, Building 5, Beijing Shi Chao Yang Qu, 19 Dong Fang Dong Lu (8531 5121)
北京市朝阳区东方东路19号5号楼B117号

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Photos: Kyle Mullin