If you’ve shopped at MUJI in the US, you’ve probably seen a small curry section — maybe five or six pouches. What most people don’t realize is that MUJI Japan sells over 30 different retort curries, ranging from mild, kid-friendly recipes to regional dishes modeled after Indian and Sri Lankan cooking. None of that range makes it to the US stores.
I live in Japan, and MUJI’s curry aisle is genuinely one of the most interesting parts of the store — it’s less “convenience food” and more a rotating showcase of how MUJI’s food team interprets curry from around the world. Here’s how to pick the right ones, and how to actually get them shipped to you.
This post contains affiliate links (see our disclosure for details), and food import rules vary by country…
How to choose a MUJI curry
1. Your spice tolerance. MUJI labels every curry with a spice level from 0 (not spicy at all) to 5 (very spicy) — always check the number in the product name before ordering.
2. Dietary needs. A handful of MUJI’s curries are meat-free or fully plant-based, clearly labeled 肉・卵不使用 (no meat/egg) or 肉・乳・卵不使用 (no meat/dairy/egg).
3. What you’re actually craving. MUJI’s curry lineup splits roughly into three styles: home-style Japanese curry, “現地に学ぶ” (learned from the source) regional curries, and Japanese-fusion curries that mix in local ingredients like miso or soy milk.
8 MUJI curries worth trying
Prices are in Japanese yen, since that’s what you’re actually charged — the USD figures are rounded estimates for reference and will drift slightly with the exchange rate.
| Curry | Spice Level | Price (approx. USD) | Notable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th Gen Butter Chicken | 2/5 | ¥350 (approx. $2) | MUJI’s long-running signature recipe |
| Learned from the Source: India Roasted Chicken | 4/5 | ¥350 (approx. $2) | Regional-style spicing |
| Learned from the Source: Sri Lanka Pork & Tamarind | 4/5 | ¥350 (approx. $2) | Tamarind-forward, less common flavor profile |
| Not Spicy Green Curry | 0/5 | ¥350 (approx. $2) | Beginner-friendly, kid-safe |
| Vegetable Dal (no meat/egg) | 2/5 | ¥290 (approx. $2) | Fully plant-based option |
| Hokkaido Miso & Soy Milk Soup Curry | 2/5 | ¥490 (approx. $3) | Japanese-fusion, soup-style |
| Roasted Spice Beef, made with “irregular-cut” beef | 3/5 | ¥590 (approx. $4) | Ties into MUJI’s food-waste-reduction philosophy |
| Three Chili Pepper Chicken | 5/5 | ¥350 (approx. $2) | For serious spice lovers only |
Which one should you start with?
- New to Japanese-style curry? Start with the 6th Gen Butter Chicken — it’s MUJI’s most iterated, most trusted recipe.
- Want the most “authentic Japan” experience? Go straight for the regional 現地に学ぶ line.
- Vegetarian or vegan? The Vegetable Dal is fully plant-based and still has real depth of flavor.
- Curious but cautious about spice? Stick to 0–2 on the scale until you know your tolerance.
How to actually get these shipped to you
Since none of these are sold outside Japan, you’ll need a proxy-shopping service — a company that buys the item in Japan on your behalf and ships it internationally. I use Buyee for most of my own orders . You place your order, they purchase it from MUJI’s Japanese site, and forward it to you.
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