Curry Cat MKE made its debut at the Harbor Lights festival, offering Asian-inspired comfort food amid cold weather. The mobile business, operated by Eric Cieplensky and Cory Trones, served items like Japanese golden curry and vegetarian fried rice. Now licensed as a food truck, it plans to expand operations soon.
Curry Cat MKE emerged as a highlight during Saturday's Harbor Lights festival in Milwaukee's Harbor District, where it provided Asian-inspired comfort food to attendees facing below-freezing temperatures. The venture, headed by Eric Cieplensky and Cory Trones, featured a soft opening menu that included Japanese golden curry, plum teriyaki meatballs, and vegetarian fried rice topped with pickled daikon and optional roasted Spam. Lighter options such as Asian-style chips, hot miso soup, and toasted sesame slaw complemented the heartier dishes.
Cieplensky and Trones expressed gratitude to supporters in a social media post before the event: “Thank you all for your wonderful and much needed support... Every single little bit counts.” The concept originated as part of Red Maple, which launched in 2023, but evolved slowly into a dedicated curry-focused operation. Its inaugural pop-up occurred in December 2025 at Clementines, followed by weekly events showcasing a varied menu of fusion items, including beef bulgogi walking tacos, crab rangoon dip, gyoza fried rice, and egg roll s’mores.
With official licensing as a food truck now secured, Curry Cat is set to increase its activities in the months ahead, including a major grand opening. The operators teased the event on social media: “Our grand opening is going to go so incredibly hard.” Updates and menu announcements will appear on the business's Facebook page.
This debut marks a step forward for the mobile eatery, building on its pop-up success to establish a presence in the local food scene.