Curry? Worry not, Coco Ichi got you!
Whenever I'm craving curry, I always go to Coco Ichibanya. It's a famous "fast food" chain in Japan serving curry. The price isn't so bad too, so you'll find it full of people every time. I guess wherever you go in Japan, you'll find this restaurant. Okay, just joking, not wherever, but almost in all places, you'll find Coco Ichibanya.
Their curry isn't the same as Indian or Thai curry. I've never been to those countries but there are Indian and Thai restaurants that I've been to, and their curry is different from the Japanese curry from Coco Ichi. I think Japanese curry is much thicker than Indian or Thai. Also, it's not surprising when you order a spicy Japanese curry to be not spicy at all. π
So what makes Coco Ichi stand out from other Japanese curry chains? I don't know. There's just something in Coco Ichi that you'll really try looking for their curry once in a while. They also have the option to change the volume of your rice. And you can change the spicy level and the sweetness level of your curry. And of course, toppings! There are a lot to choose from.
One time I went to Okinawa, I met an American and he took us to Coco Ichibanya. He said he and his fellow coworkers (he's working in the US base) would have curry fridays, and they would order curry with spicy level 5 and higher. They even tried level 10 and well, they're still alive til now. π
I've only tried til level 3 or 4 but that was a few years back. I can't go past that level because I can't tolerate super spicy food. But I bet you can! What level do you think you can handle?
It's been months since I've gone to one so I was surprised when my partner invited me for lunch at the store. It was almost 2 PM so the store wasn't crowded at all so it's perfect for a little lunch date.
I noticed that not all Coco Ichi stores have the same facilities. In the store we usually go to (it's near home), it's somewhat the upgraded version of all the branches I've been to. Their menu is on a tablet and you order from there. In some branches, they're still using the normal menu book.
When I was still new in Japan and the first few times I've eaten at Coco Ichi, my order would be different each time. I was still out experimenting and trying out the flavors. It was my "exploration" phase.
This time, after being here for 5 years, I've already settled on one particular dish that I just couldn't get enough of. My order would always be γγͺγγͺ (read as paripari meaning crispy) chicken and spinach curry topped with γγ¬γ«γ (read as hirekatsu). If I'm out of budget, I would change hirekatsu with tonkatsu.
Katsu means deep fried, by the way. Hirekatsu is different from tonkatsu but they're both pork. Hirekatsu is more tender and has a "soul" in it compared to tonkatsu. So if you prefer the thicker one, go for hirekatsu.
And yes, my rice is not the normal Japanese rice. This is cauliflower rice. What I like about Coco Ichi is they have the low-carb meal option so I wouldn't feel so guilty about eating a lot. π
My boyfriend would always take time in deciding what to order. It's not that he couldn't choose what to eat. It's because he wants to order everything so it will take time to click on them all. π
Honestly, I didn't know what he ordered here. From what he explained, he ordered the beef curry with a lot of toppings - croquettes, ham katsu, deep fried quail eggs skewers, chicken karaage and a lot more that I didn't know about. Even when he ordered a lot of toppings, well, he finished them all. And he shared the one quail egg and croquette to me in exchange for a slice of crispy chicken.
This branch that we often go to has a manga shelf. It's normal in curry stores to have a manga shelf that customers can borrow and read while waiting for their order, or while eating or probably after eating. Either way, please don't use the manga for a long time. This isn't a manga cafe, but a curry shop. π
While this branch has a manga shelf, it's not so big to accommodate big groups. If so, you'll have to sit by the counter. Even when there are only counter seats, I like it. I like that they still have the divider so I have my own free space. Oh right, I'm with my boyfriend. But he's eating on his own, and I am too. We have some privacy even when we're together. π
Coco Ichi sometimes has seasonal offers but I'm not too interested in it. I tried their oriental curry and well, I didn't like it as much as the normal curry. You can try some of their seasonal offers though. Sometimes they look good.
Coco Ichibanya is a happy place for our tummy. We don't usually spend a lot when we come here. And it's a little date today too!
Would you go here when you come to Japan? I hope you'll visit Coco Ichibanya when you come!
Thanks for reading!
See you around! γγγγγΎγγοΌ
All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.