Ribot
When it comes to Isomaru Suisan, it is well-known for being open 24 hours, and I used to visit it often in the early mornings and late nights during my time in Osaka. This Kokura branch now has operating hours from 11:00 to 05:00, which seems to have cut out morning hours in favor of late night hours, perhaps due to the high number of intoxicated customers in Kokura. People in Kokura tend to live nearby, so the taxi ride home costs around 1,000 to 3,000 yen, unlike Tokyo or Osaka where it can cost up to 8,000 yen from the city center to the suburbs. I felt like having a drink on a Saturday afternoon, so I considered a few options like Gyoza no Ohsho, Hakutouzan, Momotarou, or Isomaru Suisan. Among these, only Isomaru Suisan had no reviews (or visits) posted, so I decided to give it a try. In conclusion, the taste of the fish here was just average despite the emphasis on "suisan." They had a unique dish called "Island Sushi" from Hachijo Island, which was interesting. They also recommended sweet potato shochu, which I ordered even though I knew it might not pair well with fish - a combination I would never choose in Osaka. But for some reason, in Kokura, fish and sweet potato shochu seemed to go well together, like magic. I enjoyed the meal and even switched the electronic menu to English mode to see the expressions used, reminiscing about the time I created a Chinese menu for a Tokyo izakaya. If my translations helped Chinese tourists, I would be happy. Truly living up to its nationwide reputation, Isomaru Suisan may not be the first choice for a regular evening meal, but it's a great spot for lunch or late-night drinks.