When searching for "Kokura gourmet" on Instagram, I found a restaurant that I definitely wanted to visit in Kokura. I was torn between the peach and strawberry milk flavors, but I ended up ordering the peach shaved ice! It comes with a whole peach on top. The shaved ice is topped with peach syrup, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream. There is also ice cream-like whipped cream inside. Each bite was different, so I didn't get tired of it. Customers included couples sharing one, solo men, and more. It had a vibe where even a solo man could enjoy it.

A shaved ice dessert made with a whole Fukushima peach called Miss Peach, served with a side of vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream. The ice is sourced from a nearby ice shop. The wait time is usually 1-2 hours, but we were lucky to be seated quickly as there were no customers waiting when we arrived. Delicious!

This is 'KOKURA-do' located in Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City. I finally got to go to the place I've always wanted to go. There are only a few seats at the counter and one table. What I ordered was a peach shaved ice for 1680 yen. Using a whole peach really makes it look good. The peaches here are pink and soft and sweet. The syrup was also delicious. I want to try the mango or pineapple next time. Thank you for the meal.

I had shaved ice at a shop for the first time. For those not used to the market, the smell might be a bit bothersome while waiting outside the shop. I waited for about 15 minutes before entering. Since they were short-staffed, the service was a bit slow. I tried the mango flavor, which was delicious with high-quality fruits. However, the portion was quite large, making it difficult to finish before it melted. Not recommended for those with sensory sensitivities or who eat slowly.

I waited for about an hour on the weekend, but it was worth it. I tried the peach shaved ice this time. It had lots of chunks of peach on top. There was more syrup than I expected, but it was good because the flavor reached all the way to the middle. If the peaches were a little sweeter, it would have been even better.

Tanka Market is the only market in Japan located on a river with a history of over 100 years. It has around 100 shops offering fresh fish, fruits, meat, side dishes, as well as local specialties like "nukamisodaki," whale meat, confectionery shops, and restaurants, making it known as the "kitchen of Kitakyushu." Last year, the market suffered two major fires causing significant damage, but when I visited, it was bustling with energy as if nothing had happened. One popular spot in the market is Kokura-do, known for its fruit-focused shaved ice. Unfortunately, they only offered takeout for shaved ice, so this time I tried their Strawberry and Pistachio Parfait in-store. It was filled with lots of strawberries, pistachio ice cream, strawberry ice cream, sponge cake, strawberry jelly, and langue de chat cookies. It was delicious and I had a great time chatting with the owner about the shaved ice and the stories from the fire incident. The shaved ice season is coming, so be prepared for long lines. Make sure to check out their Instagram too. Shop info: Kokura-do (During summer, they also offer ice desserts and puddings) 4-1-22 Uomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka ☎️ 093-533-3288 @kokura_dou 10 minutes walk from Kokura Station Closed on Sundays Opening hours: 11:00-22:00 No parking available 6 seats Reservations for takeout only

I visited a parfait shop with plenty of strawberries, and the owner managed the shop alone with great care. I was impressed by their attentive work. The parfait was delicious and satisfying. At one point, they ran out of strawberries because many customers came, but they quickly went to the market and bought more. It was amusing and I will definitely come back again.

KOKURA-do inside the market. Outside the shop, there are menus for curry bread, shaved ice, parfait, and pudding. I didn't go inside, so I'm not sure about the other menus, but maybe they also have izakaya-like dishes? Around 7 pm, I passed by and saw a sign for night parfait. On that day, I bought the curry bread. The curry inside was not too spicy, but spicy and delicious. It's not greasy, which is great. It might have been just a coincidence, but whenever I go, the freshly fried curry bread is delicious. Next time, I want to go try the night parfait.

The third summer vacation trip was to Fukuoka and Yamaguchi Prefecture♪ Direct flight from Fukuoka Airport to Kokura! I was planning to go food hopping at the Tanga Market, but due to the fire on August 15, 2022, there were few shops open. However, Kokura-dou was open, and I tried their peach shaved ice and pudding! The amount of peach embedded in the ice was amazing and it was delicious! They use seasonal fruits for their shaved ice, so it would be fun to visit again in a different season! I will visit the Tanga Market again after it has been rebuilt! #Kokura-dou #ShavedIce #Peach #TangaMarket #KokuraGourmet #KokuraCafe #FukuokaTravel #FukuokaGourmet

I heard that the shaved ice at Hajitakaki in the Tanka Market in Kokura, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture is delicious and very popular, so when I had the chance to visit Kokura, I went to check it out. I visited on a Saturday afternoon, and there were already about 10 people waiting in line, so it took about an hour to get in. It's rare to see a line at the Tanka Market, so everyone was wondering what was so special. The shop has one table and five counter seats. The kind shop owner manages the place alone, so the turnover is not very fast, so please be patient. The shop originally sells curry bread, and it seems that they also run an izakaya at other times. Unfortunately, the curry bread was sold out on that day. I ordered the strawberry milk shaved ice. It was topped with plenty of frozen strawberries and drizzled with a special strawberry syrup and lots of condensed milk! The strawberry syrup was incredibly delicious. If you feel like you need more syrup, they will add more for you. It looks amazing, but it's simply delicious, so I highly recommend it. Thank you for the meal.

Curry Bread 200 yen This is more like a Keema curry rather than a regular curry. It has a variety of ingredients mixed in and tastes delicious. It's not very spicy but still has a nice kick to it. In terms of shape, it's like a Keema curry fried sandwich. You can enjoy it without worrying about the closure of Kinjita, so feel free to visit even if it's far away. It's in Tokawa.

As of December 20, 2021, KOKURA-dou has resumed normal operations. It had been a while since I visited KOKURA-dou. During the summer, I would often stop by for shaved ice, cream soda, or cola floats as a quick break while wandering around the Tanigawa area. However, as the seasons changed to autumn and winter, my motivation to visit dwindled since the main draw for me was the shaved ice. When the shaved ice disappeared from the menu, I found myself passing by the shop more frequently. I had been thinking of visiting again once the shaved ice season returned, but then I remembered that I hadn't tried the yakisoba yet. When I visited the shop for a cola float during the summer, I saw a customer next to me enjoying the yakisoba, which looked delicious. Since there were no other customers that day, I decided to order the yakisoba along with the hormone skewers that caught my eye on the menu. It seems that the shop has made some changes since my last visit - the cream soda and cola floats are no longer available, but banana smoothies and fried chicken have been added to the menu. The kinako-anpan bread also seemed new to me. The yakisoba (600 yen) had a minor change in that it was served in a different dish, but it was still cooked on a large iron plate, giving it an authentic touch. It was filled with plenty of ingredients, including large pieces of pork, which I appreciated. The noodles were smooth and chewy, which I enjoyed. The sauce was light and easy to eat, a refreshing change from the overly sweet dishes I usually enjoy. The hormone skewers (120 yen) were a surprise - the garlic flavor was unexpectedly strong, catching me off guard. It was a direct hit of raw minced garlic on the skewers, which may not be suitable for those with a weak stomach or a dislike for spicy foods. Overall, the yakisoba was delicious, and encountering the unexpected strength of the garlic sauce added a new reason for me to visit the shop, even without the shaved ice. The garlic sauce on the hormone skewers was seriously spicy, perfect for garlic lovers. A great experience overall.

In late August 2021, the restaurant continues to operate with shortened hours. On this day, after shopping at the smoked food store Ibushiya, I stopped by for some shaved ice (*^ω^*) I couldn't decide between matcha or mango, but ended up choosing mango! Even though it's a curry bread shop, I heard that the red bean donuts are popular, so I decided to try them today (laughs). It's not a smooth red bean paste but rather chunky red bean filling... Also, I heard that cheese has finally been added to the lineup of curry bread! They mentioned that they were considering adding cheese and now it's finally here! Next time, I'll definitely try that (˘ω˘)● Shaved Ice - Mango (500 yen) The syrup is also homemade! It has a sweet and fruity taste, leaning towards the sweet side. The mango flavor is rich and the texture is thick and creamy, which made me choke a bit (^▽^;) Even without fruit chunks, you can still taste the mango so vividly. By the way, if you feel like you need more syrup, they will add more for you. I personally love ice, so I don't usually ask for extra syrup, but I think the amount they put is quite generous. If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can rest assured!● Red Bean Donut (150 yen) I took it home and baked it in the oven at 180 degrees for 7 minutes. The bread part is thin and crispy. If you layer this many times, you'll eventually get to Sata Andagi (Okinawan donut) (←?) When you cut it open, you can see that there's a lot of chunky red bean filling inside. This is a must-try for red bean lovers (*´Д｀) The sweetness is moderate, not too mild or too sweet, just right. Even though it's chunky red bean filling, it's finely mashed and not too lumpy. If it had smooth red bean paste, I might consider repurchasing it. I love sweet treats, so I can easily accept it as a "cream-like taste" if it had smooth red bean paste (laughs). The reason I don't like red bean is clear - "I don't like beans." That's the main reason (^▽^;) I love minestrone soup, but when eating out or buying canned minestrone, it usually contains beans, so I prefer to make my own with tomatoes. With smooth red bean paste, the skin is removed, and it becomes a flat paste, which reduces the beany taste. So, the dislikeable element is hidden. Well, red bean donuts are meant for those who love red bean paste, so I think it's perfect as it is ♪ Even though I'm not a fan of chunky red bean filling, I surprisingly enjoyed it ○ It was a rare experience to eat red bean donuts~ ‹‹(´ω` )/››

As of August 9, 2021, alcohol service has been suspended and the operating hours have been changed to until 6:00 PM. On this day, I finally went to eat curry bread (lol). It was hot outside and I didn't feel like eating or carrying food around, so I checked if I could eat in with shaved ice and went inside after getting my temperature checked. I also decided to try the cream soda that I had been wanting to drink. The curry bread was freshly fried, crispy on the outside, and delicious. The cream soda was ordinary but very cheap at 350 yen. The vanilla ice cream was not the rich type but more refreshing. The curry inside the bread turned out to be keema curry, with a light and mild flavor. It reminded me of a minced meat and vegetable stir-fry, with a texture similar to a pierogi. The spiciness was very mild, almost non-existent. I also had a shaved ice with "mizore" syrup, which was subtly sweet and low in intensity. It made me realize that I prefer strawberry flavor. The plates were all red, not specific to strawberry flavor. The syrup for the shaved ice is also homemade. Starting in August, they planned to offer a pub-style menu, but due to the shortened hours request, they are currently on hold. Alcohol service and evening hours are suspended, but they are still offering pub-style food menu. The curry bread, shaved ice, and pub-style menu make for a versatile combination. Depending on your appetite and schedule, you can mix and match to enjoy a variety of options.

The rush of sold-out reservations seems to have calmed down, as the showcase at the store was selling them ☆ Huh? Taste impressions? Well... I haven't eaten it yet (laughs) Even though it's a curry bread shop, I haven't really shared any reviews of their curry bread yet. I had curry a couple of weeks ago, so my craving for it hasn't really increased. When my craving hasn't peaked, I can't fully enjoy even delicious food, so I'm in the phase of building up my craving now. On the other hand, what are the foods that I can eat anytime, that are always welcome? I thought about it for a moment, but there aren't many, maybe just sashimi and ice. So, after eating Taiwanese Castella, I revisited the place. After eating something sweet, I felt like having this fruity shaved ice again. Although it is sweet, it's different from cream-based sweetness, fruit-based sweetness, and soda-based sweetness, so it's okay to switch genres, right? I enjoy sweets as long as I rotate between different genres (laughs). I want to try other flavors too, but today I went for strawberry again. Although I previously mentioned that mango was the best, matcha at 550 yen is actually the highest. I'll definitely try it sometime. Even on my second visit, the fruitiness doesn't fade. When it's served, I think, "It's huge!" but it melts quite quickly in the mouth, so it's gone in no time (*^∀^*) But the scene hasn't changed from last time! (laughs) The plate is still a bright red color, I wonder if it's fixed. I'll pay attention to the plate color when I try other flavors. This time, I didn't have the jingling ice cream. I want to eat it, but not desperately, so I'll wait until the craving builds up and then come back for it. I can come anytime, so (*^ω^*) This must be the umpteenth time for the curry bread review (laughs). On the way back, I stopped to see the shutter art at the former Booties location before heading home. I saw the shutter open and something going on inside a while ago on my way to Riverwalk. I intended to take a closer look on my way back, but I forgot that day and returned home via a different route. Finally, it seems like a replacement is coming in, which makes me both happy and sad. And I found a congratulatory wreath for the opening. I was passing by thinking it was a snack or a drinking establishment, but it turned out to be a Vietnamese restaurant (*´･ω･) I happened to look up and saw the national flag waving, and realized it wasn't a drinking establishment. I wonder if the flag has been there since the opening, I hadn't noticed despite passing by often. Unlike in big cities, there are overwhelmingly more ground floor stores in Kitakyushu, but sometimes you have to look up while walking, I thought.

On July 21, 2021, a new shop opened in the Tanga Market. I noticed the shop during the construction, but it was only after the shop was mostly completed that I found out its name. Even after knowing the name, only a beauty salon called Ogura-do appeared in the search results, so the type of shop remained a mystery. Last week, when I visited, the menu was finally displayed, and my excitement rose when I saw "Nagasaki specialty Chirin Chirin Ice" written. And this week, more detailed information such as business hours was posted, revealing that the main product is curry bread. I was so captivated by the Chirin Chirin Ice that I didn't even notice the other menu items (laughs). They also offer shaved ice, cream soda, juice, and alcohol. After sanitizing and having my temperature checked, I was seated. When it comes to Chirin Chirin Ice, I have a slightly embarrassing memory. When I traveled to Nagasaki in the past, I bought Chirin Chirin Ice from a mobile vendor in front of the Atomic Bomb Museum. I bought it near the entrance and then, a few hours later when I came out of the museum, I wanted to eat it again, but I felt embarrassed to buy it from the same vendor twice. So, I went to a different Chirin Chirin Ice shop further away. The lady there recognized me and said, "Oh, you came again (*^^*)" ... Oh! I was covering my face with UV protection gear, so I didn't notice her until she spoke to me. She had moved her location while I was in the museum, and she easily recognized that I had bought from her twice. She was very happy and gave me a large serving, but back then, I was quite embarrassed (;''∀'') Now, I have no such embarrassment anymore (laughs). I went to try my beloved Chirin Chirin Ice right away. Furthermore, since I no longer have any embarrassment, I decided to also try the shaved ice (laughs). It was the right choice. Shaved Ice (350 yen) I chose strawberry without milk. It's within walking distance, so I can come back tomorrow or the day after, but I wanted to try it inside the shop. The ice was the slightly fluffy type that is currently popular, but with large pieces. The syrup was amazing. It looked promising with the fruit seeds visible, and the taste lived up to that expectation (*´艸) The syrup seemed to be homemade, and the green tea flavor was made from tea leaves purchased from a tea shop inside the Tanga Market. I felt like I had to try all the flavors. Today, as part of the grand opening service, I received milk sauce, which is normally 70 yen, and added it from the second half. The taste was similar to condensed milk, but it was much smoother. The taste was slightly lighter and not sticky. I was happy, but those who want to fully enjoy the fruity taste might prefer it without milk sauce for a more direct experience. It seems like it would go well with green tea (*´-`) I was so excited that I forgot to take a photo of the menu, but shaved ice ranges from the cheapest Mizore (300 yen) to the more expensive Mango (500 yen), with prices varying depending on the flavor. It feels like a homemade product rather than store-bought syrup. Chirin Chirin Ice (200 yen) After enjoying the shaved ice, I got this to go. It has a unique crunchy texture that I find nostalgic. There used to be a similar ice cream called Ice Cream that was sold in candy stores' ice cream cases, and I liked it a lot. What flavor is it? I can't explain, but it's a mysterious taste (laughs). As a child, I often ate it, thinking it was somewhat like loquat. There's no rose-shaped serving like the Nagasaki grandmas, but they packed the corn quite generously, which made me happy. The shop is small, with about 5-6 counter seats, but I love the atmosphere. Not only customers from the market but also shop owners come and go, creating a lively atmosphere. Since it's the first day of summer vacation, children helping out at their family's shops came to buy shaved ice, and I enjoyed my shaved ice while listening to their heartwarming conversations (*´∀｀) The main item is curry bread, but on this day, it was almost sold out due to acquaintances and reservations...

The cheese curry bread at the morning market was okay, but the frying oil seemed a bit oxidized and off...

I saw shaved ice on Instagram and decided to try it. The syrup was made in the shop. The strawberries were half-frozen and crunchy, making it delicious.

Maybe it's because of my age, but I prefer baked curry buns over fried ones, so I decided to try one after a long time. The curry bun wasn't very big, but it had minimal oil and was delicious. The curry seemed to have a bit more tomato, making it refreshing. It was tasty. It cost 250 yen per bun, a bit on the expensive side.

The limited quantity peach shaved ice with condensed milk was deliciously sweet until the last bite. The vanilla ice cream on the side was also tasty! ✨