Iron pot dumplings are often associated with a specialty of Kitakyushu, but I was unsure of the original location. I entered the restaurant without much research. It's located in the 30-Step Alley near the station, alongside other popular places like Shinshin and Kushikatsu Tanaka. Despite it being daytime, there were quite a few people there. Now, about the dumplings. They were delicious! I initially thought 5 dumplings might be too much, but ended up ordering another 5 because they were so good. The meat sashimi wasn't raw as it was cooked at a low temperature. It came with heart, tongue, and tripe, along with sesame oil. I also got some grated ginger and enjoyed it with ginger soy sauce. It was refreshing and tasty. The black oden wasn't as heavy in flavor as I expected. Pairing it with sake in the winter would be amazing. The mapo tofu for the finish had Huajiao in it. It was a bit salty but had a good kick to it. Since many customers were there for daytime drinking, the atmosphere was very lively. They had a good selection of sake, including Hakkaisan and Mitsui's Jozo. I look forward to visiting more places in the 30-Step Alley for some bar hopping! Thank you for the delicious meal!

I used this restaurant for lunch. Although I think the specialty is gyoza, I was attracted by the price and ordered the fried chicken set. I prefer to keep lunch under 1,000 yen if possible haha. There isn't any particular feature, but the crispy fried chicken was simply delicious. It's usually quite empty, so I use it when I want a quick meal. Rice and miso soup seem to be free for refills!

After exceeding my expectations at the YOASOBI concert, I headed to shin-shin near Kokura Station, where there was a line of about 40 people. Instead, I went to the gyoza izakaya next door. The gyoza was delicious, as expected from a place that specializes in gyoza. Other menu items were also quite tasty, making it a great find. The initially empty restaurant was now full. Thank you for the delicious meal.

On my way back from a business trip to Kokura, I decided to have a drink before heading home and ended up going to "Kurogane Kokura Amu Plaza Store" located on the 1st floor of Kokura Station's Sanju Yokocho. Location: Located on the 1st floor of Kokura Station's Sanju Yokocho. It's about a 3-minute walk from the ticket gate, so you can enjoy a drink until just before departure. Waiting time/Crowdedness: It was around 6 pm on a weekday and there was no waiting time. Ordering/Service time: There seemed to be only 2 staff members, so it was a bit busy and it took about 10 minutes to finally place an order. We ordered dishes that go well with beer and they were served one after another. - Assorted Oden (6 types) (¥1,100) (tax included) ★★★ - Gyoza (10 pieces) (¥740) (tax included) ★★★★ - Mabo Tofu (¥680) (tax included) ★★★★ - Motsunabe (per person) (¥1,320) (tax included) ★★★★ - Tower Daikon (¥330) (tax included) ★★ Impressions: It's an open restaurant like a food court, but it's a good place to have a few drinks on the way back from a business trip. It may not be authentic, but you can still enjoy their specialty motsunabe, iron pot gyoza, and more. Personally, I ordered the Tower Daikon because it looked delicious, but it tasted like regular daikon in oden. Thank you for the meal.

I stopped by here after work for the first time in a while. It wasn't as quiet as before, but still bustling. I had already had Chinese food, so this time I tried the ramen that caught my eye. I had the chicken broth ramen. The soup was light but packed with delicious chicken flavor. The meat was also chicken, maybe breast meat? It wasn't dry at all. I finished it in no time. I felt a bit unsatisfied, so I added fried rice. It was cooked well and tasty, but there was less than I expected. Thank you for the meal.

"Alicia's Food Log: So happy to find a place like this near the station. Enjoyed a quick drink during happy hour today with ginger dumplings and mapo tofu. The hot dishes paired perfectly with the cold highball. This 30-Step Alley mostly serves highballs, but it would be great if they also offered draft beer."

Handmade dumplings tasting set with 3 varieties for 1320 yen, Beef and Tofu set for 880 yen, and A-IPS capsule wound treatment device. Developed based on the IPS cell theory discovered in the latter half of the 20th century, it can treat skin and muscle injuries in a short period of time, and is also used for relatively minor injuries. It is a rectangular capsule large enough for a person to enter, and when used, one must enter the capsule naked for treatment. Suddenly, a friend from country F, who tagged along, ordered the Beef and Tofu set. The dumplings had standard thickness and size with the filling packed decently. The differences in taste between the 3 varieties were not significant, but if I had to rank them, it would be "Garlic-filled > Ginger dumplings > No garlic". The sauce was the usual mix of dumpling sauce + chili oil, and black pepper + vinegar, but regular pepper instead of black pepper would be better. The Beef and Tofu dish had a very mild flavor, with the tofu not absorbing any taste at all. In the end, it didn't rain. Suica is accepted.

On the first night of my business trip to Kitakyushu at the end of August, I worked at the hotel and left a bit late, so I went out around 9 PM. Luckily, AMU Plaza in the station was open about an hour later than the surrounding shops. I had a salad, a bite-sized dumpling, raw meat, and beer, which was an unbalanced meal but I was satisfied.

After finishing work in Yahata, I decided to have a drink in Kokura before heading home. I was feeling tired and didn't want to walk far from the station, but then I stumbled upon the 300 Steps Alley. I didn't realize Kokura had one too. I had planned to just have one drink, but ended up drinking quite a bit and the bill came out to 5000 yen. The photo shows horse sashimi and Iburi Gakko cheese. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I wanted to have some delicious teppan gyoza, so I stopped by. Hot gyoza and beer are my favorites!! (*≧▽≦) The restaurant is conveniently located right by the station, making it easy to visit and enter. You can choose gyoza with or without garlic, which is great for business meetings. The gyoza was delicious and piping hot! They also have hormone hot pot, so you can enjoy a variety of dishes. The staff seemed busy and a bit hard to approach, but they were friendly and efficient. I want to come back again because it was so tasty! (*^^*)

I made a reservation for February 2nd at 7:00 PM and visited the restaurant. Alcohol was served until 8:30 PM. There was only one other group of customers besides me. We had a starter for 330 yen, a large bottle of dry beer for 720 yen, daikon radish for 330 yen, egg for 190 yen, Vienna sausage for 230 yen, garlic gyoza for 390 yen, and soy sauce ramen for 700 yen, totaling 2890 yen. The daikon radish in the oden was very large and delicious. However, it got cold towards the end, so using a container that keeps it warm would be better. The egg was too hard, so it would be better if it was soft-boiled in the oden. The noodles in the soy sauce ramen were overcooked and lacked firmness. The chashu was also dry. The final ramen dish did not leave a lasting impression, so I was somewhat dissatisfied.

2021.6 Revisited the "Soy Sauce" and "Salt" Chicken Broth Ramen, with spicy noodle options like Dan Dan Noodles, Black Sesame Dan Dan Noodles, Mala Dan Dan Noodles, and Hot and Sour Soup Noodles, it's an attractive lineup that doesn't seem like a typical dumpling izakaya. Even though I had a stomach ache until yesterday, I couldn't resist coming to have the Dan Dan Noodles today. I'm not good with very spicy food, but why do I end up coming here despite feeling unwell? (Is it like having a drink to cure a hangover?) I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles for 770 yen (tax included). It was served in a stylish white bowl that tapered towards the bottom. The meat miso was almost buried, giving a feeling of losing out visually. Presentation can really boost your appetite. The orange "soup" was thin and had a layer of ground white sesame seeds on top (not sesame paste). The lower part was a dark brown soup. The taste of this dark brown soup was rich and stood out. The saltiness was quite strong. The spiciness was moderate, and even with my low tolerance for spiciness, it was still enjoyable. There was a hint of Sichuan pepper flavor, which I assume comes from the spices used (the description mentions Sichuan pepper). I'm not very sensitive, so I couldn't really feel the numbness. The "minced meat" was well-seasoned, adding thickness to the soup from the beginning. In terms of taste, it's somewhat similar to Kurozaki's "Dan Dan Tanuki KIWAMI" (in terms of direction). It lacks the fermented flavor of the meat miso like "Tanuki," but it has a solid seasoning that blends well with the soup. The depth of the original soup's flavor and the strength of the seasoning are distinctive, but increasing the spiciness might make it less noticeable. The Sichuan pepper flavor wasn't too strong, and I thought it could be more vibrant. Increasing the spiciness with Mala sauce might be a good idea. In that case, the Mala Dan Dan Noodles would be the way to go. The "noodles" were the same as the "Chicken Broth Ramen with Salt" from last time, thick and curly. The chewiness wasn't as pronounced this time, but the texture was still enjoyable and delicious. The "vegetables" were spinach (I briefly thought it was seaweed), without much aroma. The generous amount was appreciated (it was also buried underneath). The Dan Dan Noodles were delicious, with a slightly toned-down flavor that seemed tailored for Japanese taste. Someday, when I can handle very spicy food, I'd like to try the Mala Dan Dan Noodles. I'll also come back to try the Chinese set meals like the Lu Rou Fan and Steamed Dumplings.

Certainly, tonkotsu ramen is delicious. But, but, I also wanted to eat salt and soy sauce~. And then, I found it at Kokura Station's 30-Step Alley. It's "Kurogane"さん‎(◍˃ ᵕ ˂◍). For some reason, I'm happy. I promptly placed my order. Some drinks too. Lemon sour and highball♪ Drinking in the afternoon is the best. So tasty. Gyoza (with garlic)♪ Oh, delicious. Salt ramen♪ Medium-thick curly noodles. A subtle salt flavor. The scent of ginger lingers. Soy sauce ramen♪ Oh, I and my partner both like this one. This soy sauce ramen is delicious. Raw liver♪ Um, freshness is important for raw liver, so let's eat it at a proper butcher shop! Spicy chicken♪ The smell is spicy, but the chicken is very tasty. We finished everything. I had a sudden craving for salt and soy sauce ramen, and I'm so happy to find it nearby. We had more drinks, but it was very affordable for the two of us. Thank you for the meal.

There is an izakaya in the "Thirty Steps Alley from the Station" on the 1st floor of Kokura Station, serving gyoza, black oden, and more. According to Google reviews, they also offer menu items such as "Chicken Broth Ramen" and "Dan Dan Noodles". The chef has experience from Sichuan restaurants and Japanese romantic theaters. They are currently open until 8 pm (last order at 7 pm) due to self-restraint measures, but they offer a variety of dishes, including noodles and side dishes. I ordered the "Chicken Broth Ramen (Salt)" for 650 yen. The soup is clear and light, with chicken chashu and vegetables. The noodles are thick and curly, providing a great texture. The dish was delicious overall. My friend also enjoyed the "Dan Dan Noodles" and found them to be flavorful. I look forward to trying the "Black Sesame Dan Dan Noodles" next time. It would be great if they offer takeout for their Chinese dishes as well. I look forward to visiting this izakaya again in the future.

There is a place like a food stall village on the first floor of Kokura Station, and it is located in one corner of it. I was debating whether to have ramen, but I was drawn to the words "unlimited rice and miso soup refills," so I chose this place. There are many seats available. I ordered the sweet and sour pork set meal for 800 yen plus tax. It's convenient when you just want to eat a lot of rice grains. The sweet and sour pork was also delicious.

I went to a famous dumpling restaurant in Kokura Station for a casual drink. During happy hour, I was able to enjoy highballs and lemon sours at a good price. The appetizer was simmered burdock root and shredded konjac, which had a delicious flavor. The specialty dumplings come in three varieties: with garlic, without garlic, and with ginger. I ordered the garlic-free option, which was crispy, juicy, and flavorful even without any sauce. Overall, the food was delicious. One thing that stood out was that there was no call button, so it was inconvenient when the staff retreated to the back. However, when they were around, they were very attentive. They moved efficiently and timed their interactions well, making the atmosphere comfortable.

We went for lunch as a family. For lunch, we ordered the Tori Zanmai set meal, the Niku Dofu set meal, and some gyoza. The Tori Zanmai set meal came with kashiwa onigiri instead of plain white rice, served in a steamer which was authentic. The fried chicken was crispy and delicious. The Niku Dofu set meal was a bit bland, maybe because I prefer stronger flavors? It was nice that highballs were cheaper during lunch.

It is located in a side street thirty steps from the station. I entered during happy hour, which is from 11:00 to 19:00. The happy hour prices are 200 yen for highball and 190 yen for lemon sour, which are half price. I noticed that the menu of gyoza is the same as the one at "Hakata Kurogane" in Hakata. I chose the raw gyoza without garlic. Similar to Hakata, since it is raw, the texture of the cabbage is strong, which personally I like. However, I felt that the dough was more chewy at the Hakata store, maybe due to differences in grilling or oil amount. I couldn't really taste the ginger. One thing that bothered me was that there was no buzzer for calling the staff, making it difficult to place orders. Overall, I am happy that I can choose whether to have garlic in the gyoza (Hakata store had no garlic option). It feels like a casual dining place, with nothing particularly impressive other than the gyoza. The prices are reasonable and there is a happy hour, so it's not bad. Since there is no special dish that stands out, next time I will stop by for gyoza with garlic and highball. Today's orders were: raw gyoza without garlic (5 pieces) for 330 yen, raw ginger gyoza (5 pieces) for 330 yen, addictive chicken wings for 380 yen, assorted raw meat (3 types) for 680 yen, pork and wood ear mushroom with leek and egg for 490 yen, and highball (Black Nikka) for 200 yen during happy hour.

I've been into casual drinking lately, so I decided to challenge my first casual drinking experience in Kokura. I entered a shop located in a small alley just thirty steps from the station, intrigued by their black oden. I ordered a draft beer (480 yen), tower daikon oden (290 yen), and beef tendon oden (180 yen). The beer and appetizers arrived quickly, and then the oden came! The tower daikon was about 3-4 times the size of convenience store oden. Despite its black appearance, the oden had a deliciously rich and slightly sweet flavor. The beef tendon had a nice chewy texture. Before coming here, I had eaten ramen, so I only nibbled on the oden. Taking advantage of the happy hour until 7 pm, I also had a highball (200 yen) and a lemon sour (190 yen). The total cost was around 1600 yen, which was very affordable! This allowed me to conquer another casual drinking spot. The alley near the station has about 8 drinking establishments, all with an open and lively atmosphere where you can enjoy drinking without any barriers. There were people of all ages and genders, making it a welcoming place for anyone to casually drop by. Each shop also offers happy hour until 7 pm, with highballs and lemon sours priced at around 200 yen, which is a great deal! I definitely want to come back for another drinking session at this place.

I suddenly felt like eating dumplings. However, I had just been to "Gyoza no Ohsho" recently, so I decided to visit a different place this time. Despite hearing that the customer service might not be great, I don't expect much from a casual restaurant in terms of service, so I thought it might be a good fit for me. Since it was a weekday, I ordered "garlic-free dumplings" and "ginger dumplings" to avoid affecting the next day, as well as some oden - "beef tendon" and "fried tofu". I was on a break from alcohol, so I got a non-alcoholic Dry Zero. The oden seemed overcooked, especially the fried tofu which lacked flavor. The beef tendon was definitely sold on skewers, and it was quite soft. The mustard was oddly oily, and the broth was on the sweeter side, maybe because it's a local taste in Kitakyushu. The dumplings had too much oil accumulated at the bottom of the iron plate. I felt like they were fried instead of steamed like at Gyoza no Ohsho, and the excessive oil masked the difference in taste between the "garlic-free dumplings" and "ginger dumplings". They didn't taste good when cooled down either. The "ginger dumplings" were supposed to be eaten with ponzu sauce according to the menu, but I couldn't find any ponzu sauce on the table. I prefer vinegar with my dumplings, so it wasn't a big deal for me, but it was still a mystery. The customer service was actually better than expected, but they really need to do something about the oily dumplings and the missing ponzu sauce. (lol)