◉Genre: Pork buns, steamed dumplings, dim sum ◉Area: Vierra Kokura, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City ◉Access: Right by JR Kokura Station ◉Parking: Not available (there is a partnership parking lot) ◉Credit card payment: Available ◉Frequency of use: First time ◉Number of reviews: 1st visit On this day, I casually visited "Heiwakai-kan Pork Bun Ekimae Store." ◇Exterior and Interior This place is located in Vierra, a complex commercial facility right in front of the Shinkansen ticket gate at JR Kokura Station in Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City. Established in 1960 and known locally as a shop with Taiwanese roots. ◇No seating available. ◇Menu Structure In addition to pork buns, steamed buns, bean paste buns, and pickled mustard buns, they also offer steamed rice cakes, shumai, and boiled dumplings. The items I ordered are as follows: - Pork bun (330 yen) → Tax-inclusive price. Tonight, I had a long-awaited gathering with my seniors. I was undecided on what to bring as a gift, and before I knew it, I ended up at this shop. (Laughs) Satay oki. This jumbo-sized pork bun, which is probably twice the size of a regular pork bun, offers a satisfying eating experience. The filling inside contains a lot of onions, giving it a unique sweet taste. While it's nice to eat at home, the best way to enjoy it is to buy it at the store and eat it right away! ◆Strong Points A jumbo pork bun beloved in Kitakyushu! ◆Customer Service Average. ◆Conclusion I purchased bean paste buns, pork buns, and pickled mustard buns. I planned to review the leftover items that my seniors didn't choose, but ended up with the classic pork bun. (Laughs) I was actually hoping to get the pickled mustard bun, even if I don't like it. Thank you for the treat.

When you think of pork buns, you usually think of the Kansai region, but there are also old-fashioned pork bun shops in places like Kitakyushu, such as here and Yangtze River. Plus, you can get them steamed almost freshly made, so it's perfect for a light snack. Normally, I would go to the main store, but this place is just right for stopping by when transferring. I didn't know about this place.

I purchased shumai at the Peace Hall. They told me to "definitely try steaming it," so I took the time to steam it. The pork bun had a unique sweet taste to the dough, but the shumai itself had a very common flavor. I think it could have been easier to just microwave it instead of steaming it.

I had a standing meal of pork buns at "Heiwakai" in Kokura - It's been a while since I worked in Kokura. I arrived at the site at 9:30 in the morning, with the performance starting at 13:30. Although there was time for lunch, I didn't feel like eating a lot, so I went to "Heiwakai" inside Kokura Station. There was a pork bun shop, and they had frozen ones, but they also had hot ones steamed at the store. One piece costs 250 yen. It may not be clear from the picture, but they are quite big. Fortunately, there seemed to be a vacant space nearby, with several high tables set up. I was able to eat standing here. It was a satisfying snack. Thank you for the meal! - Shop Information: Heiwakai Phone: 093-521-7896 1-1-1 Asano, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture VIERRA 3F

This is a famous pork bun shop in Kitakyushu that has been in business for over 60 years. I remember going there when I was young, when it was originally a restaurant. Even after the restaurant closed, they continued to sell pork buns in the same location, but recently the main building and Ginza street have been stylishly renovated. The newest location is the Ekimae shop, located inside Viela on the Shinkansen side of Kokura Station. I bought a pork bun for 250 yen. In Fukuoka, it's common to eat pork buns with vinegar soy sauce, which is often included in convenience stores. Here, the sauce was sold separately for 50 yen, but it was enough for 3-5 buns. I paid at the self-checkout machine, and the young staff member was friendly and efficient. The pork bun was quite large and satisfying to eat. The skin was slightly sweet and fluffy. The filling had chunks of meat, but it was more like the filling of a spring roll or piroshki - a sticky, sweet mixture. The flavor was strong and the meat was juicy, but it wasn't overpowering. It's different from the other famous pork bun in Kitakyushu, "Yoshino," which I think is great for people to have different preferences.

I bought one pork bun and one pickled mustard bun, microwaved them for the specified time, and tried eating them. I didn't like this at all. The dough is too sweet. The more you chew, the sweetness spreads in your mouth. I've never had anything like this before. A sweet pork bun, maybe it's a cultural thing but it's hard to accept. The pickled mustard bun is packed with pickled mustard. I love pickled mustard but this was too much. I'm sorry...

My favorite meat bun from a local shop. It's so big that I call it the "Bodybuilder Meat Bun". The flavor is rich and the skin is chewy.

I had a pork bun in the morning, but I was curious about Mantou, so I bought it in the afternoon at Kokura Station. This one doesn't have any filling. It's nice to sandwich something when eating at home! It's also quite a large size, and much more affordable than buying pork buns, so those who prefer Chinese bun skin may be satisfied. Thank you for the meal!

I arrived at Kokura Station. As Yangtze River was closed, I visited this place instead. I bought a pork bun. It was big and heavy. I steamed it as soon as I got home. The skin was slightly sweet and delicious. The filling was also substantial with plenty of meat juice. It was a very tasty pork bun.

Vierra is located in front of the Shinkansen ticket gate in Kokura. One of the restaurants there is Heiwa Kaikan, a Chinese restaurant that has been operating in Kokura for a long time. They serve piping hot pork buns. Although it may look like a souvenir shop at first glance, they have a steamer like a convenience store for their meat buns. The pork bun costs 280 yen, and the pickled mustard green bun costs 380 yen. When you open it up, you'll find a large bun filled with plenty of vegetables and other ingredients. It comes out quickly, so be sure to try it before hopping on the Shinkansen!

When it comes to pork buns in Kokura, I always thought of the meaty and juicy ones from Oko-ko. However, last year, a pork bun shop opened in Kokura Station's Ekimae area. Feeling a bit hungry, I bought one for 250 yen, which is more expensive than convenience stores. The skin is thick, but not as much as Horai. The meat is delicious, but not as juicy as Oko-ko's. This way, you can eat it without worrying about getting your hands dirty, even on a bench. I like Oko-ko's pork buns, but since they only sell frozen ones in front of the station, this shop is more convenient for a quick bite.

During a business trip to Kokura, I wanted to try something famous in Kokura, so I visited the newly opened "Kokura Kaikan Butaman Ekimae-ten" in the station building. I bought a warm pork bun (¥250) and enjoyed it on the Shinkansen. The pork bun was quite large, with plenty of juicy meat filling. The skin was soft and fluffy. The taste was delicious, with a noticeable sweetness from the onions. It was quite big, so one bun was enough for a satisfying meal. It was very tasty. In addition to pork buns, they also sell shumai, Chinese sticky rice, pickled vegetable buns, and boiled dumplings, so I would like to try them next time. Thank you for the meal.

I bought a pork bun from Heiwa Kaikan as a souvenir in the station store for 250 yen. The bun has a chewy texture and is filled with plenty of juicy meat filling. The taste of the filling is also quite good. This is a really delicious pork bun. Thank you for the meal. I will buy it again.

Last month, the "Kokura Ekimae Himawari Plaza," now renamed "VIERRA Kokura," opened on the third floor only. Today was my first visit to VIERRA, a shop founded in 1960 that has mainly focused on takeout since the Heisei era. I bought 2 frozen pork buns, as the warm ones tend to have a strong smell. In addition to warm pork buns and mantou, they also sell frozen items like pickled mustard buns, Chinese chimaki, shumai, boiled dumplings, and boxed pork buns. They also offer homemade sauce and chili oil. This is their third store in Heiwa Kaikan. Speaking of Heiwa Kaikan, it sounds like a concert venue or a religious place, doesn't it? (laughs) Since the buns were frozen, they could be thawed before reaching home, and I used a pot with a steamer basket, a stainless steel bowl, and pot holders to warm them. The cooking time was shortened to about 10 minutes, compared to the usual 20 minutes. The microwave usually takes about 4 minutes, but with thawed buns, it's about 2 and a half minutes, much quicker. The pork buns from Heiwa Kaikan are big, juicy, and full of flavor, with a slightly sweet skin. They are truly the top two pork buns in Kokura. The other contender is Akiyoshi, but which one do you prefer? The pickled mustard buns and shumai have recently made a comeback, and I wonder what kind of dishes the main building's Chinese restaurant served in the Showa era. Regardless, I will visit again to try one of the revived items. Thank you for the meal!

The an (sweet red bean paste) is sweet, large, and delicious!