Katsu Curry 550 yen I became aware of this restaurant thanks to a review from MyReviewer. Once I found out about it, I felt compelled to visit, even though I had no business at the city hall. As always. The entrance to the restaurant is divided into two sections. Japanese and Western cuisine are on the right (A), while Chinese, noodles, and sushi are on the left (B). I thought they might be connected inside like a can collection bin next to a vending machine, so I entered on the right side. However, the kitchen was in between and the two sections were properly separated. Additionally, inside the restaurant, Japanese and Western cuisine had separate counters. I arrived at 10 am and was the first customer, alone in the spacious restaurant, engaging in a solitary battle at the city hall. I called out to the staff to hand over my food ticket, but it seemed like they didn't even notice my presence. So, I had to call out loudly at 110 decibels, and an older man came smiling, saying "You're early." I handed him the food ticket, and when I returned with a tray, the food was already prepared, in a lightning-fast manner. The curry was reminiscent of old cafeteria-style curry, as it is actually a cafeteria. It wasn't spicy and had a few pieces of ingredients. The pork cutlet was thin and a bit dry, probably due to being pre-fried. It was served warm though. The portion size was generous for me, but probably normal for most people. I was delighted to find a boiled egg cut in half on the salad that came with the meal. The staff was busy preparing a large number of bento boxes, probably because there are many customers during lunchtime. The seating arrangement was spaced out in a checkerboard pattern for COVID-19 prevention, so only half of the normal seating capacity was available. The menu is divided into A and B sections, so please keep that in mind when ordering. I wonder if it's possible to purchase food tickets with PayPay at the window next to the sign on the left, although it's not possible at the ticket vending machine. There were no people there, and I found it too much trouble to bother using it.

◉Genre: Set meal, cafeteria ◉Area: Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu City, Inside Kitakyushu City Hall ◉Access: 10 minutes walk from JR Kokura Station ◉Parking: None (Coin parking available nearby) ◉Credit card payment: Not available ◉Number of visits: Second visit after a long time ◉Number of reviews: First review On this day, I casually visited "Tamaya Shokudo" located in the basement of Kitakyushu City Hall in Kokurakita Ward. It is a cafeteria for government employees, or rather, a cafeteria closest to power... It's just an ordinary cafeteria located underground. The seating is a bit complicated as it depends on what you order, but there are roughly around 100 seats available. The menu is divided into set meals, Japanese food, and Western food on the right side, and other items like noodles on the left side. The menu is quite traditional and offers a variety of options. I ordered the following: - Katsudon (490 yen) → Tax-included price. It comes with miso soup and pickles, and the price is less than one coin. The katsu is pre-made and has a homely and simple taste, typical of a government cafeteria. However, considering the price, it is not bad at all, and the taste is not boring. Overall, it's a good option when visiting the city hall. The service was average. It was my first visit in a long time, and I couldn't help but think about the lack of digitalization and the government's recommendation for apps like PayPay. Enjoyed the meal.

I think the last time I went was when I was in high school. It felt like a bigger cafeteria back then, but maybe that was just my imagination. The space was divided into noodle dishes and rice dishes, and this time I went for the rice dishes. The menu is limited. After some hesitation, I decided to go with the large serving of pork cutlet curry. You order using a ticket machine. When you hand the ticket to the cook at the counter, they prepare your order right away. The curry had plenty of ingredients and wasn't too spicy, but by the time I finished eating, I was starting to sweat a bit. Perhaps it tastes like a restaurant in a department store because it's called "Tamaya Shokudo"? The pork cutlet was decently thick and sizeable, with a texture that wasn't too tough. It's not freshly fried, but that's understandable. If you don't get the large serving, you can enjoy it for a reasonable price, which feels like a great deal.

I finished my business at the city hall and decided to have lunch at the underground cafeteria, which I hadn't visited in decades. As I descended the stairs, I saw a map showing the layout of the cafeteria. There was a section for noodle dishes and another for set meals and rice dishes, each with its own sample showcase and ticket machine for payment. The walls were tiled, giving off a retro Showa-era vibe. The seating arrangement was spaced out, with acrylic partitions in place. I ordered Champon and Bara Sushi, which cost a total of 500 yen. The Champon didn't contain any meat or seafood, and I had to blanch the noodles, put them in a bowl, and pour in the pre-heated soup. Then, I added the pre-prepared vegetables and half a boiled egg. The Bara Sushi came with dried shredded egg omelet that needed to be rehydrated with water. The taste was not the main focus at this price point, but the overall experience felt like a typical cafeteria meal enjoyed by company employees. It's nice that non-staff members can also dine here.

The trees around Kokura Castle are changing colors, with their red and yellow leaves creating a beautiful contrast against the white walls of the castle and the blue sky. Across the street at Katsuyama Park, there is a crowd gathered around a temporary Kabuki theater called Heisei Nakamura-za, which I later found out was performing its final show today. Taking in the autumn scenery, I made my way to the Kokura City Hall building. On the top floor, there is a restaurant, but today I decided to visit the Tamaya Shokudo in the basement, which is open to the public. The logo of "Tamaya" brings back nostalgic memories of the department store that used to be located on the west side of the RiverWalk. The entrance to the dining area is divided into left and right sections based on the type of food. Noodles are on the left. I ordered ramen from the ticket machine and waited for my order to be called at the kitchen counter. The ramen had a simple visual presentation with a strong tonkotsu flavor. It was delicious and consistent throughout, without any overpowering elements. The noodles had a familiar taste and the two slices of chashu were a nice addition. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. If I come back, I'll try the champon next time. I wonder what makes "yatai ramen" special? I'll have to ask MyRebi, who knows a lot about ramen. (793)

This is the cafeteria in the basement of the city hall. They have separate rooms for noodles and set meals. It is a self-service system with food tickets, but you can also pay with PayPay. I visited after 1 pm, so it was not crowded.