I visited a restaurant in the station building just after 1 PM and found only two customers there. I couldn’t help but think that, while Kokura seemed lonely, it was actually this restaurant that was lacking. I ordered their signature dish, black vinegar chicken nanban. At first glance, the portion size made me think, "Wow!" But unfortunately, the chicken was clearly over-fried. The rice was decent, but the chicken was just as I feared—hard and crunchy, which was disappointing. I realized it wasn't Kokura that felt deserted; it was this restaurant itself. If the prices were half, I might consider coming back.

Kita-Kyushu City, Kokura Kita Ward, Kyomachi. A specialized restaurant offering Kumamoto black vinegar chicken nanban, originally from Kumamoto. The restaurant has expanded in Kumamoto and has locations in Oita, Fukuoka, and Saga. On March 1, 2024, the second store will open in Seaside City. This includes a sit-down restaurant on the 11th floor and a take-out specialty shop in the basement level. The menu features black vinegar chicken nanban set meals, black wagyu beef "Tenshukaku" steak set meals, black vinegar chicken nanban with black wagyu beef set, half black vinegar chicken nanban with a healthy set meal, and spice curry chicken set meal, all available for take-out as well. This time, I ordered the black wagyu beef "Tenshukaku" steak set meal (1,290 yen). It comes with a cut steak served on a hot plate, enjoyed with miso sauce and steak sauce. While there are some chewy parts, at 1,290 yen, the quality is excellent. Rice and miso soup are unlimited for refills, and the meal includes a salad. The payment is done in advance, which is not bad, but I prefer paying afterward so I can take my time reviewing the menu. Thank you for the meal!

Chicken Nanban with grated daikon lunch for 950 yen. Miso soup, rice, and tartar sauce are all free to refill. It's a pre-payment system. When I visited recently, the service was just as good as before, and surprisingly, there were a lot of women dining despite the meal being quite filling. However, today the batter was too hard, making it difficult to eat. It felt like I was eating more batter than chicken (laughs).

Chicken Nanban set meal for 950 yen. I often go to the bento shop in the basement, but this was my first time at this restaurant on the 11th floor. I was impressed by the cheerful greetings and the atmosphere. The rice and miso soup were all-you-can-eat. I didn't realize I had to pay in advance and sat down first… haha. The Chicken Nanban had a crispy coating that was delicious, and I liked the tanginess of the vinegar! The rice was average, but the miso soup was tasty. There were also plenty of vegetables on the plate. I thought about having a second helping of miso soup but decided against it since I was thinking of stopping by Seattle's Best Coffee on the same floor for some tea before heading home.

I visited shortly after the restaurant opened at 11 AM. There were two other groups of customers. Since the payment is made upon entry, it might be better to decide on your order before entering. The menu is extensive and can be quite overwhelming. I went with the classic black vinegar chicken nanban set meal. Rice and miso soup are available for unlimited refills. The main dish, chicken nanban, has a unique coating that's shaped and textured like wings—crispy and delightful. It's topped with a generous amount of black vinegar sauce. The tartar sauce comes separately and is almost entirely made of egg. This is a one-of-a-kind version of chicken nanban, and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you for the meal!

You can enjoy a hearty chicken nanban meal, complete with rice and miso soup, for around 1000 yen. When I ordered the Spice Red set meal, I was served a bright red chicken dish, but it wasn't as spicy as I expected. It was delicious, especially the crispy chicken. They also offer unlimited rice, miso soup, and tartar sauce.

This is a new restaurant located on the 11th floor of Seent City near Kokura Station. I visited for lunch! The place was about 90% full, and it seemed to be quite popular, with many female customers. Before taking a seat, you need to place your order, so it's essential to check the menu sign outside the restaurant and decide on what to eat beforehand. Since it was my first visit, I ordered what seemed to be the restaurant's signature dish: the black vinegar chicken nanban set meal. It's a great deal at under 1,000 yen, priced at 950 yen. Additionally, rice, miso soup, and tartar sauce are all refillable, so it's perfect for those who come hungry. Water is self-service. Before long, my meal was served. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The black vinegar had a sweet flavor that paired well with the dish. It really made the rice easy to eat! The tartar sauce was quite thick and not very watery; it may not stand out much compared to the stronger flavor of the nanban. The miso soup was on the sweeter side, which I personally didn't care for. The serving of cabbage was generous. Overall, the cost-performance is decent, making it a suitable place for lunch. Thank you for the meal!

I suddenly wanted to eat chicken nanban, so I searched online and decided to visit this newly opened restaurant on March 1, 2024. By around 11:30, it was almost full, with many female customers. I ordered the black vinegar chicken nanban set for 950 yen. I wasn't familiar with the system, so when I entered, I was told to order and pay upfront at the register, which was a bit disappointing as I couldn't take my time to look at the menu. It seems better to decide outside before going in. The interior was bright, and there was a guide on the wall about how to eat. I placed a number card on my table and waited. The water was self-service, and the food was served quickly. The dish came with a generous portion of shredded cabbage, and the balance of the chicken and black vinegar was excellent and delicious. It was very filling, with the batter being crispy. Rice, miso soup, and tartar sauce were all refillable, so I ended up quite full.

I ordered the Crispy Chicken Set Meal (Hell Curry) for 950 yen. After finishing my shopping at Cent City, I decided to take a quick smoke break at the smoking area on the 11th floor and noticed an unfamiliar store. Upon getting closer, I realized it was Takamoto, which also has a branch in Kutsunami. I didn't have the best impression of it, but I thought I'd give it a try and walked in with a bit of hesitance. I placed my order at the register and paid. There was a dish called Hell Curry that caught my eye, so I went with that! The Hell Curry isn’t the traditional curry with sauce, but rather a curry-flavored powder. The spiciness was quite intense. However, I felt that spice was unnecessary for the chicken nanban. It was definitely a mischoice for me. The chicken nanban itself had a crispy coating, but it wasn't as crispy as when I had it at Kutsunami. Personally, I preferred this less crispy texture. The biggest difference compared to my previous experience was the chicken meat. It was tender, juicy, and really delicious. They offered refills for the tartar sauce, which I welcomed, but I thought it could be a bit thinner or have more moisture. The rice and miso soup were also tasty, and my overall impression changed a lot, but the chicken nanban still didn't align with my personal taste preferences. I wondered how it would fare if they opened a branch in Miyazaki. As I took the elevator down, I realized that today, March 1st, is Pork Day—not Chicken Day, which was a bit disappointing. Pork Day (March 1st Anniversary) was initiated in 1972 by American sisters Ellen Stanley and Mary Lynne Rave to celebrate family vacations. By the way, they do accept Suica.

Since it was still early, I thought it would be fine, but just in case, I made a reservation for two and went. Everyone at the restaurant was kind and pleasant, so we had a wonderful dining experience.

Too sweet. The tender meat is cut into long strips, making it difficult to pick up with chopsticks and eat.

I stopped by for lunch at around 1 PM on a weekday while I was shopping at Seiscent City. The ordering process involves placing your order at the register and then finding a seat. The gender ratio in the restaurant seemed to be about equal, and there were quite a few solo diners, including myself. The meal came with rice, tartar sauce, and miso soup, all of which were available for refills. My food arrived in about five minutes. Both the sauce and tartar were mild and delicious, and I appreciated the generous serving of cabbage. The coating was crispy while the meat was tender. The miso soup was to my liking, and I thought about getting another cup, but I ended up feeling quite full. The portion size was generous, and I was very satisfied. Thank you for the meal!