To Kokura, Fukuoka!
First stop: heading straight to Curry Frankie-ken for lunch
This is the start of my trip around Kokura and Shimonoseki.
After arriving at Kitakyushu Airport, I headed straight into central Kokura by bus. From the bus terminal, I made my way toward a curry shop that’s popular with locals, passing the impressive former Kokura Sogo building along the way.
Whenever I travel, one of my quiet little traditions is visiting a local curry shop.
This time, the place was called Curry Frankie-ken, a playful name that riffs on the famous Japanese celebrity Lily Franky.
All in on chicken curry!
The interior was sleek and modern, with nothing unnecessary in the space. It had such a stylish atmosphere—more like an upscale Japanese restaurant than a curry shop.
The menu has just one option: chicken curry. You can choose the amount of rice, with 150 grams as the standard, but they generously let you increase it to as much as 300 grams at no extra charge. Boiled egg is also available as a topping, though that costs extra.
The curry came packed with chunky bone-in chicken and had a serious kick to it—spicy enough that I started to break into a light sweat as I ate. It was a deeply satisfying plate.
Another nice touch is the selection of free toppings—pea shoots, cilantro, green chili peppers, and tomato sauce—so you can change up the flavor as you go. The green chilies are very hot, though, so be careful.
If I get the chance to come back to Kokura, I’d definitely love to return.
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