Interview with the manager of Bunker, Tomoda Ikuo
Bunker is a restaurant where you can enjoy hearty and well-balanced curry and set meals with excellent cost performance.
I spoke with the manager of Bunker, Tomoda Ikuo, about the background of opening the restaurant, its features, and various episodes.
The name comes from a golf bunker
What is the origin of the restaurant name "Bunker"?
Tomoda
It comes from a golf bunker.
When a ball falls into a bunker, it can be quite difficult to get it out.
Just like a ball that has fallen into a bunker, I wanted customers to relax slowly, which is why I named it that.
The restaurant opened on January 11, 2019, at 11 AM.
It just happened to be a sequence of 1s, but that wasn't intentional.
I chose an auspicious day to open, and it just turned out that way (laughs).
A second life challenging the restaurant business
Why did you start Bunker?
Tomoda
Originally, I worked as a company employee for a long time.
It was in a completely different industry from food and beverage.
After retiring, I thought I would like to try running a restaurant.
Since I liked curry, I envisioned a small restaurant focused on spices that I could manage by myself.
I had a hard time finding a suitable property, but one day I was introduced to the property where the restaurant is currently located.
However, it was a space larger than I had anticipated...
I wanted to run a small restaurant with about 10 seats.
Additionally, the location in the West Building of JR Kurashiki Station is surrounded by many companies.
So, I decided to change the focus from spice-based curry to a more familiar Western-style curry that many people would enjoy.
Furthermore, I added set meals to attract office workers and business customers for lunch.
Initially, I planned to run a small restaurant by myself.
However, since the space turned out to be larger than expected, I hired staff.
I want customers to feel they are getting a good deal when dining out
What are the features and attractions of Bunker?
Tomoda
The feature of Bunker is that all dishes have generous portions for the price.
Also, you can enjoy well-balanced meals.
Since customers are spending money to come to the restaurant, I want them to leave feeling they got a good deal.
Many nearby office workers return for lunch, so I also consider nutritional balance.
Refills for set meals are free!
For those who find the portion of rice too large, it can be made smaller, which is popular among female customers.
Additionally, to keep repeat customers from getting bored, we have daily special set meals.
It’s tough to come up with a menu every day, but thanks to that, the daily special set meal is our most popular menu item.
Making use of the location with a hotel in the building in front of the station
What are your future plans for Bunker?
Tomoda
As mentioned earlier, we have many office workers using us for lunch.
Additionally, since there are hotels in and around the West Building, we also have many business customers visiting Kurashiki on business trips.
Therefore, weekdays are busy, but weekends and holidays tend to have fewer customers.
However, gradually, we are seeing an increase in tourists on weekends.
We are also receiving visitors from overseas.
Given our location right in front of the station with a hotel in the building, I would like to consider further attracting tourists.
Conclusion
All dishes at Bunker are hearty, well-balanced, and offer excellent cost performance.
It is a strong ally for office workers at lunch, and the restaurant has many repeat customers.
On the other hand, the homey and comforting flavors of the dishes make it a place where anyone can enjoy a delicious meal.
Given its location in front of the station and near hotels, I believe it is a restaurant that tourists and business travelers visiting Kurashiki should also utilize.
You will find satisfaction that exceeds the price.
Data on Bunker
| Name | Bunker |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-7-2 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, B1F Kurashiki City Plaza West Building |
| Contact | None |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Thursday Closed on the third Wednesday of the month ※ Closed if a holiday falls on a regular holiday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes Reservations can only be made by visiting the restaurant directly |
| Seating | 24 seats total ・Counter: 6 seats ・2-person tables: 3 tables ・4-person tables: 3 tables ※ Table arrangement can be changed |
| Smoking | Smoking allowed |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilet, Japanese-style toilet |
| Childcare | Strollers allowed Children's utensils available |
| Barrier-free | Elevator Wheelchair accessible |
