We tend to assume that food at restaurants inside public facilities is not very good...
“Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan,” located on the grounds of Geibunkan Hall, a multipurpose facility in Kurashiki City, is a full-fledged cafe packed with thoughtful touches that overturns that conventional wisdom.
Isn’t it surprising to find a proper cafe inside a city facility?
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan has charms you won’t find elsewhere, including a stylish, spacious interior, carefully prepared keema curry, and desserts made with Shiro Bara milk.
And for pet lovers, being able to enjoy a meal with your pet would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan is a pet-friendly restaurant that makes that wish come true.
Here’s an introduction to Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan and all its many charms.
It closed in May 2024.
The information below is from when it was open.
The information presented here is as of the article’s publication in September 2019. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan? A cafe on the grounds of Geibunkan Hall
As its name suggests, Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan is located on the grounds of Kurashiki Geibunkan, a multipurpose event hall in Kurashiki City.
The cafe is in a red-brick building that projects from the east side of the Geibunkan building.
Its ivy-covered exterior is striking and brings Kurashiki Ivy Square to mind.
▼The interior is spacious.
There’s plenty of space between the seats, making it seem like a relaxing place to spend time.
▼There are four counter seats.
▼There are also terrace seats.
Pets are welcome on the terrace.
Pets are also allowed inside the cafe, provided they are kept in a carrier.
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan is open in the evenings only for private bookings.
▼Groups of 15 to 60 people can be accommodated. Enjoy an array of lavish dishes prepared by a dedicated chef.
Advance reservations are required for evening use.
▼There is parking beside the cafe (to the east) and behind it (to the south), with space for seven cars in total (three spaces are shared with the Kurashiki Geibunkan office).
Popular and recommended menu items at Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan offers a variety of menu items.
Here are some staff recommendations and popular choices.
“Keema curry” is a carefully crafted specialty made by a staff member who loves curry
First up is Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan’s signature dish, “keema curry.”
▼The generous amount of ground meat and the egg yolk in the center catch the eye.
▼Alongside the ground meat and egg yolk, the generous serving of vegetables is especially striking.
▼The vegetables on top are eggplant, carrot, zucchini, kabocha squash, and asparagus.
The vegetables change with the seasons.
For example, as winter approaches, sweet potatoes may be added.
▼The keema curry comes with a salad and carrot râpée.
▼Carrot râpée is a French home-style dish with a tangy flavor.
Depending on the season, the carrot râpée may be replaced with pickles or something else.
“Hayashi rice” has a rich, deep flavor from tomatoes, butter, beef, and other ingredients simmered thoroughly
Besides curry, another customer favorite is hayashi rice.
The hayashi rice is simmered thoroughly with tomatoes, butter, beef, and other ingredients, giving it plenty of savory flavor.
Another highlight is that it is made using the moisture in the ingredients, with very little added water.
It is also packed with ingredients, which is part of its appeal.
“Daisen Farm Roll Cake” and “Daisen Farm Cafe au Lait,” made with 100% Shirobara Milk, are specialties of a milk shop!
Oda, the representative of Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan, also runs a long-established milk shop.
Drawing on his experience in the milk business, he especially recommends Daisen Dairy’s Shirobara Milk.
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan offers a range of menu items made with Shirobara Milk.
▼The main menu items made with Shirobara Milk are listed below (prices as of September 2019).
| Menu item | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Daisen Farm Roll Cake (plain, matcha) | ¥600 |
| Ice cream (Daisen Farm vanilla) | ¥350 |
| Daisen Farm Cafe au Lait | ¥550 |
| Daisen Farm Milk | ¥400 |
▼The standout item made with Shirobara Milk, the Daisen Farm Roll Cake, comes with plenty of cream.
The matcha Daisen Farm Roll Cake is also recommended, but the plain version lets you taste the rich flavor of Shirobara Milk.
▼The cream had just the right sweetness and a rich milky flavor.
▼The sponge is fluffy, with a moist texture.
▼Scattered around the roll cake are sweets called oirii.
Oirii are a traditional specialty of Kagawa Prefecture.
▼They were flavored with condensed milk.
You can also add ice cream for an extra ¥150.
There are several flavors, but the vanilla is made with Shirobara Milk, so it is recommended.
▼The Daisen Dairy Cafe au Lait (iced) is also a popular item made with Shirobara Milk.
It has a stronger milky flavor than the commercially available Shirobara Coffee.
It is unsweetened, so add as much liquid sugar syrup as you like.
If you want to enjoy the flavor of Shirobara Milk more directly, the Daisen Farm Milk is recommended.
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan Menu
▼The Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan menu is as follows.
Prices as of September 2019
The limited-edition Harenomino Kurashiki 2019 menu is a “Keema Curry Dog” and beer
At the 9th annual Harenomino Kurashiki 2019, held on November 4, 2019, Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan served a Keema Curry Dog and beer (or Zima or a soft drink).
▼The Keema Curry Dog is a limited-edition menu item available only at Harenomino Kurashiki 2019.
▼The beer is Corona.
The beer can also be changed to Zima or a soft drink.
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan is a distinctive cafe, with a focus on keema curry and Shirobara Milk.
We interviewed the cafe’s representative, Oda Zensuke.
Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan Information
| Name | Cafe Kurashiki Geibunkan |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture (within the grounds of Geibunkan Hall) |
| Contact | 050-5595-6763 |
| Parking | Available 7 spaces in total (3 beside the shop on the east side, 4 behind it on the south side) |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. (private bookings only) |
| Closed | Wednesday Open if it falls on a public holiday, and closed the following day |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted Reservations can be made by phone or online through the website, Tabelog, and other services |
| Seating | 48 seats in total ・Counter: 4 seats ・Three 2-person tables ・Five 4-person tables ・One 6-person table ・Terrace: three 4-person tables (Pets are allowed on the terrace. Inside, pets are allowed only in a carrier.) |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking permitted only in designated areas) |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Families with children | Strollers allowed Children’s chairs available Children’s plates and tableware available |
| Accessibility | Ramp Wheelchair accessible |
| Website | Cafe & Diner Kurashiki Geibunkan |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
The key to enjoying keema curry is to mix the ground meat, egg yolk, curry sauce, and rice together thoroughly!