On the Kurashiki Center-gai Shopping Street, south of JR Kurashiki Station, is the long-established curry restaurant Curry House Kobeya.
This busy shopping street is frequented by locals and also by tourists heading to the Bikan Historical Area.
This curry restaurant, with its brickwork and nostalgic feel, is popular year-round and never short of customers.
Although it has many regular fans, very little information about the restaurant was available online.
Here, based on an interview, we introduce the story behind its name and what makes it special.
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in March 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Curry House Kobeya
Curry House Kobeya stands at the corner where the sidewalk and roadway meet on Kurashiki Ebisu-dori Shopping Street.
It is a well-known restaurant visited by tourists as well as locals.
The restaurant
The brick building has a nostalgic atmosphere.
The interior extends from the entrance to the kitchen at the back, making the restaurant long and narrow.
There are tables to the right as you enter, and counter seats to the left.
The counter seats face the road, but the frosted glass keeps them hidden from view outside.
They are recommended not only for solo diners, but also for anyone who wants to take good photos of their food, thanks to the bright lighting.
It used to be a butcher shop
Today it is a curry restaurant, but the first generation—who moved from Hiroshima City to Kurashiki City and were the grandparents of the current third-generation owners—opened in 1936 as a butcher shop called “Niku no Kobeya.”
Apparently, meat and croquettes were so popular they sold like hotcakes.
Although the shop has moved in the past, it has reportedly operated around JR Kurashiki Station ever since it was founded.
It became a curry restaurant in 1980, when the second-generation owner, the father of the current third-generation owners, was managing it.
It has been more than 40 years since it changed from a butcher shop to a curry restaurant.
Today, it is a long-established curry restaurant beloved by the people of Kurashiki.
We tried the menu at Curry House Kobeya
Curry House Kobeya has an extensive menu.
It was hard to choose, but we tried some of the popular classics.
Pork Cutlet Curry
The most popular dish is the Pork Cutlet Curry.
The menu proudly labels it “Most Popular.”
This curry makes a striking impression, topped with a generous portion of Sangen pork.
The pork cutlet covers more than half the plate and is wonderfully satisfying.
It is quite thick, sure to satisfy anyone craving a generous serving of meat.
It is coated in breadcrumbs and fried after you order, so the crust stays crisp right down to the last bite.
The curry sauce is smooth, with a slight kick.
Unlike curry sauces made with lots of spices, this is a nostalgic, old-fashioned curry.
Hayashi Rice
You might wonder why a curry restaurant serves it, but the Hayashi Rice is also very popular.
Some people even come regularly just for the Hayashi Rice.
There is so much hashed beef that you might wonder if it is possible to have this much.
The beef is just the right thickness and tenderness for the sauce to cling to it.
You can really taste the sweetness from the tomatoes and onions.
It also has a tangy note, making it refreshing.
This is a flavor that both adults and children are likely to enjoy.
Kobeya's Strawberry Milk Shake
Milk shakes bring to mind old-fashioned coffee shops.
You might think Kobeya's milk shake has been around for ages, but it is actually a new menu item created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Intrigued by Kobeya’s milkshake topped with a cherry, I ordered the richer strawberry milkshake.
The milkshake has a generous amount of strawberry sauce over coarsely crushed ice.
It is topped with frozen strawberries.
With a distinct milk flavor, it has a mellow taste overall.
I kept eating, thinking it might have been a perfect match for the spicy curry.
Curry House Kobeya is a curry restaurant loved by locals and tourists alike, and is conveniently accessible from JR Kurashiki Station.
We spoke with third-generation manager Kono.
Curry House Kobeya Information
| Name | Curry House Kobeya |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-7-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-0298 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. (last order at 8:00 p.m.) |
| Closed | Monday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Seating | 21 seats Counter seats: 6 Tables: 4 |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Curry House Kobeya |
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