What is CoCo Ichibanya?
Curry House CoCo Ichibanya (commonly known as CoCo Ichi) is a curry chain founded in Nagoya. It holds the Guinness World Record for the “Most branches of a curry restaurant chain.” In 2020, they even opened a branch in India, the homeland of curry! I (Akira) was surprised to see a long line of locals waiting in front of CoCo Ichi in a Manila shopping mall in 2023. In cultures where queuing for food isn’t common, this showed just how powerful the brand has become. Currently, there are about 1,200 stores in Japan and 200 overseas.
The Secret to Success: “The Art of Being Average”
Usually, curry shops strive to create a unique, signature flavor. However, CoCo Ichi provides a very standard, neutral curry sauce. Why? The “My Curry” Strategy: Because the base is simple, it acts as a canvas for you to paint your own masterpiece.
- 6 Base Sauces: Pork, Sweet Pork, Vegetarian, Beef, Hashed Beef, etc.
- Spice Levels: From “Sweet” to “20x Spicy.”
- Rice Portions: You choose the exact gram amount.
- 40+ Toppings: Cheese, Natto, Sausage, Seafood, Katsu, etc.
By letting customers build their own “My Curry,” they created a system where you never get bored. There are reportedly over 1.2 billion combinations!
🍛 Akira’s Honest Advice for Beginners
If this is your first time eating Japanese curry, CoCo Ichi might be tricky. To truly enjoy this place, you need the “arranging skills” to customize the toppings and flavors. The base curry alone is quite plain.
- If you want a guaranteed win: Stick to the Top 3 Ranking (listed below). You can’t go wrong with these.
- If you want a cheaper, easier start: Try the curry at Matsuya (beef bowl chain) to get used to the standard taste.
- Local Insight: For Japanese locals, CoCo Ichi is considered “slightly expensive.” For example, in Jimbocho (Tokyo’s curry capital), the legendary Kitchen Nankai serves an amazing Katsu Curry for ¥850. A similar setup at CoCo Ichi will cost ¥1,200–¥1,300 because toppings add up fast.
💡 CoCo Ichi Trivia & Hacks
- Free Sauce Refill: This is a lifesaver. If you finish your curry sauce but still have white rice left on your plate, ask the staff. They will refill the sauce for free (once).
- Japanese: “Roo no okawari wo onegaishimasu.” (Please give me a refill of the roux.)
- The “¥400 Couple” Legend: There is a true story of a couple who only had ¥400. They ordered one ¥390 Pork Curry to share. The staff served them with a smile and treated them with full respect. This spirit of hospitality is the core of the company.
- Ice Cream: Unlike many fast-food spots, they serve ice cream and drinks to cool down your mouth after spicy curry.
System: How to Order
Ordering here used to be verbal, but now most stores use Touch Panels.
- Warning: The customization process on the tablet can be complex (Sauce type? Rice amount? Spice level? Toppings?).
- Solution: Check the English Menu PDF on your phone beforehand. If the tablet is too confusing, just show the picture on your phone to the staff or point to the physical menu.
Flow:
- Enter & Sit: Counter or Table.
- Order: Tablet or Call Staff (Say “Sumimasen”).
- Eat: Enjoy your custom curry.
- Pay: At the register (Cash, Credit Card, IC Cards like Suica/Pasmo are generally accepted).
Review: How to Order
Operating Hours & Budget
- Hours: Typically 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (or Midnight).
- Note: Varies by location.
- Budget:¥1,000 – ¥2,000
- It is more expensive than Beef Bowl chains (Yoshinoya/Sukiya). Alcohol will add to the cost.
🏆 Top 10 Popular Menu Items
(Based on Minna no Ranking votes)
- Pork Shabu Curry (Thinly sliced pork—easy to eat!)（豚しゃぶカレー）
- Stewed Chicken Curry (Pari-Pari Chicken) （チキン煮込みカレー）
- Pork Cutlet Curry (The classic Katsu Curry)（ロースかつカレー）
- Chicken Katsu Curry（チキンカツカレー）
- Cheese Curry (Great for toning down spice)（チーズカレー）
- Spinach Curry（ほうれん草カレー）
- Vegetable Curry（野菜カレー）
- Hand-made Tenderloin Katsu Curry（手仕込みとんかつカレー）
- Chicken & Vegetable Curry（チキン野菜カレー）
- Fish Fly Curry（フィッシュフライカレー）
