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While I was exploring Fukuoka for the afternoon, my friend texted me a curry shop he wanted me to check out. And since it’s only a few minutes away from my hotel, I decided to give it a shot.
Famed for their ‘Yaki Curry,’ and featuring a timeless, Showa-era themed interior, the restaurant definitely stands out against the modern Kawabata shopping street outside. But what type of curry can you find here? And is it worth the visit? Let’s get to it. How Good is Curry Honpo Actually?
–Menu–
–Old Baked Curry–
–Pork Cutlet Curry–
–Verdict–
–Getting There–
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📋 Menu 📋
Curry Honpo’s menu is pretty simple: their famous Original Baked Curry or the more standard Stewed Curry, both customizable with your choice of toppings.
You can also choose your curry’s spiciness level, with Lv.0-2 being free, and Lv.3-5 costing a bit extra.
I went with Lv.1 today, and it was still relatively mild. So if you like a higher-intensity kick, Lv.2 is still a very safe bet.
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🍛 Old Baked Curry (¥1,150) 🍛
A classic from Mojiko Port, Kitakyushu since the 1950s and Curry Honpo’s signature dish, their Old Baked Curry is served gratin-style: a bed of rice topped with curry, beef chunks, a raw egg, and cheese cubes, baked until slightly reduced and the tops turn slightly toasty.
Compared to their standard curry (details below), this baked version features a much darker, meatier profile. It’s hard to say whether or not they use the same curry base, but the quick trip to the oven completely transforms it by trading some of the aromatic notes of tomato & onions for a more concentrated, deeply-spiced, and meaty curry sauce that’s impressively hearty.
Curry Honpo uses smaller chunks of beef for their Old Baked Curry. Pull-apart tender and slightly charred on the tips from the oven, the beef does a really great job in accentuating the already meaty flavors of the curry.
Contrasting the heavier curry and beef are the dish’s final two components – cheese cubes and a baked runny egg – providing a slightly lighter-flavored finish to the overall experience (while adding even more richness.) To best enjoy the dish, try the curry rice by itself first, then slowly mix the egg & cheese around for a richer experience with little pockets of creamy cheese.
Simple, but packed full of flavor – highly recommend you give this one a go!
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🍛 Pork Cutlet Curry (¥1,300) 🍛
A classic Yoshoku-style (Western-influenced) Japanese curry dish, featuring tonkatsu curry rice topped with some salad greens and pickled onions.
Served in a ‘standard’ approach, the curry leans towards a lighter, fragrant profile – still quite heavy from the spices, but with bright notes from the tomato, carrots, and other aromatics that complements your topping of choice, contrasting the baked curry’s bolder flavors.
Special mentions to their “Chami Buta” pork loin tonkatsu. While the cut was on the thinner side, I was not prepared for how tender and well-seasoned the pork was! I wasn’t expecting much, as this was my way of sneaking some katsu for lunch. But with a spoon-cut tender tonkatsu that also retains most of its crunch after saucing it with curry, this dish was a very welcome surprise!
I’d still recommend the Baked Curry if it’s your first time here, but if you want some variety or a lighter dish, this one is it.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is Curry Honpo actually? It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper curry meal, and this place really exceeded all my expectations. It’s a relatively simple dish, but the deeply-flavored curry, bits of slightly charred beef, cheese, and rich egg all combine to form a dish that’s incredibly hearty and comforting. And it’s that mix of simplicity and hard-hitting flavors is why this place is in my “Top 5 Restaurant Picks in Japan” list for 2025.
So if you’re around Fukuoka and need a recommendation for a great, hearty curry restaurant, Curry Honpo is definitely it!
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🚗 GETTING THERE 🚗
Curry Honpo is located at Kawabata Shopping Arcade, between the Hakata and Nakasu side of Fukuoka.
From Kushida Shrine Station (Nanakuma Line), head towards Exit 3 and cross the street towards Kawabata Shopping Arcade for a 3-minute walk.
From Nakasu-Kawabata Station (Kuko Line), head towards Exit 5 and walk 7 minutes through Kawabata Shopping Arcade.
It’s also walkable from Canal City Hakata, being only a quick 5 minute’s walk away.
Curry Honpo (Fukuoka)
🌏 Location 🌏
6-135 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0026, Japan
🗺 Map 🗺
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CgPHCbtGT2dqZiWo7
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
11 A.M. to 4 P.M.
💻 Website 💻
http://www.curry-honpo.com/
📖 Online Menu (Japanese) 📖
https://www.curry-honpo.com/menu-newpage.html
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