Introducing Daddy’s Curry

Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Cho-san, your [Sarukuma] writer!

Summer in Japan just makes you crave curry!
And with that in mind…

If you’ve read [Sarukuma] before,
you might get a bit of déjà vu from this opening line —
but please don’t roll your eyes! Stick with me to the end of this one too! (laugh)

Tucked away in a back alley of the Kuhonji neighborhood,
there’s a wonderfully nostalgic building with a warm, curry-colored hue…
That’s right!
This is today’s featured spot,
located in Kuhonji, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Daddy’s Curry”!

When you hear the word “Daddy,” what comes to mind?
For me, it’s instantly the Japanese comedian Koji Higashino…
A devoted fan, that’s what I am.
Here’s hoping at least one reader out there nods along with me!

Anyway, back to the topic!

The shop sits one block in from Sangyo Road, on the city-center side.
It’s right behind the gas station near the Kuhonji intersection — easy to find once you know where to look.
The shop doesn’t have its own parking lot,
but there are coin-operated parking lots nearby ☆
And seriously, isn’t this building absolutely charming?
Even the entrance area is just too cute… ♡
There’s a weekly schedule board posted out front,
plus a chalkboard announcing new menu items!

Step inside and you’re greeted by a red carpet covering the floor.
The interior more than lives up to the promise of the exterior —
in fact, it exceeds expectations,
feeling like a genuine historic Western-style mansion straight out of another era!
Note: you’ll need to take off your shoes before entering ♬

When I visited (August 2020),
as part of infection-prevention measures
hand-sanitizer spray was available — don’t forget to use it!

The first floor has counter seats and
table seating (two two-seaters and one four-seater).
(↑ This one-of-a-kind chair is the King’s Chair!)
The second floor has table seating (two two-seaters).

Visiting for some solo curry time,
I was lucky enough to grab a spot at the counter.
Counter seats are honestly such a blessing for solo diners ♬
Right in front of me sat a beautiful row of spice jars!
The best view ever ♡ (laugh)

I dropped by on a weekday afternoon.
The shop opens at 11:00,
and by the time I arrived around 11:45
there were already three groups of customers seated.

More guests kept streaming in, and the place filled up in no time!

Groups of nearby office workers, a businessman dining solo in a suit,
elderly visitors, an elegant young woman —
it really proves that curry is loved by every generation ♪

As advertised on the chalkboard out front, takeout is also available,
and a customer came in to pick up an order during my visit.

Daddy’s Curry Recommended Menu

European-Style Curry
European-Style Beef Curry ¥1,000
The shop’s signature dish ♪

Spice Curry
Chicken Cartilage Keema Curry ¥850
Chicken cartilage and curry — a surprisingly perfect match!

Chef’s Special
Chicken Red Curry ¥900
Thai-style coconut milk curry —
spicy yet mellow and absolutely delicious ☆

Combo Curry
Combo Curry ¥1,400
A wonderfully indulgent option ♡

Since Daddy’s Curry is famous for its authentic European-style curry,
I walked in fully planning to order the European-Style Curry…

However,
but,
but!!
(That dramatic pause never gets old! laugh)
Those spice jars right in front of me at the counter kept calling my name…

Before I knew it, I’d ordered the
Spice Curry —
Chicken Cartilage Keema Curry ¥850!
(laugh)

And as someone who always orders lassi at curry shops,
I was won over by this adorable illustration
and ordered a lassi on the side, too ☆

Soon enough, with a wonderful aroma of spices drifting through the air, my dish arrived…

Behold!!

Doesn’t it look amazing?!
You can practically taste the deliciousness just by looking at it.
The lassi came generously filled to the top, too ♪

And let’s not overlook these wonderful side dishes!
Four kinds lined up neatly on the plate!
The white one in front is
tofu cream cheese —
incredibly unique and unusual, isn’t it?

With my expectations soaring,
it was finally time to dig in ♪

No doubt about it —
absolutely delicious!!!!

You can really taste the generous blend of spices.

As a huge fan of the aroma of cloves,
finding whole cloves tucked into the curry felt like
a special little reward — I was so thrilled ♪

Red chili peppers were sprinkled on the rice,
and also mixed into the keema curry, giving everything a pleasant kick as a great accent.
The chicken cartilage came in generous chunks with a wonderful presence ♪

For someone like me who isn’t great with spicy food,
it was “the maximum spice level I can still enjoy,”
and it was a wonderfully tasty kind of heat!

For those who love spicy food, this might be just the right amount of spiciness ♪

The lassi I ordered alongside? It absolutely earned its keep!

It had a smooth, refreshing finish,
taming the heat and quenching my thirst all at once…
If you visit Daddy’s Curry, I highly recommend ordering them together!

Each of the four side dishes was outstanding too!

It turned into a truly satisfying lunch ♬

As I was leaving, another customer who was on her way out
struck up a conversation and told me
“This was my first visit, and it was so delicious!” —
she was raving about the European-Style Curry!

By the way, when you order the European-Style Curry,
the rice and curry sauce are served separately,
with the sauce served in something that looks like
Aladdin’s lamp — yes, that kind of vessel!
Next time, I’m definitely going for the European-Style Curry ♪

Also,
since I went with the lassi this time, I didn’t try the coffee,
but they grind the beans fresh for every single order,
so next visit I’ve made up my mind: European-Style Curry plus freshly ground coffee!

The day I visited was a sweltering 37°C (about 99°F) according to one weather report — a truly scorching day —
but a great curry helped me power through the heat ♪
The formula “hot summer day = curry” really does seem to hold up!
(*Just my personal take, of course! laugh)

Please refer to the shop info below for opening hours,
but keep in mind that they may close once the curry sauce sells out,
and evening service is sometimes canceled when a studio shoot is scheduled.
Be sure to check the shop’s regularly updated Instagram before heading over ☆

Frequently Asked Questions

*Information is current as of the time of the visit. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.