Introducing City Gorilla Curry

Hello, fellow travelers!
I’m Cho-san, a writer for [SaruKuma]!

Summer in Japan just calls for a hot, spicy curry!
So with that craving in mind…

Today I’m excited to introduce you to
[City Gorilla Curry],
located in Hanabata-cho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City.

If you’re a fan of Japanese spice curry,
you may already know this name.
City Gorilla Curry used to operate on Kaminoura-dori Street,
but since January of this year, they’ve been running their lunchtime business out of
“Oishiya Teppei,” a creative Italian restaurant in Hanabata-cho,
by borrowing the venue during daytime hours.
This style is known in Japan as “magari curry” — a pop-up curry shop sharing space with another restaurant! ☆
The shop is tucked away in the basement of the Daiichi Ginnan Building, on Ginnan Naka-dori Street.

When the shop is open, you’ll spot a signboard right out front.
Just look for the cute sign as your landmark! ☆
It’s super easy to find,
with another marker right at the top of the stairs.

Inside, the shop offers both counter seats and table seating.
The counter was steadily filling up with solo diners — both men and women — coming in for their curry fix!
I sometimes go out for curry on my own too,
and having counter seats makes it so much easier and more welcoming to drop in alone ♪
And here are the table seats.

City Gorilla Curry — Recommended Menu

The menu rotates regularly,
but on the day I visited, two options were on offer:
① Chicken Keema Curry (medium spicy)
② Three-Bean & Seasonal Vegetable Curry (mild)
Each is priced at ¥900 on its own.

Here’s the single serving of ② Three-Bean & Seasonal Vegetable Curry (mild) — ¥900.
The seasonal vegetables included a generous helping of okra ♪
Even as a single serving, the dish comes with an impressive four side dishes,
plus a side salad too!

Greedy as I am, I went for the “aigake” (half-and-half) option ♪
The aigake adds just ¥200 extra, bringing the total to ¥1,100.
With the aigake, you get five different side dishes!!
And of course, the salad is included too ☆

(I love curry but actually struggle with spicy food)
Still, the medium-spicy keema was perfectly enjoyable for me ♬
It comes with a wedge of lemon,
so I gave the keema a good squeeze of citrus, and
wow — that spicy, zesty combo was absolutely delicious ♡
A true summer pick-me-up,
I happily devoured every bite of this spice-packed curry!

The owner has also studied yakuzen (Japanese medicinal cuisine) and kampo (traditional Japanese herbal medicine),
and posts on Instagram with the hashtag
#ForEveryoneWhoCaresAboutHealth!
You can really taste the deep love and dedication for
curry and spices in every bite —
a flavor crafted with passion ☆

By the way,
the usual opening hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
though occasionally they open at 12:00 noon instead.
The shop’s latest schedule is updated regularly on Instagram,
so be sure to check their Stories and feed before heading out ☆

I dropped by on a weekday at lunchtime,
and right when the doors opened, two other groups were already waiting (besides me).
More customers kept streaming in after that,
so I’d recommend arriving early to beat the lunch rush.

They also offer takeout,
so feel free to grab some to go for a curry feast at your hotel or accommodation ♬

Frequently Asked Questions

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