— A no-confusion starter guide for first-timers
New to CoCo Ichibanya? Start here.
CoCo Ichibanya (“CoCo Ichi”) is Japan’s best-known build-your-own curry chain. Ordering is simple:
① Choose your curry sauce → ② Choose rice amount → ③ Choose spice/sweetness level → ④ Add toppings.
Many locations have English menus, service is fast, and both counter and table seating make it easy to drop in solo. Thanks to that flexibility, there are roughly 1.2 billion ways to assemble a plate. This guide gives you a minimal, foolproof starting build, then a few pro tweaks to find your CoCo Ichi.
Tip on naming: say “CoCo Ichi” to locals; the official brand is CoCo ICHIBANYA.
Three things to know up front
- Order flow is Sauce → Rice → Spice/Sweetness → Toppings. Menu prices typically assume 300 g rice, regular spice. You can go down to 200 g (lighter & often cheaper) or up for a fee.
- Toppings: think katsu, veggies, seafood, cheese, eggs, plus rotating seasonal items.
- Spice scale: multi-level (and you can add sweetness too). If unsure, start Mild or Level 1.
Golden rule: don’t overbuild on your first visit. One or two toppings + mild spice usually tastes best.
Minimal starter builds (copy them as is)
A | Classic but light
- Pork sauce / 200 g rice / Level 1 / Cheese + Spinach
Balanced, gentle, and photo-friendly. Easy on the stomach.
B | Crispy crowd-pleaser
- Pork sauce / 250 g rice / Level 1–2 / Pork Loin Katsu
The coating soaks up sauce—gets better as you eat.
C | Veg-forward comfort
- Vegetable-style curry / 200 g rice / Regular–Level 1 / Eggplant + Okra (half portions OK)
Great texture/sweetness balance. (Strict vegan options vary by store; check the in-house menu.)
D | Spoon-can’t-stop mellow
- Beef sauce / 300 g rice / Regular / Scrambled Egg + Mushrooms
Soft, cozy, and deeply scoopable.
Easy “pro” tweaks
- Start with 200 g rice: the default 300 g is surprisingly big. Dropping to 200 g often saves a bit and lets you spend on better toppings.
- Sweetness is a safety net: if you overshoot the spice, a sweetness add-on smooths things out.
- Half-toppings: many items come in half portions—perfect for balance and budget.
Say this (English)
- “Pork curry, 200 grams of rice, spice level one, with cheese and spinach, please.”
- “Can I have half-portion toppings?”
- “Less rice is okay—two hundred grams.”
- “Mild, please.” / “Level one is fine.”
Show this (Japanese) — Point & Show mini card
ポークソース、ライス200g、1辛でお願いします。
ハーフトッピングはできますか？
ごはんは少なめ（200g）でお願いします。
辛さは控えめで（普通〜1辛）お願いします。
Quick FAQ
Do they have English menus?
Often, yes—but pointing and the phrases above work well anywhere.
What if I don’t handle spice?
Go Mild/Regular and add cheese or egg for extra smoothness.
Takeout?
Many shops do it. Containers and pricing can differ—confirm at order.
High freedom means your “right answer” is personal. Start with a small, safe build, enjoy the win, then tweak next time. That’s how you’ll discover your one in ≈1.2 billion.
If this kind of practical local guide helps, have a quick browse of our small, crowd-savvy activities too:
→ https://crazyescape.net/experiences/