Curry House CoCo Ichibanya

My first experience here was back in 2005, the best on the aina. Ono grinds! Weneva I go back to da aina, I always eat hea, broke da mouf!

Service was slower at this location than the McCully one. Plus, there was only one serving left of the beef curry! I guess they didn’t get enough shipment in?

When it comes to getting my fix of chicken cutlet curry,(or any Japanese curry), this is my place! Order your degree of hotness and the level of rice, then grab your spoon!
One could get full just eating the pickled radish sitting on the table, but save it for your curry. Add cheese if you wish, but I like to keep my neat. The corn salad is yummy no matter what your take on corn is… just as long as you have the roasted sesame dressing! That stuff goes with everything! I even put some on my curry!
Service is friendly and ordering to go is easy and fast. CASH ONLY!!! $$ Card is not accepted. But there is an ATM around the corner.

Curry House is one of my favorite go to places for lunch.
This was my first time at this location. I love curry house because everything is so quick. Everyone already has their go to dish and the food also comes out like 5 minutes later! I love it: D
Another thing I really love about curry house is the consistency. No matter which location I visit the food always taste delicious!

I really don’t care for curry & I’ll never suggest to eat it buuuut 4 stars because every time my boyfriend does want to come here, my tummy is satisfied. I deducted a star because I wish they would accept cc! I usually get the Mabo tofu & add mushrooms. Or mushroom curry w/​spinach. On our most recent visit, we decided to get a squid salad (which is now my fave item) & a side order of the vegetable croquette (I really enjoyed this also). The workers are always friendly AND they’re open late!

Its becoming a routine lately that Sunday when I head into work at noon, I see my hungover co-​worker and ask «Sup Bu, you hungry?». He then responds with «yeah», and I reply with «What, Curry House?» and he says «Rajah» emphatically. (icydk, «Bu» is slang for «Buddy» and «Rajah» is a synonym for «Okay U.S.A.» in the local Hawaiian vernacular).
Why does he reply so emphatically in tone with his response?
Because CoCo Ichibanya hits the spot after a night of partying and having to wake up and crawl to work and find some nourishment to rejuvenate the body to function properly and start the week. (I’m speaking on behalf of my young co-​worker and not myself, for I have not «partied» in ages)
Curry House is a favorite by many locals, as you might get to notice if you go there on their peak hours (especially if you stop in on a Friday or Saturday evening). Now granted the place is small. Its lined with several booths along the right side wall and then counter space seating to complete it with the kitchen and reception counter on the other half of the eatery, and a 4 chair seated waiting area. Although most of the time if you are waiting you’ll probably be one of the others standing outside the front door weaving and side lateral stepping like Steph Curry in a Warriors game as other people walk thru the front door to sign in, check the waiting time, or pick up their called in order. This is the only reason why I’ll deduct a star, this and the parking which can get difficult at times too, as in busy hours you might have to park all the way by Powerhouse Gym and hike it to the Kam Hwy fronting restaurant.
Other then that this place is great. I usually call in for pick up and the girls that answer the phone are great. Sometimes we have some extra guys at the shop where I work and I have to put in some crazy orders like «Mushroom Medley, Spicy with side pork cutlet and small portion rice» or «Stewed clams and spinach Mild with a side of fried chicken with cheese» and I get the orders confused while I’m on the phone. But they are patient with me while I’m bumbling my words and asking the guys in the background what the heck they were trying to order.
The food usually gets prepared quick as well, usually within 10 to 20 minutes on an Average day, and I have yet to receive a mixed up order, considering how wonky my phone orders tend to be. And when you finally am able to sit down and eat the food, it is an indescribable mixture of savory bliss, regardless of what entrée you order, that will leave you satisfied.
So for all that I give CoCo Ichibanya a 4.49 stars. And since in Asian fashion (and I am Asian myself) I use my mathematical rounding skills, it leads us to a 4 star rating. Keep up the good work guys and girls at the Curry House!
And uh, fix that security camera, cause its pointing to the top right side of door sill and isn’t fooling anyone :)

I’ve loved CoCo Ichibanya since the time I used to live in Matsumoto, Japan (in fact, every time I got paid, this would be the first place I would head). I was very excited to learn that the chain also exists in Hawaii. This is my second time to a CoCo Ichibanya in the U.S. and both visits (the other location was in Honolulu, if memory serves right) left me happy and satisfied.
The menu is varied and there is always a good selection of fun side dishes. Moreover, you can customize your curry by choosing its spiciness, the amount of rice that comes on the side, and what meat comes with it. The portions are always generous and filling, the food is delicious and prepared well, the service is quick and friendly, and the prices are more than affordable. Whether you’re a curry lover or simply want to get a quick snack, this is the perfect place for you!

I had the Katsu Curry done spicy.
Curry was okay, but the chicken was dry, yet greasy. I believe it was pre-​cooked and kept warm for a long period of time. I’ve eaten at Coco’s many times in Japan and have never had pre-​cooked old chicken Katsu served to me. This is a disgrace to the franchise.
Atmosphere is typical Japanese curry house. However, the place was freezing. You could hang meat at the counter.
Not a bad value if the food were fresh, but cutting corners is not the way to go.
Service is average. It’s not at the same level as the Coco’s in Japan.
It’s cash only as well. I’m docking a star just for that.

Gosh!!! Where do I begin??? Yes… I love Chicken (Cutlet) Katsu! Yes… I love curry gravy especially if it’s SPICY!!! Yes… throw in the vegetables and cheese!!! and Yes… load up the rice!!! All equals to a heavenly dish that you can find at the Curry House CoCo Ichibanya located in the Pearl Kai Shopping Center next door to many other food establishments all facing Phase II of Pearl Ridge Sears parking lot. There’s at least 6 booths that can accomodate a party of almost 5 – 6 people and there’s the counter that can seat at least 8 – 10 people if you decided to come alone or just wanna eat and run on your lunch or dinner break. This place can fill up fast especially on the weekends but the wait time never gone over an hour. Staff are upbeat, young, friendly, and always with a smile constantly checking on the patrons making sure all is well. Cooks are visible so you can watch them prepare you food and no funny business… ifyouknowhatimean! Their menus are a huge selection but many or most will get the usual (top 10) on the menu. Side dishes are CHEAP… from Gyoza, Fried Squid, deep fried baby Octopus, and croquettes. The only snag and trouble you may experience is parking. Because of the many food establishments in that Shopping area, parking is a tight squeeze… literally!!! You may have to go in circles a couple of times before finding a spot to park, which may not be anywhere near where you’re going to eat. But alas, don’t let that ruin your day especially if you’re about to eat some good ‘ol curry dishes! There’s just something about that Japanese Curry that keeps calling me back to eat at Curry House Coco Ichibanya!!!

Curry house is always good to me. If we don’t feel like cooking, curry house is a quick an easy fix, never disappointed and never left hungry.
We usually order mabo tofu curry with chicken cutlet and cheese (what can I say, we like to eat!) And there is usually a lot left over for later. Our tab usually runs just a little over $ 20 for two people. Not bad. Not bad at all.
They are open late, til like 10:30 pm I believe. Located across the street from pearlridge mall at the pearl Kai shopping center. Right next door to kuru kuru.
I dislike how they are cash only, and they don’t have an ATM in the restaurant. Its 2015 people, everyone uses credit or debit cards. Go to The Blazin steaks a few doors down if you came without cash. They have an ATM there.
Overall I’m a fan. Nothing fancy but it is a quick yummy filling hot plate for cheap and you can’t go wrong wit that.

Love the service here, my boyfriend and I come here often and they always Remember our order! The staff is extremely friendly, and the food is consistent. It always tastes exactly how we expect it to. The only down side is there is not enough tables so sometimes you have to wait for awhile, and this is a cash only location!

Wanna talk about cheap comforting eats?
We were in the mode of not cooking at home during our recent move from our home in Moanalua and decided to grab a quick and inexpensive bite to eat while at Pearlridge. My fried food eating «hero» husband suggested fried chicken but I balked because I was already stressed out and didn’t want to intake anymore fast food than I had to. I suggested that we try this Japan-​based chain curry house in the Pearl Kai Mall that would cover both of our tastes.
Luckily, we were eating at the in-​between hours of lunch and dinner, hence, «linner», so there wasn’t the usual line that snakes out the door of this restaurant. There are two dedicated parking lots for this mall and most times, you’ll be able to find a space that fronts the restaurant.
When we entered, most of the dining booths were taken but there were plenty of seats at the counter. Our hostess led us to the counter and promptly gave us the menus, two water glasses and a pitcher of iced water. It turned out she was also doubling as our server as she asked us in a friendly voice if this was our first dine or if we had any questions about the menu. We eagerly ordered our linner meals with the understanding that Japanese curry tastes different from Madras, Thai, Chinese or even French (Vadouvan) curries.
The food:
— Fried baby octopus (appetizer): These little cephalopods were served WHOLE (head & tentacles) and were deep fried perfectly. The meat was still soft/​chewy while the light tempura crust was crisp and airy. We were so hungry that this appetizer didn’t even last 5 minutes once it was set onto our table.
— Chicken katsu (cutlet) curry with 300 g of steaming white rice: We both ordered this dish with spicy-​level heat. It really wasn’t that spicy and we added some chili flakes to our curry. The boneless chicken cutlet was breaded in panko flakes and fried crisp, golden brown and delicious (GB&D)! We were impressed by the size of the boneless chicken thigh fillet. geez, it was spread across the upper portion of the plate and was thick and juicy. The panko crust was crisp and not overly breaded which allowed the natural flavors of the chicken to shine through. The curry sauce was pooled at the bottom of the plate yet napped the chicken slices. There was enough sauce to allow the rice to soak up every last drop of deliciousness.
Coco Ichibanya impressed us with their portion size (food coma inducing), spot on Japanese comfort food flavors (albeit this, great value (our bill totaled about $ 18 for two including), friendly and quick service. Cash is KING, here! They don’t accept any plastic funds.
#417

The parking = it’s really hard to find parking here. There are so many shops but not enough parking to accommodate everyone so it may take a really long time to get a parking here.
The service = the service was not on point. They were quick with seating us but that was about it.
The food = the food was pretty good. The portions are pretty big so if you order something like chicken katsu curry, I order the chicken on the side. That way, if I don’t finish it and decide to take the rest home, it won’t be all soggy. We also ordered the mapo tofu and it had vegetables in it. That’s the first time I ever had veggies in my mapo tofu.
The price = the prices are reasonable for the portion sizes that they give.

The beef looked dry on the menu so I was hoping for the worst. When I bit into the beef, it nearly brought me to tears of joy. The beef was melt-​in-​your-​mouth tender. The curry sauce was flavorful. The menu says that it’s mild but I found it to be not spicy at all. Portions, generous.
Chicken katsu was done right– it was large, crispy, and juicy. Best $ 2 addition EVER.
The service was friendly and attentive.

We liked the mains here. Skip the fried shumai and gyoza even though they each cost just $ 2. Not good. BUT, the curries were great. Except for being able to choose the spicy level, I felt like I was back in Okinawa! I had curry pork cutlet; my wife had a combo of kalbi and fried chicken (both spicy). The fried chicken was just okay. The pork cutlet and kalbi were great.
So lessons learned. Skip the apps and just go with normal curries. Really tasty.

This is where you go when you want some curry in a hurry! Dine in or take out it’ll be good stuff :).
I only started eating curry a few years ago, and boy was I missing out! They have such a large variety of what you can order. I prefer the Chicken Cutlet with Cheese on top, it’s a local favorite. You might be thinking… «Curry with cheese?! Ew!» Don’t knock it till you try it, the cheese helps balance out the spice and gives it a different texture as well.
Curry house can get a little busy during the typical peak hours of lunch and dinner. It’s a small place with bar style seating and about 7 booths. The staff is friendly and always greets you with a smile and «irasshaimase» which welcomes you to the restaurant. They are open from 11am-​11pm but can sometimes close earlier if they were busy and run out of food.
My girlfriend likes the chicken cutlet without cheese, shrimp shumai, and 200 grams of rice which saves about $ 0.50 off the regular portion rice.
Next time you’re hungry for some inexpensive and delicious food check out the Pearl Kai Curry House!
Happy eating!

This is my boyfriend and I’s go-​to katsu-​curry fix!
Whenever my boyfriend and I are craving curry or just want to go somewhere casual, we come here! This is like our comfort food. We always order the same thing: I get the mild chicken cutlet with 200 mg of rice and he gets the spicy chicken cutlet with cheese, regular rice portion (300 mg, I think?).
The service is pretty quick, I love that the menu has pictures so you know exactly what you’re getting. It is a CASH ONLY place! The reason I gave it only 3 stars is because they need to work a bit on customer service. I always feel rushed to order. Yes, I most likely will just order my usual, but I still want some time to look at the menu. Most times I come here I feel like I should already know what I want before I’m even seated! The waiter/​waitress is right there ready to take your order when you get there. This would be a good thing, but most places usually ask for your drink order then come back to take your food order.
I do understand that this is the way they do things, but I also don’t like that they just have a pitcher of water on the table from before you’re seated so you can fill your own cups. Another thing that bugs me a little is them leaving your tab on the table right after you order. I know they will add to your tab if you order more after your initial order but it’s kinda weird to have the tab sitting on the table the whole time you’re eating. Again, I do know that’s just the way they do things. Just wish they put a little more emphasis on their customer service.
But of course, the food is always delicious, and consistent so we’ll be coming back despite the lack of customer service.

This Curry House has a certain sentimental value to me, being the first place I had ever tried any kind of curry when I was a child. I love the food, adore how inexpensive it is, but the service is just not the same anymore.
Over the last three years, the curry crew started changing and hired new faces. Unfortunately, these new faces are not nearly as friendly or service-​oriented as the older crew. Several times, I’ve even had service with bad attitude toward me — but blatantly different, better service to my boyfriend. Completely unacceptable. That hasn’t happened for a while, thank the stars, but the service now is just not as sincere as it used to be.
The food is your standard CoCo amazingness, though. I’ll always opt for the stewed chicken, spinach, and cheese udon, but I would pick going to the Kapolei location for the same food with better, friendlier service.

Unilocal 100 Review Challenge 2015: ³⁸⁄₁₀₀
Throughout high school, this CoCo Curry House location was the place to go. Its been years since then and I have hardly frequented this location but when I do dine here it’s nostalgic.
They have the same fold out chairs that serve as waiting seats, the counter/​bar area to eat as well as booths and a simple dimple menu quite similar to the CoCo Curry House in Japan. I love the authenticity of Japanese curry and the small cozy yet clean atmosphere. The food always arrives promptly and they’re very accommodating to special orders like asking for the curry on the side.
The downsides are that it’s CASH ONLY, parking can be competitive at dinner time with Kurukuru Sushi just next door and the sewer smell (try not to wait outside).

What can I say about Coco Ichiban Curry House? All I say is that it’s CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP and the food here is consistent with lots of choices to choose from.
I live the fact that they have a water pitcher on the table and pickled vegetables to accompany your Curry Rice and the service here at the Pearl Kai is friendly, fast, and efficient.
I always order the Pork Katsu Curry with a rice upgrade and I also order the Eggplant Curry as well which also hits the spot. The Corn Salad is also something I like to order as well, and I always order sides to add to my curry such as the Oyster Fry and Shrimp Shumai. And the sides here are so damn cheap and they don’t charge you an arm and a leg either. That’s why I like coming to Coco Ichiban because the curry here does its job and Its always busy at this location and you always get the Kuru Kuru spillovers when that place gets full.
The only thing I don’t like about this place is the counter seating. I don’t like watching people cook nor do I like them watching me eat either. It’s just a little awkward if you ask me. Well to each his own, but I’d just rather eat at a table because I hate being side by side with other diners as well. It’s like being on an airplane and deciding to gets the armrest throughout the whole plane trip.
All I have to say is that if you are looking for more than decent tasting curry and don’t want to break the bank doing so, then this is the place to try.