RESTAURANTS

With the increasing internationalization and growing interest in other Asian countries we have been fortunate to experience a growth in the selection of international cuisine on top of the already great selection of local delicacies.

Irish Pub On the main bus route in Kokura, across from Izutsuya department store, is Irish Pub Booties. Guiness and Yebisu on tap, served in pints. Pub food such as fish and chips, sheperd's pie among other delicacies are available.

Bolivian Food At 2-11-10 Okidai in Tobata-ku, La Paz offers a variety of South American dishes, including empanadas and tacos, along with Bolivian coffee. Open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 19:00. Tel: 871-6064.

Real Mexican Food Located at Tamachi 1-5, Kokura-kita-ku 小倉北区田町１ー５田町バス停真前 (right at the Tamachi bus stop (#28 bus)) on the 1st floor of the ANDES Gallery Building (map). Tacos Cafe TAPATIA has authentic Mexican food. Open from 11:30-18:00. Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 18:00-22:00 by reservation only. Closed on Tuesdays. For more information call 592-6550.

Nabi-san ナビさん serves up Egyptian dishes in the Yahata area. He is located in Chuo-machi, near the KuYakuSho, on the main street across from Mizuho bank towards Kokura. Groceries are now available, too. It is now solely a take-out place. Once Nabi-san gets some time, he'll be putting his goodies on the web at nabisan.com. Yahata Higashi-ku Chuo 1 Chome 1-17. Tel: 661-2010. Open 9-9.

Appandi アッパンディ---Sad to say that this place has shut down. Central Asian food at Appandi. This is a quaint little cafe-style restaurant off a small side street of the Uomachi shopping arcade that offers central asian food. Finely spiced shishkebabs are cooked to perfection over charcoal. A variety of other dishes are also available along with set menus. Open from 12:00 to 14:00 for lunch and again from 17:00 to 02:00. Closed on Mondays. Tel: 522-8828. Kokura Kita-ku, Uomachi 3-3-14 小倉北区魚町3-3-14. Located on the small side street that runs parallel to Komonji-dori (小文字どり). If you enter the shopping arcade across from Maruwa (by Quest) take the first small street to your right and you`ll see it on your left.

MOJO-THAI A personal favorite. It`s on the second floor of the tsubone building (坪根ビル) in Kaji machi (鍛治町) right by the Heiwa-dori monorail station. A pleasant atmosphere and good, authentic Thai food. If you want you can tone the spice level up or down, but I find it done just right. Wash the heat down with their Carlsberg on tap. Open for lunch from 11:30 to 16:00 except Sundays and holidays. Dinner time is from 18:00 to 23:00 (last order 22:00). Closed every Monday. Tel: 551-5889.

Rebbenack Cajun food. Cajun Music. Right here in Kitakyushu. The food here is definitely not altered for Japanese palates. A range of Cajun food is on the menu including staples such as Gumbo Soup, Jambalaya, Blackened Fish, Cajun Style Shrimp, and Dirty Rice. Daily specials take advantage of what`s in season and what they can get their hands on. Definitely worth a try. The restaurant is located behind the Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center at Bashaku 1-14-10. They`re open from 18:00 till 01:00 - closed every 2nd and 4th Sunday. Tel: 531-8622.

In Mojiko is the Mojiko Beer Factory(門司子地ビル工房). The Micro-brewery has a bar on the first floor and a restaurant on the third - the good stuff is being brewed on the second floor. For a change from the usual Kirin and Asahi stuff this is definitely a place to check out. Their pizzas, baked in a wood-burning oven, are a great accompaniment to the beer. Straight across from the Mojiko Hotel, which is a one-minute walk from Mojiko station. Walk across the pedestrian drawbridge and it`ll take you to the brewery`s front door. Check the site for a map. You can now get Mojiko Micro-brew at the new pizzeria restaurant near the Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank by Kokura station. Address is Uomachi 1chome 3-23 (魚町１丁目３−２３).

Also in Mojiko is Cafe and TRATTORIA BARQUE (Jp). From May to October their open terrace allows for some enjoyable outdoor dining. A large menu with a board full of daily specials is sure to offer something for all tastes. It`s located a minute`s walk from Mojiko station along the park near the quays. 門司区港町9-4 Moji-ku Minato Machi 9-4. Tel: 321-1088. Closed every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month.

For more places around town check out Dan`s guide.