Ichiran Ramen - Where does one go for late night "drunk" food?  In England, maybe it's kababs or a fry-up.  In America it's some cheesy 24 hour breakfast place like Denny's (kinda like Royal Host).  But for gaijin here in Japan it most certainly has to be ramen.  And ichiran is the place!  Ichiran is one of the most famous ramen chains in Kyushu for a reason.  It's unique.  You buy a ticket outside at say 3AM after a night on the town, sometimes wait in a line for a seat to become available (always quickly), and then take a seat at one of ten divided cubicles on each side.   There are curtains between you and the staff (don't peek) and walls between you and your neighbor so no one will ever have to discover you in your drunk and slurping state unless you want them to.  If you ask, or they hear your loud gaijin voice, they'll give you an English menu by which you can choose exactly how you want your ramen - with or without pork, red pepper, garlic, green onion, etc.  And you even have a personal water spout to drink all the hangover-avoiding liquid you want.  It's divine.  A boiled egg is highly recommended with your ramen.  It's moved to a new location across the street from the old one.  Around the corner from Grassroots and adjacent to Cafe Bongo.  http://www.ichiran.co.jp/   (11) 

Kurofune - Kurofune is one of the best places to go with a large group where gaijin can be as loud as they damn well please.  You won't be alone.  Other patrons and the wait staff will be screaming as well.  The one in Kokura is the largest and most popular with a long bar, small tables, large tatami rooms w/long tables, and even a karaoke room you can reserve for the biggest and loudest of gatherings.  The Kokura chain also has an English menu which others do not.  The food caters to yakitori but the place is more of an izakaya with many types of food.  It's not cheap, so best ask for the 3000 yen nomihodai/tabihodai and be sure to specify which foods you'd prefer or you're likely to end up with plates full of chicken knees, skin, and liver yakitori.  On Konmonji Dori near Quest book store, below Book-Off.  Also one in Uomachi adjacent to Grassroots and in Kurosaki as well.  (14)

Beer's Sun -   Probably the best feature of Beer's Sun is it's microbrewed stout.   This black brew is served up in big frosted mugs that could make you never wanna drink another watered down Asahi Dry again.  And most of the food is damn good too - an exception being the doria. . .ahh . . .not good.  This is not the cheapest place, noting the "table charge" of a few hundred yen, but it's definitely worth it.   It's large and well decorated with long thick wooden tables.  I would suggest bringing your patience in addition to your wallet since the service can sometimes be a bit lacking.  Located just opposite the Kokura Garden Hotel on Mikage Dori.  (18)

Kitchen Q - This is one of the best restaurant/bars in Kitakyushu for a good helping of pasta.  They have many to choose from, served up in huge wooden bowls.  The lunch sets are a good value while the dinner time prices are a bit more expensive.  Pasta, of course, is not all they have and it all looks tasty.  It's small but well designed - a good atmosphere for any occasion.  They seem to have an obsession with reggae music which adds to its character.  About 3 or 4 doors down from Beer's Sun on Mikage Dori (2-2-17 Uomachi).  Ph: 093-533-1645.  http://www.kitchenq.com/ (16)

West - West is a chain of different types of restaurants like Yakiniku, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Udon that are usually clustered together in a plaza (though I have seen some West Udon shops on their own).  ANNOUNCEMENT: It's a sad sad day in Kokura.  The "Friday" West tradition of 100 yen beers is officially over! Moment of silence..........  There once was a time when you could go for 5 Fridays in a row and not hit the same place twice, and save money too.  But that was another era.   Somehow we'll find a way to move on.  There is one in the Kanada Kodan area near "Move" women's center.

Cafe De Deux - Ah yes, the "bagel shop."  Many a gaijin have been known to frequent this establishment for a good bagel sandwich.  It's perfect for a Saturday afternoon hangover remover.  They have a limited menu, but all pretty good.   They have great cappuccino sweetened with a cinnamon star on top and brown sugar if you choose.  They have a friendly staff of genki young women who give the place a warmer character.  Say hello to them.  On the 2nd floor of Amu plaza beside Doubleday.  (2)

Surya Pati -   Just around the corner from Kanada Kodan, this little restaurant/bar is a great weeknight option for some of the local residents looking for some decent food and a large beer.  It's strange decor inside and vine-laced entrance make it a unique spot.  It's sometimes closed for no apparent reason so you may wanna have another option in mind just in case.  Located just under the left side of the bridge south west of the kodan.  Look for the vines and leaves. 

Barba Pizza House -  Located a stone's throw from Kanada Kodan, the Barba House is one of the best places to get a pizza in the area.  They make a pretty good tomato and chicken pizza and would probably make anything you ask them to.  The only problem is that it's a bit pricey.  1000-1300 yen per personal sized pizza.  But it's worth it once and a while.  It's just under the right side of the bridge south west of the kodan.  It's big place with a HUGE sign.  You'd have to be blind to miss it.

Cafe Lippe -   A tiny Italian place in the Otemachi area offering good pasta lunch sets.   In the warmer weather they open up the glass doors in front and have a couple tables outside for that al fresco feeling. It's near the Kokurakita Ward Office towards the west side of the bridge.  

Baku - Of all the Izakayas out there this is probably the one with the best food.  From traditional Japanese dishes to spaghetti, Baku seems to do it all right.  With 2 floors, it's a really nice looking restaurant as well.  The prices are not so cheap but, if you get a group together the cost will be reasonable.  Right near the northeast entrance to Mihagino Monorail Station.

Kashi - Here's a good place to get some good Indian food and a few beers.  The fun-loving owner, Pundit, an experienced Kokura nightlife veteran himself, will probably be there serving it up for you. . or playing dj. . .anything from Jimi Hendrix to traditional Indian stuff.   He's also got an assortment of National Geographic magazines to thumb throw while your waiting for your food.  Located on the main street just west of the Uomachi arcade - same street as Kitchen Q and Beer's Sun but much further down where the street then becomes Chyugin Dori.  (9)

Kohinoor Indian Restaurant - Like Kashi, this small restaurant also seems to be run by an actual Indian fellow unlike most of the curry shops in the area.  It's got more genuine Indian dishes and presentation.  If you order curry you may choose the level of hotness, and have the choice the nan bread (which is very good) or rice.  The curry lunch sets are a good value, but it's a cool place for dinner with a friend as well.   Located on the 6th floor of Amu Plaza (adjacent to Kokura Station) among a host of other restaurants.  (1)

Xelha - Colin & Co. have a solid business going here and part of the reason is the food.  The menu is a hodge podge of mostly Asian foods.  Some of the best dishes include the Thai Coconut Curry, Chicken Doria, fresh Vietnamese Spring rolls, "Arabian" pita bread pockets (hot), and good old fish'n'chips.  And Xelha is one of the larger bar/restaurants around with large tables so there's plenty of room for everyone.  Xelha is a popular venue for Japanese wedding receptions and enkais.  The first entrance on your left on the street opposite the east entrance of Sogo (Kyoumachi).  You can't miss it.  Ph: 093-551-8683.  www.es-web.net/xelha  (3)

0cm - One of the only sandwich shops around, 0cm is a good place to go any time you want a quick bite to eat.  There are two 0cm's that I know of: one near Izutsuya, and one on the 2nd floor of LaForet.  The LaForet location is the nicer of the two and has the menu written in English on the back wall.  There are many combos to choose from.  And you get to stare at shoppers passing by while your waiting for your sandwich.  FYI - 0cm = zero centimeters. 

Cafe Bongo - Recently opened, this is a great new edition to the area.  It's got loads of sophisticated modern style, decent food and drinks, and fair amount of space.  It appears to be smaller than it actually is peering through its large glass windows - there are two rooms in the back perfect for larger groups.  One of the oddly likable rooms has white padded walls if your into the sanitarium look (like me).  The one drawback is that you must pay a small table charge even if you are just having drinks.  Located around the corner from Grassroots and adjacent to Ichiran in the back streets just east of the Uomachi arcade.  (12)

Chang Smile - This is one of the more charming restaurants in Kokura if your into spicy Thai food.  The food is excellent, particularly the green curry and padthay.  It's a good place for a date or small group to go for dinner.  Be sure to check out the beer list: they have the largest selection of Asian beers I've seen anywhere. . .including of course Thailand's own Singha and Chang Beer.  Located just to the east side of Sogo between the park and the street Xelha is on.  It's on the second floor of the building with the cool black sun design on the side.  (6)

Hamakatsu - This is a chain of "katsu" restaurants that serve up a very Japanese way of eating breaded meats.  Most of the dishes include sliced fillets of lean pork, chicken, or beef (or a combination of those) over a shredded cabbage w/oil based dressing.  You first grind up sesame seeds in a small bowl and and then mix in a choice of three brown sauces that you can dip the slices of meat into.  Some sets come with miso soup and all the white rice and cabbage you can eat.  It's great, especially if you're hungry.   There are a few of these around the city, one of which is in the Itozu area very close to the now extinct zoo. 

Big Bear's Pizza - Unless you've got a lot of cash I would not suggest ordering pizza from Big Bear's often.  It's grossly overpriced.  Especially since "real" pizza is not to be found in Japan as far as I know.  But the eat-in lunch special is a tabihodai (all-u-can-eat) extravaganza, and a great value at 800 yen.   They constantly bring out new pizzas, some pretty good, some. . .well . . .c'mon "sushi pizza?"  And they usually offer pasta and salad with it as well.   The special is from 12-3PM everyday.  I'm told there is a sign that says you should leave after an hour in case you were thinking of gorging yourself for the full 3 hours (right Chopper!?).  There are quite a few Big Bear's scattered about the city but I believe the Kimachi franchise near Kanada Kodan is the only "dine-in" establishment.   

Yee-Haw - Now here's something rare: A yakitori shop with an American Old Western theme.  Well at least it's supposed to be.  There are bull horns, swinging saloon doors, pictures of cowboys and indians, a huge old flag on the ceiling. . .and all just ridiculous enough to be likable.  It's a good place for a couple sticks yakitori and Carona with a friend.   Need I say that this place too is tiny.  On the #1 bus route between the Kanada and Itozu stops, close to Mos Burger.  Look for the big white bull-horn design. 

P-I-Z-Z-E-R-I-A - This is a brand new "gourmet" pizza place right next to Ichiran Ramen.  It serves a pretty good brick oven pizza and (more importantly) microbrewed beer from the Mojiko Brewing Co. including a tasty pale ale, amber lager, and stout.  The place looks great and is the latest, greatest addition to the little backstreet area near Grassroots that has seen the opening of Cafe Bongo, new Ichiran, new Kurofune, and a new izakaya all within recent months.  Uomachi 3-23, Ph: 093-513-0800.  (10)  

AIREGIN - If you are looking for a slightly classier place for food and drinks, Airegin is the perfect spot.  With a long bar and a few large wooden tables, it has the capacity for a larger group provided it's not too busy.  The food seems good enough, especially the salmon spring rolls.  They have a wide selection of mixed drinks as well.  But for all this, just like Cafe Bongo, a small table charge is applied.   Located across the street (and canal) from Quest just below Karaoke Circuit.  (19)

Milano Tei - There are not that many places to get pizza that comes close to American-style thin crust, but this place may just come the closest.  Their margherita pizzas are simple but tasty and the best choice in my opinion for a cool 1000 yen.  The 2-person pizza/pasta set is a better value if you have a friend to share it with.  As Italian restaurants go, this one is as tastelessly decorated as they come, even for Japan.  Its blindingly bright lights reflect off white walls and tacky replicas of Roman busts.  Kinda cheesy (no pun intended).  The place is literally attached to the east side of Quest bookstore facing Kurofune.  (22)

Lilipat - Now here is an Italian restaurant that is ideal for a lunch when your really hungry.  The pasta lunch sets for one are only 1050 yen and include soup (usually a decent minestrone), salad, bread, pasta of the day, cappuccino, and some type of cake.  The manager speaks a bit of English and may ask you if you want black pepper or parmesan for your pasta.  They have a respectable collection of Italian wines as well.  Located down the road from east entrance to Kitakyushu University in the direction of Daiei and the post office.  Within walking distance of Moritsune Monorail Station.  Ph: 093-961-2515.  There's also one in the Uomachi area.   Ph: 093-521-1205.  

The Garlic Restaurant - Just across the way from the Kohinoor in Amu Plaza is this little restaurant dedicated to. . .you guess it - garlic.  And that's probably an accurate name since they serve more than just Italian-style food.  However the Italian stuff seems to be the best of the lot.   Certain pastas are really good, like the Chicken Pepperocino, and the garlic bread is so good it deserves an entire paragraph unto itself according one Ms. Meiling Ward.   You can't get a better recommendation than that!  They also serve a chilled black beer for you drinkers in the house.  Unfortunately they've discontinued the English menu so you'll have to practice your kana reading skills.

Yakyu-Dori - A tip from a friend brought me to this great little yakitori shop for the first time so I thought I'd pass it on to you.  I'm not sure what yakyu (baseball) has to do with yakitori except that the owner is a big fan.  But it works.  The food is great.  Sticks of lean chicken & beef, tofu, stuffed lotus root, dango, corn, etc, all made easy to choose with an English menu.  Very quickly you will realize that the owner is one of the nicest guys around and generous too.  He'll more than likely give you many free samples or some extra beer that you DIDN'T order just to keep you coming back.  I think he understands what gaijin appreciate - quality.  And for that he has many loyal patrons.  The place itself is tiny with one table good for 6 people and seats at the bar (but I'm told there are a couple rooms upstairs that can accommodate quite a few people.  Located just across from Sogo's south side.  Look for the blue neon baseball diamond above the door.  1-2-8 Komemachi, Ph:093-521-6663.  

Bar Marquesas Is. - Even though the full name has the word "bar" in it, it would be a mistake to overlook its merits as a restaurant.  Known as just "Marquesas" by the local gaijin, this is perhaps the best Indian restaurant in Kurosaki.  They have an English menu with 3 different types of curry: Yellow (mild), Red (a little hot), and Green (hot).  Since they have the best nan bread around I suggest getting all three types of curry among your friends and dip into all three!  They offer a vegetable curry as well if you don't prefer meat.  You can find it by walking from the stairs at the station through the covered arcade and take your second right.  It should be right there on the left next to the book shop.  There will be a statue of a man holding the sign.  Walk up the stairs and push through the huge, heavy (and rather interesting) wooden door.   Open 7PM-4AM.  Ph: 093-645-2032.