Ichibanya

Ichibanya (Japanese: 壱番屋) is a Japanese curry restaurant chain. Officially known as Curry House CoCo Ichibanya (カレーハウスCoCo壱番屋, Karē Hausu Koko Ichibanya), it is often shortened to CoCo Ichi (ココイチ).

Ichibanya is the world's largest curry restaurant chain, known for its customizable curry rice. Customers can customize the amount of rice (in grams), the level of spiciness (from mild to extremely hot), and the selection of toppings. Toppings range from standard Japanese curry ingredients like pork cutlet (tonkatsu) and chicken cutlet (karaage) to vegetables, seafood, and regional specialties.

The first Ichibanya restaurant opened in Nagoya, Japan, in 1978. The chain has since expanded globally, with locations in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Thailand, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and others. The company is known for its consistent quality and standardized operating procedures across all locations.

The name "Ichibanya" literally translates to "Number One Store" or "Best Store," reflecting the company's ambition to be the premier curry restaurant chain. The "CoCo" in the full name is derived from the nickname given to the founder's wife.