Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store

I once saw an online article somewhere that said “curry bread is hugely popular among foreign tourists,” and ever since then, I’ve made a point of eating it myself. It’s certainly tasty, and since it actually originated in Japan and is rarely found in other countries, I can see why it piques the interest of foreigners.

That said, hasn’t the quality of curry bread at every shop suddenly gone up lately? On top of that, even in these times of inflation and a wave of price hikes, you can still get one for around 300 yen—which is easy on the wallet… It makes me think, “Shouldn’t we Japanese eat more curry bread, too?” But I already have a go-to spot—a place I visit regularly where I think, “If I’m buying curry bread, this is the place!” The curry bread from that shop is incredibly famous in the Hokusetsu area of Osaka…

It Turns Out It’s a 50-Year-Old Institution… Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store: Here’s What It’s Like…

As of October 2026, this bakery café—called Sunny Side—operates a total of 11 locations in Osaka and Hyogo. This site has previously featured the Onohara and Takatsuki-Okamoto branches, but this time, I visited the flagship Minami-Senri Main Store. Surprisingly, this Minami-Senri Main Store dates back to 1976, making this year its 50th anniversary. A 50-year history is long enough to be considered a “long-established business” anywhere outside of Kyoto, so let’s go ahead and refer to this shop as such without hesitation.

Now, the Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store is located inside a small shopping complex right in front of Minami-Senri Station on the Hankyu Senri Line. Although competitors like Starbucks and Mister Donut are just a stone’s throw away, the crowd that day was on a completely different level compared to these well-known chains (and this despite the fact that it was raining quite heavily…). The interior is a clean, bright space that doesn’t feel like it has such a long history; the relatively spacious area is neatly divided into two sections, with the display area and the dine-in space coexisting side by side. A quick visual count showed a total of 50 seats, including 8 counter seats. Since it’s located in a residential area, there are many families and moms stopping by after shopping, but the counter seats have power outlets, so there were a few people here and there—like me—working on their laptops (Note: There’s no Wi-Fi)…

This is the original version of a wildly popular item… Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store’s signature dish—the “Melt-in-Your-Mouth” Homemade Beef Curry. So, how did it actually taste?

Now, let me introduce the signature dish I purchased that day at Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store: the “Melt-in-Your-Mouth” Homemade Beef Curry (price: 290 yen + tax). I got two curry buns and a hot coffee, and the total price, including tax, was

After purchasing, I heated the curry buns in the microwave (Note: It’s self-service) and took a seat. Since this is the original curry bun that’s become a huge hit in the Hokusetsu region… thinking about that really whets my appetite.

When I cut open the piping-hot curry bun, this is what the inside looked like. A super-creamy curry—slow-simmered using only the natural moisture from the vegetables, without any added water—flows out from within. However, the chunky beef chunks, which used to be this curry bun’s biggest selling point, have shrunk quite a bit. Well, I guess that’s just the way it is in these times of rising prices…

Besides, even though the beef pieces are smaller, the flavor hasn’t changed… The spices are subtle, giving it a mild taste that even kids could enjoy. This curry really makes me want to eat it with rice. Every time I eat this, I find myself thinking, “I wish they’d make a retort-packet version of this curry for curry rice…”

So, that’s how I enjoyed the original, melt-in-your-mouth homemade beef curry at Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store before leaving. It’s a shame the beef pieces have gotten smaller, but I’m really grateful that I can get one for around 300 yen. If foreign tourists ever find out about this curry bread, things might get crazy… I strongly recommend eating it while it’s still “in our hands” (?)—that is, while we Japanese still have it to ourselves.

You can purchase curry bread at all 11 stores in the chain… The Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store is a 2-minute walk from Minami-Senri Station on the Hankyu Senri Line, which is the nearest station.

The curry bread from the Sunny Side Minami-Senri Main Store featured here is available at all 11 stores in the chain. As of October 2026, Sunny Side operates primarily in the Hokusetsu area, as well as in Osaka City, Hirakata, and Hyogo. If you happen to be in the area, please be sure to give them a try. Just keep in mind that they often sell out, so be prepared for that.

Now, here are the store details…