KIX First Kitchen?
 

I am arriving at 9:15am from FRA (hopefully) and then I have a connection 1 hour and 45 minutes later to BKK. A buddy keeps telling me that First Kitchen is a must try when in Japan and I really would like to try it, however I am worried that I wouldn't be able to clear immigration/customs, then access the terminal where First Kitchen is, get something and then hightail it back to the international departure zone before my connection. Is this possible or not? I'll be in F on LH if that makes a difference.

First Kitchen is perfectly adequate fare at a good price but it's certainly not a "must try", not by Japanese standards at least. More pertinently you should be in and out of First Kitchen in 10 minutes depending on how busy they are so I'd think you'd have time.

Hmm....I think that First Kitchen is the absolute last among fast food chains in Japan. I personally avoid it. Not worth clearing immigration and customs for. Note that you'd also have to get some Yen, and then presumably exchange back what's left afterwards.

+1
If it isn't, I'm not interested in whatever place is.

Are you sure your buddy isn't putting you on?

First Kitchen is definitely not worth clearing customs for. I haven't eaten there for years, and there's a reason for that. I recall the food as tasting like cardboard.

There are decent places to eat at KIX (although I can't remember their names), but First Kitchen is not one of them.

It's more for the melon soda float than anything else honestly. I understand it might not be the greatest thing or even good for that matter. I am expecting something along the lines of McDonald's really, and I agree I wouldn't recommend anyone eating there, I just want to know if it's possible to make it there and back in the short amount of time I have in KIX.

Assuming you are on time and you don't get lost, yes you should have enough time to get in and out. The biggest delay will probably be the search at customs coming in, as you are in F and will be one of the first to go through immigration (you might hit the backend of the Singapore passengers and get in before the Paris flight disembarks). Security and immigration going back out is a cinch.

If all you're going for is a melon soda float, I'm fairly sure there are shops airside that could just make it for you. I know that Tully's had melon soda, although I'm not sure they had ice cream. I remember a shop had soft ice cream, though I forgot which one.

First Kitchen is generally terrible.

Their fries are OK in the sense that they have a lot of flavors to choose. I think they have some chicken as well (IIRC I bought it to take in to the movies at some point).

Bear in mind that when I (and the others here) say it's bad, we mean it in the sense of "First Kitchen will make you long for the quality to be found at McDonald's."

First Kitchen isn't that bad. The pizza is edible, and the flavored fries are actually pretty good. I usually go to get the "buttered potato" style fries a couple of times a year (the grilled corn fries are even better, but they are about as rare as McRibs...)

But if you must try a Japanese fast food chain, Freshness Burger is much better, and of course MOSBurger has tradition on its side.

Oh yes it is.

The flavored fries are rank. They are slathered in heavy flavorings to mask the taste of stale spuds that were fried in old oil. I haven't tried the pizza, but it's inconceivable to me that anything edible could come out of this perfectly vile joint.

Melon soda floats are not that hard to find in Japan, but given my druthers, I'd find a juice bar that makes what amounts to a melon smoothie--or even a fast food melon shake. But I don't remember if there are any such places in KIX.

I am quite happy to report that I have never been to a FK in 20+ years here....actually I was lucky that they don't have them outside of the axis of evil of Tokyo-Osaka!;) (too bad about Coco's :p ).

I prefer Moss Burger or Freshness over First Kitchen. I also like the giant Sasebo burgers (which is expanding into Kansai now).

For a hilarious Japanese lesson check out Ken Tanaka and Remi February's Youtube episode on Fa-Kin (First Kitchen's abbreviation in Japanese).

NOTE: not exactly explicit and nothing visual, but best viewed with volume down or headphones on.

Yes, it is possible...

Gate to immigration is about 10 minutes. Then it depends how long the foreigner line is: 5 to 30 min is typical. From there past baggage about 3 minutes. Lots of decent J food (udon, katsu etc) can be had on the 3rd (or maybe 2nd) floor. Not much to be had airside though. Going back through immigration 10min, 10 to gate, boarding call 30-45 min early. You'd have time for a burger I guess.

I also wonder if you need a to pay a facilities charge-maybe not, but I know I got tagged for one in BKK once when I left the airport for 12 hours.

All this begs the question though of why you would go through so many hoops. Your F will give you lounge access and fine food on the plane, right?