Best Restaurants in Kumamoto

Aug 31, 2022

Best Restaurants in Kumamoto

Kumamoto has excellent food. As well as several specialties like Kumamoto ramen, aka beef bowl, and taipien, you’ll find delicious desserts (ranging from soft-serve ice cream to chestnut sweets) and drinks including sake, kuma shochu, and wine. Several restaurants in Kumamoto stand out as the best places to try these local foods.

Katsuretsutei Shinshigai Honten

Although it’s renowned for its tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork), Katsuretsutei Shinshigai Honten also serves delicious prawns. Only come to this restaurant if you have an appetite, as you’ll be able to eat plenty — you receive unlimited rice, cabbage, and tsukemono (pickles) with your meal.

Location: 8-18 Shinshigai, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto
Hours: Every day, 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Keika Ramen Honten

You can’t visit Kumamoto without trying ramen. There are numerous options, but a top choice has to be the famous Keika Ramen Honten, which serves traditional keika ramen with a strong garlic aroma. Another favorite dish is called whole meat ramen, made with three types of pork and a secret sauce.

Location: 11-9 Hanabatacho, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 p.m.; Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.

Akaushi Semmon Kumamoto Koshitsuyakiniku

One of the best places to eat grilled meat is Akaushi Semmon Kumamoto Koshitsuyakiniku. The restaurant specializes in beef (particularly tongue), and the meat is recommended for its intense flavors and lean cuts.

Location: 1-10-3 Shimotori, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto
Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Nangoku Shokudo Yashinoki

For more meat, there are plenty of dishes to try at Nangoku Shokudo Yashinoki, including pork spare ribs, boneless pork legs, horse meat sashimi, and whole chicken. Some dishes are traditional to Kumamoto, whereas others have a tropical twist. There’s also a large variety of drinks on the menu to accompany your meal. However, the best thing is the atmosphere — for instance, there are different musical bells on each table, and the restaurant organizes birthday surprises for patrons.

Location: 9-4 Shinshigai, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto
Hours: Monday to Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Kumamoto Horaku Manju Kumamoto Kamidori

Although Kumamoto Horaku Manju Kumamoto Kamidori serves just sweets, it deserves mention because of its huge popularity. The highlights are manju buns filled with white or black bean paste (as opposed to the typical red bean paste), and cobalt blue shaved ice. There’s seating indoors and outdoors, plus you can order to go (manju makes great souvenirs).

Location: 5-4 Kamitoricho, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto
Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This article contains just a small selection of the many restaurants in Kumamoto. Whereas you should definitely check out all the above, it’s also worth visiting any restaurants you come across that look interesting. With a wide variety of Japanese and international food available, you’re likely to find your own hidden gems.

くろふね, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons