Local Guide
From horse meat restaurants to standing bars. 5 recommended dinner spots in Kumamoto City

Kumamoto, surrounded by the majestic sea and fertile land, is a treasure trove of delicious food. Tasting the local ingredients will surely make your trip even more fulfilling. We have carefully selected five popular dinner restaurants where you can enjoy a variety of gourmet dishes that make the most of Kumamoto's proud ingredients, such as Kumamoto Prefecture's Akagyu beef, the local delicacy horse sashimi, and seasonal vegetables. Why not choose a restaurant that suits your mood, number of people, and the occasion, such as a lively restaurant with an open kitchen, a private room where you can dine quietly, or even a standing bar where you can casually have a drink?

Unusual but typical of Kumamoto: 100% Kumamoto horse meat churrasco

"Kumamoto-produced Koga Farm premium horse meat fillet" 4,950 yen (150g), "Cold ratatouille" 740 yen, etc.
"Kumamoto-produced Koga Farm premium horse meat fillet" 4,950 yen (150g), "Cold ratatouille" 740 yen, etc.

Restaurant is a renovated Western-style building built in the Taisho and early Showa periods. The courtyard surrounded by historic buildings has terrace seating, creating a relaxing space. They serve a variety of international dishes, including Brazilian meat dish churrasco, Mexican dishes such as tacos, and Peruvian ceviche (marinated seafood). Among them, the "Kuga Farm's premium horse meat, purely from Kumamoto" served at the churrasco is a must-try. You can enjoy it as it is, or stuff it into a homemade taco with your favorite vegetables from the "Grilled Vegetables & Deli Salad Plate" for an instant mouthwatering feast.

The store name has a double meaning: "terrace" and "light."

There is a counter, tables and a terrace on the first floor, and tables will also be set up on the second floor.
There is a counter, tables and a terrace on the first floor, and tables will also be set up on the second floor.

Across the terrace seating, next to Restaurant space, there is a standing bar and shop called "TERRACE wines" that sells natural wines. It is open from 1pm and offers reasonable prices starting from 500 yen per glass, making it the perfect place for a light drink before lunch or dinner.
The name "TERRACE" comes from the fact that the restaurant has a terrace surrounded by trees. In addition, it also expresses the restaurant's desire to be a shining light on the city of Kumamoto after the earthquake disaster. Gathering together to enjoy international cuisine born in Kumamoto will naturally bring smiles and energy to your faces.

Comments Local Guide
The horse meat carpaccio is also recommended. The ajillo and risotto served in Aso lava bowls are also recommended. If you would like a table seat, it is best to make a reservation.
TERRACE
  • URLhttps://terrace.kumamoto.jp/テラス/
  • 住所3-38 Suidocho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 5 minutes walk from Suidocho tram stop
  • 営業時間18:00-24:00 (churrasco last order 22:00, other food last order 23:30)
  • 定休日Open daily
  • TEL096-245-7518
  • 駐車場None

The delicious taste that melts in your mouth. The blissful taste that can only be achieved with high-quality horse meat.

"Specially selected horse sashimi four kinds platter" 5,200 yen and "liver sashimi" that you will be addicted to once you try it 2,080 yen (limited quantity)
"Specially selected horse sashimi four kinds platter" 5,200 yen and "liver sashimi" that you will be addicted to once you try it 2,080 yen (limited quantity)

This horse meat specialty restaurant is popular among horse meat lovers because it serves high-quality horse meat that the owner procures through his own channels, and the restaurant serves fresh sashimi that has been carefully prepared. In Kumamoto, the basic principle of horse meat sashimi is to enjoy not only lean meat, but also various parts of the horse. The "Special Selection of Four Types of Horse Sashimi" is an assortment of lean meat (fillet), marbled meat (kalbi), futaego (belly), and koune (mane). When dipped in sweet Kyushu soy sauce, it melts at the temperature of your mouth. They also apparently purchase "liver sashimi" every day, which is difficult to provide consistently.

The luxury of enjoying delicious food and time in a private room without having to worry about others around you

All private rooms are sunken kotatsu style, so you can relax with plenty of space for your feet.
All private rooms are sunken kotatsu style, so you can relax with plenty of space for your feet.

The restaurant has a counter, but the owner wants customers to be able to relax with their colleagues or family in a private room without having to worry about the people around them, so there are plenty of private rooms available. As rooms can accommodate two or more people, it is also popular with families.
In addition to horse sashimi, the restaurant offers a variety of ways to enjoy horse meat, such as stone-grilled horse meat, steak, and horse nigiri, allowing you to discover new flavors. There are also local dishes that go well with alcohol, such as "Hitomoji Guru Guru," which is a type of leek served with vinegar and miso, and "Karashi Lotus Root," making this a restaurant that will make you feel the richness of Kumamoto's cuisine once again.

Comments Local Guide
They sell high-quality domestic horse meat. For lunch, we recommend the horse tendon bowl. Their main store, Shundokoro Satou, is located along the Shimo-dori Arcade, where you can enjoy fresh fish delivered directly from Amakusa. Both stores impress foodies from all over the country.
Kumamoto Horse Meat Specialty Godou Annex
  • URLhttps://basashi-goto.gorp.jp
  • 住所DART Building 1F, 2-11 Tetori Honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto PrefectureMAP
  • アクセスAbout 2 minutes walk from the Torimachi streetcar stop
  • 営業時間11:30-14:30 (LO14:00), 18:00-23:00 (LO22:30)
  • 定休日Sunday
  • TEL096-325-7223
  • 駐車場None

A special time to enjoy a course meal of local seasonal ingredients

The 6,600 yen course includes appetizers and stewed dishes. The contents and number of dishes change depending on the season. The dishes that complement the food are carefully selected from Kumamoto artisans.
The 6,600 yen course includes appetizers and stewed dishes. The contents and number of dishes change depending on the season. The dishes that complement the food are carefully selected from Kumamoto artisans.

The restaurant opened in 2009 after renovating a building that was originally a traditional inn. It serves highly creative dishes that make use of seasonal ingredients from Kumamoto. Although an ala carte menu is available, if you want to enjoy the season, the course menu is recommended. The menu and number of dishes change depending on the season, but the 6,600 yen course includes about nine dishes, from appetizers to desserts. For example, each dish has a seasonal feel, such as soy milk bavarois, seasonal vegetable stew, and clay pot rice with dried sansho pepper and Manganji pepper, and you can enjoy the texture, aroma, and flavor of each ingredient.

To finish off the course, enjoy freshly cooked rice made from home-grown rice cooked in a clay pot.

The 6,600 yen course includes rice cooked in a clay pot. If you can't finish it, they'll even make it into rice balls to take home.
The 6,600 yen course includes rice cooked in a clay pot. If you can't finish it, they'll even make it into rice balls to take home.

The restaurant is particular about directly purchasing ingredients that it is impressed with and that resonate with the producers' attitude. In addition, it does not stop at purchasing the ingredients, but the rice served at the restaurant, "Minami Shiki," is grown with great care by Staff/staff member themselves on the restaurant's own farm. The chef's very simple desire to "make delicious food even more delicious" is conveyed in each and every dish. The restaurant also stocks sake and shochu produced in Kumamoto Prefecture, as well as wines from around the world, which can be enjoyed paired with the food.

Comments Local Guide
The restaurant is located in Ueno Uradori, an area where many buildings and warehouses over 100 years old remain. The course menu changes every month, and you can sense their thorough commitment to seasonal ingredients. Staff/staff member are also full of respect for local food and producers.
Ruri-an
  • URLhttps://ruri-an.owst.jp
  • 住所2nd floor, 5-21 Minami Tsuboicho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto PrefectureMAP
  • アクセスAbout 3 minutes walk from Kumamoto Electric Railway Fujisakimiya-mae Station
  • 営業時間17:30〜23:00（L.O.22:00）
  • 定休日Tuesdays, irregular holidays
  • TEL096-352-8174
  • 駐車場None
  • メモCourse meals must be reserved at least one day in advance

Enjoy a casual drink while standing and toasting with some Obanzai.

"Local Set" 1,200 yen and the popular "Bubbly Sour" lemon and white peach 550 yen each
"Local Set" 1,200 yen and the popular "Bubbly Sour" lemon and white peach 550 yen each

This standing bar has a stylish interior with a black, white and silver theme that catches your eye. As the name suggests, you can enjoy a variety of alcoholic drinks with side dishes, so it is bustling every night with many people coming to drink alone or for a drink after a meal.
The display case in front of the counter displays the day's obanzai dishes. Prices are reasonable, ranging from about 100 to 500 yen. There are also menu items that are full of Kumamoto flavor, such as the "Local Set" that comes with horse sashimi and horse meat croquettes.

A place to relax in the city where you can recharge your smartphone and your mind

The later it gets, the more crowded the restaurant becomes with people stopping by for a second or third stop.
The later it gets, the more crowded the restaurant becomes with people stopping by for a second or third stop.

The best part of a standing bar is the casual atmosphere of being able to have a quick drink and meeting the customers sitting next to you. If you open the drawer on the counter inside the bar, you'll find not only hand towels, chopsticks, toothpicks, and other necessities for eating and drinking, but even smartphone charging cords. Each counter is also equipped with an outlet, so you can charge your phone while enjoying your drink. It's a comfortable oasis-like place where you'll want to stop in whenever you pass by, and it's easy to find yourself staying there for a while.

Comments Local Guide
The "Bubbly Series" sour drinks, which contain frozen fruit, are cute in appearance and will get you excited. In recent years, the number of standing bars has been gradually increasing in Kumamoto City, so why not try bar-hopping?
obanzai (Obanzai)
  • URLhttps://obanzaikumamoto.owst.jp
  • 住所1-4-26 Shimotori, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 3 minutes walk from the tram stop "Kumamoto Castle City Hall" or "Hanabatakecho"
  • 営業時間17:00-1:00, Fridays, Saturdays, days before holidays-2:00, Sundays 15:00-23:00
  • 定休日Open daily
  • TEL080-7987-1164
  • 駐車場None

Juicy and moist Kumamoto Akagyu beef served on a hot ceramic plate

"Kumamoto Prefecture Akagyu Ceramic Grill" 3,160 yen. Served with Japonaise sauce.
"Kumamoto Prefecture Akagyu Ceramic Grill" 3,160 yen. Served with Japonaise sauce.

This is an izakaya where you can taste the flavors and local cuisine of Kumamoto. They serve local and creative dishes using ingredients that Kumamoto is proud of, such as horse meat dishes and Kumamoto Prefecture Akagyu beef. The most recommended dish is "Teppanyaki." Pork loin from Kyushu and young chicken are grilled on a heat-retaining ceramic plate imported from Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture. By grilling the ingredients on a high-temperature ceramic plate until they are juicy, you can enjoy the flavor of the ingredients as they are. If you want to enjoy a drink with your meal, we recommend pairing it with Kuma Shochu, a rice shochu with a refreshing taste.

The interior of the restaurant has the unique atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house built over 100 years ago.

Table seating on the first floor. There is also a glass-enclosed terrace seating in the back, as well as private rooms.
Table seating on the first floor. There is also a glass-enclosed terrace seating in the back, as well as private rooms.

The restaurant warmly welcomes guests in its quaint renovated 100-year-old traditional house. The interior has been carefully preserved to preserve the original atmosphere, with table seating on the first floor and spacious sunken kotatsu seating on the second floor. It seems that local regulars often use the restaurant for parties and other events.
It is located right next to the streetcar line, commonly known as Train Street, so it is Direction. On the other hand, the restaurant has a quiet atmosphere that makes it hard to believe it is in a downtown area, making it a great place to visit when you want to enjoy a leisurely meal.

Comments Local Guide
At lunchtime, you can casually enjoy Kumamoto's local cuisine and specialties in set meals or gozen meals.
Seasonal Cuisine House Hachigotei
  • URLhttps://hachigotei.com
  • 住所5-41 Kamitorimachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 3 minutes walk from Suidocho tram stop
  • 営業時間11:30-14:30 (last orders 13:30), 17:00-24:00 (last orders food 22:00, drinks 23:00)
  • 定休日Open daily
  • TEL096-324-8505
  • 駐車場None

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