6 Select Restaurants to Enjoy Kyushu's Delicious Local Cuisine Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-date: Dec 25 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

6 Select Restaurants to Enjoy Kyushu's Delicious Local Cuisine

Here are some recommended restaurants where you can enjoy the rich natural flavors nurtured by the abundant nature of Kyushu, known locally as "Umakamon" (meaning "delicious food" in Kyushu dialect), from Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and Fukuoka. From fresh seafood to local vegetables and specialty products, you can experience Kyushu's food culture, which emphasizes the flavors of the region. Knowing these recommended restaurants where you can savor the unique tastes of Kyushu will make your trip to Japan even more enjoyable.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki.

Sumiyaki Jidori SANZO

Sumiyaki Jidori SANZO, set in a charming old private house, offers a special dining experience amidst serene natural surroundings. Their fresh, thick, and chewy Jidori chicken, slaughtered that morning, is slow-grilled over charcoal and dipped repeatedly in a house-made sauce for a rich, flavorful taste. The restaurant features irori hearth seating, counter seats with sunken kotatsu, and a terrace with scenic views, perfect for seasonal dining. Ideal for family reunions, dates, or banquets, it ensures a memorable culinary moment.

Sumiyaki Jidori SANZO

Open: [Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] 11:00 am -10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm) *Weekday Lunch Time : 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed: Thursday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: From Dazaifu Station, take the 100 JPY bus (Mahoroba-go) and walk for 2-minute from the Uchiyama bus stop (in front of Kamado Shrine).
Address: 832-2, Uchiyama, Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka Map
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Shikitei Hanamura

Shikitei Hanamura, a 7-minute walk from Beppu Station, offers original Kaiseki cuisine featuring seasonal ingredients from Oita. This reservation-only restaurant has private rooms accommodating 2-26 customers, with both Western-style garden view rooms and Japanese-style rooms. Suitable for couples, friends, families, and groups, it offers a relaxed setting with a wide selection of alcohol, including local Oita sake, shochu, beer, wine, whiskey, and cocktails. Offering Kaiseki lunch on weekdays, it's a great spot for those wanting to savor Oita's seasonal flavors.

Shikitei Hanamura

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 7:30 pm) Drinks can be ordered before the closing time.
Closed: Monday,Tuesday,Closes at 5 pm on days without reservations
Average price: [Dinner] 6,600 JPY / [Lunch] 4,400 JPY
Access: 7 minutes walk from the West Exit of JR Beppu Station. The front of the restaurant has a one-way path from the mountain to the sea
Address: 7-22, Noguchi Nakamachi, Beppu-shi, Oita Map
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Nihonryori Tomita

A renowned Japanese cuisine restaurant in Kumamoto where you can savor the traditional beauty of Japan and Japanese cuisine.

Located near Kumamoto Castle is Nihonryori Tomita. Here, patrons can savor exquisite kaiseki cuisine made with carefully selected Kyushu's natural fish and seasonal ingredients from across the country. Based on traditional techniques, courses featuring innovative dishes appear in perfect balance, available in four varieties for both lunch and dinner, exclusively by reservation. Special weekday lunch courses are also offered. At the end of the course, guests are served matcha prepared by the chef, allowing them to experience Japanese culture.

5 Select Restaurants to Enjoy Kyushu's Delicious Local Cuisine

The interior of the purely Japanese-style house is enveloped in the gentle warmth of wood, providing a space where one can fully enjoy the traditional beauty of Japan. With all seats being fully private rooms, guests can spend leisurely time at tables with tatami flooring. Another delightful feature is the availability of an English menu. With an abundant selection of local sake from Kumamoto and delicious sake from various regions of Japan, guests are encouraged to enjoy them along with their meals.

Nihonryori Tomita

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm *Reservation required / Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm *Reservation required
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Suidocho Station or 6-minute walk from Kumamoto Castle/City Hall Station on Kumamoto City Tram. 4-minute walk from Fujisakigu-mae Station on Kumamoto Electric Railway. 2-minute walk from Shirakawa Koen-mae bus stop.
Address: 4-5, Minami-tsuboi-cho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto Map
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Akaushi Dining yoka-yoka Sakuramachi Branch

Savoring high-quality Akagyu beef while overlooking the castle town.

Located on the 3rd floor of the landmark "Sakuramachi Kumamoto," which connects to Kumamoto Castle and its garden, is the Akaushi Dining yoka-yoka Sakuramachi branch. This is a specialty restaurant offering Akagyu beef dishes such as gyudon (beef bowl), steak, and hamburg steak. Akagyu beef, raised on the vast grasslands of their own ranches in Kumamoto and Aso, is known for its healthiness, low fat content, and smooth texture. The most popular dish is the "Special Akaushi Bowl," featuring plenty of sliced beef steak on top of rice. The "Today's Steak," where you can choose your preferred weight, is also highly recommended.

As it is directly connected to Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, the accessibility is excellent. It's a convenient stop even after sightseeing at Kumamoto Castle. The spacious interior with large windows and high ceilings provides an open atmosphere, allowing guests to relax and enjoy their meal. The leisurely table seats are perfect for families. From the counter seats lined up by the windows, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the castle town and savor your meal while feeling the history.

Akaushi Dining yoka-yoka Sakuramachi Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: About 10 minutes by bus or car from JR Kumamoto Station. Directly connected to Kumamoto Sakura-machi Bus Terminal. It is on the 3rd floor of the shopping mall, SAKURAMACHI kumamto.
Address: 3F-307, 3-10, Sakura-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto Map

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Aburiya Kacchan

A casual pub with delicious horse meat and homemade dishes, where you can easily drop by.

Just a 5-minute walk from Kokura Station, you'll find Aburiya Kacchan, where you can savor fresh horse meat dishes. Their recommended dish, "Horse Shabu-Shabu," offers low-calorie, high-protein horse meat for a healthy menu option that's popular among patrons. You'll also want to try their rare and delicious "Horse Skewers," grilled to perfection.

The completely open interior, with no walls or doors, creates a lively atmosphere filled with laughter. It also evokes a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of Japan's recent past, the Showa era. Additionally, with a television in the establishment, guests can enjoy sports events together, adding to the excitement. It's a recommended spot where travelers who want to experience Japanese izakaya culture can casually stop by.

Aburiya Kacchan

Open: [Weekday,Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] Dinner 17:00 - 04:00
Closed: Sunday
Access: 5-minute walk from Ogura Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line
Address: 1-1-16 Kaji-cho, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Map
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Chanko Nabe Senmonten Oga

Savoring authentic chanko nabe made by former Sumo wrestlers.

Oga, a specialty restaurant for chanko-nabe, is located in Kitakyushu City and is owned by a former professional sumo wrestler. "Chanko-nabe" is a nutritious hot pot traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers as part of their daily diet, reflecting Japan's rich cultural heritage. The chanko-nabe served here is an adaptation of the traditional flavor passed down from the Takasago stable, where the owner was affiliated, with a Kyushu twist. It can be enjoyed in soy sauce or salt flavors.

Inside the restaurant, numerous photos from the owner's active sumo wrestling days, as well as chonmage (traditional sumo topknot hairstyles), are displayed, making it a must-visit spot for sumo enthusiasts. With counter seats available, it's a popular choice for engaging in sumo conversations with the owner. Despite being a hot pot dish, it's possible to order just a single serving, making it suitable for solo diners. In a relaxed atmosphere, why not experience the traditional culture of Japan and the meals of sumo wrestlers?

Chanko Nabe Senmonten Oga

Open: [Sunday,Tuesday - Saturday,Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (last order 9:30 pm)
Closed: Monday
Access: 5-minute walk from Hansu Station on the Chikuho Electric Railway
Address: 1-13-19 Takanosu, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Map
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.