Kumamoto is one of prefectures in Kyushu area, Japan. And they have some signature foods that not known by non-Japanese people. Here are popular Kumamoto foods that you should try such as Akaushi (beef), Baniku (Horse meat), Basashi (Raw horse meat), Kumamoto style Ramen, Ikinari dango (sweet), Karashi Renkon, and etc!
*CAUTION* Including meat and raw meat below in case of you don’t like it.
Akaushi (Beef)
Aka = Red, Ushi = Cow (Beef).
You can eat Akaushi beef in Kumamoto which is very very tasty!
There are many ways to eat it like Yakiniku, but I personally like to eat it as Akaushi don (bowl) which is medium rare cooked beef on rice! More to say, it would be perfect for me having it with raw egg!
Baniku / Basashi (Horse Meat / Raw Horse Meat)
In Kumamoto, they often eat horse meat even raw one too. And it’s famous.
They often cook and eat it like BBQ just same as other meat like beef, chicken, and pork.
Basashi (Raw Horse Meat)
Usually it is served with thin sliced onion, green onion, garlic and ginger that you can eat with.
It is chewy, but doesn’t smell bad. My husband (American) also tried it and liked it though, he feels awkward to eat horse meat which i totally understand.
Kumamoto Ramen
The root of Kumamoto Ramen is Kurume Ramen (the origin of Tonkotsu Ramen), but they make soup from pork and chicken broth, which is a difference from Hakata Ramen. Also it is middle-thin straight noodle instead of thin noodle like Hakata Ramen.
A feature of Kumamoto Ramen is using seared/fried garlic and/or garlic oil as a topping to make you hungry!
Kokutei – Kumamoto Ramen Shop
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Kokutei is one of popular Kumamoto Ramen Shop that you can go and try! Also you can buy an instant ramen from Kokutei too which I bought as a souvenir. *Noted: Some country forbit you to bring some food made by animal broth.
Karashi Renkon
Karashi is Japanese style mustard which I personally can not eat yet ( I thought I could once I get older, but not yet 😣 ). Renkon is lotus root.
Karashi Renkon is stuffed with a mixed paste of miso and mustard in boiled lotus root holes, and fried after covering with yellow batter which made by yolk and flour. A spiciness of Karashi mustard gets a bit milder after frying, so that I could eat.
They eat it with rice, and also itself too. It matches well with Sake, people say.
Ikinari Dango
Ikinari = sudden, Dango = rice cake ball
It is a steamed sweet, red beans paste and sweet potatoes inside covered with mochi.
There are many stories for the reason of naming “Ikinari” suchi as it is easy and fast to make, or able to serve to a visitor who suddenly comes, and so on.
Today, there is a lot of kinds of Ikinari Dango like using purple sweet potato, Matcha (green tea), Annou Imo (a kind of sweet potato), etc.
You can find them easily at touristic places, department store, and somewhere like that.
I also got one at a store in front of gate at JR Kumamoto station! It’s better when warm, and it makes you satisfied with one since it’s a kind of heavy due to sweet potato, red beans, and mochi.
Hopefully you can find some ideas that you would eat in Kumamoto 😉
