Restaurants where you can enjoy Kumamoto's Akaushi beef for lunch (Kumamoto City Edition)

• Table of Contents
• Akaushi Dining yoka-yoka (Sakuramachi branch)
• Akaushi Specialty Store Yamanosato 2nd Store
• Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue (Batan Gyutan) Shimo-tori Store / Kinpouzando Cafe

Akaushi Dining yoka-yoka (Sakuramachi branch)

Sakuramachi Kumamoto is a large complex that opened in 2019 and is directly connected to Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, the hub of Kumamoto's local and express bus routes. Akaushi Dining yoka-yoka, a direct-operated store of the Akaushi Sankyo Group, which handles everything from the production of Akaushi beef to fattening and meat processing, is located in one corner of the complex. All the meat served at the restaurant is "Koseigyu", Akaushi beef that has been carefully fattened in the majestic nature of Aso. It is characterized by its low fat content and mellow, rich red meat, and is a popular restaurant that attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad in search of this high-quality Akaushi beef.

The restaurant is located in the gourmet area on the third floor. The photos of delicious looking Akaushi beef dishes lined up at the store entrance are a landmark. It was a weekday, but there was already a line of customers before the store opened at 11am!

The interior of the restaurant is spacious. In addition to table seating that is perfect for groups, there are also counter seats facing the garden, so even solo diners can feel at ease.

This is the most popular item, the Akaushidon, 2,290 yen (soup included). It is topped with a generous amount of medium-rare Akaushi beef, completely covering the rice. In the middle, it is topped with the classic soft-boiled egg and wasabi, as well as simmered beef, so it can be eaten in a variety of ways. It's no wonder that on busy days, they receive over 100 orders.

Just look at the beauty of this red meat. When you eat it, there is no unpleasant meaty smell at all, and the elegant aroma and natural flavor of the meat fills your mouth. It is made from the thigh part of Akaushi beef, so it is tender and goes perfectly with the sweet and spicy soy sauce-based sauce.

Next, mix it with a soft-boiled egg and top it with wasabi. It's even more delicious.

(Left) The beef stew made with luxurious Akaudhi beef is also delicious. It goes great with rice.

(Right) It's covered in a generous amount of sweet and spicy meat sauce, so you can enjoy it until the last bite.

For those who want more, we recommend the "Super Akaushidon" (3,980 yen), which has twice the amount of meat and rice. It's not too greasy, so most people finish it in no time.

The menu features a variety of Akaushi dishes that are sure to satisfy both children and adults, including the juicy "Flame Hamburger" that is flambéed right in front of you, "Akaushi Hitsumabushi," "Roast Beef Bowl," and "Akaushi and 10 Ingredients Salad Plate for Beautiful Skin." You might have a hard time deciding what to order. By the way, there is also a direct sales store (Niku Kobo Sankyo Ginza Street Store) just a five-minute walk from the store, so if you want to take some home as a souvenir, be sure to stop by.

*All prices include tax

Akaushi Dining yoka-yoka Sakuramachi branch

Akaushi Specialty Store Yamanosato 2nd Store

Located about 10 minutes by car from downtown Kumamoto City along Hakuzan Street, "AkaushiSpecialty Store Yamanosato 2nd Branch" is a highly rated restaurant with reviews saying that its hamburger steaks and steaks are "exquisite." This is the second branch of "Farm Restaurant Yamanosato" in Ubuyama Village, Aso District. Since opening seven years ago, there have been many regular customers who visit the restaurant, and the reason for its popularity is the Akaushi beef from Ikeyama Farm (our own farm), which is raised on the land of Aso, where parents and children are allowed to graze and eat only grass. In fact, this Akaushi beef is a rare breed of cow, with only about six of them being shipped out each month. They grow up healthy while moving 5 to 6 km a day, so their meat is firm. The flavor of the meat is tightly packed in the beef, so the more you chew it, the sweeter it becomes, and you can enjoy the original aroma and flavor of Japanese beef.

The exterior has a simple appearance like a private house. There is a parking lot in front of the store where about 5 cars can be parked.

The restaurant has counter seats and five private rooms. It can accommodate about 35 people, and is often full at lunchtime.

(Left) Lunch menu. Because they are confident in their meat, they offer simple hamburgers and steaks. Because they use rare Akaushi beef, lunch is limited to 25 servings. They often sell out by 11:00, so it is best to come early.

(Right) The lineup includes sake from within the prefecture as well as the local Ubuyama village. A glass to enjoy with lunch is exceptional.

The menu we will introduce this time is the "Akaushi steak lunch" for 2,700 yen. On a hot lava plate, 150g of Akaushi beef belly meat is served! The set also includes grilled vegetables, Ubuyama Village's homemade Koshihikari rice, soup, bite-sized rice balls, and Ubuyama famous water coffee, so you'll be excited even before you start eating.

Now it's time to try the meat. The moment you bite into it, the first thing you notice is the right amount of elasticity. But it's not too hard, and is soft enough to chew without difficulty. Then you can smell the charcoal fire, and the meat juices start to spread. The fat is also clean and elegant. The more you chew, the more you can taste the sweetness of the meat, which is amazing!

(Left) The way the beef is cooked brings out the best in its flavor. Because it is high-quality red meat, 150g is gone in no time. (Right) There are three types of sauce (salt, soy sauce, and homemade sauce). The recommended sauce is the one that brings out the flavor of the meat.

Even after you've finished the meat, the fun continues. This is the "bite-sized ohagi" that comes with the set. Each one is handmade in the store and is not too sweet. Enjoy it with "Meisui Coffee" brewed with water from the Ubuyama Water Source, which has been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous waters, and your blissful time will continue.

The "Akaushi Curry" (330 yen) is filled with large chunks of Akaushi beef and is only available during lunch time. The home-grown rice that comes with the course is free to refill, so the custom is to have the first bowl with steak or hamburger steak as a side dish, and the second bowl with an additional curry. *All prices include tax.

Akaushi Specialty Store Yamanosato 2nd Store

Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue (Batan Gyutan) Shimo-tori Store / Kinpouzando Cafe

It is within walking distance of Kumamoto Castle. In Shimo-tori, the prefecture's largest shopping arcade lined with fashion buildings and restaurants, there is a restaurant where you can enjoy Aso's Akaushi beef. The name of the restaurant is "Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue Shimo-tori Store." In addition to the Akaushi beef dishes you are looking for, they also serve Kumamoto's local dishes such as horse sashimi and spicy lotus root, as well as aged meat. The store is on the second floor and is open from 5pm on weekdays, but at lunchtime you can order the entire "Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue" menu at the affiliated store "Kinpouzando Cafe" on the first floor. Many tourists drop by on their way to Kumamoto to enjoy the combination of Akaushi beef and beer for lunch.

The exterior has a lively atmosphere. The first floor is a cafe, and the stairs at the back of the store lead to the entrance to the "Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue" restaurant on the second floor.

There is a large sign with the menu written on it in front of the store. The menu includes their famous "horse tongue", rare "horse liver sashimi", "horse rice bowl", "hamburger steak" and more, all of which are accompanied by photos, making them easy to understand for foreign tourists.

(Left) Inside the "Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue" restaurant on the second floor. In addition to the counter seats shown in the photo, there are also table seats.

(Right) Inside the Kinpouzando Cafe on the first floor. The seats overlooking the arcade are also popular.

Among the many menu items, the overwhelmingly popular dish is the "Akaushi and Beef Tongue Two-Kind Feast Bowl" (with miso soup and pickles) for 2,189 yen. As the name suggests, this dream-like bowl lets you enjoy both Aso Akaushi beef and the restaurant's specialty beef tongue, which has been aged for 5 to 14 days, all at once.

Left) First, we start with the Akaushi beef. The beautifully colored thigh meat is cooked rare, just the right amount of tender, and full of flavor. Next, we take a bite of the beef tongue. It feels crunchy at first, but it's actually surprisingly soft. Because it's aged, the moisture has been removed and the flavor seems to be quite concentrated. Both are equally delicious, so we alternate between the Akaushi beef and the beef tongue (right). Don't forget to mix it with the soft-boiled egg.

I put rice on the spoon, put the Akaushi beef on top of that, and take a bite! My mouth is filled with joy. The meat and rice are topped with a sauce made from a blend of two types of soy sauce, which is also delicious.

Furthermore, if you want to fully enjoy Akaushi beef, you should also order the "Marbled and carefully selected lean Akaushi beef tasting comparison" (3,289 yen) shown in the photo. The marbled meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth. Enjoy it with the delicious special red wine sauce that is simmered for a long time.

(Left) The "Marugoto Kumamoto Donburi" (2,739 yen) contains red beef, beef tongue, grilled horse meat, Aso Takana, mustard lotus root, and Hitoyoshi gourd pickles in one bowl (with miso soup and pickles). With just one bowl, you can experience the "whole" of Kumamoto.

(Right) The "Sweet Potato Happiness Special Parfait" is a popular menu item at the "Kinpouzando Cafe" on the first floor. During the evening hours, it can be ordered at "Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue" on the second floor. *All prices include tax.

Horse Tongue and Beef Tongue Shimo-dori Store / Kinpouzando Cafe