Hello, travelers!
It’s Cho-san, writer for [Sarukuma]!

Today I’m introducing a charming little gem tucked away in
Ubuyama Village, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Roasted Almond Cafe DABERIBA“.
This building was once a nursery school, beautifully renovated into
a stylish, welcoming cafe.
The building itself is lovely, and
the shop’s logo is just adorable!♪
The cafe blends naturally into the scenic countryside of Ubuyama Village,
radiating warmth from the moment you arrive!
There were even goldfish at the entrance!
There’s a famously pristine spring nearby called “Ikeyama Suigen”,
so even the goldfish swim happily in that crystal-clear water!

A stylish chalkboard greets guests on the outside wall
like a charming welcome sign☆

Step inside and you’re immediately greeted by the cafe’s namesake:
rows of roasted almond treats.
These are handcrafted almond snacks,
made by slowly roasting raw almonds and coating them in a variety of flavors,
then baking them to crispy perfection.
Some customers come specifically to stock up on these almonds.
Regulars confidently picked out their favorite flavors☆
The variety is HUGE, and some flavors had already sold out!
Caramel and Maple for kids,
Salted Caramel and Cinnamon popular with women,
and Black Pepper or Ichimi (Japanese chili) — perfect with drinks…
There’s truly a flavor for everyone.
The sugar used is “Tensai-tou” (beet sugar), a healthier alternative.
The info cards about the almonds are charmingly cute too…♪
They also sell dried fruits
with the same loving attention to quality.
Bottled jams and oils are available too,
including a unique tomato jam that makes a fantastic souvenir!♪

There’s counter seating where a solo biker was enjoying lunch.
Maybe taking a break from a scenic ride through Ubuyama’s stunning landscapes☆

There are also three tables that seat four people each.
(Sorry, no photo!)
High chairs are also available for the table seating.
A retro “TOYOTA” sewing machine adds a stylish vintage touch☆☆

And here’s the best part —
this special room!
A private tatami room!!

It’s set up so kids can play freely.
When I visited, a family with three children was using the room,
including a 6-month-old baby — and they all looked perfectly relaxed♪

You can really see how cleverly the former nursery school space has been repurposed!

Recommended Menu

Inside, a large blackboard showcases the popular menu items —
and honestly, everything looks delicious!!

Great food photos really get your appetite going, don’t they?

When a restaurant offers a menu with photos like this,
it makes it so much easier to imagine each dish
and shows the staff’s thoughtfulness —
which just screams “this is a winning restaurant!” Right?!

And here’s some great news!
Once you’re seated, the staff brings over a full menu book
with even more mouthwatering options!
Warm handwritten notes too.
More cows than people, plenty of local specialists,
and famous spring water flowing right from the tap…

My expectations were rising fast!!

The #1 most popular dish is the
100% Ubuyama Akaushi (Red Beef) Hamburger Lunch — ¥1,500,
and kids love the Spiral Sausage Lunch — ¥1,500.
Those handwritten notes are super helpful!
The visually stunning Thick-Cut Bacon Lunch — ¥1,500
and the Ear-Drop Bacon Burger — ¥1,300.
Eaten with knife and fork —
the 100% Akaushi Big Hamburger — ¥1,000
Ubuyama Akaushi, Cheese & Vegetable Baked Curry — ¥1,500
Limited to just 10 servings per day!
Just the word “limited” already screams “must be amazing!” lol
Loco Moco Bowl — ¥1,500 is so colorful too!

Pizza is also available for takeout☆

The desserts looked irresistible too…

It was tough to choose, but I went with the
100% Ubuyama Akaushi Hamburger Lunch — ¥1,500.
At over 200 grams,
it was a gloriously thick patty.
Obviously juicy — the meat juices practically poured out.
The side pickles hit the perfect sweet-tangy balance!
Even if you don’t usually like sour pickles, I think you’d love these♪
Not too sweet either — beautifully balanced.

The salad came piled with sliced onions,
but they had zero bite — incredibly sweet and mild!

The sauce is homemade tomato ketchup made from 100% Ubuyama-grown tomatoes —
fresh, bright, and not too “ketchupy.”
It paired beautifully with the hamburger.

And here’s the
Ubuyama Specialty Thick-Cut Bacon Lunch — ¥1,500.
No wonder this luxurious thick-cut bacon lunch has so many repeat fans!!
It pairs amazingly well with mustard made from takana (Japanese mustard greens) seeds♪
The jam served with the bread is the
tomato jam sold in the shop!

And of course, finish your meal with delicious coffee♪
Brewed with water from Ikeyama Suigen spring, the coffee here is truly outstanding.
I only really discovered the joy of iced coffee in the past year,
but when the water is this good, the coffee just sings!
As a lovely bonus, you can sample the almonds.
They look almost identical, but
the left is “Ginger” and the right is “Plain.”

Plain is delicious of course, but
ginger and almond is a surprisingly perfect match♪
I think women especially will adore this flavor!

It was such a satisfying lunch experience~♪

On the way out, I naturally bought almonds — both for myself and as souvenirs☆
The owner was incredibly kind, saying, “Feel free to taste any flavor that catches your eye!”
PayPay and some credit cards are accepted.

If you visit the official website, you’ll find
that almonds and bottled goods are sold online,
with a limited-time free shipping campaign running too —
definitely worth a look!
While you’re in the area, I highly recommend stopping by Ikeyama Suigen Spring nearby.
The water was breathtakingly clear~
Make it a perfect day by pairing DABERIBA with this scenic spring spot. Happy saru-walking♪

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.