Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Binako, your Sarukuma writer (^^♪

Today I’m taking you to a hidden local gem in Higashino, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City:
“Chobo-yaki Hasuta” — a charming little restaurant serving up a nostalgic Japanese griddle dish you won’t want to miss.

The shop recently moved to this stylish new location — and the exterior is absolutely Instagram-worthy! ^^

There’s on-site parking for up to 3 cars (*^-^*).
I’ll be honest — I’d never tried chobo-yaki before, and I’d been dying to taste it for ages ( *´艸｀)

So when I finally got the chance to visit, I was buzzing with excitement! ^^

Inside, the restaurant is spotlessly clean and features a self-service water station.
Right by the entrance you’ll find counter seating plus two cozy table spots (#^.^#)

Here’s the menu!

The Basic Chobo-yaki (390 yen) comes loaded with
a small portion of pork, takuan (pickled daikon radish), and tenkasu (crispy tempura bits) ^^

Add-ons:
Pork — 100 yen
Green onion (limited quantity) — 130 yen
Loin (Kumamoto-brand pork) — 300 yen
Egg — 50 yen
Noodles (thick champon noodles) — 100 yen
Vegetables (cabbage, bean sprouts) — 100 yen

Pretty straightforward!

The standard size yields 5–6 slices, but you can upgrade:
+180 yen for Large
+350 yen for Extra Large

Perfect when you’re feeling really hungry and want to fill up!

There’s also a Yakisoba (630 yen) option on the menu (^^♪

The back of the menu has a handy guide explaining how to eat chobo-yaki — super helpful for first-timers (and tourists!).

Each table is stocked with a variety of sauces, so you can experiment with different flavors as you eat ♪

What I Recommend

Since this was my very first chobo-yaki experience, I went with
the Basic + Vegetables combo!

So this is chobo-yaki…!!!

Unlike its more famous cousin okonomiyaki, chobo-yaki uses a thin batter that you wrap around the fillings — kind of like a savory Japanese crepe!
It’s not too thick, easy to eat, and the batter has a lovely chewy, mochi-like texture ( *´艸｀)

I tried the first bite plain, then started experimenting with the different sauces (#^.^#)

My personal favorite combo? A sprinkle of ichimi (Japanese chili pepper) on top!!
The gentle heat pairs beautifully with the original sauce that comes brushed on the chobo-yaki (*´Д｀)

Because you can roll it up and eat it like a wrap, every bite has the perfect balance of fillings and batter ♪

Takeout is also available, so I highly recommend calling ahead to reserve your order ★

Sorry I didn’t take more photos — I was way too busy enjoying the food!

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information accurate as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.