Hello, fellow foodies!
I’m Binako, a Sarukuma writer who absolutely loves cooking, eating, and even just looking at delicious food!

Today I’m taking you to a hidden gem in Higashino, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City:
“Tofu-dokoro Yasuki Higashino”, a charming neighborhood tofu shop.

There’s a small parking lot in front of the shop with space for about 4 cars.
I had passed by countless times and finally decided to step inside — and I was in for a surprise!

Wait — they don’t just sell tofu?!
The shelves were filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, dried goods, and so much more!

Honestly, you could do all your grocery shopping right here!

A beautiful array of handmade tsukemono (Japanese pickles) lined the shelves.
You just know these are going to be delicious.

Because handmade always tastes better.

No questions asked.

And look at this beauty —
chestnuts simmered in their inner skins (kuri no shibukawa-ni)!

This is a traditional Japanese sweet that takes serious time and effort to make at home.
If you love chestnuts, this place is a must-visit!

Now we’re at the deli section!
Everything is affordably priced, with a great variety of fried tofu (age) and tofu options.
The ready-to-eat side dishes are perfect for adding a little something extra to your dinner table!

And on top of all that…

FREE okara (tofu pulp) service!

How amazing is that?
I happened to be looking for okara that day, so I was overjoyed right there in the shop!

Just remember — one per customer, please!

They also have onigiri (rice balls) and atsuage (thick fried tofu)!
And there’s more than one type of atsuage available.

Take your time and pick your favorite.

Here we have agedashi tofu (lightly fried tofu in dashi broth) and okara croquettes.

The okara croquettes come in four flavors:
hijiki seaweed, kinpira (sauteed root vegetables), pumpkin, and curry.
Though sadly, the curry was already sold out!

They also sell handmade ohagi (sweet rice balls coated in red bean paste)!
There weren’t any during my visit, but I’m dying to try them next time…

Recommended Menu

This time, I picked up:
Autumn Vegetables & Agedashi Tofu — 294 yen
Okara Croquette (Hijiki) — 237 yen
Pickled Cucumber — 206 yen
Free Okara — 0 yen

Let’s dig in!

First up, the autumn vegetables and agedashi tofu…
My beloved okra is in there!

The dashi broth has the most perfect, gentle flavor —
absolutely delicious! It pairs beautifully with okra’s signature stickiness!

And the tofu itself…
Oh wow! The crispy coating soaks up the oil and dashi so beautifully!

The tofu is delicious whether you eat it cold or warm it up!
For the record, I enjoyed mine cold!

My apologies —
this photo is super blurry!

But oh my, these pickled cucumbers have a lovely sweetness that makes them dangerously addictive!
The texture is wonderfully crisp and crunchy —
my chopsticks just couldn’t stop moving!

Next up: the okara croquette.

I went with the hijiki seaweed flavor.

The okara is so flavorful! Not dry or crumbly at all —
in fact, it’s wonderfully moist!

This is a dish that health-conscious eaters will adore!
Healthy AND delicious — what’s not to love?

Tofu-dokoro Yasuki is also famous for its chiffon cake!

It was sold out during my visit, but I highly recommend stopping by to try it for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

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