Hello, fellow travelers!
It’s Maru, your Sarukuma writer 🙂🙃

Today we’re heading to Kengun in Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City to check out
“Karaage Umechanchi” — a local karaage (Japanese fried chicken) hotspot you don’t want to miss.

Here’s something impressive: Umechanchi previously won the bronze medal at the National Karaage Championship!

And in the most recent competition, they took home
the special 4th place award! 👏👏

So close to the top spot — but landing 4th among Japan’s most renowned karaage shops is truly remarkable! (^^)

A cute little chicken mascot greets you at the entrance ♪

The left side is for takeout, while the right side is the Umechanchi izakaya (Japanese-style pub).

You’ll find the shop along the Kengun River, close to the Kennsui 2-chome traffic light on Route 36.

If you’re driving, you can park at the factory lot behind the shop if there’s space available.

Otherwise, a quick stop right in front of the store works too 🚙=꒱

This is the entrance to the takeout counter.
The ordering counter is right inside as you walk in.

There’s no seating, but staff are happy to let you wait in your car after ordering 😊

The road in front of the shop is a popular shortcut and gets a fair bit of traffic, so
please keep a close eye on small children when visiting.

What sets this shop apart?
All dishes are prepared with hydrogen-infused water (^ ^)
And get this — have you ever heard of a water fryer? (°д°)

It’s a fryer that uses both water and oil.
This innovative technology prevents oil oxidation and keeps everything fresh.
Plus, no oily residue clings to the fried food!

Sounds like a dream machine, right? Now I’m even more excited! 😉

It’s easy to miss, but tucked away behind the right side of the vending machine is the entrance to the Umechanchi izakaya!

Izakaya hours are as posted on the sign.

There’s an adorable chick-themed vending machine, and everything’s just 100 yen! 🐣
Plus, there’s a fun “What will you get?” mystery button! ( ✧Д✧)

What’s gonna pop out, what’s gonna pop out? lol

Make sure to give it a try while you’re picking up your karaage!

Recommended Menu

First up — the karaage à la carte menu!

You can choose from three options: salt karaage, soy sauce “black” karaage, or a half-and-half combo!

They also offer salted chicken wings and onigiri (rice balls).

Here are the bento boxes.
The “Niku W Bento” is pronounced “Niku Two Bento” — don’t get tripped up by the W! lol

Katsu curry is on the menu too!

The fried octopus (agetako) looks delicious too (●´ω`●)

Sorry about the glare in the photo 💦
They also have chicken nanban and yangnyeom (Korean-style) chicken.

There’s even a side dish set available.

Great news for big appetites — extra rice is free! ✨
Karaage bentos let you upgrade with extra rice and extra karaage,
which is perfect for sharing with kids 😍

I went with the classic choice this time —
the Karaage Bento for 450 yen.

Five pieces of karaage, potato salad, cabbage and pickles —
simple is the best! A truly satisfying bento (^^)

And the white rice — cooked with their signature hydrogen water — is
absolutely outstanding!!

I went for the half-and-half — both salt and soy sauce versions.
Marinated for two whole days, the chicken is deeply infused with flavor —
perfectly crispy outside, fluffy inside! Seriously delicious!

Maybe it’s the water fryer effect, but it’s not greasy at all ♪

Both deserve a gold medal in my book!! 👏👏👏

I also picked up the
à la carte Karaage L size for 650 yen
— another half-and-half order.

Since the weather was so nice, we headed to the park in front of our house to enjoy them.
There’s just nothing like eating karaage outdoors (*^^*)

They also take orders for party platters (hors d’oeuvres).

Payment options include PayPay and au PAY mobile payments.

How about Umechanchi’s karaage as the perfect companion for your day out in Kumamoto? 🐣

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