About the Restaurant

Hello there!
This is Ayu-mama, writer for “SaruKuma”!
Today I’m introducing a gem located in Hanatate, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City:
[Tempura Appare]!
Famous for serving tempura fresh out of the fryer, this place had been on my must-visit list for ages — and I finally made it!

There’s contracted parking with about 4 spaces directly across the street from the restaurant.

Here are the opening hours.
The third Tuesday of every month is their special “Appare Appreciation Day.”
Inside, you’ll find table seating and
counter seating on the opposite side.

The clever system here: staff dash between the counter and table seats, delivering piping-hot, freshly fried tempura piece by piece, right as it comes out of the fryer!

Set meals & rice bowls (donburi)
Noodle sets, tempura platters, and à la carte items
Alcohol pairings & drinks
Takeout is also available.

This time, I ordered the ‘Choi-Nomi A Set’ for 1,000 yen.
That’s 5 pieces of tempura, a small side dish, AND a beer — all for just 1,000 yen!!!
Absolutely amazing!!!
First, the beer, side dish, and tentsuyu (tempura dipping sauce) arrived!
Then the tempura started flowing out — fresh from the fryer, one piece after another.

First up: shrimp and eggplant.
Crispy, crunchy, piping hot — and the perfect match for cold beer!!!
Next came pumpkin (kabocha), lotus root (renkon), and beltfish (tachiuo)!

The tentsuyu dipping sauce had that slightly bold, savory flavor I love —
so good I almost wanted to drink the whole bowl!

For my son, I ordered some à la carte items: chicken thigh tempura for 200 yen,
green pepper (piman) for 150 yen, rice for 180 yen, and
miso soup for 130 yen.
Having à la carte options is such a blessing when you’re feeding little kids —
perfect portions, no waste!
Even better, the chicken thigh and green pepper came on skewers,
making it super easy for my little one to eat!
(I wonder if they actually skewered them just for the kids?!)

My son chomping into the giant chicken thigh tempura!
He must have loved it because he ate it with laser focus!
Green pepper tempura is one of his favorites, so that vanished in an instant!
The rice and miso soup disappeared in no time too!

The staff were wonderfully kind to families with children,
and in that homey, welcoming atmosphere,
we enjoyed delicious tempura fresh from the fryer!

Next time, I want to try one of the rice bowls!
If you’re in Kumamoto, come savor that piping-hot, just-fried tempura for yourself!

Follow us on Instagram for daily updates!
SaruKuma shares info about lunches, parks, and indoor play spots for families in Kumamoto.
Thanks for following! (*´∀｀*)

Frequently Asked Questions

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