Introducing Chuka Chubo Tocho

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

Today, I’m excited to introduce a hidden gem located in Kasuga, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City:
“Chuka Chubo Tocho” (Chinese Kitchen Tocho).

I stumbled upon this place by chance…
but as it turns out, it’s a buzz-worthy Chinese restaurant the locals rave about! 🇨🇳🐼

The restaurant sits directly across from Aeon Town Tasaki, so it’s super easy to find.

Parking is available right in front of the shop 🚙=꒱‧*True to its quintessentially Chinese feel, you’re greeted by a wonderfully flashy money-clutching frog statue! 🐸🐸🐸
Step inside and you’ll find a counter seating area right up front.

Lining the surrounding area are traditional Japanese-style tatami zashiki seating.

These are horigotatsu-style tatami seats (with a recessed floor under the table for your legs).
Thanks to the partitions creating private nooks, families with kids can dine relaxed and undisturbed 👦👧

Now, here’s the lunch menu!

Lunch A includes a drink for just 800 yen (tax included) — what a deal!
Lunch B comes loaded with side dishes plus a sesame ball dessert for a luxurious 1,200 yen (tax included).

And get this — free rice refills up to 3 bowls! 🍚
Now that’s generosity!

Lunch C is the classic combo of noodles and fried rice for 900 yen (tax included).“Order delicious me!” they seem to call out… ❤
those are the bold-flavored boiled dumplings (suigyoza) at 600 yen — with a stunning 5 different fillings to choose from! 😲

Pork and turban shell (sazae)? Now that sounds intriguing!

Takoyaki at a Chinese restaurant? Now I’m curious… 🐙( ‘-‘ 🐙 )

Recommended Menu Items at Chuka Chubo Tocho

This time, I went with the 800 yen Lunch A ✨
For my main, I picked sweet and sour pork (subuta) 🐷

(Other choices include mapo tofu, pepper steak with green peppers (chinjao rosu), shrimp chili, twice-cooked pork (huiguorou), karaage fried chicken, and tender braised pork cubes with daikon radish!)

Funnily enough, all three of us picked sweet and sour pork — so it’s the only dish in the photos lol
Authentic sweet and sour pork is something that’s just hard to recreate at home 😆

What surprised me was the addition of sweet potato 🍠 — a unique twist with a comforting, gentle sweetness.

Even drenched in plenty of sweet-and-sour glaze,
the pork stayed perfectly crispy! 😋

It’s the kind of flavor that pairs perfectly with rice — I just couldn’t stop eating!
I couldn’t quite manage all 3 bowls of rice 🤣 but I throughly savored every bite of that delicious sweet and sour pork!

For my included drink, I went with coffee ☕✨
Phew — I’m stuffed!

Word is, the bubbling clay-pot mapo tofu is also a huge favorite here ❤
Definitely worth trying!

Access to Chuka Chubo Tocho

Chuka Chubo Tocho — Shop Information

Frequently Asked Questions

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