About Zashiki Warashi Chinese Restaurant

Hello there!
This is Igaguri, your SaruKuma writer 🌰

Today I’m introducing
“Zashiki Warashi Chinese Restaurant”,
located in Arao, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Situated right in front of Greenland (Kumamoto’s famous amusement park), it shares the same complex as:
“Yakiniku West Arao Branch”
“Direx Greenland Branch”
“Shabu Rin (All-You-Can-Eat Shabu-Shabu, Sushi & Crab)”
“Ajisen Ramen Arao Greenland Branch”

Among the spots SaruKuma has covered before, it’s close to “Kuraudou”!

https://sarukuma.info/gourmet/__trashed-19

The banners outside proudly advertise their special shiokara (salted fermented seafood).

An unusual shiokara that already has me craving a drink to pair with it!

Celebrity autographs are displayed on the wall — expectations rising fast!

The interior has a warm wooden design that feels surprisingly stylish for a Chinese restaurant ☆
(No photo, but even the restroom was charmingly cute — a real surprise!)

The dining area is spotless and includes traditional zashiki tatami seating and high chairs for kids — perfect for families with little ones (^^♪

Recommended Menu at Zashiki Warashi

Right inside the entrance, a chalkboard next to the register clearly shows the restaurant’s noodle-focused menu.

The signature dish is Tantanmen (spicy sesame noodles)!
You can choose from three spice levels, and a half-size portion is available too.

The ¥800 Chinese set lunch lets you pick your favorite main dish.

It comes with either gyoza dumplings or a Japanese-style omelet!

Zashiki Warashi Set ¥1,100
(half tantanmen, gyoza, seasonal black-vinegar pork with vegetables, salad, rice, pickles, almond tofu, and a soft drink)

What a cute name!
The Cha-Tan Set at ¥1,100 pairs tantanmen with a half portion of fried rice.

There’s also a kids’ meal!

And so much more on the menu!

The variety of ice creams and sherbets makes it impossible to choose just one…!

This visit, I went with a single order of tantanmen for ¥700 (medium spice).

The moment it arrived, a rich, toasty aroma of sesame drifted up from the bowl!
Wait… is the plate underneath the bowl made of stainless steel?

And there are two types of spoons!
The slotted one must be designed for scooping up the ground meat hidden in the spicy, rich broth.

“If you think you’ll lose, you’ve already lost.” Brilliant.
Yep.

Time to dig in!

…

SO. GOOD!!!!

This easily blows past every tantanmen I’ve ever had.
Every other tantanmen I’ve eaten suddenly feels like an imitation. This is what tantanmen is supposed to be…

The noodles are perfect, the komatsuna greens are blanched flawlessly, and the finely-sliced white scallions are practically a work of art.
The ground meat is deep and savory, and the broth is incredibly rich.

I drank every last drop of broth…

To all my fellow tantanmen lovers — never underestimate the tantanmen at Zashiki Warashi in Arao!
It’s absolutely worth traveling for!!!

https://sarukuma.info/gourmet/__trashed-19

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Frequently Asked Questions

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