Introducing Kitchen Haru

Hello, everyone!
This is Maru, a writer for Sarukuma 🙂🙃

I’ve finally recovered from a cold. How are you all doing? Please take care of your health! ♡♡

Today I’m introducing a great little spot in Hirata, Mashiki Town, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Kitchen Haru”.

The location is about 4 km from Kumamoto Airport, heading toward central Kumamoto City along Daini Kuko Line (the Second Airport Road).
You’ll find it on an open lot right next to the “Mashiki-machi Hirata” intersection, just at the bottom of the slope.

Longtime Sarukuma readers may recognize this spot — it’s the same lot where the famous Hot Dog Yotsuba truck used to operate.

Hot Dog Yotsuba — A Legendary Kumamoto Hot Dog Stand Run Out of a Vintage Scrapped Vehicle (Hirata, Mashiki Town, Kamimashiki District)

Sadly, Hot Dog Yotsuba closed its doors in March of this year, much to everyone’s dismay… but here’s the exciting news!

Kitchen Car Kyushu Lab — the team behind Kitchen Haru — has officially taken over Hot Dog Yotsuba
and reopened the legendary stand on September 18!

So there’s plenty to look forward to from Hot Dog Yotsuba going forward. For details, check their official website.

Now, on to the main event! Kitchen Haru is a curry-specialized food truck.

They sometimes pop up at locations beyond the Daini Kuko Line, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their schedule.

Here’s the menu.

Signature Horse Tendon “Uma Curry” — 600 yen
Butter Chicken Curry — 600 yen

The most popular dish is the 3-Curry Combo Plate (Aigake) — 1,000 yen.

You can also choose extra toppings to customize your plate.

Kitchen Haru Recommended Menu

First up, I tried the 3-Curry Combo Plate (1,000 yen).

Butter chicken on the left, keema in the middle, and horse curry on the right.
There’s even a piece of tandoori chicken hiding in there! (^^)

And let me tell you — this plate has serious heft. It’s seriously hearty! (ﾟ∀ﾟ)

The signature dish at Kitchen Haru is the “Uma Curry” — slow-simmered, melt-in-your-mouth horse tendon curry 🐴 (a Kumamoto specialty, since horse meat is a regional delicacy here).

It has no gamey aftertaste at all, just a wonderfully spicy, addictive flavor.
It’s such a treat to find authentic curry of this caliber from a food truck! (^O^)

And here’s the Butter Chicken Curry.

Milder in spice but every bit as authentic, it’s packed with the rich umami of slow-cooked chicken and vegetables.

This one is the Keema Curry. It’s loaded with diced lotus root, giving it a delightfully crisp, crunchy texture!

With a piece of tandoori chicken on top, the satisfaction level is at 200%!!

Next up is the Butter Chicken Curry — 600 yen.

The turmeric rice is finished with crispy fried onions, while the curry itself is generously sprinkled with nuts — irresistibly mouth-watering!

I also added a Tandoori Chicken Takeout Pack — 300 yen.
The meat was so tender and full of bold spices that I was happily devouring it. (^^)

I really recommend it — please give it a try when you visit! 💕
And don’t forget to enjoy Hot Dog Yotsuba alongside! ✨

Hot Dog Yotsuba — A Legendary Kumamoto Hot Dog Stand Run Out of a Vintage Scrapped Vehicle (Hirata, Mashiki Town, Kamimashiki District)

Frequently Asked Questions

※ Information is current as of the time of the visit. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before you go.