Introducing Kuraudou (喰堂)

Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Igaguri 🌰, your SaruKuma writer.

Today I’m taking you to
Shimoide, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture, to a charming local spot called
“Kuraudou (喰堂)”.

The lunch menu signboard has been freshly updated!

For photos of the exterior and interior, check out our previous article ☆

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

This time we visited for dinner. When making the reservation, the staff thoughtfully asked, “Can your child use chopsticks?” — and when we arrived, our table was already set up with the right tableware and seating!

The sofa-style chairs were a huge hit with my little one (haha).

Recommended Menu at Kuraudou

Ultra-fresh, translucent live spear squid sashimi (yari-ika ikizukuri) with that signature springy bite.

Any leftover squid can be re-cooked to your preference — binchotan charcoal-grilled, deep-fried karaage, or tempura (^^♪

They handed us a tablet for ordering, but I have to admit — paper menus are way easier to photograph! The menu design itself is clean and easy to read (^_-)-☆

The cream cheese tofu is intriguing…

The sashimi and Kumamoto’s famous basashi (horse sashimi) both look amazing too…

“A Feast Kissed by Charcoal Smoke”

Who came up with this catchy slogan? I’m Igaguri 🌰, and I always notice these little details!

Wait…

The 10-skewer yakitori platter is a steal!

Hold on… ( ﾟДﾟ)

Every single skewer is a different variety!?
Most platters double up — two of each — so this is unusual.

What a luxurious lineup!!!

Salted chicken tsukune (meatballs)
Satsuma free-range chicken with negi (negima)
Chicken wing (tebasaki)
Fresh octopus (nama-tako)
Chicken heart (hatsu)
Chicken tail (bonjiri)

Soft-boiled egg wrapped in bacon (toro-tama bacon-maki)
Sausage
Pork belly (buta-bara)

That’s a whopping 400 yen cheaper than ordering each skewer individually!
Yes, I actually did the math — that’s just the kind of detail-obsessed Igaguri 🌰 I am (lol).

The tsukune meatballs come with a fun twist — lotus root mixed in for extra crunch!

The bacon-wrapped soft-boiled egg is pure magic: crispy bacon on the outside, runny yolk on the inside, and a drizzle of mayonnaise tying it all together.

It honestly tastes like “a hotel breakfast spread crammed into one bite.” ← What kind of review is that?! (laughs)

The sashimi platter for two is another bargain — the variety and quality are simply unbeatable for the price!

Kuraudou is well-known for excellent sushi, and their carpaccio absolutely lives up to the reputation!

I’ve also tried their chirashi-zushi bento (scattered sushi lunch box) for takeout — equally delicious 🤤

Wait, isn’t this basically a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl)?
Definitely not the chirashi-zushi I was picturing! (lol)

Kuraudou is open every day with no regular closing days, and the staff work tirelessly to welcome guests. Drop by whenever it suits your schedule!

Starting this month, they’re rolling out a new kushikatsu (skewered cutlets) and motsunabe (offal hotpot) set meal — definitely worth checking out (^_-)-☆

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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