This shop has relocated.
The new location is: 1F GR Hotel Ginza-dori, 7-11 Chuogai, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City.

About TSUBOI SOUP — A Books & Breakfast Café

Hello travelers! This is Aikero, writer for [Sarukuma].

Today I’m introducing a hidden gem tucked away in Tsuboi-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City:
[TSUBOI SOUP] — a charming books and breakfast café that you’ll love.

The café operates inside [Bond Curry], a popular local curry restaurant.
Our Sarukuma writers Aromanahito and Gussan have previously visited [Bond Curry] to taste their delicious curry — definitely worth a visit too!

[Bond Curry — Uchitsuboi-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City] Renewal Opening on August 1st: Custom Spice Blends, Gluten-Free, and VEGAN Curry Now on the Menu!

TSUBOI SOUP isn’t open every day, so be sure to check their Instagram before visiting.
The café is located at the end of the passageway right next to [Meitokukan].
Look for this signboard — it makes the place easy to find, even for first-time visitors like me!
There it is, just down the path!
Parking is limited to just 2 spaces in front of the shop.
The spots are in front of the stone wall and where the car stoppers are visible in the center of the photo.
I parked at a nearby paid lot and walked over — it only took about 3 minutes on foot!
The interior has a wonderful old-fashioned feel with warm wooden accents — a truly relaxing space.
There’s also counter seating available.
As a books & breakfast café, the shelves are filled with the owner’s personal collection.
From novels and easy-reading essays to film and drama originals, plus children’s favorites like Where’s Wally — there’s something for every reader!
I was thrilled to find books by my favorite author Hiro Arikawa, plus Yasushi Kitagawa’s works, and ended up chatting excitedly with the owner.The menu features just one main set.

Happiness 10-Item Breakfast Set — 1,800 yen
・2 types of temari (ball-shaped) rice balls
・5 small side dishes
・Soup of the day
・Bite-sized sweet
★The contents of the rice balls and side dishes change daily.

A truly indulgent breakfast packed with carefully crafted dishes — pure morning happiness!Wait… what?

Kumamoto Local Sake Tasting Set (3 varieties) — 1,200 yen

Yes — you can drink sake in the morning here!
The gap between this gentle breakfast set and morning sake is hilarious, but sake lovers will be delighted.
Just be sure to use public transportation if you plan to enjoy a morning tipple!

Visiting Kumamoto? Why not treat yourself to a luxurious morning at this local gem?While waiting for the food, I sipped warm tea and got lost in a book. Pure bliss.

TSUBOI SOUP — Recommended Menu Items

There’s something so exciting about being served lots of small side dishes!Beyond the lovely space and delicious menu, the owner’s gentle smile, friendly conversation, and thoughtful written messages make every morning at TSUBOI SOUP feel special.
The owner explained each dish individually, so let me introduce them starting from the top left:

・Persimmon and dried fig fruit shiraae (tofu salad)
・Kumamoto-grown sweet potato simmered in sweet syrup
・Temari rice ball with tsukudani (simmered seasoning) made from the bonito flakes and kombu used for dashi stock
・Dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet) made with first-press dashi
・Salt-grilled mackerel
・Bite-sized sweet (soy milk mochi pudding on the day of our visit)
・Temari rice ball with pickled plum and sesame salt
・Okra with sesame dressing
・Kinpira gobo (braised burdock root)

The soup of the day was komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and shiitake mushroom milk soup.With mornings turning chilly, I started with the steaming hot soup.
“The secret ingredient is grated burdock root! You can smell it, but the burdock flavor really comes through when you taste it,” the owner shared with such a lovely smile that my heart was warmed even before tasting it.

One sip revealed mellow, rich milk paired with fragrant burdock!
It was packed with vegetables and incredibly warming.
The way she said “I worked hard grating it!” was just adorable.
The dashimaki tamago made with first-press dashi had such a gentle flavor.
It’s not the type that bursts with dashi, but you can clearly taste both the umami of the dashi and the egg — I savored every single bite.
The lightly seasoned tsukudani made from leftover kombu and bonito flakes, the natural sweetness of the rice, and the saltiness of the rice ball all balanced together perfectly. This is what “perfect harmony of flavors” truly means!
The persimmon and dried fig fruit shiraae was something completely new to me — fruit shiraae!
The creamy sweetness of persimmon and tofu paired with the popping texture of dried figs made for a delightful dish.
The rice consists of just two temari rice balls, which might leave some feeling a bit hungry, but with all the side dishes I found the portion just right!
The pits are removed from the umeboshi (pickled plum), making it easy to eat.
The sesame salt and umeboshi combination is perfectly seasoned — never too salty!
The bite-sized soy milk mochi pudding for dessert.
It’s not quite as wobbly as a regular pudding — leaning more toward mochi.
The chewy texture and gentle sweetness of soy milk made it the perfect finish to the meal.

The seasoning is overall light, allowing the natural flavors of each ingredient to shine — absolutely perfect for breakfast!
The kinpira had just the right amount of bite, not too soft. Honestly, every single element of this breakfast set was a home run for me.

After the meal, the owner kindly said “Please relax and enjoy your book,” so I dove right back into the world of reading.
I used to read so often as a student, but as I grew up I gradually stopped picking up books.
That’s why having a place where you can enjoy delicious food and quietly read is such a treasure.

The book I was reading at the time was “The Letter Shop,” in which the protagonist meets the mysterious letter shop owner at a special place.
That place is a café called “Shoraku” that offers visitors a study-like atmosphere — and TSUBOI SOUP captures that exact feeling so perfectly that I felt like I’d stepped right into the world of the book!I’m sure some people start their day here, while others end their night shift with a cozy breakfast.
Whether you’re a Kumamoto local or visiting from abroad, after spending peaceful time at TSUBOI SOUP and savoring a gentle breakfast set, you’ll find yourself thinking “Today is going to be a great day” or “What a wonderful day this has been.” That kind of heartwarming spot exists right here in Tsuboi-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City.

Families with children are also welcome!
Reading together with your kids over breakfast — what a lovely way to spend the morning.
We highly recommend giving it a visit!

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