Introducing Wayo Sakaba Kabuki

Hello travelers! This is Aikero, a writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m excited to introduce a hidden gem located in Yahata, Minami Ward, Kumamoto City:
Wayo Sakaba Kabuki.Many locals will recognize this restaurant by its distinctive blue roof along Route 3 in Minami Ward, Kumamoto City.
What many people don’t know — they serve a wonderful lunch, but only on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays!

Right next door is the popular Indian restaurant SHIVA Motomi Branch, famous for curry served with naan bread bigger than your face.

Indian Restaurant SHIVA Motomi Branch in Yahata, Minami Ward, Kumamoto City — Free Naan Refills Bigger Than Your Face!

A little further down the road, you’ll also find Motomi Chaya Kanzo, known for horsemeat hamburgers with a choice of sauces — the area is packed with great restaurants!
Since all of these spots are right in the neighborhood, I’ve personally tried — and become a regular at — every one of them. Lucky me!

Motomi Chaya Kanzo in Motomi, Minami Ward, Kumamoto City — A Cozy Izakaya with Surprisingly Hearty Lunches!

The parking lot is located a short distance from the restaurant, so let me walk you through it!
If you’re coming from central Kumamoto City, look for this sign as your landmark.A few important notes for drivers:
1. You can’t enter from the Tomiai/Uto direction on Route 3, so you’ll need to turn around somewhere first.
2. The parking lot sign is your landmark, but there’s a curb right next to it that prevents a left turn.
Make your left turn about 5 meters before the sign instead.It’s about a one-minute walk from the parking lot to the restaurant — perfect for building a little anticipation!Here’s the inside of the restaurant.
It’s cozy, but seats more guests than you might expect!
You wouldn’t guess from outside, but Wayo Sakaba Kabuki actually has traditional tatami seating (zashiki)!
The photo shows two seats, but there’s another section just to the right that fits 2–3 people.
And look — kids’ chairs! Perfect for families.
Look at that gleaming finish!
I dropped in unannounced for this story, and they hadn’t done any extra cleaning for our visit.
It’s clearly kept this beautifully spotless every day!

The 2nd-floor tatami seats aren’t available during lunch.
They only open them in the evening when the 1st floor fills up.
When you talk about Wayo Sakaba Kabuki, you have to mention their famous Whipped Butter (Hoippu Bata)!
Have you ever tried it?

It has a wonderfully fluffy texture with a touch of sweetness — so good you could honestly eat it on its own!

You can enjoy it during both lunch and dinner.
You might even want to take some home as a souvenir on your way out!
It’s sold frozen for easy transport.And here it is — the Saturday, Sunday, and holiday-only lunch menu!

・Drinkable Omurice (Omelet Rice)　　　　　1,200 yen
・Roast Beef Rice Bowl　　1,500 yen　※Reservations preferred
・Balsamic Chicken Nanban　1,000 yen
・Kabuki’s Taco Rice　　　　1,000 yen
・Butter Keema Curry　　　　1,000 yen
・Kabuki’s Daily Pasta　　1,200 yen
Pasta comes with house-made butter and a baguette.

★All meals include an appetizer, soup, and drink

Apparently it’s not just the curry that’s “drinkable”!
The “Drinkable Omurice” sounds intriguing too, and getting an appetizer and soup with every meal at this price is such a treat!・Kids’ Lunch — Choice of Omurice or Onigiri (Rice Ball) Set　650 yen

It’s wonderful that they offer a kids’ lunch — and even better that little ones can choose between omurice or onigiri to suit their tastes!

You can also order the famous house-made whipped butter, so be sure to give it a try!

Wayo Sakaba Kabuki Recommended Menu

Let’s start with the appetizer.
Just the word “appetizer” feels so elegant!

These little touches really lift the mood.
It feels like a special treat — a well-deserved reward after a busy week!
Today’s appetizer was Chicken Ham Carpaccio.
I’d always thought of carpaccio as a fish dish!

One bite and the chicken ham was beyond moist — it was downright juicy!

Press it gently and the savory juices practically spill out.
With every bite, the rich umami of the chicken filled my mouth, sending my expectations for the main dish through the roof!
The soup was Sweet Potato Potage.
The creamy soup had crushed crackers mixed in for a fun textural contrast!

And the natural sweetness of the sweet potato came through beautifully — it didn’t just taste of sweet potato, it tasted like drinking sweet potato itself.
I desperately want to be able to make potage this delicious at home!

The appetizer and soup were so good I was already plotting my next visit before the main course arrived!
I ended up ordering the Butter Keema Curry.
The roast beef bowl normally requires reservations, but the staff told me “We still have some left today,” which had me agonizing over the choice.
The “drinkable omurice” felt like uncharted territory, so I asked the staff for advice.

They told me, “The roast beef bowl is very popular, but personally I’d recommend the taco rice — and if you’re okay with a little spice, the curry is wonderful too.”
So I picked the Butter Keema Curry. (Yes, I know, totally different recommendation!)
The aroma of spices hit me the moment it arrived at the table.

The menu mentioned “nuts and chicken cartilage as accents.”
Cartilage in curry?! But one bite in, the crunchy nuts and the satisfying chew of the cartilage created a fun, contrasting texture!

The curry has a pleasant spicy kick, with a subtle tomato tang and beautiful spice notes — absolutely delicious.
It’s wonderful as is, but…
The staff recommended squeezing the lemon over it, so I gave it a try.
The fresh citrus tang and bright aroma transformed the dish — absolutely incredible!

I wasn’t sure if lemon would pair with curry, but it works far better than I imagined — I actually preferred this version!
It blew past my already sky-high expectations, and I’m so grateful to the staff for recommending the curry!

Honestly, I’m convinced everything on the menu must be fantastic!

After my first reporting visit, I came back another day with my family for lunch.

They even brought out small sharing plates for our kids — such a nice touch!

We ordered the kids’ omurice and the onigiri set.

What I really appreciated was that the furikake (rice seasoning) for the onigiri came on the side.
My daughter isn’t a fan of furikake, so this was perfect.

And honestly, the furikake was delicious too!

The omurice was quite generous, served with karaage (Japanese fried chicken), a fried shrimp, and a side salad.
The flavors were nicely bold, and the kids happily devoured every bite!

Since my husband ordered the curry, I went for the taco rice this time!
That gentle spicy kick had me reaching for spoonful after spoonful — I couldn’t stop!

It’s loaded with fresh vegetables, so you can enjoy every bite guilt-free!

I’d been here for dinner before, but the lunch was so wonderful that I highly recommend it!
It’s only available Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, but with a kids’ menu and tatami seating, it’s perfect for families who can’t make it on weekdays!

Why not add it to your list of delicious lunch spots in Minami Ward, Kumamoto City?

Indian Restaurant SHIVA Motomi Branch in Yahata, Minami Ward, Kumamoto City — Free Naan Refills Bigger Than Your Face!

Motomi Chaya Kanzo in Motomi, Minami Ward, Kumamoto City — A Cozy Izakaya with Surprisingly Hearty Lunches!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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