Introducing Yasai 10 Nen SAKE Mannen

Hello travelers! This is Aromanahito, writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m introducing a brand-new spot that opened in April 2025, located in Wakaba, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City:

[Yasai 10 Nen SAKE Mannen]

It’s just steps away from the Kengun Shotengai Pia Crest shopping arcade!
If you’ve never explored Kengun Shotengai before, you’d be surprised how many wonderful little shops are tucked along it.

[Updated 3/31] A Roundup of Spots Around Kengun Shotengai Pia Crest!

Turn at Kunitake Orthopedic & Dermatology Clinic, and you’ll spot it on your left.

Here’s the location (*^-^*)

Parking is available at nearby coin parking lots.

The sign reads “Seasonal Vegetables and the Perfect Drink.”

Nothing but excitement! Let’s head inside.

Here’s the entrance.

Step inside and you’re greeted by a warm, wood-toned interior with a gentle, welcoming atmosphere.

The shop is run by a husband-and-wife team — and the owner is a former greengrocer.

Seating includes 5 table seats and 7 counter seats.

The soft, low lighting creates such a relaxed atmosphere — it’s perfect whether you’re flying solo, on a date, or visiting with the whole family. Easy to bring kids along too!

The colorful display of vegetables and fruits behind the counter is hand-picked by the owner himself, drawing on his greengrocer’s eye.
Most produce comes from Kumamoto Prefecture, with select items sourced from across Japan.

Looking at all that vibrant, fresh produce made me hungry on the spot (laughs).

Once seated, we even received a hand-written welcome note…

You can really feel the couple’s warm hospitality!

And here’s how to order:

You order via smartphone — no need to flag down a server, making everything quick and smooth! (A great help if your Japanese is limited too.)

Here’s the menu (all prices include tax):

The signature dish is the Yasai-Maki-Gushi — vegetables carefully wrapped in thinly sliced pork belly and skewered.

The ever-popular lettuce skewer leads the lineup, joined by enoki mushrooms, zucchini, mountain yam, asparagus, Chinese chives, okra, cherry tomatoes, and more — seasonal vegetables grilled slowly over charcoal to lock in their natural moisture and sweetness.

The menu cheekily reads, “Now that you’re here, eat your vegetables!” ♡

Me: “Yes! I’ll eat my vegetables!”

The kids: “Yeah! We’ll eat them too!”

This veggie-loving Aromanahito had a hard time deciding what to order…

Since we came all this way, the fresh salad — perfect for tasting the quality of the produce — was a must!

And on a chilly day, the oden (Japanese hot pot) is irresistible!

Then there’s the daily specials board.

Look closely and you’ll see: “Even if you eat ALL of today’s specials — zero guilt!” (〃ω〃)

Honestly, knowing it’s all loaded with veggies makes it impossible to feel bad about indulging — what a treat!

And here’s the drinks menu!

Choose tonight’s drink by mood.

An ice-cold beer to wash away the workday,

a wine to complement vegetable dishes,

or a shochu or whisky to sip slowly.

From the everyday to the extra special.

Whatever your dish, you’ll find the perfect pairing for the evening.

The owner — a serious sake lover — has hand-picked an impressive lineup.

Drinking with vegetables!

This phrase might just become the next big trend!

The wines are chosen to gently elevate the natural flavors of the vegetables.

The selection focuses on natural wines made with traditional, low-intervention methods.

Vegetables with red? White? Or perhaps rosé or sparkling?

“Wine to make vegetables taste even better.”

Now that you’re here, you’ve got to try the vegetables —

and pair them with a glass of wine!

And that’s not all:

An impressive sake selection too!

As someone who loves dry to ultra-dry sake, Aromanahito deeply regretted driving that night (laughs).

My personal recommendations: Harushika, Senchu Hassaku, and Oyama (laughs).

There’s also a great selection of non-alcoholic drinks and fruit sours, so designated drivers and non-drinkers have plenty to choose from too — perfect for everyone in the group.

Now let’s order and dig in!

Yasai 10 Nen SAKE Mannen — Recommended Highlights

This visit was a non-alcoholic girls’ night out with the kids,

so Aromanahito quietly went with a non-alcoholic drink.

And here’s what arrived…

“The more you drink, the more beautiful and youthful you get!” ♡

Wakonaru Drink — 480 yen

A beauty-support drink that erases the guilt of overindulging in food or drinks!

It’s also said to help cut the equivalent carbs of about two 500ml beers — a lovely bonus.

Perfect when dining out or pairing with cocktails.

Now then!

Cheers — to beauty drinks and vegetable cocktails!!

The cocktail glass is filled with a colorful arrangement of seasonal vegetables.

And hidden underneath? A rich, savory bagna càuda sauce.

What we ordered:

The today’s fresh salad, of course! Loaded with sweet pumpkin, the kids dove right in.

The crisp freshness of the raw veggies and the soft, mellow sweetness of the pumpkin paired beautifully with the dressing — absolutely delicious.

Next, what really blew Aroma away — the bell pepper!

Served completely raw and fresh!

Just look at that glistening, juicy pepper!

A beautifully chilled, glossy, firm bell pepper arrived at the counter.

The kids paused for a moment… “………..”

My child in particular isn’t a big fan of bell peppers, so I was curious how this would go — but they decided to give it a try.

A little dab of homemade meat miso on top, and…

“Itadakimasu!” (Let’s eat!)

“Hey! I can actually eat this!” — the kids happily crunched away.

When Aroma tried it, the satisfying crunch was incredible — no bitterness at all, just a hint of natural sweetness paired beautifully with the savory miso. I couldn’t stop eating!

And of course, winter calls for oden — Japan’s classic comfort hot pot.

The moment the lid lifts, an aromatic cloud of dashi rises up.

The clear, golden broth looks gentle and inviting from the very first glance.

Starting with the daikon radish ^_^

The flavor has soaked deep into every bite — so soft it practically melts at the touch of your chopsticks. The savory dashi spreads through your mouth in a warm, comforting wave.

The atsuage (thick fried tofu) is fluffy on the outside, moist on the inside. Each bite releases a flood of dashi-rich umami.

The beef tendon practically melts on your tongue — slow-simmered to a deep, velvety richness that infuses the entire broth.

Each ingredient is in perfect harmony with the dashi — a flavor that warms the heart.

Ideal for cold days, and an excellent companion to a drink.

The kind of oden that makes you naturally think, “I want this again.” Lovingly prepared and deeply satisfying.

Next up — Aroma’s beloved vegetable-pork-belly skewers!

First, the most popular: the lettuce skewer!

Lettuce often wilts when grilled, but here, the moment you bite in, the juicy savor of the pork belly meets a still-crisp lettuce center — incredible!

The pork’s fat blends with the lettuce, keeping each bite light and refreshing. The kids polished theirs off in seconds.

Then we tried the Chinese chive (nira) skewer.

One bite and a wave of umami floods your mouth.

The texture of the nira and the smoky char of the pork belly outside are a perfect match. Cooking softens the chive’s sharp aroma and brings out a remarkable sweetness.

The kind of dish that makes you think, “Wait — were Chinese chives always this elegant?”

The zucchini skewer — a kids’ favorite.

Cooking transforms the zucchini into something sweet and meltingly tender.

Smoky and crisp on the outside, juicy and soft inside.

The richness of the pork fat is balanced perfectly by the bright freshness of the zucchini —

never too heavy, just right.

The combined flavors of the savory pork belly and the natural sweetness of the vegetable make it instantly clear why this place calls vegetables the star of the show.

There are also classic kid-friendly favorites!

French fries.

The fluffy, tender potato inside is just perfect!

An absolute classic — gone in seconds (laughs).

Dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet) — beloved by both kids and adults.

The moment your chopsticks slide in, savory dashi gushes out.

Fluffy and moist.

A gentle sweetness mingles with rich umami, filling your mouth completely.

The grilled rice ball (yaki-onigiri) is crisp, golden, and toasty on the outside.

One bite reveals a soft, fluffy interior.

The aroma of soy sauce caramelizing on the grill is irresistible!

Beneath the toasty char, the natural sweetness of the rice spreads gently across your palate.

And here’s the lovely owner’s wife, Ayaka-san (so beautiful!) — captured grilling those yaki-onigiri ^_^

And to finish off the meal for the kids?

Coconut ice cream!

Seriously delicious!

“More, please!” was the chant of the night!

Children’s tableware is also available, so sharing dishes with little ones is no problem at all!

Though it’s an evening izakaya, this restaurant truly puts vegetables at center stage.

Now I totally get the idea of “drinking with vegetables!” — and yes, I went home and cracked open a beer for myself (laughs).

The carefully grilled vegetables are sweet, juicy, and bursting with flavor —

they make you wonder, “Were vegetables always this delicious?”

Even children who are picky about vegetables

should give these a try.

It might just change how they feel about veggies forever!

A wonderful place to sit down with the family and enjoy delicious vegetables together.

If you’re visiting Kumamoto, definitely stop by!

[Updated 3/31] A Roundup of Spots Around Kengun Shotengai Pia Crest!

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information current at the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please check before your visit.