Introducing Retro Izakaya 219 (Ni-Ichi-Kyu)

Hello, this is Gussan, a writer for Sarukuma.
Today I’m introducing a fantastic spot located in Chikami, Minami-ku, Kumamoto City:
【Retro Izakaya 219 (Ni-Ichi-Kyu)】.

The neighborhood is lined with yakitori shops, Chinese restaurants, and other eateries — but the brightest, most welcoming glow comes from Retro Izakaya 219.
There’s parking right in front of the shop, plus additional parking across the street.
Inside, you’ll find counter seats, curtained-off private rooms,
and horigotatsu-style sunken-floor table seating — perfect for relaxing with the family.
※On a side note: my son was wearing short sleeves in mid-January, and somehow my husband was too?! How embarrassing!
One delightful thing about Retro Izakaya 219 — there’s no otoshi (compulsory appetizer charge).
This is wonderfully thoughtful, especially for larger groups! Here’s the drinks menu.
The highball even comes in a value-priced mega size.
A lemon sour packed with frozen lemon slices (I would have ordered this if I weren’t driving!), sashimi platters,
mouthwatering natural beef fillet steak,
beef kainomi steak topped with a generous lemon slice,
kid-pleasing onion ring towers, mixed karaage (Japanese fried chicken), addictive salt-seasoned chicken wings, and a wide variety of bar snacks.
There’s a kids’ menu too, with corn butter and seasoned shake-shake fries.
When I spotted udon noodles on the menu, I thought, “They really get it!”
Fluffy, melty omurice (Japanese omelet rice), grated yam over rice, garlic-loaded fried rice — there are plenty of rice dishes to satisfy any appetite.
First up, we ordered the sashimi platter.
Serves 2–3 people for 1,480 yen
Sizzling Chicken and Cheese Dak-galbi (Korean stir-fry) – 880 yen
Classic Yakisoba (Stir-fried Noodles) – 720 yen
Round Cartilage Karaage – 580 yen
Fluffy Yamaimo (Mountain Yam) Teppanyaki – 580 yen
Dashimaki Tamago with Cheese (Japanese Rolled Omelet) – 780 yen

The dashimaki tamago was loaded with melty cheese, the dak-galbi had the perfect sweet-and-spicy balance, and there were plenty of dishes the kids loved. Everything was delicious! ♡

Why Retro Izakaya 219 Is Worth a Visit

Children’s chairs and Bumbo baby seats are available,
along with kids’ tableware and juice cups with spill-proof lids and straws.
The staff brought out everything before we even had to ask.
Here’s something fun and unique about Retro Izakaya 219:
They host a daily “Dice Challenge” game for adults, and a “Kids’ Janken (Rock-Paper-Scissors) Challenge” for children.

For the Kids’ Janken, winning rock-paper-scissors gets you a free drink, and a tie gets you 50% off!Just say “I want to try the challenge” and anyone gets one round of janken.
Of course, our kids gave it a go too. (They won! Yay!)
The cheerful, kind staff made our kids feel right at home — they had a blast.
With lottery games, candy, and toys also available for purchase, Retro Izakaya 219 is a delightful family-friendly izakaya. If you’re traveling with kids in Kumamoto, definitely give it a try!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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