This restaurant has closed.

Introducing Creative Dining Goonotora

Hello, travelers! This is Gussan, writer for [SaruKuma].
For our first feature of 2023, we’re heading to Toshima-nishi in Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City to visit
[Goonotora (五黄の寅)].

You might wonder about the unusual name. “Goonotora” refers to a special year in Japanese astrology — when the Five Yellow Earth Star of the Nine Stars aligns with the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac, which only happens once every 36 years. People born during this rare “Goonotora” year are said to possess the most powerful fortune of all.
Even though we’re now entering the Year of the Rabbit (not the Tiger), it still feels like an auspicious place to start the new year! (Though full disclosure — we actually visited last December ※whispers)
Goonotora just opened its doors in December 2022,
located along Kokutai Doro, a road well-known locally for its many restaurants.
Directly across the street, you’ll find Sukesan Udon Toshima — a handy landmark to look for.
There’s a parking lot right next to the restaurant with space for about 8 cars.
When we visited in December, the second parking lot wasn’t quite ready yet, but it’s just a few seconds’ walk away — so even larger groups won’t need to worry about finding a spot.
What a stunning exterior!
The building is so polished and new-looking that about 70% of visitors might briefly wonder, “Wait, did I accidentally show up at a model home open house?”
With so many restaurants sadly closing during the pandemic, the energy and ambition behind this opening felt truly impressive.
Inside, you’ll find both counter seating and table seating.
There’s a small step at the entrance (you can see it in the previous photo), but the aisles and spaces between tables are nice and wide — making it a breeze to come in with a stroller!
Toward the back, there’s also a private room with table seating.
The room and tables are spacious, so you can relax and enjoy your meal without worrying about the people around you.
It would be a wonderful spot to bring grandparents for a celebration!
And good news — the private room can be connected to the room next door, so it can easily accommodate larger groups too.
Goonotora also serves dinner, and the evening atmosphere looks like it would be just as inviting.

Recommended Menu Items at Creative Dining Goonotora

Here’s a look at the lunch menu.
(*Please note that the menu changes weekly, so this is just for reference.)

A. Tomato-Stewed Cabbage Rolls (¥1,000)
B. Smoked Salted Mackerel Plate (¥1,050)
C. Daily Special Plate (¥1,150)
D. Apple and Smoked Salmon Sesame Tartar Salad (¥1,300)
E. Tandoori Chicken Plate (¥1,500)
F. Wagyu Garlic Fried Rice (¥1,600)
*All meals come with rice and soup (the salad lunch comes with a baguette)
*F comes with salad and soup

Drinks à la carte (¥380)
Cake à la carte (¥400)
Drink & Cake set (¥650)

With such an impressive exterior, I expected the prices to be on the higher side —
but they’re actually quite reasonable, which was a wonderful surprise!
I ordered the
Daily Special Plate (¥1,150).
On this particular day, the special was Yangnyeom Chicken — Korean-style sweet and spicy chicken.
A hearty plate piled with chunks of sweet and spicy yangnyeom chicken.
The flavors were bold and spot-on — exactly the kind of satisfying bite I was craving!
Although the menu didn’t mention salad as part of the set, the plate was generously loaded with side dishes — not just meat!
Along with vegetables, you also get quiche and dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet), which makes the meal feel like a real bargain.
The potage soup was delicious too!
Now let me share what my friends ordered.

First up:
Apple and Smoked Salmon Sesame Tartar Salad (¥1,300)

I was curious about this combination — what would it look like, and how would it taste? — but I didn’t have the courage to order it myself.
When it arrived, the whole table was wowed!
Look closely and you’ll see not just apples but also seasonal strawberries tucked in there!
Peek inside and you’ll find generously sized smoked salmon, plus the salad comes with a baguette and soup!
Next is the Tandoori Chicken Plate (¥1,500).
Like the daily special, it comes with vegetables and quiche all on one plate.
The tandoori chicken looks irresistible, with a beautifully crisp, browned exterior.
And here’s the Wagyu Garlic Fried Rice (¥1,600).
It also comes with salad and soup — but interestingly, the soup was different from the other three of us.
A thoughtful touch, clearly chosen to complement this particular dish. Lovely attention to detail!
The dish is all browns and golds, so it might be hard to tell from the photo —
but there’s plenty of premium wagyu beef tucked inside.

Goonotora just opened last year, and since the daily special changes every week, you could easily visit again and again without getting bored.
Definitely a place to keep an eye on!

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