Introducing Chao Li

Hello travelers! I’m Gussan, a writer for Sarukuma.
Today I’m excited to introduce you to Kamitori in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, home to a wonderful Chinese restaurant called Chao Li.
I first visited this place over 10 years ago, so it’s been quite a while — this is actually my second visit!
Chao Li sits along Namikizaka Street, so you’d think it would be easy to spot, but the storefront is wonderfully understated with a modest sign.
If you’re not paying attention, you might walk right past it, so keep your eyes peeled!
A cool little frog figurine greets you at the entrance — a charming welcome!
The first floor has just four tables.
Many visitors get the impression that the restaurant is on the smaller side.
But here’s the thing — that’s not all Chao Li has to offer!
Climb up these stairs, and…
you’ll find horigotatsu-style seating (sunken floor seats with leg wells beneath the table) upstairs!
A seating area where you take off your shoes and relax over lunch — what a treat!
A new family-friendly lunch spot in Kamitori — discovered!
This was a delightful surprise ♡

Chao Li Recommended Menu

Here’s the lunch menu.
・Weekly Lunch Special — ¥950
※On this day: Pork stir-fried with sweet miso
・Mapo Tofu Lunch — ¥1,000
・Yurinchi (Crispy Fried Chicken with Sweet Vinegar Sauce) Lunch — ¥1,000
・Shrimp Chili or Shrimp Mayo Lunch — ¥1,050
・Tantanmen (Spicy Sesame Noodles) Lunch — ¥950
・Weekly Noodle Lunch — ¥1,000
※On this day: Salt tanmen with chicken and cabbage
There’s also a recommended Double (W) Lunch where you can add a second dish for the amount shown in parentheses.
All lunches come with five-grain rice, soup, pickles, and a mini dessert. (Noodle lunches do not include soup.)
I ordered the Tantanmen Lunch (¥950).
Slurp slurp — oh wow, this is delicious!
The mildly spicy broth was so flavorful, I had to fight the urge to grab the bowl with both hands and drink it down. Haha!
The five-grain rice had just the right firmness, with a subtle sweetness that came through with every bite.
Of course, I added it to the soup. Even after finishing the tantanmen, I still had room for the soup-soaked rice — it was that good.
My friend went for the Double Lunch with shrimp chili and sweet miso pork stir-fry.
One free refill of five-grain rice and soup is included, and sharing costs ¥150 each.
This means you can order the Double Lunch and share it with your child — perfect for families!
Another friend ordered the Double Lunch with yurinchi (crispy chicken) and shrimp mayo.
The shrimp mayo was beautifully colorful and almost too pretty to eat.

The post-meal dessert had a gentle, not-too-sweet flavor — the perfect way to finish.
Even though my visit was over 10 years ago, I clearly remembered how delicious Chao Li was, and I’d been wanting to come back ever since.
It’s a place where you can enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine at reasonable prices.
Very family-friendly too — be sure to grab a seat upstairs and savor your lunch!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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