Hello, fellow travelers!
[Sarukuma] writer Cho-san here!

Today I’m excited to introduce you to
Sankaido,
a charming Western-style restaurant tucked into Minamitsuboi-machi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City.
If you’ve ever strolled down Namikizaka Street, you’ve probably spotted this gem
right next to the Lawson convenience store — this is the place!

Plenty of locals and visitors have walked past it,
but never actually stepped inside —
does that sound like you?

Founded in 1983 (Showa 58),
this long-established eatery has that wonderful old-school atmosphere
and serves seriously delicious Western-style Japanese cuisine (yoshoku) — definitely worth a visit!

Born in 1983, the restaurant is just barely
older than me…
so I like to call it “Senpai Sankaido”! (haha)

Push through the classic revolving door and step inside.
The first thing you’ll notice is the cozy counter seating.
Bottles of liquor line the bar,
creating such a wonderful atmosphere♡

I visited during lunchtime,
but since they reopen at 6:00 PM in the evening,
you can come back later for drinks too♫

Toward the back of the first floor, there’s table seating with bench-style seats for four,
plus smaller tables for two.
And further back,
there’s a large communal table —
where a graceful arowana fish swims in its tank ♪

There’s also additional table seating on the second floor,
with a calm, wonderfully nostalgic ambiance♡

Recommended Menu

The lunch menu changes between
weekdays and weekends/holidays.

Since I visited on a weekday, my choices were:
Daily Special Lunch
(soup, salad, rice, drink) ¥830
Without drink ¥730
Hamburg Steak Lunch
(soup, salad, rice, drink) ¥830
Without drink ¥730

On weekends and holidays, the daily special isn’t available,
and the soup is omitted from the set.

The daily special on the day I visited was
Pork Loin Ginger Stir-Fry (Shogayaki).
(There was also a Curry Lunch option!
Apparently, their curry is super popular, too!)

You can check the daily special on the chalkboard
posted right outside the entrance.

The menu is wonderfully extensive,
and you’ll definitely want to come back at night for dinner —
so many tempting Western-style dishes!
There are also plenty of à la carte dishes perfect for pairing with drinks ♪
Plus a wide variety of cocktails (¥780)!

I ordered the Daily Special Lunch with drink (¥830),
and the soup arrived right away.
A generous bowl of soup served to the brim!

Not the typical lunchtime mug-style serving
but a proper classic Western-restaurant soup plate!

It’s a gentle, comforting onion soup.
It warms you to the core ♡

And here comes the main dish!
The Pork Loin Ginger Stir-Fry (Shogayaki)!
The pork loin is satisfyingly hearty,
and the seasoning pairs perfectly with rice ☆
I enjoyed it the Western way, with knife and fork ♪

And here’s
the restaurant’s beloved Hamburg Steak (Hambagu)!
Served with Western-style sauce ♪
(You can choose between Western or Japanese-style sauce.)

I’d heard that many Sankaido regulars
order the hamburg steak again and again,
and after one bite, I totally get it!

Both dishes are unpretentious and honest,
but they pair perfectly with the restaurant’s atmosphere
and are the kind of flavor-packed lunch that makes you want to come back!

For my drink, I had an iced coffee ♪
(Maybe a bit too close-up of a photo…)

The owners (a lovely husband-and-wife duo) are so warm and welcoming,
that even though it was my first visit, I felt completely at home —
so much so that I lingered way too long over my weekday lunch
and ended up running late for my next appointment! (haha)

It’s easy to lose track of time here,
so be careful, dear travelers! (haha)

If you’re wondering where to grab lunch on Namikizaka Street,
definitely give Sankaido a try ♪

Frequently Asked Questions

*Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.