Introducing Gyoza no Eki

Hello travelers! It’s Aikero, your Sarukuma writer.

Today I’m taking you to Minamijima in Yamaga City, home of
【Gyoza no Eki (The Gyoza Station)】.
＼Newly opened in May 2025／
Located along Route 3 in Yamaga, this brand-new spot is perfect for a family lunch ♫
You can enjoy horse meat gyoza and Yamaga chicken hamburger steak at very affordable prices!
There’s also a spacious kids’ play area, making it an ideal pit stop on your Yamaga drive (^^)/
This shot is looking from Yamaga back toward central Kumamoto.
I actually drove right past it the first time! The Johoku High School sign nearby is a handy landmark.
There are colorful banners along the road, so once you know what to look for, it’s easy to spot. (笑)
The parking lot is nice and wide too.
For anyone driving with kids, easy parking is a big win!
The first thing you see when you walk in is the gyoza counter.
I thought this was just a lunch spot, but it actually doubles as a factory direct outlet!
・Horse Meat Gyoza — 12 pieces per pack
1 pack　　¥350 (excl. tax)
3 packs　¥1,000 (excl. tax)

Horse meat gyoza — pretty unique, right?
I grabbed the 3-pack deal for ¥1,000 to take home for dinner ♫
・Fresh Gyoza
16 pieces　¥500 (excl. tax)

・Dipping Sauce　¥50 (excl. tax)

You can choose between garlic and garlic-free sauce — perfect for daytime outings ♫

Beyond gyoza, there’s a huge selection of frozen items!
If you’re planning a visit, I’d recommend bringing a cooler bag.
Yakitori made with Yamaga’s local Akadori chicken — gizzard, wings, liver and more.

・Akadori Yakitori　from ¥500 (excl. tax)
・Fried Pig’s Trotters (2 pieces)　¥550 (excl. tax)
The sign even says “Tastes like Kentucky Fried Chicken!” — bold claim! Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ

・Morning-Made Japanese-Style Hamburger (2 pieces)　¥900 (excl. tax)
This 100% chicken hamburger is also on the lunch menu!
・Morning-Made Demi-Glace Hamburger (2 pieces)　¥900 (excl. tax)
Now you can enjoy the restaurant’s flavors at home, too!
・Premium Basashi (Horse Sashimi)
・Horse Liver
An impressive variety of Kumamoto specialties to choose from!
Cooking instructions are available right at the register (^^)/
Plastic bags and cooler bags are available for purchase.
Ice packs are sold here too — super handy if you’re stopping by mid-drive.
・Egg Monster (Egg Sandwich)
1 piece　¥180
2 pieces　¥350

Limited to 55 per day! These overstuffed egg sandwiches look like a hit with kids!
・Handmade Bento Box　¥500 (excl. tax)
Honestly, this looks way too generous for ¥500!
Karaage (Japanese fried chicken), Chicken Nanban, hamburger, and more.
Loaded with side dishes — and just look at that mountain of rice!
Definitely don’t miss the takeout option!
・Nanairo Fresh Dressing　¥500 (excl. tax)
Reportedly a celebrity favorite!?
・Handmade Side Dishes　¥250 (excl. tax)
・Freshly Grilled Gyoza　from ¥250 (excl. tax)

Note: freshly grilled gyoza take about 10 minutes to prepare.
Here’s the cool part — every product at Gyoza no Eki is made with organic ingredients!
Great news for anyone who pays attention to what they eat ♫
・Smiling Potatoes　¥400 (excl. tax)
Apparently, 99 out of 100 people say they’re delicious.
…I’m dying to know what the one holdout didn’t like!

・Premium Basque Cheesecake　¥350 (excl. tax)
Available as a whole cake, too.
Now, let’s look at the Gyoza no Eki lunch menu.

・Yamaga Chicken Hamburger Steak Lunch　¥800 (excl. tax)
Includes hamburger, rice, and soup

・Gyoza Set Meal　¥500 (excl. tax)
5 gyoza, small side dish, rice, and soup

Other options include yurinchi (deep-fried chicken with sweet vinegar sauce), karaage, simmered horse offal, and curry sets.
Single-dish à la carte items are also available — perfect flexibility for family lunches ♫
Ta-da!
A generously sized kids’ play area!!
The drive from Kumamoto City to Yamaga can wear little ones out (>_<)
There are picture books, wooden blocks, and oversized building blocks — plenty to keep them happily entertained ♫
There’s even a baby crib!
A real lifesaver for families with multiple children — you can keep an eye on the older ones while you eat.

Recommended Menu Items at Gyoza no Eki

Torn between the gyoza and hamburger, I went with the Yamaga Chicken Hamburger Steak Lunch with Japanese-style sauce!
Wait, am I in a café?

I had imagined something more like a traditional Japanese set meal, so I was pleasantly surprised by how stylish the presentation was!
Even the crispy fried pasta around the edge of the plate is edible ♫
Can you see those incredible juices?!
The bits of cartilage add a fun crunchy texture.
The chicken is light yet packed with umami — moist, juicy, and totally satisfying ♫

The Japanese-style sauce keeps things light, so if you want a meatier hamburger experience, the demi-glace might be a better match.
Wait — could this be the famous Smiling Potato?!
A chunky potato wedge in a flavored coating.
Fluffy on the inside with a punchy seasoning — yes, definitely delicious!
The soup is loaded with ingredients too.
I was hoping to squeeze in some gyoza if I had room — but I was way too full!
So I cooked up the frozen horse meat gyoza I bought instead!
Lined them up in a pan, added water, and steam-fried them — beautifully crispy “wings” formed perfectly!
The horse meat is light, with garlic and Chinese chives that make your mouth water.
The kids gobbled them up — all 3 packs disappeared in no time! (笑)
If you stop here on the way to Yamaga, picking up frozen gyoza for dinner makes the whole day so much easier (^^)/

Yamaga is the perfect destination for a day trip from Kumamoto City.
The kids can run wild in the play area while the grown-ups shop and unwind.
Definitely worth a stop on your next Kumamoto adventure (^^)/

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Frequently Asked Questions

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