Kaiten: Authentic Sichuan Chinese Cuisine in Kumamoto – Cheap, Delicious & Generous Portions!
2020.11.01

A Sarukuma writer visits “Kaiten” (海天), a Sichuan Chinese restaurant in Nishikigaoka, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City. We cover family-friendly features, access, and business hours.
Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Rikotama, your local guide from Sarukuma!
Today, I’m excited to introduce you to a hidden gem located in
Nishikigaoka, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City
[Kaiten – Authentic Sichuan Chinese Cuisine]!

You’ll find the restaurant right next to Daiwa House Industry along Daini Kuko Line (Second Airport Road).
There are 5 parking spaces available right in front of the shop!
Kaiten is famous for its incredibly affordable prices and generous portions!!!
Whenever my family is craving Chinese food, Kaiten is always our go-to spot (*^▽^*)

Inside, you’ll find regular table seating, and…

…traditional Japanese tatami (zashiki) seating!
Perfect for families with young children to relax comfortably ♬

Children’s chairs are also available!
And they have kids’ tableware too — a wonderful touch for traveling families!

Here’s the set meal (teishoku) menu!
[White rice (up to 3 refills FREE!) – Salad – Soup – 2 Fried Gyoza Dumplings – Almond Tofu]
All of this comes with your meal!!! (≧▽≦)
Talk about generous portions! (laughs)
※Sorry, the photo is a bit hard to read due to glare (>_<)
6. Chinjao Rosu (Stir-fried Pepper Steak) – ¥800
7. Happosai (Eight Treasures Stir-fry) – ¥800
8. Stir-fried Garlic Sprouts – ¥800
Other menu items range from just ¥800 to ¥1,080!
Incredibly cheap! ☆☆☆

There’s also a Noodle Set for ¥1,080!
Another great deal (=゚ω゚)ノ
⇒ [Salt Ramen, Tantanmen, or Soy Sauce Ramen] + [Fried Rice, Tenshindon, Hoikoro-don, or Mapo-don] + Almond Tofu
Fried Gyoza Set – ¥1,080
⇒ [Set Meal Menu (slightly modified)] + 5 Fried Gyoza + Rice + Soup + Almond Tofu

The à la carte menu is also extensive!


There are plenty of dim sum and noodle dishes to choose from!
It’s seriously hard to decide!!
Recommended Menu Items

After much deliberation, I went with my reliable favorite: [Yu Lin Chi Set Meal (Crispy Chicken with Soy-Vinegar Sauce) – ¥850]!
Look at that mountain of chicken!
And the rice portion is impressively large too (‘◇’)ゞ
Even hungry travelers and young men will leave completely satisfied 😋
The Yu Lin Chi is wonderfully juicy and crispy, but honestly,
my husband and I are absolutely obsessed with the soup here (*’ω’*)
It’s a slightly thick, gentle egg drop soup ♡
We always slurp it down to the very last drop!

This is what my husband ordered: [Daily Special – Liver and Garlic Chives Set Meal – ¥700]!
※Sorry, I couldn’t capture a photo, but they had two daily specials available!
That day, both Liver & Garlic Chives and Mapo Tofu were ¥700 ♬
(Note: fried gyoza & almond tofu are not included with this set)
This dish is also incredibly generous!!!
The liver and garlic chives have a pleasant tangy kick, making it light and refreshing!
The rich umami of the liver bursts in your mouth — it’s a real stamina booster (^o^)丿

Here’s the [Shumai Dumplings – ¥550] we ordered à la carte!
The wrapper is wonderfully chewy! And the meat filling is so juicy ☆
These were absolutely delicious (≧▽≦)

And here’s the almond tofu (annin dofu) that came with the Yu Lin Chi set!
Why does almond tofu taste so heavenly after a Chinese meal? ♡
It’s the perfect light finale to wrap up the meal beautifully (laughs)

And finally, here’s the [Fried Rice – ¥680] my son ordered!
The plate is quite large, so it might be hard to tell from the photo, but
it’s seriously generous!!!
Since there’s no children’s menu, I picked the fried rice thinking it would be the smallest portion, but
as expected, my kindergarten-aged son could only finish about half (>_<)
For families with elementary-school-age kids or younger, sharing adult portions works just fine!
※And of course, my husband happily devoured the leftover fried rice ♬
Affordable prices and super-generous portions at [Kaiten – Authentic Sichuan Chinese Cuisine]!
The friendly Chinese staff will welcome you with warm smiles!
If you’re visiting Kumamoto, this place is an absolute must-try ♪
Kaiten – Authentic Sichuan Chinese Cuisine: Store Information
-
Address
Nishikigaoka, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
-
Hours
11:30 – 15:00, 17:30 – 22:00
-
Closed
Wednesdays
-
TEL
096-360-5153
-
Website
Not available
-
Payment
Not specified
-
Parking
Available
-
No
Tatami Seating
-
No
Private Room
-
No
Kids’ Tableware
-
No
Kids’ Chairs
-
No
Diaper Changing Table
-
No
Stroller Access
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a recommended family-friendly spot in Nishikigaoka, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City?
“Kaiten – Authentic Sichuan Chinese Cuisine” is a great pick for families with kids and is popular in the Nishikigaoka area of Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City. Check out this article for full details!
What are the business hours and closing days for Kaiten?
The latest business hours and closing days may change. Please check the official website or call ahead before your visit.
※Information based on time of visit. Prices and hours may change. Please verify before visiting.
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Article Writer
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Sarukuma Editorial
Sarukuma Editorial is a small team of locals based in Kumamoto, Japan, sharing the hidden gems, hometown flavors, and seasonal experiences that make our region special. We write the kind of guide we wish we had when showing friends around — honest, practical, and made by people who actually live here.
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