Note: This restaurant has relocated to Toujinmachi-dori Street.

Welcome to Obanzai Yui

Hello there, fellow food lovers! This is Aikero, writer for Sarukuma, and today I’m taking you to one of Kumamoto’s most heartwarming little gems.

Tucked away in Shimotori, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, you’ll find Obanzai Yui — a charming spot serving the kind of food that feels like a hug in a bowl.

Ever heard of obanzai? It’s the traditional home-style cuisine of Kyoto — the kind of comforting, everyday side dishes a Japanese grandmother might prepare for her family. Think simple, seasonal ingredients prepared with love and served with steaming rice.

You know that feeling when you just crave a wholesome, homemade meal? That’s exactly what this place delivers. I was already excited just walking in! (●＾o＾●)

How to Find It

The restaurant is located on Shower Street (Shower-dori). Head straight past the Starbucks on Shower-dori, walk past the Paul Smith store, and just 3-5 meters further on your left, you’ll spot Shower Valley Building. Obanzai Yui is on the ground floor.

Look for the friendly signboard outside during business hours — it’s a great landmark! (^^)/
Here’s what the entrance looks like. Even though it was my first visit, I had no trouble finding it. ♫

Inside the Restaurant

The interior is intimate and welcoming, with both counter seating —— perfect for solo diners — and table seats for groups.
Seats are limited, so I highly recommend making a reservation in advance!

The Menu

Obanzai Gozen Set Meal — 1,760 yen
Includes 2 main dishes of your choice, 4 small side dishes, rice, and miso soup

Choose your mains from:
• White Chicken Katsu (crispy fried chicken cutlet)
• Chicken Nanban (sweet and sour fried chicken with tartar sauce)
• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Mapo Eggplant
• Salt-Grilled Mackerel (Shio Saba)
• Cabbage and Jako Cheese Curry Spring Rolls
• Simmered Daikon and Napa Cabbage with Minced Meat
• Salt-Green-Onion Pork Karubi
• Salmon Lemon Butter Foil-Baked

The restaurant got busy so I couldn’t snap photos of all the à la carte options, but here’s a sample:
• Any main dish from the Obanzai Gozen as a single order — 660 yen
• Yui’s Signature Potato Salad — 550 yen
• Mayaku Tamago (“Addictive Egg” — soy-marinated egg) — 220 yen
And more!

Heads up: there’s a one-drink minimum during dinner service.

Tasting Obanzai Yui’s Best Dishes

Watching the trays line up on the counter as the chef plates each dish with skilled, practiced hands is a little show in itself — so soothing to watch.
I went with the Mapo Eggplant and the Salt-Green-Onion Pork Karubi.

The dishes were generously loaded with vegetables — already a feast for the eyes! (#^.^#)
My friend kindly let me photograph her order too:• White Chicken Katsu
• Salmon Lemon Butter Foil-Baked
• Chicken Nanban
• Simmered Daikon and Napa Cabbage with Minced Meat
Just look at those adorable chopstick rests! Such a cute detail.
The Mapo Eggplant has just the right amount of kick — the eggplant practically melts in your mouth, and it’s the perfect partner for fluffy white rice.
Good news for big eaters: large rice portions are FREE!
The salt-based sauce on the pork karubi was incredible — another rice-stealer!

I got so caught up enjoying the meal that I completely forgot to photograph the small side dishes (>_<). They were the simple, honest flavors you'd expect from home cooking, but with clever accents like sesame oil and shio-konbu (salted kelp) that made each bite memorable.
There’s something deeply comforting about the warm, home-style cooking at Obanzai Yui — food that nourishes both body and soul.

With plenty of vegetables and the warm hospitality of the friendly owner, this is the perfect spot for travelers craving an authentic taste of Japanese home cooking in Kumamoto. Whether you’re dining solo or with friends, give Obanzai Yui a try — you won’t regret it! ♪

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