Introducing Wa-no-Kura Kitoki

Hello travelers! I’m Aikero, a writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m introducing a wonderful spot in Idenakama, Minami Ward, Kumamoto City:
【Wa-no-Kura Kitoki】This stylish izakaya (Japanese-style pub) opened on September 6th!
At first glance it might look a bit too sophisticated for families with little ones — but surprise, there’s actually a kids’ space inside!
The lunch was absolutely delicious, so let me walk you through it (^^)/
【Wa-no-Kura Kitoki】 sits along the Hamasen Bypass.
The photo shows what the storefront looks like when you’re driving in from the Kashima direction, so first-timers — be careful not to drive past it!
Use 【Morita Golf Kumamoto】 (which shares the parking lot) as your landmark and you’ll find it without trouble ♪

You can park 5 cars in the 【Morita Golf Kumamoto】 lot.
Look for the spaces marked with the 【Wa-no-Kura Kitoki】 sign, like in the photo!There’s also additional parking right next to the restaurant.
Note: this lot is fenced off from the 【docomo Shop Hamasen】 behind it, so you can’t enter from that side.
The interior has a chic, refined atmosphere.
There’s counter seating, plus
four horigotatsu (sunken-floor tatami) tables for parties of four,
and across the aisle, two more horigotatsu tables that seat six.
Horigotatsu seating is the traditional Japanese style where you sit on tatami but your legs hang into a sunken pit beneath the table — incredibly comfortable for long, relaxed meals (●＾o＾●)Tucked in the back is the kids’ space!
Kitoki’s Instagram does mention having a kids’ area, but since it felt like a place geared toward adults, I was honestly surprised to find one!
For traveling families, this is such a relief ♫
The toy selection is modest, but just having somewhere for the little ones to play makes a huge difference!Here’s the lunch menu.
All prices include tax.

・Homemade Hamburger Steak Lunch Set ¥1,320
・Cheese Hamburger Steak Lunch Set ¥1,485
・Chicken Nanban Lunch Set ¥990
・Yurin-chi (crispy chicken with vinegar sauce) Lunch Set ¥935
・Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) Lunch Set ¥880
・Homemade Mixed Fry Lunch Set ¥1,210
・Hormone (offal) Miso Stew Lunch Set ¥1,408
・Tempura Lunch Set ¥1,320
・Today’s Simmered Fish Lunch Set ¥990

【Includes: rice / one small side dish / salad / chawanmushi (savory egg custard) / pickles / miso soup】
(Miso soup can be swapped for ara-jiru fish-bone soup at no extra charge)
And it’s not just teishoku (set meals)!
All prices include tax.

・Tantanmen (spicy sesame noodles) Set ¥1,375
・Aigamo (duck) Chuka Soba Set ¥1,188
【Includes: rice / one small side dish / salad / chawanmushi / pickles】

★ Special — limited to 10 servings per day! ★
・Sakura Karubi Shichirin-yaki (cherry-wood-grilled short rib) Lunch Set ¥2,365
【Includes: rice / one small side dish / salad / chawanmushi / pickles / miso soup】
(Miso soup can be swapped for ara-jiru at no extra charge)

★ Reservation required by the previous day ★
・Kitoki Gozen (chef’s special set) ¥1,815
【Includes: rice / one small side dish / salad / chawanmushi / pickles / miso soup】
(Miso soup can be swapped for ara-jiru at no extra charge)

Wa-no-Kura Kitoki — Recommended Menu

I ordered the “Chicken Nanban Lunch Set” (¥990)!
And I swapped the miso soup for ara-jiru ♫
A free upgrade — what a deal!!Here’s the ara-jiru — a clear, hearty soup made by simmering fish bones and trimmings, a classic Japanese way to extract every bit of umami.
You might think “it’s free, so it can’t have much in it,” right?
Wrong — it’s PACKED with fish!!!
I’ll be honest, I got a little excited. Haha.

The fish dashi (broth) is rich and beautifully balanced, just incredibly delicious (●＾o＾●)
If you’re not put off by fish-bone soup, I highly recommend the upgrade!
And here’s the star — chicken nanban ♡
For those new to it, chicken nanban is a southern Japanese specialty: golden fried chicken bathed in a tangy sweet-sour vinegar sauce and topped with creamy tartar.
It’s everywhere in Japan, but every restaurant puts its own spin on it ♪

The tangy nanban vinegar cuts beautifully through the richness, while the tartar smooths everything out.
The pieces are nicely sized and easy to eat ♫
It pairs perfectly with white rice — chicken nanban really is the best!!The small side dish was light and elegantly seasoned.
Getting a little kobachi (small side dish) alongside the main is always such a treat ♫

The chawanmushi was silky and wobbly-smooth!
I love chawanmushi too, so I was savoring every spoonful. Haha.Look at this!
It was tucked into the salad on the chicken nanban plate — isn’t it adorable?!
It had a satisfying crunch, almost chip-like.
It looked like some kind of vegetable, but not carrot…
I’m the curious type, so I asked the staff — turns out it was sweet potato!
Little seasonal touches like that really warm the heart ♫

Every dish was delicious, generously portioned, and gently priced!
With a kids’ space on site, it’s an easy stop for travelers with little ones (●＾o＾●)
A perfect spot for moms (or anyone, really) to settle in and chat!

Located within a 5-minute drive of Yume Town Hamasen shopping mall, 【Wa-no-Kura Kitoki】 is highly recommended for family lunches or relaxed meals while exploring Kumamoto’s South Ward.
Definitely add it to your list! (●＾o＾●)

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