Introducing Niku no Saiki

Hello there!
This is Igaguri 🌰, a writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m excited to introduce you to
“Niku no Saiki”,
located in Eta, Nagomi Town, Tamana District, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Asukarando-san introduced this shop previously, but as a regular visitor myself, I’d like to share a different angle on its charm (^_-)-☆

[Niku no Saiki] The Butcher Shop’s Croquettes Are Outrageously Delicious!! (Eta, Nagomi Town, Tamana District)

Right next door is “Pannowa,” a bakery I introduced previously.

[Pannowa] Sweet, Chewy, Additive-Free Bread You Can Feed Your Kids with Confidence (Eta, Nagomi Town, Tamana District)

The shop is attached to Michi-no-Eki Kikusui (a roadside station), so there’s plenty of parking available.

And the aroma of charcoal-grilled meat at the storefront is absolutely irresistible…

“Eat our pork!”
What a fantastic uniform.(*Photo permission obtained)

You’ll also find spare ribs, meat-wrapped rice balls (niku-maki onigiri), and other tempting festival-style street snacks ☆

The firm-cooked rice is wrapped in beautifully sweet-and-savory meat…

It’s the kind of snack you can happily hand to your kids without a second thought.
(Just be careful of the disposable chopsticks!)

Recommended Menu Items at Niku no Saiki

The top picks (also previously highlighted by Asukarando-san) are the croquettes (korokke) and the minced-meat cutlets (menchi-katsu)!

They even have Scotch eggs!

And of course, raw cuts of meat are sold too — perfect if you’ve got a kitchen at your accommodation!

Every visit to Niku no Saiki has me planning a yakiniku night for dinner, lol.

This time I picked up a ham cutlet for 160 yen (thick-cut and amazing!)

A menchi-katsu (minced-meat cutlet) for 120 yen
(Living up to its star recommendation! Menchi-katsu takes serious effort to make at home, so I always buy it from a shop. 120 yen — isn’t that ridiculously cheap?)

Pork tenderloin cutlet (hire-katsu) for 160 yen (How is it this tender?!)

And of course, some Japanese-style fried chicken (karaage)!

Being a butcher shop, every single bite is incredible!

And here’s the kicker: there’s even a free-use space (more than just an eat-in corner) right next door!

Wait… this is supposed to be a butcher shop, right?

(Since I visit year-round, please excuse the seasonally inconsistent outfits!)

I have no idea where they sourced it, but there’s even a stylish car on display.
In my mind, Niku no Saiki = a little park, ha ha.

Located right next to the Kikusui IC interchange and inside a roadside station, it’s super easy to drop by (^^)/
Why not stop in for a tasty break on your road trip through Kumamoto?

[Niku no Saiki] The Butcher Shop’s Croquettes Are Outrageously Delicious!! (Eta, Nagomi Town, Tamana District)

[Pannowa] Sweet, Chewy, Additive-Free Bread You Can Feed Your Kids with Confidence (Eta, Nagomi Town, Tamana District)

Frequently Asked Questions

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