About Chuka Shokudo Taishin

Hello there!
This is Maru, writer for Sarukuma 🙂🙃

Today I’m introducing a wonderful neighborhood Chinese eatery located in Kuhonji, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Chuka Shokudo Taishin”.

Pronounced “Tai-shin,” this charming spot is famous not only for its delicious Chinese lunches but also for the warm, welcoming hospitality of the owner’s wife!

The restaurant sits just off the main streetcar (tram) road. There’s no private parking, so please use one of the nearby paid parking lots 🚙💨

The menu is displayed outside the restaurant, which makes it really easy to see what’s on offer before you go in!

The note saying “Run by just the two of us — husband and wife, doing our best” really makes you want to cheer them on ＼(^o^)／

The owner’s wife greeted us with a wonderfully cheerful welcome (^^)

Inside, the space is tidy, bright, and refreshing. There are sunken kotatsu-style seats (horigotatsu) and…

traditional tatami-mat seating in the back with two tables that can be partitioned off into a private room by sliding the doors shut.

Families with children are welcome, but lunchtime is busy with local workers — the wife recommends visiting between 13:00 and closing at 14:00 for a more relaxed dining experience 👦👧

Here’s the menu.

The #1 most popular dish is the Chinese Set Meal at just 790 yen!!
It comes with taipien (Kumamoto’s signature glass-noodle soup), sweet-and-sour pork, white rice, salad, and pickles. What a bargain (ﾟ∀ﾟ)

Other options include the sweet-and-sour pork set and the chili shrimp set…

And the “secret menu”.

Is it called the secret menu because it’s literally on the back of the menu, or is it a hidden insider menu?!
Apparently, you can also customize the popular Chinese set meal in various ways here.

Recommended Dishes at Chuka Shokudo Taishin

This time, I ordered the Chinese Set Meal!

Generously loaded taipien. The broth tastes like Nagasaki-style champon — rich and full of umami 😍
It’s seriously delicious!! And the shrimp are amazingly plump and bouncy 🍤

Forgive me for comparing it to champon — I’m originally from Nagasaki, after all (^^)

Since taipien uses glass noodles (harusame), it’s healthy and slips down easily. This is a seriously high-level taipien…

After such a fantastic taipien, expectations were high for the sweet-and-sour pork — and here it is!

Just look at that glossy glaze — you’d never be able to recreate this restaurant-quality finish at home (^^)

This is what real sweet-and-sour pork tastes like — utterly delicious 😍 The vegetables retain a perfect crisp-tender bite.

This is the Chinese set meal with the taipien upgraded to a large size.
It’s basically à la carte portion sized!!! With two slices of egg wrapped in fish cake (kamaboko) included, you really feel like you’re getting a deal (^^)

This stuff is just so good~ 😋

With her thoughtful attentiveness and friendly conversation, the owner’s wife truly is the gold standard of Japanese hospitality.

Between the outstanding Chinese cuisine and the warm welcome, this is definitely a place you’ll want to come back to (^O^)

Frequently Asked Questions

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