Introducing Wada Kamaboko-ten

Hello, travelers!
This is Maru, your friendly writer from SaruKuma 🙂🙃

Today I’m taking you to Shinmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, to a charming little shop called
“Wada Kamaboko-ten”.

You’ll find the shop near “Yume Mart Shinmachi.” Note that there’s no parking lot.

This is a famous shop with over 40 years of history!
It’s the place to grab their popular “Gyorokke” 🐟 (fish croquette)!

Old-school over-the-counter tempura shops like this are becoming a rare find these days.

Look at this adorable handwritten menu! So many varieties to choose from (≧∇≦)
I visited late in the afternoon, so a lot of items had already sold out 😢
Pro tip: arrive early for the best selection!

Hot, fresh tempura (●´꒳ `●)＊*
Gyorokke (fish croquette): 120 yen
Burdock root kakiage (mixed tempura): 120 yen, and more.
Warm and ready to eat — perfect for a quick street-food snack!

The display case is packed with mouthwatering options too:
Karashi-renkon (lotus root stuffed with mustard miso): 480 yen
Maru-ten (round fish cake): 120 yen
Chigiri-ten (hand-torn tempura): 120 yen
Sausage roll: 160 yen, and more.

Kaku-ten (square fish cake): 120 yen
Cheese roll: 120 yen, and more.

The young man behind the counter was super friendly ♪
He even said, “Feel free to use my Instagram photos!” — so I’m gratefully sharing a few here (=^^=)

The fish paste (surimi) is mixed and kneaded in a giant mortar using a machine.

The vegetables that go into the mix are all prepped by hand — true craftsmanship!

Just look at those fresh-fried tempura 😋 You’ll want to reach right into the photo!

Wada Kamaboko-ten Recommended Menu

This time I picked up these four items! Time to break out my fish-shaped plate (^-^)

First up, the famous “Gyorokke” — 120 yen!”
It’s seasoned fish paste coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried golden brown.

Look at all those little red flecks! There’s plenty of them inside!
It’s also packed with chunky pieces of onion.

Mmmm — savory and spicy!!!
Those red flecks? They’re chili peppers 🌶 (‘-‘ 🌶 )

I thought it might be just a tiny bit spicy — but no, it really packs a kick!
The sweetness and crunch of the onion balances it out perfectly. One bite leads to another (≧∇≦)

Whether as a side dish or a snack with a cold drink, it’s outstanding!

These are great picks for kids:
Cheese roll 120 yen, Scotch egg 160 yen.

They’d be amazing tossed into oden hotpot,
but honestly, eating them as-is is just as delicious 😍

The fish paste contains no preservatives and no egg whites,
so the flavor is rich and the texture is wonderfully bouncy 👆👆👆

And here’s the burdock root kakiage — 120 yen.
It’s the size of a fist and seriously hearty!
The burdock is cut into thick, satisfying pieces (^^)

The karashi-renkon (a Kumamoto specialty of mustard-stuffed lotus root) looked fantastic too ✨

Be sure to try the famous gyorokke and the wide variety of tempura — you won’t regret it 🐟

Frequently Asked Questions

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