Welcome to Neu

Hello travelers! This is “Gussan,” your Sarukuma writer.
Today I’m taking you to Neu, a hidden gem in Minami-Tsuboi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City.

Sitting on Kaminoura Street between Route 3 and Namikizaka, Neu is a café by day and a bar by night. It opened in April 2022 and has been on my must-visit list ever since — but I never quite made it through the door.

Then in April, after popular requests from regulars, the owners launched a brand-new lunch menu. That was my cue to finally pay a visit!

Neu is housed inside a sleek exposed-concrete building. Look up for the eye-catching yellow-green sign — you can’t miss it.
The ground floor is a clothing boutique, so head up the stairs to the 2nd floor to reach the café.
There’s no parking lot, so if you’re driving, use one of the nearby coin-operated car parks.
Here’s the entrance to Neu.
Fun pronunciation tip: it’s read as “Noi,” not “Nyu” or “Neh-oo.”
Push open the glass door, and…
…you step into a beautifully minimalist space — tables, chairs, and even the walls are all done in crisp white.
There are tables for two and tables for four,
plus a stylish counter for solo diners.
There’s also a private room for groups of 5 or more (reservation required).
It’s set apart from the main floor, making it a great option for families with kids or travelers dining with friends who’d like a bit of privacy.
Here’s the drink menu at Neu.
I’ll cover the lunch menu in detail next.
There are also sweets to pair with your coffee — financiers, canelés, lemon cake, and chocolate cake. All look made for a slow afternoon.

Recommended Lunch Menu at Neu

As of April 2024, you can choose from four lunch sets:

・Roast Beef (¥1,980 incl. tax)
・Chicken Simmered in Tomato Sauce (¥1,760 incl. tax)
・Hamburg Steak (¥1,760 incl. tax)
・Croissant Sandwich (¥1,560 incl. tax)
Every lunch set comes with:
5–6 kinds of deli-style vegetable sides, a vegetable-packed soup, and — wait for it — TWO desserts: a fruit panna cotta and a freshly baked financier.

The vegetables are colorful and generous, which already wins major points from a veggie lover like me. And on top of those hearty mains, you get not one but two desserts! If you’re the kind of traveler who always saves room for sweets, this is a dream lunch.

Now let me walk you through each main dish!
・Hamburg Steak (¥1,760 incl. tax)
A juicy hamburg steak made with Kagoshima-grown Japanese Black Wagyu blended ground beef.
Aside from soup, drink, and dessert, you can choose between rice or bread on the side.
The patty is plump and juicy, and the slow-cooked demi-glace sauce takes it to another level — total comfort food.
・Roast Beef (¥1,980 incl. tax)
This dish features Wao, a premium Japanese Black Wagyu raised right here in Kumamoto.
It’s hard to see in the photo, but underneath the roast beef sits a bed of white rice topped with an egg.
A luxurious plate lunch where every slice of beef melts in your mouth.
・Chicken Simmered in Tomato Sauce (¥1,760 incl. tax)
Made with Higo Akadori chicken thigh, slow-cooked in a rich tomato sauce.
It comes with soup, drink, dessert, plus your choice of rice or bread.
The savory chicken and tangy tomato pair beautifully — a must for tomato sauce lovers.
・Croissant Sandwich (¥1,560 incl. tax)
Stacked with Aso Shizenton Jambon Blanc (a local Aso ham) and crisp fresh vegetables, all packed into a buttery croissant.
It looks like it might overflow at any moment, but with the veggie-loaded deli sides and soup, this is actually a surprisingly healthy lunch.
The croissant itself comes from BREADAY, a beloved bakery at HAB@.

As I mentioned earlier, the best part of lunch at Neu is that you get TWO desserts — and you don’t have to choose between them. You get both. Heaven!

The strawberry panna cotta on this day was lovely, but my top pick was the financier.
It arrives piping hot, fresh out of the oven — buttery, slightly crisp on the edges, gently sweet inside.
The aroma alone is worth the visit. Trust me, you have to try it warm.

From the visual presentation to the very last bite of dessert, lunch at Neu is a treat for all the senses. Highly recommended for any traveler exploring central Kumamoto.
Their Instagram is just as gorgeous — definitely worth a peek before you visit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is accurate as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please check before you visit.