Welcome to Uoya Daichan

Hi everyone, I’m Aikero, a writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to Uoya Daichan — a charming neighborhood fish shop tucked away in Minami-Takae, Minami Ward, Kumamoto City.

Our colleague Yuzu featured this shop a while back, but a few things have changed (including the opening days!), so I thought it was time for a fresh look ♪
Head along Route 3 toward Uto, then turn off at the Minami-Takae intersection onto the old road.
You’ll spot the shop right next to Wash House Minami-Takae and Torada Butsudan-ten (^^)/
Parking is right in front of the store — just watch out for pedestrians on the sidewalk! (^^)The entrance is decorated with cute fish motifs and handwritten notes — a warm welcome before you even step inside.
Inside you’ll find a glistening sashimi counter,and even live fish swimming in tanks!Now THIS is what a real fishmonger looks like (●＾o＾●)
They even had “maguro-aji” (tuna-mackerel) — a name I’d never heard before!
The lineup and prices shown here are from the day I visited, so please use them as a rough guide (^_^;)
Uoya Daichan posts daily updates about fresh arrivals and recommendations on Instagram, so be sure to give them a follow! ♪
Here’s the secret: Uoya Daichan is also a wholesale fish broker at Tasaki Market!

That’s why the freshness is unbeatable.
“Well, of course it’s fresh — it’s a fish shop, right?” you might think. But there’s so much more to love about this place (●＾o＾●)While I was browsing, I overheard a wonderful exchange between a customer holding a pre-cut fillet pack and the staff:

“Could you prep this for miso soup?”
“Of course! Miso soup style — no problem ♪”

Wait — they’ll re-prep already-packed fillets too?! Curious, I asked, and the answer was:

“Absolutely! If you tell us how you want to use it, we can suggest the best cut, and we’ll even debone the fillets right then and there (^O^)／”

“We can also prepare bone-free fillets specially for baby food, toddler meals, or elderly care meals (^^)/”
I was floored — even bone removal on the spot! Talk about service.

For same-day requests, the staff are busy serving customers, so calling ahead is the smoothest way to pick up your order ♪
And look at this incredible variety of homemade fish side dishes (osōzai)!
Isn’t that just the best?!The fry-ready packs already have breadcrumbs on — just a quick pan-fry and dinner is served!
Bone-free AND made from fresh local fish!

For families with little ones, bone-free fish is a total lifesaver (>_<)
They freeze well too, so you can stock up and have dinner ready any time!

I tried freezing one and frying it later — the coating was crazy crispy and the fish stayed tender and flaky, no dryness at all (^○^)
They also stock frozen items!
I’ve previously bought their vacuum-sealed frozen aji-fry (horse mackerel fry) and it was beautifully crisp and fluffy ♪Custom sashimi platters are also a thing here!
You can order to your budget, and as the staff said:
“We do our best to accommodate your preferences — favorite sashimi to include, ones to leave out, anything you’d like.”

One important update: the opening days have changed!
They are now open Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:11 AM to 3:00 PM.

If you can’t make it within those hours, the staff are usually still on-site working until around 4:00 PM, so give them a call and they’ll do their best to help!

For same-day inquiries, please call, and for advance reservations or consultations, send a DM via the Uoya Daichan Instagram.
Feel free to ask things like “What’s the best way to cook this fish?” or “Can you debone this for me?” — they’re more than happy to help ♪

Uoya Daichan: My Top Picks

Here’s my haul for the day ♪
The shiso-leaf marinated fish (ōba-ae) and the simmered fish heads (ara-daki) are repeat purchases I just can’t quit (●＾o＾●) lolLook at that!
All I did was transfer it from the pack to a plate! lol
But that convenience is exactly what prepared sides are all about!

The first time I bought the ara-daki, the staff told me “The simmering broth is amazing, so try adding fried eggplant or atsuage tofu to it ♪” — so this time I tossed in some atsuage tofu.
The fried eggplant version is incredible too (●＾o＾●)
The fish is meltingly tender, soaked through with deep flavor (●＾o＾●)
The broth has such a rich taste it’ll have you reaching for second helpings of rice ♪And here’s a first-time buy: simmered yari-ika (spear squid) and satoimo (taro).
Sorry the photo’s a bit blurry (>_<)

The seasoning was spot-on, packed with squid tentacles ♪
The taro was beautifully infused with flavor — proper, satisfying side-dish goodness!

From the freshest fish lineup, to custom sashimi platters, to expert advice on cuts and cooking methods,
bone-free fillets safe for everyone from babies to grandparents,
and ready-to-heat or ready-to-grill prepared sides —

The staff are warm and energetic, the fish is incredible, and there’s truly something here for everyone. Come check it out (●＾o＾●)

We update our Instagram daily!
Sarukuma shares lunch spots, parks, indoor play ideas and more for families raising kids in Kumamoto.
We’d love a follow (*´∀｀*)

Frequently Asked Questions

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